Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch and nephew Nathaniel Bowditch, 19 February 1853

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch and nephew Nathaniel Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She says their brother George will be returning to sea, and that Mariano (a servant) will go with him; mentions a furnace that George had installed; tells about her school work; mentions "scandal" in town, and some people who don't get along; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.]

Beverly Feby 19th 1853

My dear sister,

I have just returned from church and I thought I could not spend my noon more profitably than in writing to you. Our letters are few and far apart. We do not hear from you often enough. We have been expecting a letter for a long time. Yesterday Mrs. Bowditch¹ and Mr. Upton² had a letter from Joe.³ He said you were all well. By the way, I received one from him, and that is still unanswered. I would write to him today but Sarah⁴ is writing to him and I shall wait till another time.

George⁵ is still at home. He is very well. He expects to go again this week, in the Ship Souloo, the same voyage to Australia & Manila, a voyage of fifteen months.⁶ Mariano⁷ is going with him. He wants to see his old country, but at the same time I think he would rather stay here. We shall miss him very much. He has been a faithful servant to us. He has been to school and can read quite well.

We, or rather Fred,⁸ had a letter from John.⁹ Like a good boy he wrote as soon as he arrived at Manila. He will probably be at home in April.

We all live on the same as ever, pleasantly, with the aid of a furnace which George⁵ has put in the house. A very large one, it heats the two lower stories, entries and all. It is delightful.

I go to school every day. My lessons out of school are growing harder, though I consider myself old enough now to study something harder than I used too, I have a Physiology and Astronomy lesson every evening. I spend about one hour and half on them. That is nothing considering my school days will end on the last day of next June.

I have told you all about myself first, & now for the rest of them. Ellen¹⁰ & Fred⁸ go to the Academy. They are well, and are both better than ever before. Fred you would be surprised to see. He is very fat and has what he never possessed before, Red cheeks.

Mr. Abbot¹¹ of Boston died Friday. Sarah⁴ will write you the particulars. George¹² spent last Sunday with us. His father was very sick then.

Charles Gidding¹³ is going to Havana for his health. He went up to Boston this morning, and is to sail today.

I have just returned again from church, and on our way home we called in to see Mary Louisa¹⁴ & Ellen Lovett.¹⁵ They sent their loves to you. They are both well. Mary Louisa Jr.¹⁶ is a very large girl, as fat as butter. She is at a boarding school at Roxbury.

Hannah Rantoul¹⁷ I have not seen very lately to speak too. She as usual was at church. I called with Sarah⁴ a short time ago to see her & Jane.¹⁸ Hannah is altered dreadfully. Her hair is almost as grey as her brother's¹⁹ was. She feels his death more than Jane does.

Mrs. Upton²⁰ says Joe³ will soon be here. Did Sarah⁴ write to have you send a pattern of Nats²¹ sole to his shoe in a letter? I want it before he comes to work him a pair of slippers. Please send it as soon as you receive this. They will look so cunning.

How do the little ones do? I should admire to see them. Little Abbot²² that little rakal, rather little darling. I wish I had him here this minute. Wouldn't I squeeze him? Oh no no. You will say I am crazy or that I am (what I really am) a poor letter writer.

Mr. Issacher Lefavour²³ was married this week to a Cover.²⁴ Also George Strickland²⁵ & John Hill.²⁶ Sarah Ellen²⁷ is not married yet, and I don't think is likely to be at present.

Nancy Gardener²⁸ has not returned from where she went after she came from Tarboro. She takes good care not to come to Beverly. Where she is I don't know nor care. I heard she was visiting at Worcester, perhaps at the Hospital.

There is nothing going on in Beverly this winter in the party line, nothing but scandal, and there is a full dose of that. Scandal and friends never stay together. Mrs. Sam Lovett²⁹ and Mrs. Giddings,³⁰ who were firm friends, are now at swords points. John³¹ still goes to Nan,³² though she has nothing to say to his mother. Mrs. Gidding is a dangerous woman.

I must now leave you in order to write a little note to Nat.²¹ I think it would please him, and when I get in a writing mood I can write to anyone, though it almost always proves to be nonsense. I have a hard Sabbath Lesson to learn for tomorrow, so I will bid you good bye. With love from all to all, I remain your affect. sister,

Martha

P. S. Grandma³³ & Grandpa³⁴ are both well. Ellen¹⁰ saw them yesterday.

[Based on the contents of the following note, such as asking Nat if he's in school, and about his little brother Abbot (who died in 1855), it's clear that this is the note to Nat mentioned in the above letter. On the outside is written "Master Nat Bowditch, Tarboro."]

My dear Nephew,

I have just been writing ma a letter and I thought that you would like to receive one from me too. Do you go to school now? And what do you study? Ask Mrs. Owen³⁵ to learn you to write so that you can write to your Aunts and Uncles. Perhaps you can print one.

How does little Sissy³⁶ and Abbot²² do. Kiss them for me.

Dick and Jenny are still alive and Dick dances just the same. Would you not like to see them? I suppose ma told you poor Mccacco died. Do you remember how he used to coo at you naughty monkey. No one has rode on the rocking horse since you went home. He must be rested by this time.

I see your friend Charley Emerton most every day. He has grown to be quite a large boy. He was riding horseback yesterday.

Perhaps you can't read this but Ma³⁷ will for you. I must now bid you good bye. With a kiss for Sissy and Abbot I remain your

Affectionate Aunt

Martha

 

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

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