Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Ellen Abbot and Martha Abbot to their sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 8 September 1849

[From Ellen Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. The second part of this letter was written by her sister Martha Abbot. She asks about Elizabeth's children; mentions a pet turtle her brother Fred has; describes a bell choir concert she attended, and a party she and Fred attended; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarboro, N. C.," and postmarked "Beverly MS, Sep 10."]

Beverly Sept 8th 1849

My Dear Sister,

As it is vacation, I thought I would take my turn, and be Cats-paw¹ this time. We received your letter and were sorry to hear you had been sick. Ma² says you were fortunate to get over it as easily as you did. We do not dare to eat a cucumber, or much of other vegetables or fruit.

Don't Sis³ walk yet? Ma says she is old enough. Does her knees or ancles seem to be weak? If so it would be well to rub them in brandy every morning and evening. She seems old not to walk, does she have her milk or sweetened water? She had better have her milk if it can be got for her. Little rogues, Ma says she wants to see them this moment, and give them a good squeezeing. I suppose Nat⁴ has been guessing ever since we wrote the last letter, what little thing Fred⁵ has got. It was a little turtle about as big as a cent, which we intend to keep till he comes on for him to see, if it does not freeze this winter. He will admire to see it snap at the flies.

We have had but one case of cholera in town since we wrote you. It was Mr. Seward Lee,⁶ but he has got over it now. It seems to be hanging round us in different towns, but is not very bad.

We were astonished to hear you had raised 5 barrels of potatoes at one time. It would be quite a revenue here. Potatoes have cost two dollars a bushel. They have not been under one dollar for a year.

Great preparations have been made for the reception of General Taylor,⁷ but they are disappointed he has gone from Niagara to Washington, to recruit his health.

There is an Agricultural Fair to be held in Salem next week.

Did you know Sarah Weld⁸ was married to Mr. Seaver.⁹

Elisabeth Story¹⁰ is going to move to Boston this or next month.

Grandpa¹¹ and Grandma¹² are very well and send much love.

Saturday Ma says she will endeavor to attend to those things, and get the yarn by the time Joe¹³ comes on, but you did not say what color you wanted. Please say in your next what color you would like, white or colored?

Our neighbor Mr. Josiah Foster¹⁴ died Friday evening.

Fred⁵ says tell Nat⁴ he longs for the time to come when he is coming on and then he shall have somebody to play with him.

Our vacation expired yesterday. Fred is going to school Monday and I shall have off and go to the Academy.

Monday night Martha,¹⁵ Fred, and myself went to hear the Bell ringers. They held a concert in the Town Hall. They had 37 bells. It is curious to see them handle the bells. They take them up and put them down so quick. They played all sorts of tunes with them. There are seven in all. The father and his three sons are German, & the other three are Americans.

How does Nats pig do, and his kitten. Don't you want me to send you another kitten in this litter. We have got a real pretty little grey one, and if you want her perhaps I will send her in the letter. I wish you would bring up a little blackey for Ma, and bring her on with you. I have just been asking her what kind of a one she wants. She said I want one that is straight, tall, that can wash, iron, cook, and do all kinds of housework, taking care of babies excepted. Ma will dispense of that for the present. You can put her in a box and write on it Ivory and Ebony, this side up, with care, and she will come safe enough.

Sunday Sept 9th

I have been to church today and heard Rev. Mr. Peabody¹⁶ preach.

Last week Mrs. Choate's¹⁷ children had a party. Fred and I went. She had 37 children. We had singing, playing on the piano. The children seemed to enjoy themselves very much. We went down in the orchard and played Juniper Tree and other playes. Then we came up and went into the house. We were called out to tea. We had every thing, peaches, cake, and fruit. After tea Mr. Fisher Flaggs¹⁸ little son¹⁹ sang Zach Taylor. Both young and old were amused. At seven o'clock the the children went home. I stopped and spent the evening with Mrs. Choate. At nine o'clock I cane home after having had a very good time.

You will see as you read it I have made a mistake. Instead of reading on this page, first you must read the 3rd page before you read this.

I have written quite a long letter. I will now give the pen into Martha's¹⁵ hands, who wants to write you a sentence in French. Give Nat⁴ and Sis³ a kiss from us all and a good hard one from me. With love from all to all. Believe me ever your affectionate sister

Ellie

Answer as soon as possible.

[This is the second part of the letter, from Martha Abbot.]

Beverly Sept 9th 1849

My dear sister,

I now take the pen to finish the sheet as Ellen²⁰ has exhausted all her news. There is not much news nowadays, excepting the long pending marriage between Capt. Charles Stevens²¹ and Miss Ellen Leach.²² He has got a situation in the Custom House, and people seem to be trying to talk him into it. And it is reported that Elisha²³ is going to be married.

Mrs. Pickets²⁴ baby²⁵ is getting better.

Uncle Benny Pearse died today, and also Mary Elisabeth Hildredth²⁶ died with the Consumption. Ma² says she didn't know but that you knew her.

Ma says that dark yarn she sent you on, if you knit it with white, it would make very pretty stockings for Nat.⁴

Israel²⁷ has just been in and says that he has seen the owners of George's²⁸ vessel & they say if he comes directly from Calcutta he will be here in February or March, when George & John,²⁹ you, Nat, & Sis³ are here. Ma will have quite a large family again.

Mrs. Jane Rantoul³⁰ has been up to Cambridge fixing Bobbys³¹ room. She says he has got the best and the pleasantest room in the whole Colledge building. He has got a black hat and a standing dickey as straight as a bean pole. He walked to Portsmouth in one day and back in another. He is the smartest lad in the Country. His father³² has gone west as far as La Croix's falls. Perhaps he will return your way and make a call upon you.

Ma says that I must tell you that I am as black as a wild Indian, as tall and as black as can be. I play ball with the boys and my hands are as big as a salt fish handling the bat so much. Perhaps I shall be steadier young miss one of these days, and be more to Ma's mind.

From your sister Patty.

 

Copyright Charles Towne. Usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0
Compiler: Charles Towne

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