Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 11, 1831
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 11, 1831
transcriberTranscriber:spp:mep
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-01-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 11, 1831
action: sent
sender:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Albany NY
Place
Name: City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: mep
revision: ekk 2015-09-09
<>
Page 1
Teusday evening
My Dear Henry, I have written in one letter to you to day
but the boys having gone to sleep so much earlier than usual
I could not let this evening pass unimproved. Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
has
gone to Compstons
Name: Maryann Cumpston
Birth: 1800
Death: 1851-06-04
Name: Samuel Cumpston
Birth: 1784-08-18
Death: 1850-04-03
to tea. We have all had invitations to
a party to at Dr Rudds
Name: John Rudd
Birth: 1779-05-24
Death: 1848-04-15
tomorrow evening but expect
Debby Wood
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
and George
Name: George Wood
Birth: 1806
Death: 1844-02-06
's sister
of course. Since I commenced writing Clary has come
home with oceans of news which I believe it is too late to
write to night. Gus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
was looking very sorry the
other day
Clary asked him what he was thinking about he said he was
thinking about his Pa he was so sorry he had got to stay all
alone this winter. I have been employed to day in making him
a knapsack and Peter
Name: Peter Crosby
Birth:
Death:
has been to J. Millers and ordered a
canteen. Augustus was so enamoured with Peters accoutrements
the other day that we have had no peace since, he was
very much afraid I would not have money enough to pay
for the canteen and when Peter told him it would cost but
one shilling he came running to me and said it did not
cost but one money he was very glad for he did not want to
take all of his Ma's money away from her-he never will
allow me to express any dissatisfaction with Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
always says
"Ma he is a poor little baby and dont know any better"____
will stand patiently and let Fred pick his hair or put his
fingers in his eyes for amusement. Wednesday evening. George
Wood Debby and the sister have just left here. Mr Watson
Name: Robert Watson
Birth: 1806
Death: 1845Certainty: Probable
and Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
still occupy the south room. From the "Free Press" of to day
"Married on _____ at Avon by the Rev _____ Dr Joseph T Pitney
Name: Joseph Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18
Death: 1853-04-20
of
Auburn to Mrs Harriet Trask
Name: Harriet Pitney
Birth: 1797-12-04
Death: 1862-05
ar of the former place, widow of the
Page 2
late Dr Trask
Name: William Trask
Birth: 1786-04-10
Death: 1827-03-16
of
Missisippy
Name: Mississippi City:
County:
State: MS
Country: US
[
.
]
Reason: This was some of the news Clary brought home last evening, she
said
the Dr had returned and told Mr Horner
Mrs Trask but we rather doubted it supposing he had said this in
jest, to day the marriage appeared in due form. This is the
same lady that was here from the west some time this fall.
The girls are acquainted with her. -Cornelia
Name: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805-10-29
Death: 1839-01-04
knew nothing of the Dr's
intentions when she went to Aurora
Name: City: Aurora
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
where she has been since New Years.
The Dr perhaps had not made up his mind when he left home, he took
letters of introduction to seven widows so says madam rumour
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
.
Deb has talked so fast and so much that I can hardly remember
what she did say-told divers stories about Dr Pitneys mean-
ness among other things when he went down to purchace his
furniture he took a silver tea set which belonged to Mrs Dill
engraven on them, and had them converted into two sets
of teaspoons which he presented to his two amiable daughters
who had just enough of their fathers n nature to accept &
and value such a present instead of returning them to their
rightful owners-a hundred other things equally generous and
feeling-George Williams
Name: George Williams
Birth: 1793-10-23
Death: 1884-05-14
was married to one
of the Miss Hoffmans
Monday night-last evening Ambrose Cock
Name: Ambrose Cock
Birth: 1779-08-13
Death: 1850-02-02
lost a little
boy
Name: Daniel Cock
Birth: 1806-11-11
Death: 1850-10-28
's babe
Name: Charles Cock
Birth: 1829-12-17
Death: 1831-01-17
is dangerously ill with the same disease-Mrs Gunn
has a babe
to recover-Mrs Smith
Name: Frances Smith
Birth: 1800
Death: 1877Certainty: Probable
's
Caroline
Name: Caroline Dudley
Birth: 1822-02-11
Death: 1894-01-01Certainty: Probable
has the fever also, I believe
these are all the cases which come within the circle of our acquain-
tance-I am constantly in fear that Augustus and Freddie will
get it-Mrs G.B. Throop
Name: Frances Throop
Birth: 1806-02-11
Death: 1872-06-17
goes to Albany with her three
children when
the young Enos
Name: Eliza Rochester
Birth: 1800
Death: 1885
says the reason she
Page 3
did not accompany "dear
Name: Gershom Powers
Birth: 1789-07-11
Death: 1831-06-25
" to
Washington
Name: City: Washington D.C.
