James Gould to Nancy (Stickney) Abbot, 22 January 1848

[From James Gould and his wife Eliza (Leach) in Baltimore, Maryland, to Nancy (Stickney) Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts. They acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Charles Lamson notifying them of the death of Nancy's husband George Abbot (on 18 January 1848), and offer their sympathy.

Addressed to "Nancy Abbot, Beverly, Massachusetts," and postmarked "Baltimore, MD, Jan 24."]

Baltimore January 22 1848

Dear Cousin Nancy,

We have received the letter from Capt. Lamson1 announcing the painful Intelligence of your bereavement in the death of Cousin George,2 and we hasten to offer our condolence and sympathy upon the melancholly and distressing event, to us sudden and afflicting, to you terrible and heart rending. May He, from whom all good proceeds, support you and your beloved family in this your hour of trial; and may we all bow in submission to that power, who is too wise to err, and too good to do us wrong. And while to us his ways are dark, and Inscrutable, let our trust and Confidence enable us to look to him as our Kind Parent, who has removed our friend to a better and happier state, and may we find consolation in the assurance that altho' he cannot return to us, yet we shall follow him and be reunited, were sorrow and afflictions are unknown.

Accept the renewed assurances of our love and interest in all that concerns you and yours. And may the remembrance of the many blessings that are still left to you in the members of your charming family and other mercies aid you in that resignation to this severe dispensation, which will give you strength for your duties, and true peace of mind.

We feel the event as another warning to us that we too are passing away, and that another dear friend has gone before us, leaving but few that commenced the journey of life with us to unite our sympathies with.

To Eliza3 it is indeed trying. She looked to George2 as to a friend and brother in whom if anything happened to me, she could advise and consult, and in whom she had become strongly attached, and the feeling seemed mutual. On his last visit to us they seemed like brother & sister and he expressed much regard for her, and she mourns his loss very much.

At this season of the year he has been accustomed to send to us Elizas half of the rent of the Leech House, and we were expecting every day to hear from him. And on opening the letter, how great was our surprise to learn of his decease. We shall long remember his kindness, and cherish his memory with affection.

Dear Georgianna,4 we rejoice that you have a protector in this time of trouble, and one of whom every tongue speaks praise. May this treasure to you lift your heart in gratitude to the author of every blessing, while he will truly estimate your virtues, as a proof of which your fates are already united, and may they be truly happy. Present our thanks to him1 for his letter, and may we some day have the happiness of seeing you both with us.

Poor Lizzy!5 How shocking, and astounding the tidings to her. She was wrapt up in her Father,2 and truly he deserved it. May she also be supported and comforted in this distress.

I write to you somewhat in haste, and will not multiply words which are powerless in times of extreme grief. But we feel it a priveledge to sympathise with you, and to speak of the virtues of the departed mutual friend. May they be imitated by us and the memory of them afford sweet and refreshing hopes that we may all be reunited in happiness eternal.

As the loved, and lost, has heretofore been the means of communication between us, do not allow that intercourse to cease now, but let us hear from you occasionally in some way. If Capt. Lamson will be the medium or Georgianna or yourself we will endeavor to keep alive the interest already awakened and cherished, if by only an occasional letter.

I should have addressed this to him,1 but thot it would be more agreeable even to him to write to you instead.

Again with much love to all with you, we are as ever yours.

James & Eliza Gould

Kind love to Aunt Mackay6 when you see her.

  1. Charles Elisha Whitney Lamson (1820-1889), husband of Nancy's daughter Georgiana
  2. George Abbot (1791-1848), Nancy's husband, and cousin of James's wife Eliza
  3. Elizabeth Leach (1797-1859), James's wife
  4. Georgiana Abbot (1823-1848), Nancy's daughter
  5. Elizabeth Blanchard Abbot (1821-1902), Nancy's daughter
  6. Elizabeth Smith (1768-1849), aunt of James's wife Elizabeth