Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, November 30, 1836
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, November 30, 1836
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:meb
student editorTranscriber:spp:lmd
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1836-11-30
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, November 30, 1836
action: sent
sender: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805
Death: 1839-01-04
location: Bargaintown, NJ
receiver: Mary Seward
Birth: 1769-11-27
Death: 1844-12-11
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: meb
revision: crb 2016-03-21
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Page
1
Bargain Town, Novr 30th
My very dear Mama,
Yours of the 26th came safely
to to hand this evening — the shortest time I ever received
a letter from home — I am a thousand times obliged for it,
it is such a pleasure to me to hear from you all —
Dr C.
in perfect health & I never saw him look better than
when he came home, but next day was Quarterly Meeting
& he sat in the door, & took cold — had a terrible chill & has
been very sick, he is much better now, left home this
morning for Bridgeton Court, as a witness —
Mahlon likes the West very much, was at Cincinatti, — found
them going & returning all well, & they say (for they write
often) that they have a family of thirteen & are the happiest
family in the world — & Mahlon says they live very nice
& in possession of more solid enjoyments than they possi could
call their own in N.Y — Saw his little nieces, well —
went out to St Louis — bought a farm of 160 acres
near Jerseyville, 40 miles from St Louis, & 12 from the
Missisippi River, as beautiful land he says as ever lay
under the Sun. he says if I had been willing to go there
he should have staid, and made arrangements for our
convenience, this winter & come on for us in the Spring —
But when I think of leaving my Parents, aged & infirm, to go
such a distance I must leave them forever, I cannot say yes
though I do believe, it would be better for us than to stay here.
the society is good, schools excellent, & a growing & flourishing
country — I think Mahlon is serious in hoping after a while
to obtain my consent to remove, but I cannot give it yet.
M— expected to have returned by way of Hillsborough,
but could not, on account, of the stages being full & he
could not wait — it was so late he came home by Pitts-
-burgh instead of the Lakes — he is delighted with his
jaunt — We are well, except colds which we all have bad enough,
dismal cold & dreary — provisions are so nigh & scarce, that
it makes me think of plenty in the far West I thank you dear
Mama very much for the butter — poor tub butter is 25 per lb —
I had a letter from G. W S.
perhaps he never received it — he complains bitterly of his bondage,
but he bears pretty well, he says he will not endure it much longer,
Page
2
and I am sure if Papa knew how they managed he would
not suffer G. to be a burden on Dr L—
dear, I can give you no idea on paper, how insulting they
talk to his very teeth, he curls up his lip & says not much
because he loves peace, but he remembers it all, and
says sooner than live so I’ll go to Illinois and dig potatoes,
but I endeavored to persuade
long & I do humbly trust his worse than Egyptian
bondg bondage is nearly at an end —
When Dr C— was at Mendham, Wills
in the field, & M— was invited in to see him, his Father said
to him after the surprise was over, My Son: take example
by G— he never hurts himself, with such a knowing look
they never lose any opportunity of trying to put him
down — but he will live thro it I hope, & as he says be able
to buy the whole of them yet — he dont write because, he says
they are jealous that he is telling news of them.
It is very late and I write in such haste I am ashamed
of this letter, there is a vessel going to N.Y. tomorrow by
[ it ]
Reason: hole I sent to day an order to see if there was anything for
me — I am very very much obliged until I can pay for the
butter more substantially —
Ever your own
Cornelia —
Dear Julia
I am very much indebted for your share in my
correspondence it is a great comfort to me to hear so often &
so much news — I do hope you will still oblige me & not
grow weary in well doing. I am in much haste but I will
write more at length soon — Caroline
the greatest little witch you ever saw, but I think I shall show you
the original next Spring —
Most sincerely yours
L.C.C—
Page
3
Bargain Town
N. J. Nov. 30
free
M. D. Canfield
P. M.
Mrs. S. S. Seward
Florida
Orange Co New York.