County:
State: DC
Country: US
was because his health was so
poor. Mrs Rudd
Name: Phebe Rudd
Birth: 1785
Death:
returns her thanks in the Gospel Messenger for
the cloak presented to her by the ladies-Mrs Coffin
Name: Susan Coffin
Birth: 1801-04-08
Death: Certainty: Probable
of Ithica
Name: City: Ithaca
County: Tompkins County
State: NY
Country: US
has a young son-Dr Pitney left his wife at Geneva
Name: City: Geneva
County: Ontario, Seneca
State: NY
Country: US
and
came on
to prepare the house for her reception-Bronson
Name: Parliament Bronson
Birth: 1792
Death: 1857-06-20
is paying attention
to the eldest Miss Wallace
Unknown
Unknown say they came here to wear out their old
clothes.
The y second daughter
Reason: rge's
sister says was not supposed at Aurora to have common sense
I suspected as much before. This I believe is the substance of all
the gossip I have heard. I will not be answerable for its authen-
ticity. tomorrow Clary tomorrow Clary and Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
go to Romulus
Name: City: Romulus
County: Seneca County
State: NY
Country: US
I shall be lonely enough. I have more than half got the hypo
about the scarlet fever Good night dearest. Thursday night.
This morning while we were eating breakfast Nancy
Name: Nancy Schooley Scott
Birth: 1809-04-10
Death: 1879-08-19Certainty: Probable
brought a note
from Lazette saying that Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
would
not let her go to Romulus-would
not get a sleigh or let Frances
Name: Frances Chesebro
Birth: 1826-12-12
Death: 1909-08-21
go if she went in any other way. She said
she had been up until one oclock every night this week making prepara-
tion to go which he knew and appeared to approve. No one knows what
made him change his mind on purpose to tyrranize I believe. Clary
would have gone with Edward
considered it quite doubtful from the beginning. I have been up spending
the day with Lazette took Gus and Fred. Worden was just as good natured and
appeared as well satisfied with himself as if he has disappointed no one.
The room is not papered yet-they had been painting and Augustus and
Frances by way of amusement went into the room and eat white paint-
we were very much frightened when they told what they had been doing
sent down for Worden who came soon after with Dr Humphreys
Name: Erastus Humphreys
Birth: 1785-05-17
Death: 1848-03-09
. We could
not ascertain what quantity they had eat. Augustus said Frances did not
dip her finger in but once but he did a great many times-she told the
same story-the Dr thought it advisable to give him a portion of oil-he
was very much frightened thought he was going to die. We came home soon
after. Augustus has just taken the oil like a good boy and gone to bed
I promised to tell his pa in my letter how nice he had been. I think he
was too much frightened ever to do the like again. Mrs Gunn died this
morning between seven and eight oclock. Your letter on paper 'colour de rose'
came this morning. You must not say any thing more about my coming
down this winter. I was reading one of your letters to Grandma
Name: Paulina Miller
Birth: 1751
Death: 1835-10-03
the other day
when you said you regretted my not going. Well says Grandma I thought
Henry a man of more sense only see how much the Throops are laughed
about'. I could not convince her that it was not the circumstance of their
going but their conduct while there that excited ridicule. She cannot see into
the propriety of any thing that was not done by the members of the legislature
who went from Westchester
Name: Westchester County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
and Ransellear
Name: Rensselaer County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
, some 20 or 30 year ago. Peter said
he had been asked a great many times why I did not go appeared to be quite
astonished when I mentioned that you wished it. I had always considered that
so much a matter of course that I never thought of speaking of it. your Frances
Page 4
William H. Seward.
Albany.
Auburn NY Jan. 15
Type: postmark
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
F.A. Seward
Jan. 15 1831
Teusday evening
My Dear Henry, I have written in one letter to you to day
but the boys having gone to sleep so much earlier than usual
I could not let this evening pass unimproved. Clary
Person
gone to Compstons
People
a party to at Dr Rudds
Person
Debby Wood
Person
Person
Unknown
here to tea-shall not goof course. Since I commenced writing Clary has come
home with oceans of news which I believe it is too late to
write to night. Gus
Person
Clary asked him what he was thinking about he said he was
thinking about his Pa he was so sorry he had got to stay all
alone this winter. I have been employed to day in making him
a knapsack and Peter
Person
canteen. Augustus was so enamoured with Peters accoutrements
the other day that we have had no peace since, he was
very much afraid I would not have money enough to pay
for the canteen and when Peter told him it would cost but
one shilling he came running to me and said it did not
cost but one money he was very glad for he did not want to
take all of his Ma's money away from her-he never will
allow me to express any dissatisfaction with Fred
Person
"Ma he is a poor little baby and dont know any better"____
will stand patiently and let Fred pick his hair or put his
fingers in his eyes for amusement. Wednesday evening. George
Wood Debby and the sister have just left here. Mr Watson
Person
Person
still occupy the south room. From the "Free Press" of to day
"Married on _____ at Avon by the Rev _____ Dr Joseph T Pitney
Person
Auburn to Mrs Harriet Trask
Person
late Dr Trask
Person
Place
Supplied
the Dr had returned and told Mr Horner
Unknown
that he was
married to Mrs Trask but we rather doubted it supposing he had said this in
jest, to day the marriage appeared in due form. This is the
same lady that was here from the west some time this fall.
