Letter from Frances Tuthill Grier to William Henry Seward, July 25, 1832
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Letter from Frances Tuthill Grier to William Henry Seward, July 25,
1832
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:srr
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1832-07-25
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Letter from Frances Tuthill Grier to William Henry Seward, July 25, 1832
action: sent
sender: Frances Grier
Birth: 1801-01-16
Death: 1860-02-07
location: Goshen, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: srr
revision: ekk 2015-12-16
<>
Page
1
My dear Cousins “five weeks” this day since I left Auburn
and have not heard one word from you during that time
I have wondered & wondered what could be the reason that
Cousin F
not received the letter that I wrote a few days after
my return Home or fear if she did that it must
have been unworthy an answer I have been very
anxious to hear from you all. that you are all in
health, and happy as you deserve is the sincere wish of
your grateful Cousin. you all feel so much nearer
to me since I have visited, and been so kindly treated by each
member of the Loved household that I cannot bear to rem
-ain ignorant respecting you - neither can I consider
my own happiness compleat without your participation
the first cause of my present happiness is that we are all
in good health, surrounded with comforts and filled with
the cheering Hope of seeing my Bother Geo
we had given up cooking for him untill last week
Mama
on the 8 of July and he with us by the first of August
“Mr. Aims
and says he is a “correct business man” and has his full
confidence — we felt uneasy about his landing in N.Y
at this time but Mr A said he would not go in the
City — you see by the papers all that I can tell you
about the “Cholera” in N.Y. - our “Village” and “country”
is filled with Citizens - we do not feel much alarmed in
Page
2
Goshen. but there has been precautions taken to prevent the
air becoming infected through carelessness, there has been a
“Board of Health” formed and cleanliness temperance in
eating & drinking recommended strongly to all the inhabitants
who are furnished gratuitously with “Lime” which is
freely used in cellars &c. we have Mr
with their nurse
will stay with us awhile next spring - he & son goes to
Mobile you have heard me speak of them, they were with
us last summer they are genteel people she a remarkable
amiable women - we have engaged to take a Gentleman
& wife from N.Y - next week will fill our House
pretty well with our 6 regular Boarders — making 26
in family — I think Mama & Aunty
are the only women that could get along with all and
preserve peace & order — I have apprehended that aunt
Clara had the measles, it it so? and Mrs Worden
she entirely recovered I hope so please give my sincere love
to them both, and Dear old Grandma, kiss her for me
and say that I am grateful for her assurances of my welcome
there, and I shall ever remember her kindness in trying to
cheer me in my dark hours, when I feared my friends
of Home were all dead or in trouble - my visit to
you appears like a “bright vision” that will never fade from
my heart or minds eye — how vext I am to to observe the
least shade of indifference in the face of my auditor
when I am telling them of the beautys of the West
Page
3
and when I fail to inspire any curiosity when I am discrib
-eing with enthusiasm the beauty the glory the sublimity of the
Houses the Churches the gardens the lakes lands &c &c, I am ready
to cry to think that the magic drapery in which they were all
enveloped to my eye when I was far from them, and you
called them a “contracted, big bigoted, self concieted people,” ^was rent in twain^ then
my spirit would arise within an I would say “I will let
them alone they are joined to their idols” in this little bit
of a place which has and never will have a Lake, canal, or
Rail Road, to bless their eyes unless they go to the West and
see what the energy, ambition, and industry, of Western people has
accomplished — truce — Aunty had a letter from your Brother
Jennings
low spirits, expects to be here this autumn — your father
here on Saturday was well & family — Washington
out on Sunday to Church, looked very smart, & pleased with
Mr Kingsbury
this fall or summer. I seen a notice in a N.Y paper that there
had been 2 cases of Cholera at “Senica Falls” is it so - do you
apprehend it in your village? Cousin H
that I left in Albany, did you see it? I
begin to feel uneasy about it the weather is
getting so cold and it was all the one I had - and left it
so carelessly — Cousin F for the neck the Nun Capes are
all the fashion round collar to mach ofen behind or before
entirely according to fancy - Mama & Aunty send love to you
both, and all - please write soon to your affectionate cousin
and sincere friend Frances
(my love to Miss Fosgate
Tuesday Eve 24th
Page
4
Wm. H. Seward Esq
Auburn
New York
Goshen
July 25
N.Y.
Type: postmark
h
Frances Tuthill
1832
My dear Cousins “five weeks” this day since I left Auburn
and have not heard one word from you during that time
I have wondered & wondered what could be the reason that
Cousin F
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
had
not written now I conclude that she hasnot received the letter that I wrote a few days after
my return Home or fear if she did that it must
have been unworthy an answer I have been very
anxious to hear from you all. that you are all in
health, and happy as you deserve is the sincere wish of
your grateful Cousin. you all feel so much nearer
to me since I have visited, and been so kindly treated by each
member of the Loved household that I cannot bear to rem
-ain ignorant respecting you - neither can I consider
my own happiness compleat without your participation
the first cause of my present happiness is that we are all
in good health, surrounded with comforts and filled with
the cheering Hope of seeing my Bother Geo
Birth: 1807-05-17 Death: 1883-05-25
next week we had given up cooking for him untill last week
Mama
Birth: 1780-10-05 Death: 1869-06-28
had a letter from him saying that he
should leave on the 8 of July and he with us by the first of August
“Mr. Aims
Unknown
” was here yesterday
he gives a good act of himand says he is a “correct business man” and has his full
confidence — we felt uneasy about his landing in N.Y
at this time but Mr A said he would not go in the
City — you see by the papers all that I can tell you
about the “Cholera” in N.Y. - our “Village” and “country”
is filled with Citizens - we do not feel much alarmed in
Goshen. but there has been precautions taken to prevent the
air becoming infected through carelessness, there has been a
“Board of Health” formed and cleanliness temperance in
eating & drinking recommended strongly to all the inhabitants
who are furnished gratuitously with “Lime” which is
freely used in cellars &c. we have Mr
Unknown
&
Mrs SanfordUnknown
with their nurse
Unknown
& 6 children Mrs.
S- nurse & 5 children will stay with us awhile next spring - he & son goes to
Mobile you have heard me speak of them, they were with
us last summer they are genteel people she a remarkable
amiable women - we have engaged to take a Gentleman
& wife from N.Y - next week will fill our House
pretty well with our 6 regular Boarders — making 26
in family — I think Mama & Aunty
Birth: 1794-08-30 Death: 1876-12-31
- (except aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
)are the only women that could get along with all and
preserve peace & order — I have apprehended that aunt
Clara had the measles, it it so? and Mrs Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
has she entirely recovered I hope so please give my sincere love
to them both, and Dear old Grandma, kiss her for me
and say that I am grateful for her assurances of my welcome
there, and I shall ever remember her kindness in trying to
cheer me in my dark hours, when I feared my friends
of Home were all dead or in trouble - my visit to
you appears like a “bright vision” that will never fade from
my heart or minds eye — how vext I am to to observe the
least shade of indifference in the face of my auditor
when I am telling them of the beautys of the West
and when I fail to inspire any curiosity when I am discrib
-eing with enthusiasm the beauty the glory the sublimity of the
Houses the Churches the gardens the lakes lands &c &c, I am ready
to cry to think that the magic drapery in which they were all
enveloped to my eye when I was far from them, and you
called them a “contracted, big bigoted, self concieted people,” ^was rent in twain^ then
my spirit would arise within an I would say “I will let
them alone they are joined to their idols” in this little bit
of a place which has and never will have a Lake, canal, or
Rail Road, to bless their eyes unless they go to the West and
see what the energy, ambition, and industry, of Western people has
accomplished — truce — Aunty had a letter from your Brother
Jennings
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
a few days ago, his health
was very delicate and he was in low spirits, expects to be here this autumn — your father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
washere on Saturday was well & family — Washington
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
& Wife
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
out on Sunday to Church, looked very smart, & pleased with
Mr Kingsbury
Unknown
— Brother James
Birth: 1812-09-28 Death: 1860-06-12
has concluded not to come Homethis fall or summer. I seen a notice in a N.Y paper that there
had been 2 cases of Cholera at “Senica Falls” is it so - do you
apprehend it in your village? Cousin H
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
- the shawlthat I left in Albany, did you see it? I
begin to feel uneasy about it the weather is
getting so cold and it was all the one I had - and left it
so carelessly — Cousin F for the neck the Nun Capes are
all the fashion round collar to mach ofen behind or before
entirely according to fancy - Mama & Aunty send love to you
both, and all - please write soon to your affectionate cousin
and sincere friend Frances
(my love to Miss Fosgate
Birth: 1805 Death: 1884-01-19
) Tuesday Eve 24th
Wm. H. Seward Esq
Auburn
New York
Goshen
July 25
N.Y.
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21Frances Seward
1832