Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, March 14, 1838
xml:
Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, March 14,
1838
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:atb
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-03-14
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Mary Jennings Seward, March 14, 1838
action: sent
sender: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805
Death: 1839-01-04
location:
receiver: Mary Seward
Birth: 1769-11-27
Death: 1844-12-11
location: Florida, NY
transcription:
revision: 2015-12-01
<>
Page
1
Bargain Town, March 14 1838
My dear Mother,
I received your kind letter of the 5th Inst
last evening. I dont know when I have received anything
that afforded me so much pleasure, to hear that you
and my Father
in a more cheerful vein, than your letters usually are.
I think if little Mary
a cold I should have slept sounder than I am accustomed
to do –last night–I am rejoiced to hear that the
Methodists have awakened up the Florida people
they had become "luke warm" to say the least of them,
and I fear very indifferent Christians – there is
nothing but godliness, that can make us charitable,
kind, and social – I have enjoyed some of the
Methodist meetings beyond any other, but it is a
low dull state of religion here at present – and
I have been very much confined of late –yet I
can think, and feel gratitude for the countless
blessings bestowed upon us. I dont know that we
ever enjoy as much comfort as Marcia
has a way of setting off things that I have not,
but we have had a very pleasant winter–
I am ready sometimes to think our portion is like
the widows crust and meal.
Please make my congratulations to Mrs. Horton
Page
2
tell her we wish her the happiness the world affords.
I am glad to hear Lockes
tell Julian
it is a good long one and tells me a great deal
of interesting matters & I'll remember it.
I am going to see Mrs Amelia Frambes
the last visit I paid her was when my dear Mama
was here, I am a poor neighbor in this respect.
Dear Mama I have neglected to finish my letter until
this time, (25th) not because of any particular reason, but.
carelessness. Francis
near being seriously wounded, Augustus
hatchet chopping & it glanced and struck Francis
on the knee. I had a letter from Julia Dickerson
week, she says she is coming down next week, to make
us a good long visit – now my dear Mother I fear our
visit to Orange Co. will turn all smoke, not because
Cousin Julia is coming but, the times are so dull I
should hardly feel at liberty to spend money unnecessa-
rily – and Father & yourself are so much better I do not
feel so much anxiety on your account — but I can hardly
tell yet how it may be – I had a letter from G.W.S.
me hard I have a great mind to go on purpose to see him.
We are still hesitating about moving, the Dr
anxious to emigrate to Illinoise I should be glad to go to Erie
if there was any change at all for us – and the Dr I think would
not object – but the times are so hard I do not much like to
urge a move now.
Page
3
I have been thinking if Henry
it would be a good opportunity for me to go on with him.
I do so much dread travelling alone – and it is next
to impossible for a stranger to come in and attend to
the business of this little office without committing so
many blunders.
Little Mary Seward grows finely I wish my dear Mother
you could see my little family in their "Sunday Suits" –
for like all children they look best when a little fixed
up – they are all lively and we think intelligent, and
I do most sincerely hope they will be good –
Caroline
she says she will come down and m[ ake ]
Reason: hole
the fire, and grind the coffee & Mary
shall call Father & Mother to breakfast – she is
wonderfully happy in anticipations — she walks to meeting
and back as lively as a little bee.
Aunt Charlotte
enquires after Mama very kindly –
Uncle Mahlon
better now.
Remember us all to the kind friends who enquire after
our welfare – Poor Mr Curtis
this country is the most healthy place ever I saw – a great
many people going West dies there.
Please write soon,
Yours most affectionately
L. Cornelia
Page
4
Mrs Mary Seward
Florida
Orange Co.
N.Y.
Bargaintown N.J. M.D. Canfield Mar 26 P.M.
Free
Type: postmark
[bottom Margin] h
My
Dear George
Bargain Town, March 14 1838
My dear Mother,
I received your kind letter of the 5th Inst
last evening. I dont know when I have received anything
that afforded me so much pleasure, to hear that you
and my Father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
are in better
health. and it is writtenin a more cheerful vein, than your letters usually are.
