Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, April 1851

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She talks about Joseph Henry Bowditch being in Beverly and bringing his son Nat (then age 5), who was staying in Salem with Aunt Sarah and attending school there; says their brother John Abbot was tired of the sea; mentions the presumed loss at sea of Pyam Lovett and his wife; says she will be attending school in Framingham next term; describes a bad storm; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

This is a single sheet that has been accidently torn into three pieces, and one small triangular piece, about four inches tall and one inch wide, is missing on the left edge. The letter is also incomplete with a second sheet (or more?) missing. The ending is therefore missing, but the handwriting appears to be Martha's.]

Beverly April 1851

My dear sister,

When I last wrote you we were expecting Jo1 on. He has been here and gone again, bringing with him, much to our surprise Nat,2 who has grown a great boy. We were pleased to see him looking so well and hearty. I took him to Salem Tuesday after his father left him, and delivered him into the charge [_____] Aunt Sarah3 as bright and as lively as a bird, he promising to come [_____] and see Grandma4 soon. Since then I have been to Salem [____] and called to see him. He was well and had commenced going to school. I saw Sarah, she was very well and told me [_____] welfare, and that little George Abbot5 was as fat as [_____]. How I should like to give him one squeeze.

Since [_____] we have had letters from George6 & John.7 George was at [_____] was going from there to Manila. He was very well [_____] in very good spirits, sent his love to all of you. But [_____] has had a hard time of it. He complained of having [_____] very hard. He was very well. He says if Fred8 goes to sea for a living he will not own him as a brother. Therefore he is heartly sick of going to sea we may suppose. But poor fellow, he must continue to tug at the oar, as much as he dislikes it. It is now too late for him to presume to do anything else.

It brings to my mind poor Pyam Lovett,9 who we suppose is lost. He was bound to some port in China, and has been long enough for his friends to suppose that he is lost. You know his wife10 was with him. In his last letter to his friends he wrote that this would be his last voyage, as he expected to be home in October, and then he should remain at home. In all probability it has proved his last. His wife was delighted at the thought of it, but they are both among the missing.

When Joe1 was here Ma11 intended sending me to school to Salem. I have made enquiries and have found that there is no good young ladies school there. We have heard there is a fine school in Framingham and Caroline Leech12 and myself are going next term, which commences in June. Ma thinks Mr. Lefavours13 school does not come up to her expectations, and wants me to go to a good school, as with this school I shall finish off. I regret that I shall not be here during Nats v[_____] but think I shall see him before he goes home, as there will be a vacation in September. Ma says she had to practice a great deal of Self denial before she could conclude to let me go [_____] she don't know what she shall do without me. The school [_____] by a Mr. & Mrs. Brewer.14 The number of pupils are limit[_____] and all board with the teacher. Mrs. Hooper15 & the [_____] Kellogg speak highly of it and think it superior but [_____] to be tried. According to their description it is just what [_____] want.

I suppose you have heard of the terrible storm [_____] have had. It was the most severe storm that was ever in this vicinity. The water rose very high. You can judge for yourself when I tell you that it rose within one yard of the top of the banking in Washington Street and down to the wharf the streets were flooded. In Salem the tunnel was most full, and three men sailed through in a boat. We hear of a great many disasters on the coast. We see by the papers that it was felt in parts of North & South Carolina. Did you feel it in Tarboro.

Hannah Conant16 has got a little daughter17 & Ann Augusta18 a little son.19 She has been quite sick.

Grandma4 and Grandpa20 are both very well and as active as ever out

[The sheet ends here, with the rest of the letter missing.]

  1. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband
  2. Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch (1846-1913), Elizabeth's son
  3. Sarah Morse Bowditch (1816-1856), Joseph Henry Bowditch's sister
  4. Edith Wallis (1774-1855)
  5. George Abbot Bowditch (1850-1855), Elizabeth's son
  6. George William Abbot (1825-1861), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  7. John Edwin Abbot (1831-1911), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  8. Frederick Abbot (1841-1903), Martha and Elizabeth's brother
  9. Pyam Lovett (1815-1851)
  10. Martha Ann Page (1818-1851)
  11. Nancy Stickney (1796-1851)
  12. Caroline Lovett Leech (1835-1916)
  13. Issachar Lefavour (1816-1910)
  14. Probably Rufus Franklin Brewer (1824-1888) and Charlotte Maria Clisby (1825-1898)
  15. Probably Sarah Ingersoll (1784-1870)
  16. Hannah Kilham Fiske Conant (1822-1921)
  17. Anna Fisk Kilham (1851-1925)
  18. Ann Augusta Nourse (1824-1905)
  19. Martha Prince Whitney (1851-aft 1921). (Either "Ann Augusta" has been mis-indentified, or the letter is wrong about her child being a son.)
  20. Samuel Stickney (1771-1859)