The life, travels, labors, and writings of Lorenzo Dow

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Preface

Since the days of George Whitefield, it has not fallen to the lot of another minister of the gospel to enjoy so great and wide-spread a celebrity as that of the late Lorenzo Dow. In England and Ireland, in the United States and the Canadas, there are probably few persons now living who have reached adult age to whom his name is not familiar. There is not a State in our Union that he has not visited, and there is scarcely a town in the older States in which he has not been listened to by hundreds, if not thousands, of the present generation.

It is hardly possible that one who attracted so much of the public attention during his life should soon cease to be an object of interest. Many among those who have listened to his public teachings, as well as those who know him only by reputation, would doubtless be gratified to possess the means of forming a true estimate of the character of the man — the causes of his singu larities, the secret of his influence, and the peculiar bent and power of his mind. It is to gratify this desire that the present edition of his collected works is given to the public. His Journal, which comprises the history of his life to his fortieth year, will suggest to an attentive reader a clew to the enigma which his apparently mysterious conduct often presented.

It may be said of Lorenzo Dow with more truth than of most men, that he knew himself. He had carefully studied his own disposition and endowments, both physical and intellectual, and his great object was to obtain a field which would give free exercise to all his powers. At an age when such reflections are seldom made, he had the sagacity to foresee that the beaten track of the many would consign him to utter uselessness, if not to insignificance and contempt. Those who are familiar with his history will credit him when he says, as he often does, that he had no desire to be singular for the sake of singularity. Awkward and ungainly to the last degree by nature, with a harsh voice, and no imposing presence ; tortured with a restless desire of locomotion, which seemed as necessary to his health as to the gratification of his impulses, he yet felt the wish, and believed he had the ability, to better the moral and spiritual condition of his fellow-men. But to do this, he knew he must be allowed to do it in his own way. Nature had hedged up the usual avenues to usefulness, and he must travel in the way left open to him, or not travel at all. It is clear that no amount of labor or study would have raised him even to mediocrity as a preacher of the ordinary stamp.

The deep and touching sorrow he often evinces at the rebuffs of his Methodist brethren, who could not countenance his eccentricities, clearly proves that an obstinate will was not the motive that impelled him ; while his unfeigned love of the doctrines of the Methodist church, and his invariable refusal to be instrumental in any manner in creating a schism in that body, or in forming a sect or party of his own, are evidence that he was wholly free from ambitious or worldly designs. There is no rational or charitable solution of the apparent mystery which his character and conduct often presented, but that which admits him to have been mainly actuated by a strong desire to benefit mankind.

PREFACE.

The fastidious and educated will probably suggest, that whatever may have been his motives, he was wholly mistaken as to his ability to improve the moral condition of men ; they themselves have listened to his harangues v7ith indifference, il" not with contempt, and they cannot concpive how a different effect could be produced on the minds of others by the same humble means. This is hasty, if not shallow reasoning. The calm appeal, and the eloquent, but subdued fervor. that sometimes stir the inmost hearts of an orderly and refined assembly, would be utterly powerless to arrest the attention of a lawless and vicious mob. Men of every degree of intelligence, and in every stage of civilization, are to be reached by the efforts of a Christian ministry ; and the problem to be solved is, what are the means best adapted to attain the proposed end. Whoever carefully studies the character of the people to whom Dow principally confined his labors, and the effects of his ministrations among them, will see that he was not mistaken. We cannot deny the fact, theorize as we will, that, aside from much of what will be termed mere fanaticism and transient excitement, many were induced by his preaching to reform their lives, and to shun evils as sins against Go I. That they did not immediately become models of Christian liberality and refined sentiment may be granted ; but their rampant, sallying vices were subdued, and thus an opportunity for further advancement, and the ministration ol'a more intellectual priesthood, was gained at least for their posterity, if not for themselves.

The following anecdote, by an eye-witness, of the powerful effect of Lorenzo's preaching upon his most inveterate enemies, is but one of many similarinstances that might be enumerated : —

" In 1807, at a camp-meeting held at Niskeuna, between Troy and Schenectady, 1 first became acquainted with the eccentric Lorenzo Dow, who was at that time, I think, in possession of a truly Christian spirit, though extremely odd and exceptionable in his manners. He. seemed to possess the ability or art to transform himself into almost any, and every human character. He could become ludicrous in the extreme — could satirize, or speak ironically to admiration, and yet I have heard him deliver some of the most solemn discourses to which I ever listened. At this camp-meeting, he had given offence to some of the multitude, by his cutting remarks, and a number had associated together without the camp, and formed a company of from fifty to one hundred, and chosen a leader or captain, and having armed themselves with clubs, were preparing to march into the camp-ground, and take Dow by force, and carry him off and punish him at their leisure, for the insult which he had offered, them.

