Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 18, 1831
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 18, 1831
transcriberTranscriber:spp:anb
student editorTranscriber:spp:mhr
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-09-18
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 18, 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: anb 2014-09-01
revision: crb 2015-09-01
<>
Page 1
Sunday 18th
My Dear Henry —- I yesterday recieved your letter from Providence
Name: City: Providence
County: Providence County
State: RI
Country: US
which was nearly one week on the road . it was very interesting and
after reading it to Grandma
Name: Margaret Jennings
Birth: 1742-06-02
Death: 1831-10-21
she advised me not
to destroy any of your
letters but keep them for the children
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
to read besides “we do not
know what may happen.” - dear old lady she does not know how carefully
I have always treasured up your letters or she would not have thought
the caution necessary. It is a clear cold day. Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
and Henrietta
have gone to Church. Henrietta talks of going home tomorrow. I believe
there were never two people more alike than she and Mary Ann Kellogg
Name: Mary Ann Converse
Birth: 1805-05-02
Death: 1848-01-09
, in taste, in manners and in principle,
or rather want of
principle. but Henrietta is far inferior to Mary Ann in beauty
for I did sometimes think Mary ann handsome but I could
never look on Henrietta in that light. Like Mary ann too she likes
flirting but cannot endure the idea of getting married. “Oh dreadful”
said she the other morning as I was nursing little Fred “what a trouble
babies are.” Perhaps she is not blameable for the idea but delicacy
should have forbidden the expression. Mrs Warren
afternoon, is to meet her husband
Name: City: Syracuse
County: Onandaga County
State: NY
Country: US
. Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
spent
the
afternoon here - went home in the evening quite ill as she then thought
the effects of eating unripe grapes. Yesterday morning Emery
said she was very sick that the Dr had been there part of the night.
I went up as soon as I could found her somewhat more comfortable
but had suffered a violent attack of the Cholera Morbus.This morning
I sent up. she was still better. I shall go up again after tea and
read her your last letter. I saw Dr. Humphrey
Name: Erastus Humphreys
Birth: 1785-05-17
Death: 1848-03-09
, there and obtained
from him a recipe for the medicine which always benefitted Augus–
tus when he had the summer complaint. I commenced to day
administering it to Frederick can hardly judge yet of its efficacy.
Grandma feels convinced that I must by this time feel satisfied after
all the trouble I have had at Romulus
Name: City: Romulus
County: Seneca County
State: NY
Country: US
that home is the best place
Page 2
for children and I often while there thought nothing would again induce
one to leave home. he has slept almost two hours to day and seems
so much refreshed—a thing he never did when away from his cradle.
Tuesday night. Last night Morgan
Name: Christopher Morgan
Birth: 1808-06-04
Death: 1877-04-02Certainty: Probable
brought over
your last letter
written at Quincy
Name: City: Quincy
County: Norfolk County
State: MA
Country: US
. you say nothing
about coming home but
I conclude do not purpose to go on to Baltimore
Name: City: Baltimore
County:
State: MD
Country: US
. I heard
to day that George Throop
Name: George Throop
Birth: 1793-04-12
Death: 1854-02-23
was expected home next week. I am
glad to hear that Cornelia
Name: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805-10-29
Death: 1839-01-04
intends returning with you but
shall
hardly dare believe she will actually come until you arrive.
Sunday evening I went up accompanied by Augustus to see
Lazette. found her sitting up—much better. Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
came in
and made some enquiries about your being at Providence. he
had learned you was there at the post office by the post mark
of your letter. I was very ignorant about your business. I wish
he would not talk to me at all I should be quite satisfied if he would
allow me to come to the house and would gladly dispense with any
other attention. He was or appeared to be very much alarmed about
the small pox. I do not know as I told you that there was a
case of small pox in Lumber street while we were at Romulus.
The disease was communicated to a woman by Dr Pitney’s
Name: Joseph Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18
Death: 1853-04-20
visiting
her without changing his dress after he had been with a child
somewhere on the canal ill with the small pox. She was removed
to black Harry’s
On Sunday we heard of four more cases all persons who were
living in the house with the woman at the time she was taken.
