Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 1, 1831
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 1, 1831
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Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-02-01
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, February 1, 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: alc
revision: dxt 2015-09-10
<>
Page 1
Teusday night 1st February
My Dear Henry, After finishing my letter to you yesterday I went up
and staid a couple of hours with Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
, found her rather desponding.
W
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
had been very cross and struck her while she was attempting to punish
Frances
Name: Francis Chesebro
Birth: 1854-02-12
Death: 1931-05-23
for some misdemeanor. I did not stay to
tea and was so fortunate
as not to meet him. Lazette says she asked Capt. Worden
that house. He said he had proposed to Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
to purchase it but
frankly
told him it was not for himself and that no payment could be made
immediately. Pa told him his price and that he might ^take^ posession of the house
but was not willing at that time to and has since evaded giving him
a deed, (is that what you say in such cases, at all events you know what I
mean). Do you know any thing of this? I always understood that Capt
Worden had purchased the house himself. I do hope Pa will never let
it go into the hands of Alvah Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
he would most assuredly
mortgage or sell it before the expiration of one year. Lazette says Capt
Worden told her she could live there as long as she pleased he had no doubt.
If Worden cannot provide food for his family I think he must be indeed
past all hope. Lazette says he never proposed to her to board as he told
you he had, but that she had often proposed it if he thought it less
expensive and he would give her no answer. I stopped at Muirs
Name: Robert Muir
Birth: 1790
Death: 1868-02-17
Name: Nancy Muir
Birth: 1801-01-27
Death: 1864-01-08
as I went
up and got her a calico frock she has worn the last one she had a
year and there was no prospect of her getting another. I found Mrs Hills
Name: Sarah Hills
Birth:
Death: 1913-11-12
there making a call she looked very pretty and was uncommonly agreeable
much more free from affectation than usual she was going to see Mrs Throop
Name: Frances Throop
Birth: 1806-02-11
Death: 1872-06-17
and the young Enos
Name: Enos Throop Martin
Birth: 1808-11-25
Death: 1883-09-19
. Enos having arrived at the age of one month they
depart next week for the east. Mrs Throop says now that she is going with her
three babies and two nurses to Albany Utica
Name: City: Utica
County: Oneida County
State: NY
Country: US
to spend the winter at her fathers
Name: Montgomery Throop
Birth: 1827-01-26
Death: 1892-09-11
I imagine she will leave some of her retinue there and go herself to Albany. She
is not well pleased with calling her babe Enos but the Governor must be complimented
George
Name: George Throop
Birth: 1793-04-12
Death: 1854-02-23
says. Mrs Hills told us a strange story
about Dr Morgan
Name: John Morgan
Birth:
Death:
attempting to sue
Mrs Hotchkiss
Name: Caroline Hotchkiss
Birth: 1804
Death: 1889-01-24Certainty: Probable
for accusing him of
malpractice in Mrs
McMasters
some time ago, did you ever hear any thing of the kind? It is too long a story to write
Mrs Hills says that she was told by old Mrs Fitch
Name: Lanah Fitch
Birth: 1802
Death: 1866-07-16
who it appears was one of
the parties implicated. Mrs Isac Miller
Name: Martha Miller
Birth: 1777
Death:
called when I was
there, about as
interesting as usual. Mrs Dr Smith
Name: Anne Smith
Birth: 1801-08-15
Death:
also called she had on a gay bonnet.
