Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 14, 1846
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 14, 1846
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:pxc
student editorTranscriber:spp:jjh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1846-06-14
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size:
12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, June 14, 1846
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: pxc
revision: crb 2018-07-12
<>
Page
1
Sunday afternoon June 14
My dear Sister,
Our church does not go to day, I have
been to the second Presbyterian – The vestry have come
to an open rupture with Mr Cox
any more – I can give the female vision from which
you may make proper allowances – Debby told
me that the vestry had a meeting and represented
to Mr Cox (this time without interruption) that
he was exceedingly unpopular with his congregation.
After the communication Mr Cox said if this were
really the state of the case he should resign –
soon after the vestry adjourned a letter was received
(described as very abusive) saying he should retain
his place as clergyman of the parish until he was
dismissed by the Bishop! that he acted in
pursuance of advice of friends &c &c – To this letter
the vestry replied that they no longer considered
Mr Cox their pastor and he must seek another
parish – to day the church is closed – we went
up found Mr
seen the sexton who informed them that he had
been directed to ring the bell only in case Mr Cox
should call upon him to do so – here the matter
rests for the present – when I hear any thing
[top Margin] Willie
– says you owe him a letter and he wishes
as soon as possible – H. Cook
with a new leg – I dare not look at it much –
his appearance vastly – he uses his crutches yet
Page
2
[ a ]
Reason: uthentic I will inform you – For myself
[ I ]
Reason:
[ ha ]
Reason: ve always been inclined to like Mr Cox but
[ I ]
Reason: have heard many reports which if true show
that he is not calculated to please a country
parish – all his wrong notions I presume are
supported and strengthened by the family of his
fatherinlaw
Cox but he has been away and knows nothing
of the progress of the disaffection – The Conklings
impute all the difficulty to Mr
and speak of them in unmeasured terms of reprobation.
Mrs Conkling called to invite us there to a party Friday
evening – she talked to me very unreservedly on this
subject but did not mention the letter or the
determination of the vestry – she might not have known
it – We all went to the party – Henry first took
Judge Whiting
and I – Christopher
arrived about 10 were there about an hour
there were 30 guests I should think selected
from those considered most favorable to the son in law
Mrs Smith
John Clary
has lost all sympathy for Wyatt
him a very degraded being – The women all
assailed Henry who declared he never saw
so ferocious a set – all but the Conklings –
Mrs C does not believe in capital punishment
Page
3
an opinion which I find myself internally supporting
Good Dr. Brigham
convinced me of its inexpediency to say nothing
of the inhumanity. The trial will take place this week
two jurors are retained and more than half the peremptory
challenges exhausted – I am still very sorry you did not
conclude to come now instead of next month – Dr
Brigham will be here again this week, probably Dr McCall
Dr. Doane remains – I had Augustus room all ready
for you last week – the rooms are very beautiful
and abundant – I have a letter from Augustus
who has passed his examinations and is pronounced
proficient – he says – "I am at a loss what to say in answer to
your letters (though as to resigning or being dismissed at this
time I have not the slightest idea) – I have now finished
three years of my studies here the three which are most
difficult & cannot think of throwing anything away, when
I am on the eve of graduating – But even did I not wish
to graduate, if it were something to be avoided rather than
desired I should not feel myself at liberty to resign
under the present circumstances. When I came here I
took an oath to serve 8 years unless sooner discharged,
with things at present as they were then, when there was
a great sufficiency of officers, I should think it perfectly
right now or after I had graduated one or two years
but if my services are wanted as things at present
indicate I am not at liberty to do so & home would
be the last place where I should wish to be seen after
such an unworthy action – In the mean time I
do not think you need give yourself any uneasiness for in
Page
4
all probability the war will be brought to a close before I
graduate" – I know that my boy is right and
I wrong yet a mothers heart shrinks from the fearful
alternative – I have no confidence in a permanent
cessation of hostilities – The same injustice which
commenced will continue the war – May God
preserve my child –
Clara
she came from Romulus with Aunt Zeviah
Sly
spirits – Smith
day – Do you know of a girl by the name of Catherine
who lived with Mrs Mal
here and wants a place – Anna
prefer to have an American girl but [ no ]
Alternate Text: know of none to take
her place – Sam cannot go for his wife
the trials last – I wish she were home
1846
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
Type: postmark
Sunday afternoon June 14
My dear Sister,
Our church does not go to day, I have
been to the second Presbyterian – The vestry have come
to an open rupture with Mr Cox
Birth: 1819-11-13 Death: 1895-01-16
– he is not to preachany more – I can give the female vision from which
you may make proper allowances – Debby told
me that the vestry had a meeting and represented
to Mr Cox (this time without interruption) that
he was exceedingly unpopular with his congregation.
After the communication Mr Cox said if this were
really the state of the case he should resign –
soon after the vestry adjourned a letter was received
(described as very abusive) saying he should retain
his place as clergyman of the parish until he was
dismissed by the Bishop! that he acted in
pursuance of advice of friends &c &c – To this letter
the vestry replied that they no longer considered
Mr Cox their pastor and he must seek another
parish – to day the church is closed – we went
up found Mr
Birth: 1806 Death: 1866-05-31
and Mrs Dennis
Birth: 1812 Death: 1861-05-21
leaving – they
hadseen the sexton who informed them that he had
been directed to ring the bell only in case Mr Cox
should call upon him to do so – here the matter
rests for the present – when I hear any thing
[top Margin] Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
is not very well – the chickens and rabbits are –– says you owe him a letter and he wishes
as soon as possible – H. Cook
Birth: 1822-07-22 Death: 1897-05-28
was atwith a new leg – I dare not look at it much –
his appearance vastly – he uses his crutches yet
[ a ]
Supplied
[ I ]
Supplied
Supplied
[ I ]
Supplied
that he is not calculated to please a country
parish – all his wrong notions I presume are
supported and strengthened by the family of his
fatherinlaw
Birth: 1789-10-12 Death: 1874-02-05
– Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
is decidedly in favour of MrCox but he has been away and knows nothing
of the progress of the disaffection – The Conklings
Birth: 1791 Death: 1851-04-14
impute all the difficulty to Mr
Birth: 1787-06-24 Death: 1869-11-01
and Mrs Gardiner
Birth: 1799-02-27 Death: 1876-12-26
and speak of them in unmeasured terms of reprobation.
Mrs Conkling called to invite us there to a party Friday
evening – she talked to me very unreservedly on this
subject but did not mention the letter or the
determination of the vestry – she might not have known
it – We all went to the party – Henry first took
Judge Whiting
Birth: 1790-01-16 Death: 1850-12-28
and John Van Buren
Birth: 1810-02-10 Death: 1866-10-13
– then Sam
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
and I – Christopher
Birth: 1808-06-04 Death: 1877-04-03
took Dr Doane
Birth: 1808-04-02 Death: 1852-01-27
– Wearrived about 10 were there about an hour
there were 30 guests I should think selected
from those considered most favorable to the son in law
Mrs Smith
Birth: 1800 Death: 1861-06-23
was there with Caroline
Birth: 1824 Death: 1881-01-22
– they withJohn Clary
Birth: 1817 Death: 1891-10-29
walked up – Mrs Smith says shehas lost all sympathy for Wyatt
Death: 1846-08-17
consideringhim a very degraded being – The women all
assailed Henry who declared he never saw
so ferocious a set – all but the Conklings –
Mrs C does not believe in capital punishment
an opinion which I find myself internally supporting
Good Dr. Brigham
Birth: 1798-12-26 Death: 1849-09-08
and the books I have read haveconvinced me of its inexpediency to say nothing
of the inhumanity. The trial will take place this week
two jurors are retained and more than half the peremptory
challenges exhausted – I am still very sorry you did not
conclude to come now instead of next month – Dr
Brigham will be here again this week, probably Dr McCall
Birth: 1787-01-25 Death: 1867-10-05
Dr. Doane remains – I had Augustus room all ready
for you last week – the rooms are very beautiful
and abundant – I have a letter from Augustus
who has passed his examinations and is pronounced
proficient – he says – "I am at a loss what to say in answer to
your letters (though as to resigning or being dismissed at this
time I have not the slightest idea) – I have now finished
three years of my studies here the three which are most
difficult & cannot think of throwing anything away, when
I am on the eve of graduating – But even did I not wish
to graduate, if it were something to be avoided rather than
desired I should not feel myself at liberty to resign
under the present circumstances. When I came here I
took an oath to serve 8 years unless sooner discharged,
with things at present as they were then, when there was
a great sufficiency of officers, I should think it perfectly
right now or after I had graduated one or two years
but if my services are wanted as things at present
indicate I am not at liberty to do so & home would
be the last place where I should wish to be seen after
such an unworthy action – In the mean time I
do not think you need give yourself any uneasiness for in
all probability the war will be brought to a close before I
graduate" – I know that my boy is right and
I wrong yet a mothers heart shrinks from the fearful
alternative – I have no confidence in a permanent
cessation of hostilities – The same injustice which
commenced will continue the war – May God
preserve my child –
Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
is well – Polly McLaughlinUnknown
is with hershe came from Romulus with Aunt Zeviah
Birth: 1795-03-06 Death: 1868-05-13
and SophiaSly
Birth: 1812 Death: 1885-09-04
last week – goes back Friday – is sick in lowspirits – Smith
Unknown
from Syracuse is here spending theday – Do you know of a girl by the name of Catherine
Unknown
who lived with Mrs Mal
Unknown
2 or 3 years Clara says she ishere and wants a place – Anna
Unknown
leaves in a week or two – I wouldprefer to have an American girl but [ no ]
Alternate Text
her place – Sam cannot go for his wife
Birth: 1817-08-27 Death: 1901-06-12
whilethe trials last – I wish she were home
1846
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.