Monday morning they were all removed from the village and
to day we have heard of four or five more cases. I sent
this morning for Dr Humphreys to come and vaccinate Fred
he came but said he had no good vaccine but should have some
on Friday when he will come again. Frederick appears to
be quite well but is very peevish and restless. I do not know
what ails the little fellow he does not appear diseased but is very weak.
Page 3
Sunday evening when I came home I found Blanchard
Name: Blanchard Fosgate
Birth: 1809
Death: 1887-09-11
and
Goodwin
Name: Daniel Goodwin
Birth: 1805
Death: 1885-10-29
here
to see Henrietta. Blanchard has been every night but one since she
came. Saturday morning they rode out to Skaneateles
Name: City: Skaneateles
County: Onandaga County
State: NY
Country: US
. Henrietta
went
home Monday noon, very much pleased with Goodwin. he called the
Morning she left. Clary called yesterday afternoon to see Lazette. she
continued better and thought of going to Miss Hoffman’s
Name: Mary Hoffman
Birth:
Death:
wedding in the
evening. Last evening Serene
Name: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1802
Death:
, Jane Dill
Name: Jane Perry
Birth:
Death: 1877-01-07
, Mrs Dill
Name: Mary Dill
Birth:
Death: 1886
and Amanda Worden
called. Sarah Hulbert
Name: Sarah How
Birth: 1808
Death: 1866-04-16
called in
the afternoon, report says she - is to
be married to Howe
Name: Thomas How
Birth: 1801
Death: 1860-07-15
next week. Hugh
Name: Hugh McClallen
Birth: 1791
Death: 1860-11-16
was here last night. Clary
says this morning that he is a fool. This afternoon Mrs Fosgate
Name: Blanchard Fosgate
Birth: 1809
Death: 1887-09-11
Mrs Hamilton
Name: Mary Hamilton
Birth: 1805
Death: 1889
and Mrs
Richardson
Name: Catherine Richardson
Birth: 1778
Death: 1857-08-21
took
tea with us. They have
now all gone home and Clay is over to see Serene. I have read
stories to Augustus until he has gone to sleep. I am now going down to get
Fred and then to sleep myself. good night dear one.
Wednesday night — Lazette has just gone home she spent
the afternoo[ n w ]
Reason: wax-sealith us. the calomel she
has taken has
roduced a very sore mouth - she can hardly eat an[ y ]
Reason: wax-seal
thing. This evening Debby
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
and her mother
Wood
here Mrs Wood is a very pleasant woman—quite
unlike any of her children
Unknown
Unknown that I have seen - I suppose
they which the disagreeable from thier father
Name: George Wood
Birth: 1806
Death: 1844-02-06
.
Thursday morning — I wrote last evening with Frederick in my arms
and as he insisted upon having pen ink and paper I could
write only a few lines. This morning I sent up to Lazette she
was more unwell thinks she took some cold last evening.
We hear of two more cases of small pox one three or four doors
above Lazette’s and one on the upper part of Grover street
I feel considerably alarmed about it as it does not appear
to be a decided opinion that vaccination is always
a preventative. Beardsley
Name: Nelson Beardsley
Birth: 1807-05-30
Death: 1894-01-15
recieved a letter from
Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
Monday evening he was to leave Albany on Sunday.
Your own Frances.
Page 4
Sunday 18th
My Dear Henry —- I yesterday recieved your letter from Providence
Place
which was nearly one week on the road . it was very interesting and
after reading it to Grandma
Person
letters but keep them for the children
People
know what may happen.” - dear old lady she does not know how carefully
I have always treasured up your letters or she would not have thought
the caution necessary. It is a clear cold day. Clary
Person
Unknown
have gone to Church. Henrietta talks of going home tomorrow. I believe
there were never two people more alike than she and Mary Ann Kellogg
Person
principle. but Henrietta is far inferior to Mary Ann in beauty
for I did sometimes think Mary ann handsome but I could
never look on Henrietta in that light. Like Mary ann too she likes
flirting but cannot endure the idea of getting married. “Oh dreadful”
said she the other morning as I was nursing little Fred “what a trouble
babies are.” Perhaps she is not blameable for the idea but delicacy
should have forbidden the expression. Mrs Warren
Unknown
left here Fridayafternoon, is to meet her husband
Unknown
at SyracusePlace
Person
afternoon here - went home in the evening quite ill as she then thought
the effects of eating unripe grapes. Yesterday morning Emery
Unknown
came down &said she was very sick that the Dr had been there part of the night.