Page 2
a satin filesse &c, with a pair of the Dr’s
Name: Ira Smith
Birth: 1780-12-27
Death: 1839-12-04
old woolen socks drawn over her
shoes to correspond. Taste. I had but very little of the 2 hours alone with Lazette
she is quite well again but has had a dreadful sore throat. Betsy Pitney
Name: Betsy Pitney
Birth: 1788
Death:
called
at our house in the course of the day is spending a few days at the Exchange with
her beloved parents. Grandma
Name: Paulina Miller
Birth: 1751
Death: 1835-10-03
felt
somewhat inclined to quarrel with her because
Pitney
Name: Joseph Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18
Death: 1853-04-20
had beat Leonard
come to an open rupture which I was fearful would happen at one time. Maria Harris
Name: Maria Harris
Birth:
Death: 1835-12-05
and Cornelia Pitney
Name: Cornelia Pitney
Birth: 1811-10-06
Death: 1838-05-09
also called, strange enough it may appear but the Dr
has been and brought Maria out of his own accord. Betsy Pitney imputes this
act of grace to the intereference of his new wife. Maria returns home some time
this week. The Dr flourishes to his hearts content in his new dwelling, keeps
four fires in constant operation, a hired man a little girl and Bettsy is in pursuit
of a large girl to do chamber work. Mrs Pitney sits in the parlour and wears
white kid gloves. Unless the Dr is a new man, completely metamorphosed this
state of things cannot continue any length of time. Mary returns home this month
Cornelia appears quite as insensible as ever. Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
went to Compstons
Name: Samuel Cumpston
Birth: 1784-08-18
Death: 1850-04-03
to tea
where she was rallied considerably about riding with Hugh
Name: Hugh McClallen
Birth: 1791
Death: 1860-11-16
. Came home
in a
snow storm, it continued snowing all night this morning it was almost
impossible to get along. Serene
Name: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1802
Death:
sent for us to
come and take tea there with
the inducement of Betsy’s Pitney’s agreeable company, we could not go through
the snow on foot it is so deep so Peter
Name: Peter Crosby
Birth:
Death:
got Mr
Richardsons
Name: Joseph Richardson
Birth: 1776-06-05
Death: 1853-04
liver v
and horse and drove us over, had a very pleasant visit came home soon after
tea because I could not leave Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
long. Grandma considers it a crime of
the first magnitude if I ever go out of the house says people ought not to have
children if they cannot stay at home and take care of them. Fred was a good
little boy and did not make any trouble, his cough is abating, all day
yesterday Grandma was fully persuaded he had the Whooping cough
because Mrs Dr Smith said she was afraid her youngest child had
it, a very rational conclusion, he has cut an upper tooth we discovered
it by his grating them together for his own amusement, his gums have been
badly swollen some time, he does not appear to have much respite from his
afflictions. Your Friday’s letter came last night but I am so tired and sleepy
that I shall not say any thing about it to night I must go to bed good
night dear one.
Wednesday night
Dear Henry I am equally weary to night. Fred has cried and I have walked
with him until I can hardly move I took some cold going out last evening
my head pains me all over. Fred has a cold, is cutting teeth, and has a stye
coming on one eye, dont you think he has some reason to cry. Betsy Pitney
and Maria Harris have spent the afternoon here, the conversation was of course
all about the Dr. I cannot tell you half the very ridiculous things he says
and does until I can talk to you. They say his wife appears amiable
and pleasant. I am sorry for her. The discription of the dinners in your
letter were extremely satisfactory to Grandma. She told Pa something about
it and both of them being deaf they had made a strange story of it
when I was questioned Pa had got it that Granger
Name: Francis Granger
Birth: 1792-12-01
Death: 1868-08-31
had given a dinner
and Grandma that you had given a dinner to Granger. I despaired of
making them both comprehend the true state of the case so made myself
tolerably ignorant about the affair. I expect Pa thinks by this time that
I have not sense enough to comprehend a letter when it is written in a good
legible hand. I am glad you did not go to the Mayors
Name: John Townsend
Birth: 1783-06-14
Death: 1854-08-26
as the case was
and am sorry Henry Webb
Name: Henry Webb
Birth: 1852-05-06
Death: 1900-06-18
is a fool though I imagined as
much before.
I feel much interested about Weed
Name: Thurlow Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15
Death: 1882-11-22
, had he never been married I should have more
hope of him. I should think it rather a difficult task to enlighten a man who
has been so long in an error. Do you think he ever loved his wife
Name: Harriet Weed
Birth: 1819-02-06
Death: 1893-11-01
?
