Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 29, 1836
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 29, 1836
transcriberTranscriber:spp:alc
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1836-09-29
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, September 29, 1836
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:
Westfield NY
Place
Name: City: Westfield
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: alc
revision: ekk 2015-06-01
<>
Page 1
state or it may increase in size so as to deprive me
of the use of my finger entirely in either case its
effect will be weakening, thus I am deprived of my
last source of employment, knitting.
Friday afternoon. Dear Henry I went to bed last night
quite disheartened and feeling much the want of your
presence to cheer me. I felt that I was every day
becoming more and more useless, the little use I made
of my finger in writing to you produced pain
which extended to my elbow. I fancied the time
was not far distant when I could neither read
and write knit or sew and without occupation I
am afraid I should be very unhappy. I know these
feelings are wrong believing as I do that our duty
requires no less a cheerful submission to these dis-
pensations, than an active exercise of the faculties
with which God has blessed us.
Mrs Dean went home this morning to remain two or three
days. Mrs Benedict
wonders that her father does not write to her, no
letter from you to day. We have received the
‘Knickerbocker’ and “Museum” one number each
I will send them to Beardsley
Name: Nelson Beardsley
Birth: 1807-05-30
Death: 1894-01-15
as you desire.
Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
has many sick and many desponding days
I have not seen her since Tuesday. Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
has
not yet made up his mind where he or they
will reside this winter. She had a letter
from him last week, I think it most probable
that she and Frances
Name: Frances Chesebro
Birth: 1826-12-12
Death: 1909-08-21
will remain where they are.
Miss Gardner
at the new boarding house kept by Mr Kimberly
Name: Israel Kimberly
Birth: 1794-03-25
Death: 1873-01-30
in Curtis
be wise for you to take Rouse
tenants I think you will find them troublesome
and I know they will not increase Harriet’s comfort[ . ]
Reason:
Poor Harriet how anxious I am to hear that
she is safe at Westfield with her little family.
Page 3
Sunday afternoon. Lazette spent the great part
of the day with us yesterday so I found no time
to write, no letter comes yet from you, it still
continues to rain every day, the wind blew
a hurricane all night, the “little lassie
Name: Cornelia Seward
Birth: 1836-08-25
Death: 1837-01-14
” as
Mary
altogether rather an uncomfortable night.
Mrs Benedict was made rather unhappy last
night by the arrival of her husband
he has for some time been writing letters
alternately threatening and persuading her to
come to him, he is a worthless intemperate
fellow and she is undoubtedly wise in her
determination not to live with him again.
She wishes to avoid seeing him, I tell her
there is no fear of his seeking her here. Mrs
Dean returns Tuesday and will remain until
Debby
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1810
Death: 1888-03-16
requires her services. I see no one
but our own family and can tell you no village
news. Yesterday was Augustus birth day, so
little Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
purchased a little
book for him
and his Ma gave him a very pretty picture
which Harriet found at Mr Ivisons
Name: Henry Ivison
Birth: 1808-12-25
Death: 1884
but
unfortunately the day was so cold that no
ice cream could be obtained in the evening
a thing much calculated upon, however
he bore the disappointment very well and
has the promise of the ice cream as soon as
it can be obtained. Cornelia is crying
very very loud so that I must conclude
abruptly your own Frances
Page 4
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chatauque County
AUBURN N.Y. Oct. 3,
Type: postmark
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Frances A Seward
Oct 3, 1836.
Thursday Sept 29th
My Dearest Henry I received your Sunday's letter
yesterday but felt too unwell to write any, a slight
cold sore throat etc, then this very dismal storm
and the melancholy story which your letter
contained with the uncertainty about Harriet
Name: Harriet Bogart
Birth:
Death: 1888-08-20
and her family all combined to produce
unusual depression of spirits. This mornings
sunshine was quite reviving and I hope all is well.
I have been very selfishly thankful that I
did not let Augustus
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
accompany Nicholas
Name: Nicholas Bogart
Birth: 1801-12-24
Death: 1893
&
Harriet. I return to hope again that your
next letter will communicate the intelligence
of their safe arrival. Yesterday morning the
ground was covered with snow one inch in
depth according to Mrs Deans
the day was wet cold and uncomfortable so that
I went but once to the table. Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
had a fire
made in the south room for his accommodation.
I fancy he does not find the office as comfortable
as while you were there. Harriet Weed
Name: Harriet Weed
Birth: 1819-02-06
Death: 1893-11-01
told us
all about the party which she & Mrs Laller
at Ezekiel Williams
Name: Ezekiel Williams
Birth: 1782-01-08
Death: 1856-12-23
the evening previous.
You
probably remember hearing that Ezekiel was
married, he seems to have spared no expense
in introducing his wife
Name: Helen Williams
Birth: 1803-01-02
Death:
to the public. His daughters
Name: Sarah Seward
Birth: 1817-05-30
Death: 1875-03-15
Name: Phoebe Watson
Birth: 1810-03-23
Death:
.
were among the guests though I am told Mrs Watson
still wears mourning for her mother
Name: Sarah Williams
Birth: 1781-08-20
Death: 1834-06-22
. Harriet says
that Mrs Williams appeared like a sensible unassuming
woman. This morning Dr Humphries
Name: Erastus Humphreys
Birth: 1785-05-17
Death: 1848-03-09
called and
heard for the first time that George
Name: George Humphreys
Birth: 1814-03-15
Death: 1885-06-09
ben was one of
the passengers in the Gen. Porter, he seems anxious
to have George visit home. I consulted him about
a small protuberance which had made its appearance
on the first finger of my right hand, he given me
the consoling information that it is a tumour
on the tendon, it may continue in its present
Page 2My Dearest Henry I received your Sunday's letter
yesterday but felt too unwell to write any, a slight
cold sore throat etc, then this very dismal storm
and the melancholy story which your letter
contained with the uncertainty about Harriet
Person
and her family all combined to produce
unusual depression of spirits. This mornings
sunshine was quite reviving and I hope all is well.
I have been very selfishly thankful that I
did not let Augustus
Person
Person
Harriet. I return to hope again that your
next letter will communicate the intelligence
of their safe arrival. Yesterday morning the
ground was covered with snow one inch in
depth according to Mrs Deans
Unknown
. measurement the day was wet cold and uncomfortable so that
I went but once to the table. Pa
Person
made in the south room for his accommodation.
I fancy he does not find the office as comfortable
as while you were there. Harriet Weed
Person
all about the party which she & Mrs Laller
Unknown
attended
at Ezekiel Williams
Person
probably remember hearing that Ezekiel was
married, he seems to have spared no expense
in introducing his wife
Person
People
were among the guests though I am told Mrs Watson
still wears mourning for her mother
Person
that Mrs Williams appeared like a sensible unassuming
woman. This morning Dr Humphries
Person
heard for the first time that George
Person
the passengers in the Gen. Porter, he seems anxious
to have George visit home. I consulted him about
a small protuberance which had made its appearance
on the first finger of my right hand, he given me
the consoling information that it is a tumour
on the tendon, it may continue in its present
state or it may increase in size so as to deprive me
of the use of my finger entirely in either case its
effect will be weakening, thus I am deprived of my
last source of employment, knitting.
Friday afternoon. Dear Henry I went to bed last night
quite disheartened and feeling much the want of your
presence to cheer me. I felt that I was every day
becoming more and more useless, the little use I made
of my finger in writing to you produced pain
which extended to my elbow. I fancied the time
was not far distant when I could neither read
and write knit or sew and without occupation I
am afraid I should be very unhappy. I know these
feelings are wrong believing as I do that our duty
requires no less a cheerful submission to these dis-
pensations, than an active exercise of the faculties
with which God has blessed us.
Mrs Dean went home this morning to remain two or three
days. Mrs Benedict
Unknown
supplies her place. Harriet wonders that her father does not write to her, no
letter from you to day. We have received the
‘Knickerbocker’ and “Museum” one number each
I will send them to Beardsley
Person
Lazette
Person
I have not seen her since Tuesday. Worden
Person
not yet made up his mind where he or they
will reside this winter. She had a letter
from him last week, I think it most probable
that she and Frances
Person
Miss Gardner
Unknown
. She moved to
Auburn to get married. has returned and taken lodgings at the new boarding house kept by Mr Kimberly
Person
in Curtis
Unknown
’ buildings. I do not think it
will be wise for you to take Rouse
Unknown
and his
family as tenants I think you will find them troublesome
and I know they will not increase Harriet’s comfort[ . ]
Supplied
Poor Harriet how anxious I am to hear that
she is safe at Westfield with her little family.
Sunday afternoon. Lazette spent the great part
of the day with us yesterday so I found no time
to write, no letter comes yet from you, it still
continues to rain every day, the wind blew
a hurricane all night, the “little lassie
Person
Mary
Unknown
calls her was very restless and I had altogether rather an uncomfortable night.
Mrs Benedict was made rather unhappy last
night by the arrival of her husband
Unknown
. in town he has for some time been writing letters
alternately threatening and persuading her to
come to him, he is a worthless intemperate
fellow and she is undoubtedly wise in her
determination not to live with him again.
She wishes to avoid seeing him, I tell her
there is no fear of his seeking her here. Mrs
Dean returns Tuesday and will remain until
Debby
Person
but our own family and can tell you no village
news. Yesterday was Augustus birth day, so
little Fred
Person
and his Ma gave him a very pretty picture
which Harriet found at Mr Ivisons
Person
unfortunately the day was so cold that no
ice cream could be obtained in the evening
a thing much calculated upon, however
he bore the disappointment very well and
has the promise of the ice cream as soon as
it can be obtained. Cornelia is crying
very very loud so that I must conclude
abruptly your own Frances
William H. Seward
Westfield
Chatauque County
AUBURN N.Y. Oct. 3,
Stamp
Person
Oct 3, 1836.
date:
Thursday, September 29, 1836
receiver:
sender:
year: