Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 4 February 1849

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She thanks Elizabeth for things they received in a package from her; talks about the "Gold excitement" in California, and people heading there from Beverly; describes a local trial on temperance; mentions several fires that have occurred; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarboro, N. C.," and postmarked "Beverly MS, Feb 6."]

Beverly Feby 4th 1849

My Dear Sister,

Ma¹ has found it necessary to make a catspaw² of me again. She is busy, she cannot find time to write.

John³ has been at home for about a week and expects to go away again very soon, and Ma is up to her eyes in Dongeree, and Flannel.

Frank⁴ has been to see us and gave a good account of you all, especially of Nat,⁵ and Sis.⁶ He would have written before but he said he had got a letter already to send to you, and we did not think it necessary just then as he would tell you all about us.

We received the Box safe and sound. We have had a nice time eating the nuts but we have come to about the last of them now. I gave your present to Hannah Rantoul,⁷ the Grafts to Capt. Josiah Lovett,⁸ and the Gloves to Grandma.⁹ They were very much obliged to you. Ma is much obliged to you for the Pickles and Preserves and says they are very nice.

John did not receive the Letter that you wrote him in New Orleans. Charles¹⁰ is going directly back there and said that he would look it up. They are both well.

Ma received J. Henry's¹¹ letter with a strong invitation to come on there which she is much obliged to you for, but she says she could not think of such an undertaking. She says nothing would please her more than spending one of your Tarboro Winters, but she has do many cares she can't think of it.

I suppose you know of the Gold excitement. It increases more and more. Most every body is going to California, a great many have gone from Beverly. Capt. John Lovett,¹² Capt. Carter,¹³ and some others are getting ready to go. Even Grandpa¹⁴ has a great desire to go, and would if it was not for Grandma. He is rather too old to think of such a thing.

Hannah Rantoul called in here last evening. She inquired for you. She is very well.

Mrs. Storys¹⁵ child¹⁶ has been quite sick. The Doctor calls it the dispepsia. She has a wet nurse for it now. Ma says she don't think it will live according to all accounts.

We went to dancing school yesterday. We have got to dancing Cotilons. We shall admit spectators in a few afternoon and we should like to have you here to pass your judgement on Beverly dances.

Mrs. Howe¹⁷ is dead. She died this morning very sudenly with the Influenza.

We had a letter from Mr. Gould¹⁸ the other other day and said that he had not heard from you for a good while, but hoped you were well and happy.

Rev. Mr. Bartlett¹⁹ is dead. He died very suddenly at his house in Marblehead.

Monday 5th.

I now take up my pen to finish my letter, as I could not finish it before.

We have now quite a snow storm. The snow is about one foot deep, and will be excellent sleighing if it snows much longer.

Fred²⁰ is growing up to be quite a large boy. He sends his love to you all, and longs to see you. Grandma⁹ and Grandpa¹⁴ were down here last evening. They are very well and send much love.

Little Alice Choat²¹ has got the scarlet fever. It is very prevelant in Boston, and many people have died with it.

William Safford²² is here. I believe he is going to stay here sometime.

Elighsa Whitney²³ is sick, threatened with a fever. He is all ready to go to sea and was to sail tomorrow. Charlotte Foster²⁴ is down there most of the time.

I still continue to go to school and like very much.

There has been a Court here on Temperance. It has occupied five days and is going to cost the town four or five hundred dollars merely because some young fellows drank a glass of spirits at a ball. Old Mr. Rantoul²⁵ was Judge, and Young Mr. Rantoul²⁶ was for the Town, and Lawyer Choate²⁷ for Mr. Davis²⁸ the Express man and Mr. Pearson the Hotel Keeper. Mr. Davis was fined twenty dollars and Mr. Pearson was acquited. Mr. Davis has appealed to a higher Court. Mr. Piggy Choate has done himself great creadit, and has risen in the estimation of Beverly people a Pegg or two. It was held in the Town Hall and was crowded with men and women every day.

I suppose we have told you before that Miss Nancy Gardner²⁹ has been crazy, and has been in the insane Hospital at Worcester for six months. She has now returned looking better than ever she did before, and is perfectly well.

We liked to have a number of fires in the neiboring houses, Mrs. Lovetts³⁰ chimney, Mrs. Choats³¹ fireboard, and Mr. Masureys³² shop in Bartlett street. If they had not been discovered in time we should have had a large fire of it.

Fred²⁰ says he wishes Thanny⁵ was here so that he could drag him on his sled and give him some slides down Mr. Lovetts³³ hill. He is much obliged to him for the popcorn, but he has not been well enough to eat any yet. He has been quite sick with the influenza.

As I have nothing more of consequence I must say Good bye. With love from all to all, I remean

Your affectionat sister Martha

 

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

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