Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 4 July 1852

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She talks about the weather and their garden; mentions the sudden wedding of "Mrs. Samuel Endicott" (Martha Thorndike (Leach) (Giddings)); describes the Independence Day procession in Salem, and fireworks at the home of Luther Upton; says she met Charles Endicott, and that he looked a lot like their father George Abbot; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.]

Beverly July 4th 1852

Dear Elisabeth,

I now sit down to write a few lines to you. Sarah,¹ Ellen,² & Fred³ have gone to meeting. I went this morning, but it is so warm I thought I would not go out this afternoon.

I heard Dr. Parkman⁴ preach, a brother to the Parkman⁵ that Webster⁶ killed. I think he looks like Sophia Abbot.⁷ He always, before his brother was killed, preached in black kid gloves with the fingers cut off, but now he wears the whole glove. It looked very strange.

I suppose you have very hot weather now, Mosquitoes, fleas, & all the other comforts of a hot clime. We have had very pleasant weather so far, but a few hot days. The cherries are now in their prime. We have not so many as we had last year, but as there is no one that loves them so much or can eat as many as you can, I think we shall have a plenty. It seems to me I can see you all now, Abbot⁸ not excepted with his sweet little face looking up and clapping his hands, and Nat⁹ & Sis¹⁰ with their old aprons on, and Grandpa's¹¹ basket filled with red ripe cherries in between you, you swallowing all the stones. I wish you could have some of them now.

We have got a few strawberries and lots of currents. The rest of the garden is planted to Corn, Beans, Cabbages, Cucumbers, & Tomatoes. Mariano¹² keeps everything looking right nice. There is one thing that I suppose you have by this time, that I would really like, that is, some of your new potatoes. We have had none yet.

We saw by the papers that George¹³ has arrived at Hobart Town, and is going from there to Manila. I shall write to him in a few days. We have had no letters.

Today is the fourth of July. It does not seem at all like it. Tomorrow they will celebrate it in Salem, a procession in the morning and fireworks in the evening. We shall all go if it is pleasant.

Yesterday I called upon the bride. What bride? you will say. Mrs. Samuel Endicott.¹⁴ She was married very suddenly just one month ago tomorrow. Every one was taken by surprise. His three youngest children¹⁵ have gone there to live. They all seem pleased. Augustus¹⁶ stays at home with his grandmother.¹⁷

Grandma¹⁸ & Grandpa¹¹ spent the afternoon here the other day. They are very well and send much love. Grandpa has not forgotten how Abbot⁸ used to crawl up, and like a little rogue touch his hat and then scamper. He often speaks of it.

Frank¹⁹ has been at home just a fortnight today. He is going again sometime this week.

Caroline Leech²⁰ and Nan Lovett²¹ go this week to school at Medford, the one at Framingham having burnt down, Mrs. Brewer²² moved to Medford. Nan would not go while John Giddings²³ was at home, and now he has gone she is going to study a little. I should think that she had better stay at home altogether, for an engaged young lady won't study much. He sailed last Tuesday for California, after staying at home nearly three years.

Last Monday Mrs. Martha J. Bradstreet²⁴ was married to a Mr. Stephens²⁵ of Gloucester, worth sixty thousand dollars, and her sister in law Mrs. Charles Woodbery²⁶ will be married in about three weeks to a Capt. Johnson²⁷ of Gloucester who also has money.

Joe Boyden²⁸ is at home now, and I heard that he was to be married soon to Lucy Baker.²⁹

Now I have told you all the news, I must begin to think about those children. How do they do? Why did you not let Miss Gardner³⁰ bring one of them home with her. By the way, I have seen her. She looks very well, not at all dropsical I don't think. She seemed to like Tarboro very much, and said that she had many warm friends there. It is a pity she could not have staid. She seemed much attached to Sis¹⁰ and Abbot,⁸ no one could help being. How I do long to see them.

Tuesday July 6th

I now sit down to finish the letter that I began Sunday.

Yesterday we all went over to Salem to see the procession. We spent a very pleasant day at Mrs. Uptons³¹ with her family and Mr. Gilman,³² his wife,³³ and Ellen.³⁴ They have been travelling ever since they were married. They spent one week in Boston at her sisters, Mrs. Tylers.³⁵ I think Mrs. Gilman a very pretty and agreeable lady. Ellen is very handsome, has grown quite tall. The procession was not as good as it was last year. It was not a floral procession. There were some fireworks on the common in the evening, but none of us went to see them. Mr. Upton³⁶ had some in his yard that we enjoyed much more than we should if we had been obliged to stand on the damp common. He had wheels, snakes, Roman candles, & Blue lights.

Yesterday I met Mr. Charles Endicott³⁷ of Salem. I only wish you could see him. He was always called to look like Pa.³⁸ I could not help staring at him, it struck me so. He is not so large, and has not such an eye as Pa had, but for all that it looked almost like Pa himself. I remember very often when we used to go to ride we would meet people that would take Pa for Mr. Endicott.

Sarah¹ has just received Joe's³⁹ letter and says she will write very soon. So you own quite a family of niggers, and have an additional one on your lot. I would not think you would know what to do with them, but I suppose there is work enough.

I am glad that you succeeded with your squashes. Tell Joe that we have three different kinds of pear trees bearing for the first this year. On one there is nineteen pears, and nearly as many on the others. And if they are not stolen and are not blighted before it is time to gather them, Joe shall have some of each kind in the fall when he comes. They are two kinds of [_____]burie (I don't know how to spell it) not ripe till [_____] and the other. I don't know what it is.

I must now bid you good bye, for I am afraid I am too late for todays mail now. With love from all to all, I remain your affectionate sister,

Martha

Do write soon.

 

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

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