Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 9 July 1849

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She describes her activities on the Fourth of July, including a picnic and fireworks; mentions a new son for Mrs. Picket and some health problems; says Elizabeth Story lost her baby, and encourages her to write both her and Hannah Rantoul; describes how Lamson Walker was injured in an accident; mentions some people heading for California; describes her school activities, including publishing a paper and studying French; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarboro, N. C.," and postmarked "Beverly MS, Jul 11."]

Beverly July 9th 1849

My Dear Sister,

It is now my vacation and I thought I would not let it pass by without writing to you. I have spent one week of it and one week more remains.

In the first place I will tell you how I spent the fourth of this month. There was nothing doing in Salem or here, but in Boston they had a Floral Procession which I heard was better than was ever seen in that place. A great many went from here. In the evening there was some fireworks. There was also a Floral Procession in Gloucester. A great many went from here. I did not go any where in particular. In the forenoon I went to walk, and in the afternoon ten or twelve girls went down to Hospital Point and had a little Picnic on the Hill. We had a very pleasant time and in the evening Mr. Charles Galloupe¹ and Mr. Lamb² threw up some very pretty rockets on Powder House Hill. Mr. Galloupe had a little daughter³ born that day and perhaps he threw them up on that account.

Since I wrote you my last Mrs. Picket⁴ has had a little son.⁵ To appearance it was very well for the first two or three days, but it was taken with Spasms and has had them ever since. It seems to be a strong Healthy child, eats and is very fleshy. Ma thinks that it will eventually out grow them. They are very desirous that it should live.

In my last letter I told you that Elisabeth Story⁶ had gone into the country with her baby.⁷ She returned a week ago last Saturday with it in its coffin. It was sick about twelve hours. She has now gone to Lynnfield to spend a few weeks. Ma⁸ says if she has not written you she wants you to write her as Elisabeth feels very bad. And Hannah Rantoul⁹ too is almost tired of waiting for a letter. Ma says she supposes your time is occupied all the time, but you write so fast you might write them a short letter if nothing more.

I mentioned in my last letter that Mrs. Thayer¹⁰ had lost her sister Mrs. Rogers,¹¹ and since that Mrs. John E. Thayer¹² has died of the cholera. We do not fear it much here as there are but few cases in Boston. We have not had it here yet.

A sad accident happened here last Saturday afternoon. Mr. Lawson Walker¹³ was getting hay in one of the fields by the ledge that the Railroad runs through. The horse took fright and run dow the precipice of thirty feet. Horse Cart and Mr. Walker. He escaped with his life but was very badly injured, and the horse also.

We have not heard of Charles¹⁴ arrival at New Orleans yet. He expects to find a letter from you when he gets there.

Grandma¹⁵ and Grandpa¹⁶ are very well. They spent the day with us not long since.

Ma says there is nothing so fashionable as mantellas and mantles, but they wear them now a little more pointed behind than yours is.

It is almost cherry time. They are later this year on account of the cold weather. We shall not have any to speak of, for they are all whizzled up and they look as if they had the cholera.

It is almost time to say something about your little chicks. How do they do? How I wish I could see them. I suppose little Georgianna¹⁷ can walk by this time. It seems impossible that she can be old enough to walk and we have not seen her. I should admire to see little Nat¹⁸ feeding his little Pig, Ducks, and Kitten.

Mr. Rand¹⁹ your miniature man we have not seen, but Mrs. Nourse²⁰ told Ma that she believes he was married, but to whom or where she did not know.

Ma says your invitation to come on there next winter nothing would please her more, but it is a thing impossible. And as to the choler, she believes it goes where it is sent, and hopes we shall not have it here, although it is creeping along.

We do not see Mrs. Pearson²¹ very often for she does not come down.

Israel²² does not acknowledge that he is engaged yet, but Ma thinks it is one, for he goes down to see his Rosa²³ every evening.

I believe I wrote you in my last letter that we had got a new Postmaster, Mr. Joseph D. Tuck.²⁴

I suppose you have very hot weather with you now. We had it very hot one week, hotter than it has been for twenty or thirty years, but now it is very cool and pleasant. A light breeze from the east makes it very pleasant.

There is a party going from here to California in the Barque San Francisco, Capt. Stott.²⁵ Whitmarsh²⁶ and a great many others. Mr. Cotton Bennet²⁷ son Josiah²⁸ is going.²⁹

Capt. John Cotton Bennet³⁰ has just arrived in the Brig Metropolis. Beverly is getting to be quite a commercial place. There are four Square rigged vessel now in the Harbor.

Mother says it is not worth a while for you to feel anxious if you do not recieve a letter from us a just such a time. It is unnecessary for you to borrow trouble as it comes fast enough.

Fred³¹ and Ellen³² continue to go to Miss Bridges³³ school. I suppose you would like to hear a little about our school. We publish a paper every week on Saturday. Different scholars take it, first two Boys and the next two Girls. I have written one with Mary S. Lovett³⁴ called the Observer. They have different names. I will mention one or two: The Reformer, The Meteor, The Planet, The Comet, The Paladiator, &c. They are very interesting, containing stories, anecdotes, advertisments, Poetry, and remarks.

I study French and Latin, and think they are both very interesting studys. I will tell you in French the other studys that I attend to: je aussi etudier L'arithmetique, le Grammaire, l'histoire, l'Geographie, lire et ecrie Composition. Nous avons tout tres bien chez moi. I think this will be as good as a puzzle to you for I don't think you will understand it, for you must know I am a new beginner and have not got along very fast. I have studied two terms now. Ma does not think it much use to study it, but I like it very much. It is rather easier than Latin, I think, and is a great deal more interesting. I can translate a little but not much.

I must now end by saying good bye, with much love from all to all. I remain your affectionate sister.

Martha

P. S. Give Nat¹⁸ & Sis¹⁷ a hard Kiss from Ma and Fred.³¹

Martha

 

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

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