"Dow got information of their movements before they were ready to enter the camp, and determined to go out and meet them. Several friends strove to dissuade him from this, but he had made up his mind ; and taking Peggy, his wife, by the arm, he immediately started for the road, which was some fifty rods distant. I immediately followed, to see what would be the result. On coming to the highway, where were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, he asked leave of the owner of a huckster's establishment, to stand in the door of his shantee, and address the people. But the occupant objected, saying that should he do it, his building would he torn down at once, and his goods destroyed. He then made application to one or two others who had similar establishments, but being refused by all, he went to a stump where a large oak tree had lately been felled, and there taking his stand, commenced addressing the multitude, who immediately gathered around him. Presently, the hostile band were seen approaching and pressing through the crowd, preceded by their leader, a large and lion-like looking man, whose mouth, like that of many who followed him, was full of cursing and bitterness. They pressed on until the leader stood directly facing Dow, at the foot of the stump.

" He there paused for a moment or two, while the speaker looked him full in the face and continued his discourse. Some one of the band from the rear called out with an oath, ' Why don't you knock him down V and many voicea

PREFACE.

were soon raised, crying, ' Pull him down, knock him down !' But the speaker continued, and the leader stood silent and almost motionless, when some who were in the rear attempted to press through to the stump, being impatient at the delay of their leader. But on their coming up, and making an attempt to pull Dow from the stump, the leader called out, 'Let him alone until he has finished his speech.' But many voices replied with awful oaths, that they would have him down at once. Their captain then raising his club, cried out in a threatening voice, ' Let him alone until he has finished his discourse,' and added, 'I will knock down the first man that attempts to disturb him until he has finished his speech.' This brought them to a full stand ; for I suppose they knew the man whom they had chosen as their leader, and did not think it safe to provoke his wrath against themselves.

" Dow went on with a solemn address for the space of thitty minutes or more, and when he had closed, this captain or leader offered him his hand to assist him down from the stump, and asked him in a very civil manner, where he wished to go. Dow informed him that his design was to return to the camp-ground. The other replied, ' Here are men that will injure you if they can, but if you will accept my services I will not leave you until I see you safe among your friends.' Dow thanked him, and he then called out, ' Who of you will unite with me to see this man safe among his friends on the camp-ground V Some twenty voices responded, ' I will.' Dow then took his wife by the arm, and these volunteers formed around them, and in that order they marched to the ground, the leader having notified all, that if any one offered any violence, it would be at his peril.

" At this meeting, Dow gave something like a prophetic view of the future state of the world and of the church, which made a deep impression on my mind, and led me to watch more closely the progress of events as they have since transpired. I will not here detail the national events to which he alluded, but will give two particulars concerning the church, which he told us we might look for within the next fifty years. The first was the revival of the power and influence of the church of Rome, and that it would be especially realized in these United States : and that if not ourselves, yet some of our children might through that power and influence be called to seal their testimony for Christ with their blood. Now all this seemed very improbable, as the papal power was at that time prostrated by the French revolution, and the subsequent reign of Napoleon Bonaparte : and comparatively little was known of that church in this country, except what was found in the history of former ages. The second item in this seemingly prophetic declaration was, that the churcti of England would, either secretly or openly, become a co-worker with the agents of the church of Rome, in re-establishing its power and influence. Also, that as the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country sympathized with, 01 was influenced by, the Church of England, we might expect to find men among ourselves, who would lend their aid to bring about these results. I shall make no comment on the above. I simply give the statement as I received it."

