Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Post, Mary Robbins

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Robbins Post to Isaac Post, n.d.

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

231

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                                      Westbury 12 month

              Dearly Beloved
                                                We have recently received brother’s
welcom [sic] messenger and as is my wont hasten to reply to ^it^ not
that I have any thing [sic] worth communicating but simply that
I may fulfill my part of the agreement relative to corre-
-spondence and also to while away lonely evening my Joseph
is at New York the girls are from home at school – (at
Mary J Mott’s school) been there a month today and it really
seems more like three we have not seen them or heard direct
from them in the time we miss them exceedingly I am almost
lost without their evening kiss their morning greeting and the sound
of their joyous and happy voices, for the house seemed as lone and
desolate as my heart for I was scarcely aware how much they
contributed to our happiness – notwithstanding all this Joseph
and self have first rate times seated by a good coal fire (but wh
=ich by the by has not been all the time very comfortable) Joseph reads
some interesting paper or book while I sew makeing [sic] our remarks
and observation’s [sic] on what ever [sic] comes before us occasionally this
is changed a little by some kindly neighbor few however escape
without having to listen to some (to them unpalaleable [sic]) truth’s [sic]
read from some of our valued papers but apparently with small
success for they remain as heretofore opposed to our movements
and sentiments bound up in their sectarian bigotry intolerance
and holy horror of all reforms in the present day –
occasionally we are cheered by /some of the few whose hearts beat
measureably [sic] in unison with our own but we are few indeed when
contrasted with the brother’s [sic] long list of friends and which has since
had such a valued addition I almost envy you your good fort
=une I trust you will “provoke one another to love and good works”
which it appears you are striving for by the Fair how gladly would I be
one of your number but here isolated and alone I am physically
unable to do for the cause what my interest in it would prompt me
to do our bereaved brother Henry s [sic] family have a claim on me
too [sic] which I feel great ^bound^ to assist all in my power which has been
quite limited lately on account of my asthmatic complaint and
pain in my side and shoulder I am somewhat better now

(Page 2)

Brother spoke of having sent the North Star they do not arrive I fear
they were not directed to North Hempstead Pt but perhaps they may
come ere long we are in haste to see the Star but I greatly fear whether
those sent to thy other friends will have the desired effect of procuring
subscribers to it possibly the paper may do more than its friends can
for it I will try to hope it may we have been ^for^ sometime presenting
the claim of the North Star to patronage among our acquaintances
but have not received any encouragement not even from John
Ketcham he takes so many the Standard Practical Christian and
Prisoners [sic] Friend – (and some of the family take several others) that
he is not certain it is best for Frederic to publish a paper &c
may be [sic] he will do what we think right after all about this, he stoped [sic]
the Liberator a year ago after having taken it a long time which
almost made me doubt the strength of his antislavery feeling
and interest for of all others men and paper’s [sic] Garrison and the
Liberator should be sustained by abolitionists     Most heartily…
shall we do what we can for the paper and I rejoice in the change
of its location it will I doubt not do a great work for human
=ity if it can be circulated far and wide it ought to find a
place in every family – whereas in our vicinity instead of it preference
will I beleive [sic] be given to the Hempstead Inquirer Jamaica papers
and others of the kind trifling and insignificant tho they be
but stop I will try to hope we may get some subscribers yet____
I hope thy letter may aid us in this good work it has gone out
on its mission now   Suppose you have read Polks [sic] message what a
mean diabolical thing it is I scarcely could hear it patiently
              John Ketcham has lately had a letter from James Mott giving
a statement of their treatment while in Indiana similar
to that in the standard also that White Water meeting have
sent on a complaint against her for attending meetings out of
the order of society refusing to see the overseers of said meeting
and that she had both publickly [sic] and privetely [sic] used language
calculated to bring reproach on the Society (this is the substanc)e
the clerk informed that there was a paper on the table containing charges
against a member of that meeting which she considered improper to be
read and proposed it should be given to the overseers to do what they deemed best

