Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Nancy (Stickney) Abbot to her daughter Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 28 October 1848

[From Nancy (Stickney) Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her daughter Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, in Tarboro, North Carolina. She says Elizabeth's brother George sailed on the 20th, to be gone 18 months, and that Elizabeth's brother John's ship was detained in Rio de Janeiro with a broken mast; talks about Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story's new baby, who was not doing well; describes the death of Hannah Lovett; mentions Elizabeth's possible visit home; and talks about various friends and family members.

The letter is dated 28 October, but without a year. However, it mentions the death of Hannah Lovett, wife of Charles Lovett, at 1:00 AM that morning, and from Beverly Vital Records, she died on 28 October 1848. A large irregularly-shaped section, amounting to about 1/3 of the third page, has been torn away. Because so many words are missing, that part of the letter has been transcribed line-by-line below.

Addressed to "Mrs. Joseph H. Bowditch, Tarboro N. C." and postmarked "Beverly, MS, Oct 30."]

Beverly Octbr. 28th

My dear daughter,

I am at a loss to determine the reason of your long silence, and feel afraid Thanny¹ has had a relapse, or that some of you are sick, but I hope and trust it is not the case. We have been daily looking for a letter this two weeks, thinking I would not write untill George² had sailed. Was in hopes, and expected he had written you, untill I found a copy of a letter to you in my desk, but hope still you received one from Boston. He intended to write, but was so much engaged after taking charge of his vessel that I fear he did not. Therefore I shall enclose a copy in pencil.

He sailed the 20th in the ship Augustine Hind,³ a fine ship, & fine master, Capt. Huntingdon⁴ of Salem, and owned by Mr. Silsbee & Stone, a very good employ. I hope and pray he will do well, but he is a headstrong youth, and I feel anxious as to his don't care feelings. He goes to Hobart Town, and from there to Canton, 18 months abscence.

I had a letter from John⁵ two weeks since from Rio Janeiro. Put in there dismasted, would be detained three or four weeks. He was well, and I hope will meet Charles,⁶ but there is no accounting of his arrival since I wrote you last.

E. Story⁷ has been confined, had a very good and quick time, and to appearance a fine healthy boy.⁸ It is three weeks old, and I understand that it does not gain, and I am afraid she will lose it, a dreadful disappointment. She is going to move into Mr. Lee's house soon.

I have the sorrow to apprise you of another dreadful death, Hannah Lovet's.⁹ She was taken with convulsion fits yesterday at 4 o'clk in the afternoon, and died at 1 o'clk this morn. She expected to be confined next month, had not been very well for a day or two, complained of her head. The child was not born, and she did not have any senses after she was taken. Surely in the midst of life, we are in death, and how very strange it is that we put it so far from us when we have so many, and repeated, warnings. That dear little motherless boy,¹⁰ whom she idolized and brought up so tenderly, must feel her loss sensibly. Altho he has kind friends all around him, still none is like a mother. His father¹¹ is at home.

Israel¹² has just been in. He has seen Charles Lovett,¹¹ says he is almost overwhelm'd, cannot realize the event at all. He left his wife as well as usual to go to the depot about half an hour before he was called home. She did not know him, or sense anything, untill she died. Her father¹³ left her about fifteen minutes before, hardly had reached his home before he was summoned back, to a scene how chang'd. They had just taken Mr. Mans¹⁴ house, and got prettily settled, but what dependance can be placed upon things of this world. Charles goes directly to to his fathers¹⁵ after the funeral this evening, to live over in memory only those days and years (which upon reflection will seem as days) that they have spent together.

I received a letter from Mr. Gould¹⁶ yesterday, saying that they had not received a line from you this age, but supposed you were taken up with your family. They were well when he wrote.

Mrs. Frink¹⁷ remains quite sick. Her disorder has terminated in dropsy and she is entirely helpless, which makes it very irksome for Angelina,¹⁸ who takes the sole care of her, and proves herself a devoted and faithful daughter.

Mrs. Choatte¹⁹ expects to be confined shortly.

Louisa Lovet²⁰ is engaged, Israel says report tells him, to a Mr. Richardson of Brunswick, worth $25,000. She has just returned from a long visit there. Lucy²¹ spent the evening here, and was in excellent spirits, and I suppose that accounts for it. Every one seems interested in

[The following is a line-by-line transcription of the portion of the letter with the torn-away section.]

in
they
even
Those w
Banks, or
failing, alon
be fearful bre
Georgiana met
married, and her husband is one very
will remedy this evil, I hope he will be
soon shall know who will be the favored
my dear little Grandchildren what wou
one hours gratification with you, and hear a
nocent play and prattle. Nat do you very
do you run and pick up her toys when she
laughing, and do you play bo peep over mothers
the hou[_____] she [_____] trugling and laughing

[The rest of the letter is intact, except for a missing word or two.]

scarcely ho[_____] darling hild, how much we all want to see her, the very name makes us more desire to.

You mention'd in Georges² letter that you thought you should come on next fall. It seems to be the wrong season. You would not certainly come without the children. Why not come on in Spring, and spend the summer as you did before. It is entirely too far to come to stay a short time.

Your grandfather²² & mother²³ are well and send love to you all. They are remarkable old people, and feel younger than I do no doubt, for I am sensible of growing amazingly old the past year. Trouble and care have left marks of ten years more of age. But my health is pretty good, indeed it is very good, considering all things, for which I trust I am thankful for, and prize it as the greatest blessing.

Give my best love to Jo. Henry²⁴ and tell him his mother²⁵ and sisters^26,27 are well and well[?]. Give my love to all who enquired for me. Kiss the children a hundred times.

I am still without help and do very well. My work is amusement for me and serves to take up my attention, for I am very lonely now George has gone.

You must excuse all mistakes as I do not pretend to correct any. I hope we shall hear from you soon. With much love from your affectionate mother

Anna Abbot

 

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

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