Bargain Town, Novr 30th
My very dear Mama,
Yours of the 26th came safely
to to hand this evening — the shortest time I ever received
a letter from home — I am a thousand times obliged for it,
it is such a pleasure to me to hear from you all —
Dr C.
Birth: 1798-11-26 Death: 1865-01-05
has been at home a week last Saturday — he wasin perfect health & I never saw him look better than
when he came home, but next day was Quarterly Meeting
& he sat in the door, & took cold — had a terrible chill & has
been very sick, he is much better now, left home this
morning for Bridgeton Court, as a witness —
Mahlon likes the West very much, was at Cincinatti, — found
them going & returning all well, & they say (for they write
often) that they have a family of thirteen & are the happiest
family in the world — & Mahlon says they live very nice
& in possession of more solid enjoyments than they possi could
call their own in N.Y — Saw his little nieces, well —
went out to St Louis — bought a farm of 160 acres
near Jerseyville, 40 miles from St Louis, & 12 from the
Missisippi River, as beautiful land he says as ever lay
under the Sun. he says if I had been willing to go there
he should have staid, and made arrangements for our
convenience, this winter & come on for us in the Spring —
But when I think of leaving my Parents
Birth: 1769-11-27
Death: 1844-12-11
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
such a distance I must leave them forever, I cannot say yes
though I do believe, it would be better for us than to stay here.
the society is good, schools excellent, & a growing & flourishing
country — I think Mahlon is serious in hoping after a while
to obtain my consent to remove, but I cannot give it yet.
M— expected to have returned by way of Hillsborough,
but could not, on account, of the stages being full & he
could not wait — it was so late he came home by Pitts-
-burgh instead of the Lakes — he is delighted with his
jaunt — We are well, except colds which we all have bad enough,
dismal cold & dreary — provisions are so nigh & scarce, that
it makes me think of plenty in the far West I thank you dear
Mama very much for the butter — poor tub butter is 25 per lb —
I had a letter from G. W S.
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
some time since which I sent to Papaperhaps he never received it — he complains bitterly of his bondage,
but he bears pretty well, he says he will not endure it much longer,
and I am sure if Papa knew how they managed he would
not suffer G. to be a burden on Dr L—
Birth: 1783-10-25 Death: 1865-04-15
any longer, deardear, I can give you no idea on paper, how insulting they
talk to his very teeth, he curls up his lip & says not much
because he loves peace, but he remembers it all, and
says sooner than live so I’ll go to Illinois and dig potatoes,
but I endeavored to persuade
To influence by argument, advice, or intreaty • To convince by arguments, or reasons offered •
him it would not lastlong & I do humbly trust his worse than Egyptian
bondg bondage is nearly at an end —
When Dr C— was at Mendham, Wills
Birth: 1796-11-20 Death: 1871-10-05
over heat himselfin the field, & M— was invited in to see him, his Father said
to him after the surprise was over, My Son: take example
by G— he never hurts himself, with such a knowing look
they never lose any opportunity of trying to put him
down — but he will live thro it I hope, & as he says be able
to buy the whole of them yet — he dont write because, he says
they are jealous that he is telling news of them.
It is very late and I write in such haste I am ashamed
of this letter, there is a vessel going to N.Y. tomorrow by
[ it ]
Supplied
me — I am very very much obliged until I can pay for the
butter more substantially —
Ever your own
Cornelia —
Dear Julia
Birth: 1811-08-26 Death: 1847-07-24
I am very much indebted for your share in my
correspondence it is a great comfort to me to hear so often &
so much news — I do hope you will still oblige me & not
grow weary in well doing. I am in much haste but I will
write more at length soon — Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
as she calls herself isthe greatest little witch you ever saw, but I think I shall show you
the original next Spring —
Most sincerely yours
L.C.C—
Bargain Town
N. J. Nov. 30
free
M. D. Canfield
P. M.
Mrs. S. S. Seward
Florida
Orange Co New York.