I should
have liked him better had his reformation commenced at the time of his marriage
but you know him better than I and are a better judge. I was so unsuccessful
in having a dress fitted in New York by measure that I do not feel much
encouraged to attempt it again, much obliged to you for your good
intentions. Sarah Scott
room as soon as there is a fire made, so to get rid of her I am going to bed.
I wonder if Mr Rees
Page 3
Thursday
Dear Henry To night I have made me a pen with the pretty little pearl
handled knife, it arrived here this morning before I was up. I heard some one
once knock and had a presentiment that a letter had come for me because
according to my calculations Mr Rees would get here last evening. When I went
down I found the books letter and knife. The letter I did not find until
I had looked some ^time^ when on holding up one of the books it dropped out.
Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
was delighted with his letter and
claimed the seals and red
strings about the books. I reccollect perfectly well going to this same
Mr Mancius
Name: Jacob Mancius
Birth: 1779-12
Death: 1833-11-07
with Pa when I was about ten years
old. Mrs Mancius
Name: Jane Mancius
Birth: 1787
Death: 1834
played on the piano which I considered no common occurrence being the first
I ever heard, she had then two little girls younger I should think
than myself who I considered favoured mortals. I then thought every
thing there uncommonly splendid, but would not consent to stay
and learn to play on the piano as Pa proposed, proposed as we sometimes
do to leave Augustus but I can reccollect now that I then supposed
it all a very serious affair. Your account of your visit was very
amusing but I might not have not appeared quite as much so to you
in the commencement. I feel some curiosity to see Mrs Emma Willards
Name: Emma Willard
Birth: 1787-02-23
Death: 1870-04-15
book
of poetry, what will her vanity induce her to do next, she will undoub-
tedly publish a book of travels when she returns from Europe next Summer.
I wonder if she is any more popular in Albany than she used to be
I have read but a few pages in the ‘Water Witch’ have been trying to persuade
Maria to stay and read it to me my eyes are so weak that I read but
very little. Maria stayed with us last night, thinks she must go home
on Saturday. Betsy Pitney went away without asking for any books
what do you think of that. My eyes refuse to do their office any longer, good night
I must finish this by day light.
Friday night. This morning Pa went to Syracuse
Name: City: Syracuse
County: Onandaga County
State: NY
Country: US
with Mr Watson
Name: Hugh Watson
Birth: 1778-03-29
Death: 1840-12-22Certainty: Probable
. I am
like August[ us all ]
Reason: wax-seal places are Syracuse,
he went to Seneca Falls
Name: City: Seneca Falls
County: Seneca County
State: NY
Country: US
, expecting
him [ home to night ]
Reason: wax-seal but as it is ten oclock conclude he will not come
Lazette [ ca ]
Reason: wax-sealme down
and spent the day with us. Frances and Augustus
have rode poor hobby almost to death. It has been a cold blustering day
When Mari Lazette went home Maria went with her as far as Dr Pitneys
so we are quite alone again. Maria goes home tomorrow. Clary and
I have been reading the ‘Water Witch’ to each other this evening, you have been
gone 5 weeks last Wednesday, it seems a long time but it is not yet one
third of the whole time. Esq Brown
last of this month and then he will not return here again until he goes to Illinois
Name: Illinois City:
County:
State: IL
Country: US
of course he does not go as delegate to the Convention. Saturday morning
After a very cold night we have a fine clear but very cold day. Pa came
home in the night in the stage, Mr Watson went to Geneva
Name: City: Geneva
County: Ontario, Seneca
State: NY
Country: US
.
I do not think of
going out this cold weather, defer all my visiting until spring. I hope I shall have
a letter tomorrow morning although it is hardly reasonable to expect them so
often when I have been almost a week writing this one, your own Frances.
Page 4
William H. Seward.
Albany.
