Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch to her parents George and Nancy (Stickney) Abbot, 10 October 1847

[From Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina, to her parents George and Nancy (Stickney) Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts. She describes her trip back home to Tarboro after her visit in Beverly, and her stay with the Goulds on the way.

Addressed to "George Abbot Esq., Beverly, Mass." Postmarked "Tarbou., N. C., Oct 10." A separate notation says "Eliz, Abbot Bowditch, Tarboro, Oct 10, 1847." Part of the wax seal is still intact. A very small section has been torn away, with a couple of missing words.]

Tarboro Oct 10th 1847

My dear parents,

I am at home again safe and sound, after rather a tedious journey. We left N. York on Sunday morn at nine o'clock in the cars, and arrived in Philadelphia about two. It was our intention to be in Baltimore that night, but on arriving in Philadelphia found that we could not leave there until 10 o'clock that night. So we went to the public house by the Railroad depot, and took a good long nap, all of us, to prepare us for our night's journey. Thanny1 was as lively as a cricket, and quite well, drinking milk and eating cracker as usual.

About 5 o'clock Jo.2 went to the United States to find Capt. Pearson.3 He was out, but he left a note for him, telling him where we were, & that we should leave that night. After finishing our supper in our room, Capt. Pearson came, and staid until 1/4 past nine, was very pleasant, and seemed very glad to see us. Said Thanny looked like Fred4 as he lie sleeping on the bed. Capt. P. said he had been unwell ever since he had been there, and should be very glad to once more get home again.

We took the cars at 1/4 before ten, Thanny going to sleep before they started. I made him a nice bed on one of the seats, and he slept without waking till we got to Balt. about 5 in the morning. We went to Mr. Goulds.5 It was about his time for rising, but we went to bed, and there Thanny took another nap. That morning I discovered a tooth had come through since he started, & his gums very much swollen. He did not appear well, but I attributed it to his teeth.

Mr. and Mrs. Gould6 received us pleasantly, and Mr. Gould appeared to take much interest in Thanny. He soon made good friends too with Mrs. Hyde.7 They all three look well, and appear to live just as they want to, all but in one respect. Mrs. Gould & Catherine7 not being any better friends than ever is not so pleasant. Warren8 was just on the eve of going into the country to school to Mr. Harlan9 for one year. They seem to think him rather duller than common, which is a great disappointment to Mr. Gould. He looks stupid, but he is, I should think, a good boy. I spoke to Mrs. Gould about the muff, and she said that she told you that she would write you if she decided to have you get it. I thought she was undetermined whether you could satisfy her or not, so I think it would be advisable to wait until you hear from her. I told her I thought she had better write. She is the most singular woman breathing. However she treated us very kindly and we staid until Thursday morn'g at 6 o'clk.

It rained, but before we got to Washington City it was very pleasant. I chose that route, as I dislike the boat, I am so sick. We left Washington about nine in the boat for Aquea Creek.10 What a three hours I did spend. There was a head wind, and I was deadly sick. Thanny fortunately was a good boy. If he had not been, what should I have done with him. It was a happy hearing to me that we were to land.

We took the cars for Richmond, and within an hours arrival we found a bridge had been burnt, over which the cars had to pass, and all the passengers were obliged to get out & walk over the other side, and all the baggage went round in waggons drawn by mules. The cars waited for us on the other side. They are rebuilding it again. If Jo.2 had had his bandbox & preserve jar, I think with the addition of Thanny he would have been a sight to behold.

On our arrival at Petersburg it rained in torrents, but we went from one depot to the other, I being very careful to keep Thanny well covered up. We started from Petersburg about nine and arrived in Weldon sometime about 3 I think. Thanny was quite troublesome all the way, wanted Cracker & drink all the time, but from Weldon to Rocky Mt. slept soundly.

It was about 7 o'[____] that we arrived at Mrs. Gray's and I was might[____] pleased to do so, although it is such a dismal looking place. We breakfasted, washed, &c., & in about an hour started in the yellow barouche, with a great black negro to drive us. (The one that took you down to Tarboro is dead.) The ride was very pleasant. It was a delightful morning, and it was twelve o'clock Friday morng that we arrived here.

Thanny would not look at any one of the family. All wanted to take him & kiss him as they used to do, but no he would not even give them a look. They received us very hospitably, and I have been ever since getting things a little so that I can move about. Last night I had my wardrobe brought up, & today I have been resting. Thanny is eating sweet potatoes morning, noon, and night. Dr. Lawrence11 says we must give him southern food if we intend he shall live south, so I am going by his directions, and he says he will make him a large boy.

A wedding takes place here on Wednesday and great preparations are making. I am just in time.12

Jo. Henry sends much love, & Thanny's eyes will brighten when I call Martha13 or Ellen14 or Fred.4 I think he misses them much. Rober[____] has got him now. Looking at the [____]ickens in the yard.

I have seen Dr. Thomas & his wife,15 Mrs. Cheshire,16 Maria Clark,17 &c., but I suppose others thought I was tired.

Do write me soon. Give much love to Charles18 & Ga.19 Tell Ga to write me every thing about every body, & tell George20 I must not be disappointed in his letters. With a deal of love I remain yr. aff. daughter E.

  1. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch (1846-1913), Elizabeth's son
  2. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband
  3. Charles Pearson (1787-1862)
  4. Frederick Abbot (1841-1903), Elizabeth's brother
  5. James Gould (1795-1874)
  6. Elizabeth Leach (1797-1859)
  7. Catherine Gould (-1869)
  8. Warren Gould Hyde (1833-1894)
  9. Reuben Stump Harlan (1811-1858)
  10. Aquia Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, meeting the Potomac about 45 miles south of Washington, D. C. See Aquia Creek.
  11. Josiah Lawrence (1808-1869)
  12. The wedding was between Robert Staton (1822-1898) and Barbara Blount Hadley (1824-1897), on 12 October 1847 (a Tuesday, not Wednesday), according to North Carolina marriage records at Ancestry.
  13. Martha Eliza Abbot (1835-1870), Elizabeth's sister
  14. Ellen Louisa Abbot (1837-1887), Elizabeth's sister
  15. William George Thomas (1818-1890) and Mary Sumner Clark (1819-1901)
  16. Elizabeth Toole Parker (1820-1895)
  17. Maria Toole Clark (1813-1859)
  18. Charles Elisha Whitney Lamson (1820-1889), Georgiana (Abbot) Lamson's husband
  19. Georgiana Abbot (1823-1848), Elizabeth's sister
  20. George William Abbot (1825-1861), Elizabeth's brother