There are many points in the moral character of Lorenzo Dow well worthy of study. It is not often that we meet with a tenderer heart, or one more open to all the sympathies of life. His friendships were deep and lasting. His affection for his parents, for his beloved Peggy, and for his little infant, will find a hearty response in every honest breast. There are few more genuine traits of simple-heartedness and love of country to be found in any biography than in the Journal of Lorenzo Dow ; and these are the more valuable, as he relates his tale with perfect artlessness, and without the least attempt or desire to produce effect. Though evidently possessed of the finest sympathies, and desiring the good-will of his fellow-men, he yet, at length, became somewhat inured to their contemptuous and scornful treatment. But nature would at times assert her rights, and get the better of all his philosophy. It is singular to see a man who had been steeped in misery, and was thorough-

PREFACE.

iy accustomed to every species of cold-hearted selfishness, bursting into tears, — as he did on one occasion in Ireland, when attempting to sell his watch to supply his wants, — simply on being asked what countryman he was. It is easy to imagine the crowd of tender recollections that came thronging upon the heart of the poor wanderer at such a question.*

Another highly commendable trait in the character of Lorenzo Dow was his manly independence. Though never too proud to receive help from the humblest source, when honestly intended, he yet preferred to suffer the extremest misery rather than accept the smallest favor at the hands of those who would consider him obligated by their bounty to pursue a course contrary to his own convictions of duty. If he relates the truth, and there is no reason to doubt it, more than one attempt of this kind was made upon his destitution, and that by persons high in honor in the church ; but Lorenzo valued such proffers at their true worth, and declined them with a firmness which ought to have gained him the esteem of all good men.

The intellectual endowments of Lorenzo Dow were far from contemptible. He had great natural shrewdness, great firmness, and invincible energy and perseverance. His advantages of early education were small, and he seems never to have attained the power of treating a subject methodically, or of pursuing a course of consecutive reasoning. Still there are many valuable observations for the conduct of life in his writings, and a vein of homely good sense and sound morality pervades them all. He considered the press next to the pulpit for usefulness, and therefore, as he says, he " collected the quintessence" of his writings for the benefit of posterity.

These writings are here given to the public, together with the " Journey of Life," by his wife, Peggy Dow. That they may be useful in exciting a desire to imitate the virtues of their authors, is the earnest wish of the writer of this Preface.

* At length I went into another watchmaker's, who looked at me and said, " Tell me your cheapest price." I said, " A guinea," it being not half the value. He asked me what countryman I was /burst out a crying ; he then gave me a breakfast, a guinea, and a shilling. — Dow's Journal, p. 80

Contents

Preface Page 1

Certificate of Hon. Cadwallader D. Colden, Notary Public 9

Certificate of James Madison, Secretary of State 10

Chapter I

Lorenzo's Birth and Parentage — Early Childhood — Dread of death — Draws a prize in a lottery, in answer to prayer — Severe illness — Dream of the prophet Nathan — Another dream — Deep religious impressions — -The Bible a sealed book — Election and Reprobation — Feelings of despair — Meditates suicide, and goes to the woods with a loaded gun to accomplish it — The Methodists — Reports and opinions concerning them — Preaching of Hope Hull — Powerful effect of his sermon upon Lorenzo, who again meditates suicide — A dream of hell and the devils — Lorenzo's conversion — Happy frame of mind- Doubts and fears Page 13

Chapter II

Lorenzo's call to preach — Temporary blindness — Weak state of health — Despaired of by friends — Convalescence— Exhorts in public — Opposition of parents — A dream of Adam and Eve — Another dream, in which mankind are seen in •he air, suspended by a brittle thread over hell 20

Chapter III

Lorenzo begins to travel — Receives discouraging advice — Is lost in a wilderness — Dreams of John Wesley — A horse is offered him — Sets out for Rhode Island— Reflections on the journey — Gives out a text for the first time — Harsh judgment of T. C. — Receives a dismission from the Presiding Elder, with orders to go home — Deep affliction on account of it — Attends Conference, is examined by the Bishop, rejected, and sent home — Continues to travel and preach — Visits New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont — Is publicly accused by a Baptist preacher of laving down false doctrine