Teusday night 1st February
My Dear Henry, After finishing my letter to you yesterday I went up
and staid a couple of hours with Lazette
Person
Person
had been very cross and struck her while she was attempting to punish
Frances
Person
as not to meet him. Lazette says she asked Capt. Worden
Unknown
" the other day aboutthat house. He said he had proposed to Pa
Person
told him it was not for himself and that no payment could be made
immediately. Pa told him his price and that he might ^take^ posession of the house
but was not willing at that time to and has since evaded giving him
a deed, (is that what you say in such cases, at all events you know what I
mean). Do you know any thing of this? I always understood that Capt
Worden had purchased the house himself. I do hope Pa will never let
it go into the hands of Alvah Worden
Person
mortgage or sell it before the expiration of one year. Lazette says Capt
Worden told her she could live there as long as she pleased he had no doubt.
If Worden cannot provide food for his family I think he must be indeed
past all hope. Lazette says he never proposed to her to board as he told
you he had, but that she had often proposed it if he thought it less
expensive and he would give her no answer. I stopped at Muirs
People
up and got her a calico frock she has worn the last one she had a
year and there was no prospect of her getting another. I found Mrs Hills
Person
there making a call she looked very pretty and was uncommonly agreeable
much more free from affectation than usual she was going to see Mrs Throop
Person
Person
depart next week for the east. Mrs Throop says now that she is going with her
three babies and two nurses to Albany Utica
Place
Person
I imagine she will leave some of her retinue there and go herself to Albany. She
is not well pleased with calling her babe Enos but the Governor must be complimented
George
Person
Person
Mrs Hotchkiss
Person
Unknown
, case, it
occurredsome time ago, did you ever hear any thing of the kind? It is too long a story to write
Mrs Hills says that she was told by old Mrs Fitch
Person
the parties implicated. Mrs Isac Miller
Person
interesting as usual. Mrs Dr Smith
Person
a satin filesse &c, with a pair of the Dr’s
Person
shoes to correspond. Taste. I had but very little of the 2 hours alone with Lazette
she is quite well again but has had a dreadful sore throat. Betsy Pitney
Person
at our house in the course of the day is spending a few days at the Exchange with
her beloved parents. Grandma
Person
Pitney
Person
Unknown
in the suitt Betsy kept remarkably cool so they did notcome to an open rupture which I was fearful would happen at one time. Maria Harris
Person
Person
has been and brought Maria out of his own accord. Betsy Pitney imputes this
act of grace to the intereference of his new wife. Maria returns home some time
this week. The Dr flourishes to his hearts content in his new dwelling, keeps
four fires in constant operation, a hired man a little girl and Bettsy is in pursuit
of a large girl to do chamber work. Mrs Pitney sits in the parlour and wears
white kid gloves. Unless the Dr is a new man, completely metamorphosed this
state of things cannot continue any length of time. Mary returns home this month
Cornelia appears quite as insensible as ever. Clary
Person
Person
where she was rallied considerably about riding with Hugh
Person
snow storm, it continued snowing all night this morning it was almost
impossible to get along. Serene
Person
the inducement of Betsy’s Pitney’s agreeable company, we could not go through
the snow on foot it is so deep so Peter
Person
Person
and horse and drove us over, had a very pleasant visit came home soon after
tea because I could not leave Fred
Person
the first magnitude if I ever go out of the house says people ought not to have
children if they cannot stay at home and take care of them. Fred was a good
little boy and did not make any trouble, his cough is abating, all day
yesterday Grandma was fully persuaded he had the Whooping cough
because Mrs Dr Smith said she was afraid her youngest child had
it, a very rational conclusion, he has cut an upper tooth we discovered
it by his grating them together for his own amusement, his gums have been
badly swollen some time, he does not appear to have much respite from his
afflictions. Your Friday’s letter came last night but I am so tired and sleepy
that I shall not say any thing about it to night I must go to bed good
night dear one.
