ABSTRACT
I was born in the city of Middletown in the state of Connecticut July 30th 1804. When I was about nine years old I began to have my mind seriously and religiously exercised, and at times in a powerful manner was my mind exercised by night and by day concerning God, eternity, the Savior, Heaven and Hell, <and> good and evil spirits. Here I must mention one circumstance which has provided a great blessing to me: it was so ordered that about this time I came under the care of my Grandmother Elizabeth Russell she being a devout person and a woman that feared God she discerning the workings of my mind took great pains to learn me to read and understand the Scriptures as far as she was able.