(Page 3)

a few wished it read it was given to the overseers – it gives James and Lucretia
no uneasiness whatever      Did you ever see more intolerance or sectarian
hate than Da Plummer exhibited I am glad when they reval [sic] their
true characters – and at Byberry too in Rowland Johnson’s case I
had discovered some time ago that the would be expounders of divine
and holy things might with great acceptance preach in favor of this
highly favored land where toleration and freedom prevailed and
I have with shame ^and^ deep indignation of feeling seen the self
complaisant look when listening denumerations [sic] of against
abolitionists nonresistance &c giving the clearest evidence
that they were on the side of the oppressor – but I did not mean
to go on at this rate We went to see Mary Frost on seventh day
found her very low very much oppressed for breath and spoke with
great difficulty was gratified in seeing us said but it will doubtless
be the last time admonished us to be faithful to our duty if so we
should find as she had that there was much enjoyment even on a sick
bed all was bright and beautiful in the prospect before her desired us
to give her love most affectionately to all her friends I feel that I love all
and hope to meet in the world of spirits I felt it was good to be there
we have not heard since she may have revived a little – but how lone and
desolate they will feel when she is summoned from them my heart bleeds
for them in veiw [sic] of it Mary has been one of the meek and quiet one’s [sic] who
has contributed her share towards rendering happy those with whome [sic] she
has mingled   Joseph and Jane came up to our house last fourth day
staid [sic] that night at Gideon’s the next day they returned to our house
he had the remains of his six children brought up and reinterred at
Westbury they said Jacob looked as natural as he did when interred and
the two children which were burried [sic] in one coffin 18 years ago were so too
but on coming to the air all crumbled to peices [sic] – they were all placed in
one – the corporation of Brooklyn have forbid internments in their enclosure
after a short time and it is the prospect that those interred will be removed
from it   Have I told you of our visit to Greenwood it is a lovely spot I
enjoyed the ride and walk too it is a fitting place for a cemetery I guess
I have spoken of it before so I will not describe but I must stop for my
eyes are getting very dim as you may see without alluding to it Joseph
may bring some news from the city or at any rate he may wish to thank
ther [sic] for favor’s [sic] conferred so good night all How I wish we could
step in and enjoy your family circle it would I imagine add very
much even to our enjoyment I congratulate you on your good luck in having
such interesting boarder’s [sic] Frederic has promised to come and rest at our house I hope

(Page 4)

he will not forget it Farewell for to night, 4^th day evening Edmund & Martha Willets
has just left here , our monthly meeting today Jacob L Mott in attendence [sic] long
sermon much concerned for the honor our sect he beleived [sic] we were raised
up to be peculiar people that if we were faithful we should be as a city
set on a hill said many good things but on the whole I did not think much of
it, o how I wanted him set right on some points I was almost tempted to try myself
for I believe any other people will be the has as good right to claim to be the peculiar
people of God as we have , and a better right if they are more faithful , in the last
meeting after Jacobs [sic] minute was read a minute was made speaking of the sat=
=isfaction of this company and labours I could not sit still but told them I thought
the meeting had better      return to the conclusion it came to soon after
the separation in 1828 not to say any thing about the services of those who visite [sic]
us, there were enough said to have the minute altered. I was at the Post Office
this afternoon a number of copys [sic] of the North Star but noone [sic] for me but I brought
one home have not read much, but Edmund Willets paid me one dollar
for the North Star six month directed Roslyn Queens County L.J. he was
very particular to have it stope [sic] at the end of six months please remember
and direct the publisher to note it, being as thee took the liberty to appoint
agent I shall take the liberty to call on thee to pass over the money
untill [sic] spring or some other time. I will try to get more subscribers
but think prospect looks very dull of course you will send one to
us it may be if we do not have time to read all our papers we can
give some away we take seven now    E Willets has taken
the star to please [illegible] with the expectation of not liking it Martha
          does not read news papers

[Text in center of page, written upward]

            North Hempstead
                      Dec 11
10____

            Isaac Post

                       Rochester
                                  New York

[Text at bottom of page, written upside down]

5 day we have seen a letter from Edmund speaking of a
kind of lamp which was superior if it is suitable for family
use please inform where it may be procured and the name of it we
want some kind – we heard yesterday from M Frost not expected
to live through the day   The girls came home for a few hours
yesterday and they are as happy as need be   We have
had for some considerable time warm damp weather
scarcely need any fire – it is colder this morning and every
appearance of a storm I must close as Joseph is ready to
go to the office with a heart filled with affection to all I am
as ever your sister Mary write frequently as you can – Farewell

Tags

Abolitionism; Education; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Mary Robbins, “Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2532.

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