This letter was written by Thomas Gilpin to his cousin Jane Strawbridge Ledyard at Cazenovia, New York.

Philadelphia 27 Nov. 1852

Jane Ledyard

My dear Cousin!

I intended to write thee again since the receipt of thy note of the 5. inst. on the completion of the diagram of our branch of the Gilpin family - but this owing to delay for information has not been accomplished till a short time since and now just returned me by the engraver.
I have therefore made up a note, to go in company with this by the mail - and have put with it another, more perfect impression of the English descent - a view of the original Family Manison of Kentmere ancient and new - and a likeness I have just had engraved of Bernard Gilpin - these I venture to ask may be kindly regarded and preserved, as the venerated Sampler of the name-sake the amiable Jane Parker.
-The View of Kentmere is taken from a drawing, made at its date by Ann Maury, who permits me to put her name to it and the likeness of Bernard Gilpin from the best print I could obtain-and it is so handsome, it must be a true one as it is a general resemblance to so many Members of the Family.
After the receipt of the letter I waited on Mrs. Kent from whom I had a note induced by the request to give me an account of Mrs. Borden's family, and her own - all of which are duly added in place - but my delay has been caused by my not receiving sooner from our Cousin Mary Gilpin of Elkton Md. the particulars respecting her Brother Dtc. [doctor?] John Gilpin's family of Kittaning.
I cannot now rely upon completing all my papers, by New Year's ay - owing also to my not being so personally able to confirm all my anticipations - I took the liberty to mention it in a former letter - because as Ladies are active correspondents I thought in these telegraphic days I might be called on to account for information from abroad which could not be obtained at home.
I omitted by inattention to reply to thy enquiry respecting my brother's family - its residence is here - Mary Gilpin my Sister - his widow lives near me - and she is near my age, in good health - Sarah her eldest daughter who knows thee lives with her as does also Mary and Richard a Gilpin - Elizabeth (Maury) lives with her family Matthew Maury and her two children in New York - Henry D. Gilpin and his wife live here, but have returned not long since from a summer tour from every where westward - Kentucky, Ohio, New York - Canada & - and William the youngest who has from his early life, been fondly devoted to “the tented field” - has, after various military arrangement up and down the Mississippi and in a Florida campain with a land tour in 1841 to the Pacific - and in Donaphan's Long March - settled I hope at rest at Independence Mo. - a Farmer - and a Lawyer - his March thro' Life has been wholly of his own selecting - attended with perseverance - prudence - and discretion.
Respectfully - thy affectionate Cousin
-Thomas Gilpin

A note written on the back of my copy of this letter (which may have been written on the original), says:

Mr. Gilpin completed his task to distributed [sic] his genealogical diagram about Christmas - and died March 3d 1853 - in the 77th year of his age (b. 10 Sept. 1776).