Martha Abbot to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 13 May-31 July 1860

[From Martha Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her sister Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch in Tarboro, North Carolina. She talks about Betsy Brown's engagement to an older man, and how her family and friends disapprove, and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

This is a single sheet, written front and back. It is undated and incomplete, but the handwriting, and the sentence noting that Elizabeth Story's husband "owes William quite a sum for attendance when she lived in Salem," indicates that it was written by Elizabeth's sister Martha. Information in the letter indicates that it was written between 13 May 1860 (when Charles Frederic Pearson died) and 31 July 1860 ("Dr. Peabody is going to leave Portsmouth for Cambridge in August").]

I suppose you have heard of Betsy Brown's1 engagement to a young man only 27 years old. A Mr. Driver,2 nephew of Stephen Driver3 who used to be a shoemaker in Salem. A young lawyer neither smart or prepossesing. And Betsy is over 42. No prospect of their being married for years, when she will be an old woman. She dresses and appears quite young, but unlike you has been obliged to take up spectacles. Her family and friends feel dreadfully about it as they think it will be a most unhappy thing.

Elizabeth Story4 has another child5 making her tenth. She lives in Boston and I guess he6 is not doing much. He owes William7 quite a sum for attendance when she lived in Salem. He never expects to get a cent.

Hannah Rantoul8 lives at her own house,9 has had it all papered and painted, and young Robert10 and his wife11 and child12 are spending the summer with her.

Dr. Peabody13 is going to leave Portsmouth for Cambridge in August, having been chosen Professor to fill Dr. Huntingtons14 place.15

Our new Minister16 is doing wonders here, really building up the church which needed it.

You say you directed George Pearsons17 letter to Beverly. He is at West Point for some little time, and his Father18 is in Boston. I will enquire if it has been forwarded to Boston, as they are not coming here this summer.

I suppose you knew Charles Frederick19 is dead and buried here.

Carrie Leach20 is married and lives in a new house on Stephens Hill.

Mr. William Endicott21 has also built a splendid Mansion up there, as handsome as any of those near Boston.

The Boston people have all come down to the Shore and Beverly is quite lively.

One word for the children. I have written of things about here thinking it would be more agreeable to you. To think you have three children that I have never seen. I can't realise it. Tell them all about us and don't let them grow up ignorant of their relations in the North.

Is Joe Upton22 with you and what doing?

I must stop. Write immediately.

1st Page

  1. Betsey Lovett Chapman (1818-1891)
  2. John Saunders Driver (1831-1860)
  3. Stephen Driver (1797-1868)
  4. Elizabeth Bowen Woodberry (1817-1888)
  5. Thorndike Woodberry Story (1860-1862)
  6. Isaac Story (1818-1901), Elizabeth Bowen (Woodberry) Story's husband
  7. William H. Thorndike (1835-1887), Martha's future husband
  8. Hannah Lovett Rantoul (1821-1898)
  9. The house still stands, at the corner of Washington and Lathrop Streets in Beverly, Massachusetts.
  10. Robert Samuel Rantoul (1832-1922), Hannah Rantoul's nephew
  11. Harriet Charlotte Neal (1837-1899)
  12. Edith Rantoul (1859-aft 1940)
  13. Andrew Preston Peabody (1811-1893)
  14. Frederic Dan Huntington (1819-1904)
  15. Andrew Preston Peabody succeeded Frederic Dan Huntington as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard.
  16. John Calvin Kimball (1832-1910)
  17. George Batchelder Pearson (1823-1883)
  18. Charles Pearson (1787-1862)
  19. Charles Frederic Pearson (1817-1860), George Batchelder Pearson's brother
  20. Caroline Lovett Leech (1835-1916)
  21. William Endicott (1799-1899)
  22. Joseph Bowditch Upton (1837-1891)