Smallpox 125 Years Ago in the Vicinity of New Haven The following letter was written by Juda Baldwin from North Humphreyville-Stratford, a location between what is now known as Milford and Stratford, to her children, Mr. And Mrs. Clement Botsford of Newtown, Conn. The original of this letter is in possession of Miss Minnie Weed, 96 Marvel Road, New Haven, Conn., a descendant of Juda Baldwin. N.H-Stratford        April 28, 1803. Dear Children:- This is to give you the unexpected and heavy news, that Mr. Baldwin your Father is no more in this world, he died with that dreadful disorder the small Pox on the 30th of March, all the rest of our family has had the small Pox and is now recovered or nearly well. Martia Broke out the Natural way with the disorder about the 15th of March and the small Pox being likely to go through the country generally it was thought best to enoculate, which we did, all but John who was not willing on any account to take it. He has since had it the natural way, and is now almost recovered, and we are about Cleaning our house. You will undoubtedly conceive that since Martia was first taken, we have had a very serious and distressing time, our home a pest house for the small Pox, and Mr. Baldwin Dying much unexpected, as we did not apprehend him to be dangerously ill until a bout the day before he Died, and we could have but very few Neighbors to visit us, on account of the disorder we were obliged to mourn almost alone, as the Psalmist expresses it. We an each of us Individually desire to be remembered to you all, and as we e are sensible you will mourn with us. Wee Desire your prayers to Almighty God, that, wee may be Suitably Imprest with a sense of our loss, and may not murmur at the will of Divine Providence but Improve this lesson and prepare ourselves for our own chan ge from this to the world of Spirits; Wee shall expect you to write soon after you receive this letter and wee will then write to you again. As the Estate is left Intestate wee shall wish for your advice in Settling. Wee desire you to either send this o r write to your Brother Heath at the Ninepartners (as the rout from here is Indirect) the first safe conveyance and Inform him of his Father's death and our situation. Please to accept my sincere desires and prayers for your health and happynefs now and in the world to come. JUDA BALDWIN. P.S. You will undoubtedly be surprised at the Small Pox being in this unpopulous country but in the beginning of the winter it was Brought from Canada and has in a great measure gone through the Country. Of late the Kine Pox has been Introduced and is of great use and will Stop the Small Pox from Spreading- this letter canot be Infected as it was wrote by a Neighbor wheare the Small Pox has not been. J.B.