The girls are acquainted with her. -Cornelia
Person
intentions when she went to Aurora
Place
The Dr perhaps had not made up his mind when he left home, he took
letters of introduction to seven widows so says madam rumour
Person
Deb has talked so fast and so much that I can hardly remember
what she did say-told divers stories about Dr Pitneys mean-
ness among other things when he went down to purchace his
furniture he took a silver tea set which belonged to Mrs Dill
Unknown
-his
last wife, had hers and her first husbandsUnknown
nameengraven on them, and had them converted into two sets
of teaspoons which he presented to his two amiable daughters
who had just enough of their fathers n nature to accept &
and value such a present instead of returning them to their
rightful owners-a hundred other things equally generous and
feeling-George Williams
Person
Unknown
Monday night-last evening Ambrose Cock
Person
boy
Unknown
seven years old with the scarlet fever-DanielPerson
Person
is dangerously ill with the same disease-Mrs Gunn
Unknown
who has a babe
Unknown
a week old has the scarlet fever and is not expected to recover-Mrs Smith
Person
Person
these are all the cases which come within the circle of our acquain-
tance-I am constantly in fear that Augustus and Freddie will
get it-Mrs G.B. Throop
Person
the young Enos
Unknown
is a month old. Mrs PowersPerson
did not accompany "dear
Person
Place
poor. Mrs Rudd
Person
the cloak presented to her by the ladies-Mrs Coffin
Person
Place
has a young son-Dr Pitney left his wife at Geneva
Place
to prepare the house for her reception-Bronson
Person
to the eldest Miss Wallace
Unknown
-Merit to the second-The Miss
Wallace’sPeople
Unknown
Unknown
The y second daughter
Unknown
who has so many strange actions Ge[
o
]
Supplied
sister says was not supposed at Aurora to have common sense
I suspected as much before. This I believe is the substance of all
the gossip I have heard. I will not be answerable for its authen-
ticity. tomorrow Clary tomorrow Clary and Lazette
Person
Place
I shall be lonely enough. I have more than half got the hypo
about the scarlet fever Good night dearest. Thursday night.
This morning while we were eating breakfast Nancy
Person
from Lazette saying that Worden
Person
not get a sleigh or let Frances
Person
she had been up until one oclock every night this week making prepara-
tion to go which he knew and appeared to approve. No one knows what
made him change his mind on purpose to tyrranize I believe. Clary
would have gone with Edward
Unknown
but she depended upon his sending them Iconsidered it quite doubtful from the beginning. I have been up spending
the day with Lazette took Gus and Fred. Worden was just as good natured and
appeared as well satisfied with himself as if he has disappointed no one.
The room is not papered yet-they had been painting and Augustus and
Frances by way of amusement went into the room and eat white paint-
we were very much frightened when they told what they had been doing
sent down for Worden who came soon after with Dr Humphreys
Person
not ascertain what quantity they had eat. Augustus said Frances did not
dip her finger in but once but he did a great many times-she told the
same story-the Dr thought it advisable to give him a portion of oil-he
was very much frightened thought he was going to die. We came home soon
after. Augustus has just taken the oil like a good boy and gone to bed
I promised to tell his pa in my letter how nice he had been. I think he
was too much frightened ever to do the like again. Mrs Gunn died this
morning between seven and eight oclock. Your letter on paper 'colour de rose'
came this morning. You must not say any thing more about my coming
down this winter. I was reading one of your letters to Grandma
Person
when you said you regretted my not going. Well says Grandma I thought
Henry a man of more sense only see how much the Throops are laughed
about'. I could not convince her that it was not the circumstance of their
going but their conduct while there that excited ridicule. She cannot see into
the propriety of any thing that was not done by the members of the legislature
who went from Westchester
Place
Place
he had been asked a great many times why I did not go appeared to be quite
astonished when I mentioned that you wished it. I had always considered that
so much a matter of course that I never thought of speaking of it. your Frances
William H. Seward.
Albany.
Auburn NY Jan. 15
Stamp
Person
Jan. 15 1831
date:
Tuesday, January 11, 1831
receiver:
sender:
year: