Copyright Notice

Facts like names, dates, and places cannot be copyrighted, and you are free to use them however you wish. But a narrative is a creative work product and therefore subject to copyright. Unless written permission has been obtained from the copyright holder, all other usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0. You may copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial purposes only, under the following conditions: (1) you must credit the compiler; (2) you must provide a link to the license; and (3) you must indicate if any changes were made.

Letters by Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch

Elizabeth Blanchard Abbot (1821-1902)

Elizabeth Blanchard Abbot, daughter of George Abbot and Nancy Stickney, was born 28 February 1821 in Beverly, Massachusetts. She married Joseph Henry Bowditch, son of Joseph Bowditch and Lucinda Morse, on 2 April 1845 in Beverly, then moved to his home in Tarboro, North Carolina. In 1861 they moved to Micaville, North Carolina. She died 26 August 1902 in Micaville.

Most of these letters were written by Elizabeth to her parents, her son Charles, and her daughter Georgiana. Some are incomplete, missing the beginning or ending page(s). They are generally in good condition. In a few cases, some words are missing, due to tears and holes in the originals.

  • 13 December 1843. To her brother George William Abbot on the ship Eliza Ann in Amsterdam. She talks about the family's disappointment over his change in plans, that he won't be home soon; and updates George with news of people in Beverly. This is the second part of a longer letter, with the first part written by their father George, in which he talks about their disappointment (worry?) over his destination, and winter passage through the North Sea; and gives advice about sticking together with Elisha, returning home or making another voyage, and a possible promotion. [Transcription]
  • 30 November 1845. To her parents George and Nancy (Stickney) Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts. She describes her happiness in receiving and opening several boxes from home; reminisces about how she tried to remove freckles when young; and describes how she and her husband Joseph Henry Bowditch spent Thanksgiving, working. [Transcription]
  • 15 November 1846. To her parents George and Nancy (Stickney) Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts. She describes her baby son Nathaniel; talks about her upcoming visit home to Beverly, in time for her sister Georgiana's wedding; mentions her parents past visit; and mentions some neighbors ailments. [Transcription]
  • 10 October 1847. 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. [Transcription]
  • 30 December 1880. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She tells about their Christmas, and who was there; talks about the cold weather; and mentions two weddings. [Transcription]
  • Spring 1881. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She talks about their garden; says a strange woman has been frightening other women in the area; includes directions for preventing a chill and fever; and talks about various day-to-day events in the family. [Transcription]
  • Summer 1881. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She mentions a multi-day Methodist Conference in Burnsville; talks about how their bees have finished swarming; and mentions about various day-to-day events in the family and area. [Transcription]
  • 4 September 1881. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She says she hasn't been well; talks about the hot dry summer; mentions work being done on their house; describes a new road being laid out, and some opposition to it; and mentions a court case concerning selling liquor without a license. [Transcription]
  • Fall 1881. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She mentions people being arrested for carrying pistols; talks about their house being finished in the next few weeks; says she'd love having him home for Christmas; and talks about various day-to-day events in the family. [Transcription]
  • 2 November 1881. To son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She talks about her son Fred's sudden move to join Charles in Urbana; and brings Charles up to date on events at home. [Transcription]
  • 7 March 1883. To her son Charles in Urbana, Illinois. She talks about how much she misses him; describes an incident in which their three dogs attacked Henry Caraway; and brings Charles up to date on events at home. [Transcription]
  • 30 October 1884. To Thomas Ray in Burnsville, North Carolina. She asks him to send pepper, and for the price of kerosene. [Transcription]
  • 24 June 1888. To her son Charles, apparently at home in North Carolina, from where she was staying in Burnsville. She talks about an upcoming concert; describes how a 17-year-old boy accidentally shot himself; and mentions visitors she has had. [Transcription]
  • 1888-91. To her daughter Georgiana in Micaville, North Carolina. She talks about people she has visited and seen, and people boarding where she is staying. [Transcription]
  • 24 May 1889. To her daughter Georgiana in Micaville, North Carolina. She talks about an evening spent with Mrs. Woodfin, and a visit with Mr. Broyles; describes an incident in which two men had stones thrown at them when they were returning home from a prayer meeting; and mentions various people she's seen and visited with. [Transcription]
  • 24 June 1893. To her daughter Georgiana in Micaville, North Carolina. She mentions various people she's seen and visited; talks about how Mrs. Carter and Dr. Lewis despise each other, and an incident in which Dr. Lewis tried to borrow a wagon tongue; and describes the good food she's been eating. [Transcription]