Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 13 September 1859

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She mentions an upcoming visit from Nat; says they've had gas pipes installed in their house; talks about the settlement of their grandfather's estate; mentions Elizabeth's pregnancy (with Frederick Darlington Bowditch); discusses the disposition of the Bowditch silver; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.]

Beverly Sept 13th 1859

Dear Elizabeth,

I received your letter in due season, but was prevented from answering by return of mail as you desired by the sudden summons for George1 to leave. He has been expecting to sail since the first of June, but business is very poor and they have not been able to get freight. He left with John2 for New York yesterday and expects to sail by Thursday.

Now for Nat.3 I received a letter from him yesterday saying that he should spend the night with Mrs. Upton.4 They will put him into the Boston cars and John or Fred5 will meet him at the depot. He will be perfectly safe. I expect to enjoy his visit very much.

I am now quite alone. Ellen6 left with Emily7 this morning to visit Cambridge. Fred is away at Salem all day, so that my time will not pass very quickly.

We have had gas pipes put into the house and by the first of October we shall be lighted up. You would hardly know the town now, so many improvements.

I received a paper from Mr. Gould8 yesterday containing an account of Mr. Burnaps9 death, very sudden of heart complaint. Mr. Gould will feel it much I know.

Grandpa's10 estate is being settled but there are so many debts I doubt if anything comes to us. For a man that has worked as steadily as he has and been so industrious every way, I do not understand why he did not leave some little property. He must have been very careless about his accounts.

We have no minister yet, but came mighty near it. All could not agree. I imagine t'will be a long time before we get one.

Mrs. Jane Rantoul11 had a House Warming a week ago. Those that went had a very stupid time. We did not as it was soon after Grandpa's death.

There is a report that Betsy12 is to be married. A Lawyer from Salem lately moved to town, is very attentive to her, walking home from church every day with her. His name is "Driver."13 He looks quite young and I can't believe that he would be such a goose. But it really looks like it.

E. Story14 called here a few days since with her Mother15 and little "Ike."16 Sent her best love to you and wishes you would write her. She says both have families but she could manage to write at least once a year. She has lost three children within the last year17 and has quite a family left.

I was pleased to hear of your situation.18 Hope you'l have as comfortable a time as usual. When do you expect to be sick? Think of your having three children that I've not seen.

John2 has about decided to spend a year at home. His last long voyage quite sickened him of the sea.

Lothrop Thorndike19 is to be married to Miss Wells20 of Cambridge the first of November after an engagement of six years. They ought to know each other pretty thoroughly.

Nat3 said Jo21 is coming on in Nov. I hope he will come to Beverly, and take his mother's22 silver. He can do with it as he pleases. Mrs. Upton4 wants all of it. Sarah23 bought it of her mother and paid for it, and George1 thinks Mrs. U. has had enough. A coffee pot, cream pitcher, and six large spoons. He can divide with his brother24 and sister4 if he chooses. If Mrs. U. gets it she will keep it, so t'will be safe with Jo.25 George has given me Sarah's writing desk and in a secret drawer I found the family record which I will enclose.

What do you say to letting Georgianna26 come on here to spend the winter. I would like to have her but suppose you could hardly spare her and Nat too. Give her a kiss from me and to the other children. Love to Jo and to enquiring friends. Write soon. from your affectionate

Sister
Martha

  1. George William Abbot (1825-1861), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  2. John Edwin Abbot (1831-1911), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  3. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch (1846-1913), Elizabeth's son
  4. Helen Maria Bowditch (1814-1889), Joseph Henry Bowditch's sister, Nat's aunt
  5. Frederick Abbot (1841-1903), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  6. Ellen Louisa Abbot (1837-1887), Martha and Elizabeth's sister
  7. Emily Hooper (1836-1906), future wife of George William Abbot
  8. James Gould (1795-1874)
  9. George Washington Burnap (1802-1859)
  10. Samuel Stickney (1771-1859)
  11. Jane Elizabeth Woodberry (1807-1870)
  12. Betsey Lovett Chapman (1818-1891)
  13. John Saunders Driver (1831-1860)
  14. Elizabeth Bowen Woodberry (1817-1888)
  15. Nancy Howe Lincoln (1800-1886), actually Elizabeth Bowen (Woodberry) Story's step-mother
  16. Isaac Marion Story (1855-1918), Elizabeth Bowen (Woodberry) Story's son
  17. Thorndike W. Story (1853-1859), Annie Lincoln Story (1857-1858), and Franklin Story (1858-1858)
  18. Elizabeth was pregnant with her sixth child, Frederick Darlington Bowditch (1859-1920)
  19. Samuel Kirkland Lothrop Thorndike (1829-1911)
  20. Rosa Anna Lamb Wells (1835-1916)
  21. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband
  22. Lucinda Morse (1786-1858), Joseph Henry Bowditch's mother
  23. Sarah Morse Bowditch (1816-1856), Joseph Henry Bowditch's sister, and deceased wife of George William Abbot
  24. Francis Morse Bowditch (1823-1864), Joseph Henry Bowditch's brother
  25. Joseph Henry Bowditch did end up with his mother's silver, not his sister Helen. From the Bowditch genealogy by Frederick Bowditch, the silver went from Joseph Henry Bowditch to his daughter Georgiana Bowditch, then to Georgiana's niece Blanchard Louise (Bowditch) Hamilton ("who was closest to Georgiana during her final days in Morganton, N. C."), then to Blanchard's son Myron Bowditch Hamilton.
  26. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth's daughter