I think if little Mary
Birth: 1837-09-15 Death: 1839-03-10
had not
been very restless witha cold I should have slept sounder than I am accustomed
to do –last night–I am rejoiced to hear that the
Methodists have awakened up the Florida people
they had become "luke warm" to say the least of them,
and I fear very indifferent Christians – there is
nothing but godliness, that can make us charitable,
kind, and social – I have enjoyed some of the
Methodist meetings beyond any other, but it is a
low dull state of religion here at present – and
I have been very much confined of late –yet I
can think, and feel gratitude for the countless
blessings bestowed upon us. I dont know that we
ever enjoy as much comfort as Marcia
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
does –
shehas a way of setting off things that I have not,
but we have had a very pleasant winter–
I am ready sometimes to think our portion is like
the widows crust and meal.
Please make my congratulations to Mrs. Horton
Birth: 1816-05-11 Death: 1892-01-18
tell her we wish her the happiness the world affords.
I am glad to hear Lockes
Birth: 1805-07-15 Death: 1848-05-14
health is returning –tell Julian
Birth: 1811-08-26 Death: 1847-07-24
I am very much indebted for her
letter —it is a good long one and tells me a great deal
of interesting matters & I'll remember it.
I am going to see Mrs Amelia Frambes
Birth: 1793-10-19 Death: 1870-11-25
this afternoonthe last visit I paid her was when my dear Mama
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
was here, I am a poor neighbor in this respect.
Dear Mama I have neglected to finish my letter until
this time, (25th) not because of any particular reason, but.
carelessness. Francis
Birth: 1832-02-20 Death: 1876-01-14
got hurt a little today, camenear being seriously wounded, Augustus
Birth: 1829-12-04 Death: 1867-10-25
had a
littlehatchet chopping & it glanced and struck Francis
on the knee. I had a letter from Julia Dickerson
Unknown
last week, she says she is coming down next week, to make
us a good long visit – now my dear Mother I fear our
visit to Orange Co. will turn all smoke, not because
Cousin Julia is coming but, the times are so dull I
should hardly feel at liberty to spend money unnecessa-
rily – and Father & yourself are so much better I do not
feel so much anxiety on your account — but I can hardly
tell yet how it may be – I had a letter from G.W.S.
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
he urgesme hard I have a great mind to go on purpose to see him.
We are still hesitating about moving, the Dr
Birth: 1798-11-26 Death: 1865-01-05
continues very anxious to emigrate to Illinoise I should be glad to go to Erie
if there was any change at all for us – and the Dr I think would
not object – but the times are so hard I do not much like to
urge a move now.
I have been thinking if Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
came to
Phil
a
& this springit would be a good opportunity for me to go on with him.
I do so much dread travelling alone – and it is next
to impossible for a stranger to come in and attend to
the business of this little office without committing so
many blunders.
Little Mary Seward grows finely I wish my dear Mother
you could see my little family in their "Sunday Suits" –
for like all children they look best when a little fixed
up – they are all lively and we think intelligent, and
I do most sincerely hope they will be good –
Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
has the greatest ambitions to
work,she says she will come down and m[ ake ]
Supplied
the fire, and grind the coffee & Mary
shall call Father & Mother to breakfast – she is
wonderfully happy in anticipations — she walks to meeting
and back as lively as a little bee.
Aunt Charlotte
Unknown
is our very kind neighbor
still, alwaysenquires after Mama very kindly –
Uncle Mahlon
Birth: 1770-04-17 Death: 1853-10-05
and Augustus have both been
very ill –better now.
Remember us all to the kind friends who enquire after
our welfare – Poor Mr Curtis
Unknown
is gone I hope he was ready –this country is the most healthy place ever I saw – a great
many people going West dies there.
Please write soon,
Yours most affectionately
L. Cornelia
Mrs Mary Seward
Florida
Orange Co.
N.Y.
Bargaintown N.J. M.D. Canfield Mar 26 P.M.
Free
Stamp
[bottom Margin] h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11