— Crosses the mountains in a snow-storm — The Ruling Elder disapproves of his travelling — Lorenzo's reply — He is again sent home — Approved by the Quarterly Meeting, and sent on a Circuit — Temptations to commit suicide — Opposition from preachers and people — Is encouraged by a dream— Is permitted to travel by the Conference, but is not admitted on trial, and his name refused a place in the minutes — Publicly gives up the name of Methodist — Friends supply his necessities — Goes to Vermont — Attends Quarterly Meeting— Is encouraged— Resolves to get up a revival — Success of his efforts — Offence taken at the plainness of his dress and expressions — Is known by the name of Crazy Dow — Hires a woman for a dollar to spend a day in prayer — A serious dialogue — Effects of thunder and lightning — Solomon Moon's declaration — Conversation with a Cal vinist Baptist preacher — Joyful meetings in the new countries — Terrible declaration of a sick woman — A stranger attempts to wring Lorenzo's nose — Lorenzo preaches in Swanton — Publicly opposed by three Baptist preachers — Is seized with a fever at Danhy — Relieved b) drinking plentifully of cold water — Carried to a rich man's house— Cold reception — Reports of his death — An act of Faith — Restoration to health Page 25

Chapter IV

Lorenzo is admitted on trial — Sets off for the north — Rides twenty-three miles in a snow-storm — The wild geese driven from their course — Lorenzo calls the sun, moon, and stars, the fowls of the air, and beasts of the field, to witness against the people — Attends Quarterly Meeting in Ashgrove — Is complained of and whipped by brother Hutchinson — Six hundred join the Methodists — Lorenzo starts for the south — Bread thrown upon the waters— Fall of a reprobation preacher — Lorenzo preaches at Green River — Enters the meeting-house in a borrowed great-coat and two hats — Alarm and excitement of the people — Visits New Concord — Prays God in public that something awful may happen in the neighborhood — Awful fate of a blasphemous young man — The gingerbread lottery — The fiddler thrown out of employ — In Alford Lorenzo preaches Methodism, inside and outside — A lady imagines her elegant dress

• is aimed at — Lorenzo shames her — He visits Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield, and Bethlehem — -Writes to conference for permission to visit Ireland— Visits his parents — Preaches a funeral sermon with great effect— Leaves home again — Crosses the Canada line — Preaches to the offscouring of the earth — Strong desire to visit Ireland — Discouraged by the brethren — Sells his horse — Goes to St. Johns — Is examined by the officers — Bargains with a sea-captain for a passage to Dublin — Sails for Quebec — Is tarred and tallowed by the sailors — Suspected of be

CONTENTS.

Ing a spy — Offers are made him to enlist — Finds friends lit Quebec — Sails for Dublin — A terrible gale — Reflections on the voyage — Narrow escape from shipwreck — Arrives at Lame, in the north of Ireland — Goes ashore — Inquires for Methodists — Finds a few— Is scolded by a woman for not playing for the king — Preaches frequently— Great improvement in his health Page 45

Chapter V

Lorenzo goes to Dublin — Finds Methodists and attends meetings — Calls on the preachers — Is advised to return to America — Is publicly reproved by Mr. Tobias — Great discouragements — Is comforted by a dream — Is invited by a Scotch soldier to preach in the barracks — A mysterious dream explained — Lorenzo parts with half his money to a starving woman — Visits Belfast, Carrickfergus, Ballycary. Strode, Cogray, anil Carley — Dialogue with a magistrate — Is threatened with the guard-house — Preaches in the streets near Belfast, and is sent to prison — Preaches to the prisoners, and is discharged — Goes to the Isle of Man — The sailors steal his provisions — Returns to Dublin — Goes to Hull — Speaks in a Quaker meeting, for W'hich he is reproved — Ideas on Grammar, the Bible, and Christianity — On Baptism and the Lord's Supper — Goes to Kilkenny — Returns to Dublin and meets Dr. Coke, who proposes to him a missionary station at Halifax or Quebec, which he declines — Is threatened with the vengeance of Lonl Castlereagh — Is discountenanced by the conference, and his way completely hedged up — Prints a sketch of his experience 61

Chapter VI

Lorenzo sickens of the small-pox— Is kindly treated and recovers — Is solicited to play at cards — Consents to play one game— Goes to Hackelslown, and inquires for swaddlers— Is solicited to accept a razor, which he refuses— Is blamed for not drinking wine and dressing ministerially —Visits the famous Vinegar Hill— Has eleven shillings forced on him, hut refuses two shirts — Is closely questioned by a magistrate — Sells his watch for a guinea, and gives half of it to a poor man — Returns to Dublin — Prints three thousand handbills to warn the people of Dublin — Directs one to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland — Visits Tullemore, Tuain, Hollymount, Foxford, &c 72