Wednesday night
Dear Henry I am equally weary to night. Fred has cried and I have walked
with him until I can hardly move I took some cold going out last evening
my head pains me all over. Fred has a cold, is cutting teeth, and has a stye
coming on one eye, dont you think he has some reason to cry. Betsy Pitney
and Maria Harris have spent the afternoon here, the conversation was of course
all about the Dr. I cannot tell you half the very ridiculous things he says
and does until I can talk to you. They say his wife appears amiable
and pleasant. I am sorry for her. The discription of the dinners in your
letter were extremely satisfactory to Grandma. She told Pa something about
it and both of them being deaf they had made a strange story of it
when I was questioned Pa had got it that Granger
Person
and Grandma that you had given a dinner to Granger. I despaired of
making them both comprehend the true state of the case so made myself
tolerably ignorant about the affair. I expect Pa thinks by this time that
I have not sense enough to comprehend a letter when it is written in a good
legible hand. I am glad you did not go to the Mayors
Person
and am sorry Henry Webb
Person
I feel much interested about Weed
Person
hope of him. I should think it rather a difficult task to enlighten a man who
has been so long in an error. Do you think he ever loved his wife
Person
have liked him better had his reformation commenced at the time of his marriage
but you know him better than I and are a better judge. I was so unsuccessful
in having a dress fitted in New York by measure that I do not feel much
encouraged to attempt it again, much obliged to you for your good
intentions. Sarah Scott
Unknown
torments me almost to
death she is constantly in myroom as soon as there is a fire made, so to get rid of her I am going to bed.
I wonder if Mr Rees
Unknown
will bring me a letter when he comes good night love. FrancesThursday
Dear Henry To night I have made me a pen with the pretty little pearl
handled knife, it arrived here this morning before I was up. I heard some one
once knock and had a presentiment that a letter had come for me because
according to my calculations Mr Rees would get here last evening. When I went
down I found the books letter and knife. The letter I did not find until
I had looked some ^time^ when on holding up one of the books it dropped out.
Augustus
Person
strings about the books. I reccollect perfectly well going to this same
Mr Mancius
Person
Person
played on the piano which I considered no common occurrence being the first
I ever heard, she had then two little girls younger I should think
than myself who I considered favoured mortals. I then thought every
thing there uncommonly splendid, but would not consent to stay
and learn to play on the piano as Pa proposed, proposed as we sometimes
do to leave Augustus but I can reccollect now that I then supposed
it all a very serious affair. Your account of your visit was very
amusing but I might not have not appeared quite as much so to you
in the commencement. I feel some curiosity to see Mrs Emma Willards
Person
of poetry, what will her vanity induce her to do next, she will undoub-
tedly publish a book of travels when she returns from Europe next Summer.
I wonder if she is any more popular in Albany than she used to be
I have read but a few pages in the ‘Water Witch’ have been trying to persuade
Maria to stay and read it to me my eyes are so weak that I read but
very little. Maria stayed with us last night, thinks she must go home
on Saturday. Betsy Pitney went away without asking for any books
what do you think of that. My eyes refuse to do their office any longer, good night
I must finish this by day light.
Friday night. This morning Pa went to Syracuse
Place
Person
like August[ us all ]
Supplied
Place
him [ home to night ]
Supplied
Lazette [ ca ]
Supplied
have rode poor hobby almost to death. It has been a cold blustering day
When Mari Lazette went home Maria went with her as far as Dr Pitneys
so we are quite alone again. Maria goes home tomorrow. Clary and
I have been reading the ‘Water Witch’ to each other this evening, you have been
gone 5 weeks last Wednesday, it seems a long time but it is not yet one
third of the whole time. Esq Brown
Unknown
does not go down to Albany until thelast of this month and then he will not return here again until he goes to Illinois
Place
of course he does not go as delegate to the Convention. Saturday morning
After a very cold night we have a fine clear but very cold day. Pa came
home in the night in the stage, Mr Watson went to Geneva
Place
going out this cold weather, defer all my visiting until spring. I hope I shall have
a letter tomorrow morning although it is hardly reasonable to expect them so
often when I have been almost a week writing this one, your own Frances.
William H. Seward.
Albany.
date:
Tuesday, February 1, 1831
receiver:
sender:
year: