Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Jacobs, Harriet Brent

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Description

Handwritten letter from Harriet Brent Jacobs to Amy Kirby Post, n.d. Jacobs describes caring for her benefactor and employer, Cornelia Grinnell Willis.

Subject

Post, Amy Kirby, b. 1802

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

91

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

August 19 ^th
My Dear Friend
I have waited two
months for an answer to my letter what
is the matter Dear Amy have I acted
unwisely and are you offended did
I not tell you in my letter that I
would hear any reproff [sic] from you
and feel that it was from a friend
do write and say why you have
not written one word from you
would do more good than you
think for-

I hope that you all have enjoyed
the blessings of health this Summer
we are established in the new house
at Idlewild which is the name of the
place I hope you see it for it is a beau
tiful spot Mrs Willis is very feeble
and I feel very anxious about her
she has been confined to her bed for
several ^days^ suffering much she expects
to be ill the latter part of next Month
after that if you should be passing
be sure to let me know for you
must stop and see us it will be
a long time before I can leave home
again if I should live
do you remember Mr Peck that board
ed at Mrs Frost when I was there
he called here last week and enquir
ed for me I was glad to se an ac
quaintance from Rochester he seemed
delighted with his visit there were

(Page 2)

4 ladies with him we have eight
teens [sic] rooms and we have been cramm
ed out of our dens by company it
made mrs W ill so they have promised
to live retired for a while I am glad
for I do not have time to think
only for other folks
I am hoping to see Louisa this week I
have no seen her since last September
I heard that William Nell had reciev
ed [sic] a letter from my Brother I think
he has written me and the letters
have ^been^ miscarried and he dont know
where to direct Last Sabbath day
the Thunder struck a young Lady near
her and killed her instantly two be
side ^her^ was stuned [sic]
I wish you were sitting beside me
the Albany Boats are passing under
my window a beautiful sight have
you heard from Mrs Bush and
where is Mrs Sarrah Willis remem
ber me to kind Mr & Mrs Hallow
ell and all my friends Dear Amy
I have a great deal to say to you
but this poor pen cant do all I
want I have three letters to write
and it is ten O Clock give a great
^of love^ to dear Mr Post ask him if he
sends the Spirits to look for me
I am afraid they would give a
bad report my love to dear Willie
and a kiss I shall expect to hear
from you soon Yours Truly Harriet

Annotations

Harriet Brent Jacobs, a former slave and abolitionist, is writing from Cornwall, New York to Amy Post, a close friend and benefactor. Cornelia Grinnell Willis and Nathaniel Parker Willis paid for Jacobs's freedom from slavery and employed her for a period. At the time she wrote this letter, Jacobs was living in the Willis's new home, named- Idlewild. John C. Peck was an African American entrepreneur and abolitionist. Louisa was Jacobs's daughter. William Cooper Nell was a former slave and abolitionist. Abigail Bush was a woman's rights activist and abolitionist. Sarah Kirby Willis was Post's sister. Willie was Post's youngest son. Jacobs's refers to the Spiritualist movement. The Posts and other followers believed that through mediums they could communicate with the dead.

Tags

Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Jacobs, Harriet Brent, “Jacobs, Harriet Brent. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2392.

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