Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 1, 1841
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 1, 1841
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:meb
student editorTranscriber:spp:cnk
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-08-01
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 1, 1841
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
transcription: meb
revision: tap 2017-09-08
<>
Page
1
Sunday fi August 1st 1841
My dear Henry
I have waited two or three days to
hear where you were but presume you have not returned
from New York yet. My time has been busily employed
the past week owing to an accident which befel one
of our girls and the impossibility of immediately
supplying her place – Elisabeth
the top of those high steps in attempting to get cherries –
the steps fell over at the same time and she falling
upon them cut one of her legs in the most shocking
manner – As soon as the blood could be sufficiently
staunched for me to examine the wound, I threw
by my balsam and bandages in despair and dispatch-
ed Maria for a surgeon — Pitney
Dimond
remaining whom I knew even by name — Briggs came
and sewed up the wound which was 6 inches long
Page
2
and open to the bone – I could not persuade myself until
the Dr came that there was not a large amount of
flesh missing not knowing that the flesh receded in such
a manner when the cut was deep – I was obliged to
hold and soothe the poor creature while she submitted
to the operation of having it closed – fourteen long, deep
stitches the Dr took in her quivering flesh – It was
a terrible operation - she bore it remarkably well – Maria
and I assisted the Dr – Clara
and Jane
ful that I could assist – I was sick enough all night
as you may suppose and my visions were composed
of “gaping wounds” crooked needles &c — — Elisabeth
had a high fever the two succeeding days but is
now more comfortable though unable to move her limb –
Another Irish maiden
in taking care of her — Worden
Tuesday he had been in town two days attending
court - is to go this week to Saratoga –
Mrs Horner
Either Eliza Horner
Eliza came last
Page
3
Tuesday night – They remained here but one day and
then went to Buffalo – I did not see them – Clara and
I went to Mr Comptons
had left for Buffalo — Lazette
commenced a letter to you but never finished it – I some
expect her here when Worden goes East — I wish you
would keep a copy of Verplancks
put ours away carefully but it is gone — I was very
sorry to hear that Col.Webb’s
will be a sore trial for Mrs Webb
Reason:
Lawn but I know of no one who bear it with more
equanimity – I am anxious to know where Clarence
would write to him – Please hand this P. S. to Mary Ann
Your own Frances —
Dear Mary, Will you go to White & Morgan’s store
the upper part of Broadway and purchase for me a linen
cambrick or lawn collar should they still have any like those
I saw there – they were plain square collars with a deep hem-
stitch border – price two dollars or eighteen shillings – Mr
Seward will give you the money – send it when he comes —
Page
4
William H. Seward —
Albany
AUBURN N.Y.
AUG 1
Type: postmark
h
Aug 1. 1841
h
Aug 1, 1841
Sunday fi August 1st 1841
My dear Henry
I have waited two or three days to
hear where you were but presume you have not returned
from New York yet. My time has been busily employed
the past week owing to an accident which befel one
of our girls and the impossibility of immediately
supplying her place – Elisabeth
Unknown
, the Irish girl, fell fromthe top of those high steps in attempting to get cherries –
the steps fell over at the same time and she falling
upon them cut one of her legs in the most shocking
manner – As soon as the blood could be sufficiently
staunched for me to examine the wound, I threw
by my balsam and bandages in despair and dispatch-
ed Maria for a surgeon — Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18 Death: 1853-04-20
was out of town Dimond
Birth: 1809-01-07 Death: 1890-10-13
not to be found and Briggs
Birth: 1807-12-05 Death: 1888-04-24
the only manremaining whom I knew even by name — Briggs came
and sewed up the wound which was 6 inches long
and open to the bone – I could not persuade myself until
the Dr came that there was not a large amount of
flesh missing not knowing that the flesh receded in such
a manner when the cut was deep – I was obliged to
hold and soothe the poor creature while she submitted
to the operation of having it closed – fourteen long, deep
stitches the Dr took in her quivering flesh – It was
a terrible operation - she bore it remarkably well – Maria
and I assisted the Dr – Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
was completely overcomeand Jane
Unknown
faints at the sight of blood – I was thank-ful that I could assist – I was sick enough all night
as you may suppose and my visions were composed
of “gaping wounds” crooked needles &c — — Elisabeth
had a high fever the two succeeding days but is
now more comfortable though unable to move her limb –
Another Irish maiden
Unknown
has taken her place and assistsin taking care of her — Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
came here lastTuesday he had been in town two days attending
court - is to go this week to Saratoga –
Mrs Horner
Unknown
eEditorial Note
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09
or Charity A Horner
Birth: 1813 Death: 1873-04-29
Birth: 1807 Death: 1876-10-31
and the little girls
Birth: 1834
Death: 1900-02-05
Birth: 1833
Death:
Tuesday night – They remained here but one day and
then went to Buffalo – I did not see them – Clara and
I went to Mr Comptons
Birth: 1790 Death: 1850-04-03
Wednesday evening and found they
Birth: 1800 Death: 1851-06-04
had left for Buffalo — Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
writes me that shecommenced a letter to you but never finished it – I some
expect her here when Worden goes East — I wish you
would keep a copy of Verplancks
Birth: 1786-08-06 Death: 1870-03-18
speech
Publisher: Senate Place of Publication:Albany, NY Date: 1839
– I thought I had put ours away carefully but it is gone — I was very
sorry to hear that Col.Webb’s
Birth: 1802-02-08 Death: 1884-06-07
property was to be sold itwill be a sore trial for Mrs Webb
Death: 1848-07-01
to part with Sprin[ g ] Supplied
Lawn but I know of no one who bear it with more
equanimity – I am anxious to know where Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
is – Iwould write to him – Please hand this P. S. to Mary Ann
Your own Frances —
Dear Mary, Will you go to White & Morgan’s store
the upper part of Broadway and purchase for me a linen
cambrick or lawn collar should they still have any like those
I saw there – they were plain square collars with a deep hem-
stitch border – price two dollars or eighteen shillings – Mr
Seward will give you the money – send it when he comes —
William H. Seward —
Albany
AUBURN N.Y.
AUG 1
Stamp
Unknown
Mrs. W. H. SewardAug 1. 1841
h
Unknown
Mrs SewardAug 1, 1841