From William Thompson to Elizabeth Waters (December 6, 1844)

[Captain William Thompson to Thomas Waters’ mother]

addressed to Mrs Waters, King street, Woolwich.

New York the 6 Dec 1844

       on bord the Traffic

  Baltimore Packet

Madam

Your son Thomas Waters has been two trips with me in one of the Baltimore packets and I can say that he is a fine sober industrious and good sailor.  as I have better prospects I have left the packet and by my recommedation the owners have took him as Chief Mate.  I am about buying a Vessel and then I want him to go with me.  I would say it would be for his benefit to stay in this country. We sailors out of New York are not all wicked thanks be to God.  More then one half of the Capt. Mates and Sailors have found peace with God and are tru followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and you may be well assured we put a good example before our Shipmates and try to get them to join us. I have recommended your son to several Ship owners which he is well worthy of.  You see Madam your son is in good hands and I hope to God that he will feel the love of God before long and become one of us.  I thought my duty to write you these lines and give you some information of him. I have seen your kind letter and from that I see you are a professor of Religion – 20 years ago I left my Dear Mother in the City of Copenhagen Danmark where I was born, I have been all parts of the World, I have sailed out of Liverpool as 2d Mate in the Bark John Stamp, I been 3 years in a Englis Manniwar [Man of War], sailed 10 year as a mate from New York, one years as Captain. ett [it] is 7 years sins [since] I got converted and am detirmet [determined] by the Grace of God to prove faitful to the End.  I hope the Lord and God be with you and you kind Famili

dont forget to remember us in you prayers  the Lord be with you and us all for Christ seek and help us to prove faitfull to the End

Your Brother in Christ

     Jesus

Captain William Thompson

You see Madam 

I am a poor writer 

but I hope you 

will excuse me being 

a naitive of Denmark.