I went up as soon as I could found her somewhat more comfortable
but had suffered a violent attack of the Cholera Morbus.This morning
I sent up. she was still better. I shall go up again after tea and
read her your last letter. I saw Dr. Humphrey
Person
from him a recipe for the medicine which always benefitted Augus–
tus when he had the summer complaint. I commenced to day
administering it to Frederick can hardly judge yet of its efficacy.
Grandma feels convinced that I must by this time feel satisfied after
all the trouble I have had at Romulus
Place
for children and I often while there thought nothing would again induce
one to leave home. he has slept almost two hours to day and seems
so much refreshed—a thing he never did when away from his cradle.
Tuesday night. Last night Morgan
Person
written at Quincy
Place
I conclude do not purpose to go on to Baltimore
Place
to day that George Throop
Person
glad to hear that Cornelia
Person
hardly dare believe she will actually come until you arrive.
Sunday evening I went up accompanied by Augustus to see
Lazette. found her sitting up—much better. Worden
Person
and made some enquiries about your being at Providence. he
had learned you was there at the post office by the post mark
of your letter. I was very ignorant about your business. I wish
he would not talk to me at all I should be quite satisfied if he would
allow me to come to the house and would gladly dispense with any
other attention. He was or appeared to be very much alarmed about
the small pox. I do not know as I told you that there was a
case of small pox in Lumber street while we were at Romulus.
The disease was communicated to a woman by Dr Pitney’s
Person
her without changing his dress after he had been with a child
somewhere on the canal ill with the small pox. She was removed
to black Harry’s
Unknown
dwelling as not other person would recieve her.On Sunday we heard of four more cases all persons who were
living in the house with the woman at the time she was taken.
Monday morning they were all removed from the village and
to day we have heard of four or five more cases. I sent
this morning for Dr Humphreys to come and vaccinate Fred
he came but said he had no good vaccine but should have some
on Friday when he will come again. Frederick appears to
be quite well but is very peevish and restless. I do not know
what ails the little fellow he does not appear diseased but is very weak.
Sunday evening when I came home I found Blanchard
Person
Person
to see Henrietta. Blanchard has been every night but one since she
came. Saturday morning they rode out to Skaneateles
Place
home Monday noon, very much pleased with Goodwin. he called the
Morning she left. Clary called yesterday afternoon to see Lazette. she
continued better and thought of going to Miss Hoffman’s
Person
evening. Last evening Serene
Person
Person
Person
Unknown
called. Sarah Hulbert
Person
be married to Howe
Person
Person
says this morning that he is a fool. This afternoon Mrs Fosgate
Person
Mrs Hamilton
Person
Person
now all gone home and Clay is over to see Serene. I have read
stories to Augustus until he has gone to sleep. I am now going down to get
Fred and then to sleep myself. good night dear one.
Wednesday night — Lazette has just gone home she spent
the afternoo[ n w ]
Supplied
roduced a very sore mouth - she can hardly eat an[ y ]
Supplied
thing. This evening Debby
Person
Unknown
calledhere Mrs Wood is a very pleasant woman—quite
unlike any of her children
People
Unknown
Unknown
they which the disagreeable from thier father
Person
Thursday morning — I wrote last evening with Frederick in my arms
and as he insisted upon having pen ink and paper I could
write only a few lines. This morning I sent up to Lazette she
was more unwell thinks she took some cold last evening.
We hear of two more cases of small pox one three or four doors
above Lazette’s and one on the upper part of Grover street
I feel considerably alarmed about it as it does not appear
to be a decided opinion that vaccination is always
a preventative. Beardsley
Person
Person
Monday evening he was to leave Albany on Sunday.
Your own Frances.
date:
Sunday, September 18, 1831
receiver:
sender:
year: