Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, March 1, 1841
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Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, March 1, 1841
transcriber
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Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-03-01
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Letter from Samuel Sweezey Seward to William Henry Seward, March 1, 1841
action: sent
sender: Samuel Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
location: Florida, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
transcription: sss
revision: crb 2017-07-05
<>
Page
1
Florida 1 March 1841
My dear dear Henry
A calm seems this moment to have
arisen The fearfull billows of a troubled sea is once more
stayed and feeble and debilitated as I am the season we
have recently gone through compells me to ask with
of myself under the controling power of a wise providence
who is to be the next – The natural answer is it is I –
But the inscrutable will of God is past finding out
one short week ag[ o ]
Reason: the prospect of receiving to our arms
our first born beloved son
Mary
our hearts with charing affection – But oh tho revived
the scene of Soul rending affliction through which
we have passd – On Thursday at 11 Oclock they arrived
full of spirits and Joy Tho feeble emasciated and distressed
with pain – The gloom and anxiety it brought over
us cannot be described – Glimmering hopes still sus-
tained us untill monday morning when all vanished
before the heartrending view of a sudden dissolution
at five oClock. I started my express to apprise you of the
solemn catrosphy – I felt that I could not subsist with
out seeing you – But an all wise providence has
ordered it otherwise – Dire disease has also entered
Page
2
your Roof – Your eldest son
Under these circumstances we could not look for
you and with emotions of thanks we can say that
in the midst of mourning there is consolation.
Your dear Brother was commited to the
family vault on Saturday at One OClock attended
by the mourning obsiques of a whole surrounding
Country – three Rev-Clergymen attending officiating
Mary is with us and continues a few days. – She stood
the great shock with Christian fortitude resignation
and has endeared herself much to our family
Her father
Clarence
up but is scarcely able to walk – I am looking almost
daily for the great change – Too weak to dress myself
suffering with most afflicting pain & cough – Julia
is sick in bed - I have this moment learned that
Mr Greens
We have consulted Mary and all agree
that something should be said on the subject of
the departure of our common relative and
have agreed to refer it to you – Whatever
is written I should be pleased to have a Copy
forwarded to George Grier
one to Mrs J Mumford
Page
3
Will you give our love and regard to our
dear Francis
friends – We hope we are gratefull for the
goodness of a kind providence in sparing
the life of our dear Augustus – Write and
inform us how you are – Report says you
have yourself been very unwell –
Affectionately yours –
Saml S Seward
W H Seward
Gov
Page
4
His Excellcy
William H. Seward
Albany
N.Y.
Goshen
MAR 3
N.Y.
Type: postmark
h
S.S. Seward
March 1st
1841
Florida 1 March 1841
My dear dear Henry
A calm seems this moment to have
arisen The fearfull billows of a troubled sea is once more
stayed and feeble and debilitated as I am the season we
have recently gone through compells me to ask with
of myself under the controling power of a wise providence
who is to be the next – The natural answer is it is I –
But the inscrutable will of God is past finding out
one short week ag[ o ]
Supplied
our first born beloved son
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
and his interestingMary
Birth: 1815 Death: 1879-08-29
full of health full of Joy and vivacity filledour hearts with charing affection – But oh tho revived
the scene of Soul rending affliction through which
we have passd – On Thursday at 11 Oclock they arrived
full of spirits and Joy Tho feeble emasciated and distressed
with pain – The gloom and anxiety it brought over
us cannot be described – Glimmering hopes still sus-
tained us untill monday morning when all vanished
before the heartrending view of a sudden dissolution
at five oClock. I started my express to apprise you of the
solemn catrosphy – I felt that I could not subsist with
out seeing you – But an all wise providence has
ordered it otherwise – Dire disease has also entered
your Roof – Your eldest son
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
was also in ^the^ Jaws of DeathUnder these circumstances we could not look for
you and with emotions of thanks we can say that
in the midst of mourning there is consolation.
Your dear Brother was commited to the
family vault on Saturday at One OClock attended
by the mourning obsiques of a whole surrounding
Country – three Rev-Clergymen attending officiating
Mary is with us and continues a few days. – She stood
the great shock with Christian fortitude resignation
and has endeared herself much to our family
Her father
Birth: 1791-09-18 Death: 1863-04-25
& brother
Birth: 1818-06-21 Death: 1872-10-01Certainty: Probable
was hear, Augustus
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
and Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
are with us – Your dear Mama
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
keepsup but is scarcely able to walk – I am looking almost
daily for the great change – Too weak to dress myself
suffering with most afflicting pain & cough – Julia
Birth: 1811-08-26 Death: 1847-07-24
is sick in bed - I have this moment learned that
Mr Greens
Unknown
little boyUnknown
is very sick ––We have consulted Mary and all agree
that something should be said on the subject of
the departure of our common relative and
have agreed to refer it to you – Whatever
is written I should be pleased to have a Copy
forwarded to George Grier
Birth: 1802-09-27 Death: 1878-12-20
for publication andone to Mrs J Mumford
Birth: 1791-06-01 Death: 1862-01-09
New York
Will you give our love and regard to our
dear Francis
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
Augustus Judge Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
Frederick
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
andfriends – We hope we are gratefull for the
goodness of a kind providence in sparing
the life of our dear Augustus – Write and
inform us how you are – Report says you
have yourself been very unwell –
Affectionately yours –
Saml S Seward
W H Seward
Gov
His Excellcy
William H. Seward
Albany
N.Y.
Goshen
MAR 3
N.Y.
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
March 1st
1841