Chapter VII

Lorenzo takes leave of his friends and sails for America — Arrives at New York — Is stationed on the Dutchess and Columbia circuit, Freeborn Garrettson presiding elder— Visits his parents — Multitudes flock to hear him 86

Chapter VIII

Lorenzo resolves to travel the continent at large — Sails from New York for Savannah, Georgia — Arrival — Spends some hours in a churchyard —Andrew the black preacher — Jealousy of a brother preacher — Reflections on the hooptnc crane — Visits Augusta — Inquires for Methodists, and is directed to a Frenchman, who treats him with great contempt — Stops with a black family — 4. young clergyman gives him a broadside in a flowery prayer — Ho|ie Hull leaves him to paddle his own canoe — Is near being knocked over by the falling of a black woman —Meets Slith Mead — Visits Charleston— Finds the preachers friendly, bnt shy — Holds picked meetings — Sails for New York Pauc 90

Chapter IX

Is sick at New York — The preachers are shy of him — Preaches at the State Prison and Almshouse — Goes to New Haven — Stones are thrown at him through the windows while preaching there — Visits Midilletown and Eastbnry — Selling the Gospel not in good demand — Obtains the blessing of sanctification by an act of faith — Visits Coventry, Lebanon, Scotland, Canterbury, Preston, Stoningtot Grolon, New London, &c. — In Hartford his horse throws him and runs away — Returns to New York — The preaching-houses shut against him — Visits Turkey, in New Jersey 102

Chapter X

Lorenzo visits Massachusetts — Fails to obtain a hearing in Boston — Sets off for Georgia — Gets into the wrong pulpit by mistake, and is driven out by the sexton — Reaches Philadelphia — Is severely hatchelled hy Mr. Cooper and Elder Ware — Visits Wilmington and Baltimore - Stops in North Carolina — A woman warns the people against him as a horse thief — Reaches Georgia and attends a camp meeting— Visits Augusta — The governor offers him money— A narrow escape from a raving heifer — Sets off for the west — Travels through the Choctaw nation — Reaches Natchez — A ride through Cumberland woods — Is seized by a party of Indians — Escapes by flight — Hears the cries of the catamounts — Reaches Nashville — Preaches in a groc-house— Travels to Kentucky — Preaches at Frankfort in the playhouse — Arrives in Virginia, ragged and dirty — Preaches in Bedford county — Takes his text from The Jige of Reason — Finds Jesse Lee — A constable in Raleigh attempts to arrest him as a horse thief — Returns to Georgia — Rules for HolyLiving. 1'*

Chapter I

Lorenzo visits the upper counties of Georgia — Preaches on A-double-L-partism — Preaches at Louisville in the Slatehou.e — A Biptisi preach er attempts to upset him from a chair— Receives a recommendation signed by the governor of Georgia, the secretary of state, and twenty-eight members of the legislature— Visits Savannah — Returns to Augusta — Meets Dr. Coke — Goes to South Carolina — Preaches at Charleston — Goes to Raleigh, N. C. and preaches in the Statehouse — Preaches in Buncombe — Starts for Tennessee — Singular phenomena of the jerks, and their extensive prevalence 126

Chapter II

Lorenzo starts for Virginia — Preaches in Culpep per, before one of the President's daughters- Preaches at Prince Edward before the lawyers — Prepares an Address to the people of Virginia — The Snake and the Hedgehog — Preaches at Yorktown — Scarcely a white Christian in the place — Hears of the death of his mother. . 135

Chapter IX

Lorenzo, accompanied by his wife Peggy, sails for Liverpool — Arnv.il— Reflections on the ancient castles — Preaches in Liverpool — Visits Manchester — Calls on .labez Buntin, who refuses to see him — Goes to London — Gets the king's license to slay in the kingdom— The "wooden walls" of the British — Returns to Manchester— PreHches in a salt pan — Kind reception by Adam Clarke— Cool contempt of Dr.

Coke — (Joes to Dublin— Finds a hearty welcome — Visits and preaches in several places — Returns to Liverpool — Visits Leeds and Yorkshire — Conversation with Adam Clarke— Returns to Dublin— Meeting with a coxcomb— Delends himself in a public meeting — Is injured by a stone thrown at him by a boy— The mob assemble at his meetings— Reflections on his thirtieth year— Returns to Liverpool— A dumb boy attends Lorenzo's preaching, and is enabled to speak— A Deist converted— Great effects of his labors at Macclesfield and Congleton— nines? of Peggy— Returns to Ireland for a general visit— Death of his only child— Remarkable experience of Mr. Averill — A Roman priest, with a whip and club, drives away the people who are listening to Lorenzo — He returns to Liverpool—Six kinds of Methodists in England- Comparative state of religion in England and America— Returns to America 180

CHAPTER X. A short account of " Eccentric Cosmopolite." 215

CHAPTER XL

Lorenzo's labors and travels in Virginia — Is collared by lawyer Baker, who threatens to break his neck — The ladies take his part — Has to apologize for wearing a single-breasted coat- Sees the wife of the " Wild Man of the Woods"

—Meets Jesse Lee— Retributions of Providence 222

Chapter XII

Conclusion — Lorenzo's temporal affairs— Moral and religious reflections — Visits New York and Philadelphia— Reflections on historical incidents—Visits Ohio and Kentucky— A great earthquake in Missouri— Goes to New Orleans — Visits the battleground of General Jackson's victory— Returns to New York— C ompletes a tour through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, 1810 Page 228

The Chain op Lorenzo 247

Reflections on the important subject of Matrimony 284

Analects upon Natural, Social, and Moral Philosophy.

Introduction 298

Of the Law of Nature 299

Of Personal Rights 299

Of Social Rights 300

Of Moral Rights 302

Of Governments 305

Of Divine Delegation 305

Of the Pope's Power 308

The Dawn of Liberty • 311

Of Forms of Government 314

Right of Property held under Monarchs 315

Of Representation 316

Nature and Design, and Enaction of Law... 316

Of the Law of Nations 317

Recapitulation 318

A Contrast 318

Of Punishments 318

Of Political Existence 321

Of the Spread of the Gospel 328

Summary Review 331

Conclusion 336

A Journey from Babylon to Jerusalem: or, the Road to Peace.

Introduction 340

Reflections on Nature 341

Miscellaneous Reflections 342

Moral Inquiries 344

Of Hieroglyphic Babylon 344

Of Jerusalem 346

Of Moral Evil 347

Of Man's Fall 349

Of the New Birth 350

Of Repentance 351

Of Faith 352

Of Hope 355

OfCharity 355

Of Fasting 356

Of Prayer 357

Of Watching 358

Of the Night of Death 360

Of Hell and Paradise 361

Of the Day of Judgment 361

Of Providence in Nature 363

Of Spirits Good and Evil 364

Of the Resurrection 366

Of the Lake of Fire 367

Of the Heavenly Jerusalem 367

Conclusion 369

A Dialogue between the Curious and Singular 372

Hints on the Fulfilment of Prophecy 382

On the Ministry 396

Appendix 416

Vicissitudes of the Journey op Life.

By Peggy Dow 425

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

STATE OF NEW YORK, ss.

Tseal 1 ^ *^ IS P u k' ic instrument, be it known to all whom the same *■ J may or doth concern, that I, Cadwallader D. Colden, a Public Notary, in and for the State of New York, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the said State, duly commissioned and sworn, and in and by the said Letters Patent invested " with full powers and authority to attest deeds, wills, testaments, codicils, agreements, and other instruments in writing, and to administer any oath or oaths to any person or persons," do hereby certify, that on the day of the date hereof, personally appeared before me the said Notary, the Reverend Lorenzo Dow, whose person being by me particularly examined, appears to me to be of the age of twenty-eight years, or thereabouts ; of the height of five feet ten inches: rather light complexioned, and much marked with the small-pox; having small light eyes, dark brown hair and eyebrows, small features, and a short visage, a scrofulous mark on his neck under his chin, on the right side : and the said Lorenzo Dow being by me duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and sailh, that he was born in the town of Coventry, in the State of Connecticut, in the United States of America, of Humphrey B. Dow, and Tabitha his wife, who was Tabitha Parker; that his said parents were also born in the said town ; that his mother is dead, but his father is yet living, and resides in the same place. And the said deponent further saith, that he is the person named, intended and described as Lorenzo Dow, in all and each of the several documents hereunto annexed, which are respectively lettered A, B, C, D, and which are now produced to me, the said Notary, and lettered as aforesaid by me, the said Notary, and my notarial firm thereon written.