Post, Hannah Kirby. Letter to Kirby Jacob.

Title

Post, Hannah Kirby. Letter to Kirby Jacob.

Creator

Post, Hannah Kirby

Contributor

Kirby Jacob

Date

1825-10-06

Description

Handwritten letter from Hannah Kirby Post to Kirby Jacob, October 6, 1825.

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

434

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)
                                               10 month 6^th 1825
My precious parents
                                          I have once more taken my
pen to address you and tho I feel myself inadequate
to the task yet I feel it a duty incumbent on me
to give you some account of ourselves since we
parted with yourselves our dear friends who feel increase =
= ingly dear to us – we landed at Albany the ensuing
morning about 9 O clock which was rather later than
usual owing I believe to head wind and a strong
current which rather obstructed our progress. 3 stages
stood waiting for us, we got directly into one with all
our baggage and rode to Skenectady [sic], rainy ^some^ of
the way, there we stayed untill [sic] night, went on
board and got but 2 miles that night, owing to
the Canal having been broken away and boats detained,
we understood there was one hundred boats waiting to go
through the locks, it looked pretty discouragin [sic] for
us to get along as we wished, talked a little of taking
the stage ^to^ Utica but conclude to venture the Canal
as it was so much easier with the babe, whose comp=
laint continued yet he remained quiet all the way home
we frequently had to wait for each other and with
some scolding and some swearing we landed at Weeds
Bason [sic] about 8 o clock 1^st day morning there we hired a
waggon [sic] and driver to bring us home where we found
all pretty well and very glad to see us, cousin H
said she could hardly get out quick enough, Mary
appeared glad to see us but said but very little for some
length of time, seemed to stand and look with astonish
=ment, she is very much delighted with her presents
from her aunts and cousins for several days she seemed
to be no trouble at all, sit and amuse herself with
(Page 2)

her things for hours togeather [sic] tho it w’d [would?] have been a
pleasure to her friends to have seen her, I believe it is
better for her that she [tarried?] at home, as she would have
been made so much of, it is so likely she would have been
indulged too much for her good. we found things cleaned
and comfortable at home still I found enough to do as our
girrl [sic] was not willing to stay longer than 2^d day a fortunate
thing for us that we had Caty to take her place, Catherine
and Eliza both out to work, Quarterly Meeting is past
which has been large and I trust satisfactory to most
Cousin Elias found much to do amongst us said we were
in a very week [sic] state which is true enough- 5^th day
came ind [sic] our appartment [sic] and spoke on the education
of children which seem to devolve more particularly on
mothers that of schooling them in a suitable way and
many other subjects most excelently, [sic] he has stayed with
us nights and most of the time ^days^ when at liberty, and his
company has been truly acceptable, the meeting house
very much crowded 6^th day and many that did not get in
J [Tallbot?] and wife have dreaded his [coming?] very much
thought he would set other people against friends
but it appears to be to be rather to the contrary
he was very much respected by people who
stile [style?] themselves great and wealthy & he dined with
[L J Mott?] ^1^st day^ who made him excedingly [sic] wealcom, [sic] and
kept with him as much as she could -
he took leave of me 6^th day before meeting in a very
tender and afectionate [sic] maner [sic], said it had been very plea=
sant to him to be with us, dined to John Merrits 7^th
day evening had a meeting at Auburn in the Court House
1^st day at Skaneatles [sic] the evening in the vilage [sic] all large
and I did not here [hear?] but satisfactory a number went
from Scipio John and Anna Searing Benjamin P [obliterated]
Harmony [Howland?] and several others, the last we heard
of him he had turned his face towards [Duyriter?] Dear
old man how I love him, I trust he has left a lasting
and sweet savour behind him ---
(Page 3)

we hear that A Braithwait has arrived, Sarah Hicks seemed to
think that war was approaching and she was afraid [sic] it wou
-ld begin wilst [sic] they were absent D. K. asked her if she was
prepared for battle, she seemed to think an open contest
was better than so much underhanded work, cousin E
gently admonished her ^to^ keep out of it if posible [sic] and
study to be quiet as he did - here thought I is the mark
of a Christian indeed. Oh how much instruction and how
much to be prized is his company as well as his gospel
labours, I forget to mention that we thought Q..M. 5^th day
was as large as last year, a [few?] friends from Farmington
[illegible] --- we understand that Amy [McNeel?] said she had
wish to invite cousin E over to Hector but she thought
it would be doing wrong to do it, (tho [sic] it would have
been much easier than to not) –-- we found our friends
on the [illegible] hand when we returned home [Thos. Alsup?]
and Benjamin Wilbur both better, Thomas Esters buried 2
weeks previous to our return, Abby Gifford [illegible] so as
to be out at M. meeting looks miserably her cough very
troublesom, Lora May, I believe boards their,[sic]and she
remarked to cousin H .L she should not be surprized (sic)
if she did not live but a few months, the weather has
been warm and pleasant since we have been [obliterated]
last evening a thunder shower and considerable [obliterated]
this morning cool, very little frost yet pumpkin vines
green yet   Aaron Frosts wife buried not long since
died with the hasty consumption it is likely sister A
knows who she was, Timothy Dorlands Daughter has no chil =
dren – Joseph Frost keeps up his usual practice of runing [sic]
about and some say worse than ever, his wife has maid [sic]
a great change in the house, she expects her mother and
two sisters to spend the winter with her have made some
little addition to the house on the account, yesterday J
Searing fell down the saw mill [flue?] and hurt his back
considerable, B. Howland brought him home in a waggon [sic], for
some time very much distressed after taking a little blood
and some other outward applications obtained some relief
this morning so as to be walking about but feels inward
=ly bruised and sore, we have got the same girl we had

(Page 4)

this summer to help us finish spining [sic] and help us to get
up with our backward work. think likely she will stay a
few weeks longer she now appears to be obliging, though it
was a little hard to have her back again, as she toled [sic] C Foster
she would not stay [obliterated] M’s time if I had no body to help
me – my letter has been written by peices [sic] which I think
you will perceive, I often look back ^on my visit^ with pleasure, on
Long Island, should be very glad if I had Elizabeth to spend the
winter with us though I know thou could not spare her -
the children both have colds and M. has been very hoarse
please send this scroll to sister Mary ask her pleas [sic] to
accept it as if directed to her, we feel very anxious to
here [sic] from E. and M Post and all the rest of our friends, Aunt
Parsons’ death we have heard of – Elijah and Caty do well
E in particular J.P. says he does not wish him different-
Words aligned vertically in the middle of Page 4
Jacob Kirby
         Jericho       attention
Long Island              of
                            John Merrit
I conclud [sic] this letter in much love to all my friends
the 11^th day of 10^th month    your affectionate
                                                                   daughter
                                                                                      H Post

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Hannah Kirby, “Post, Hannah Kirby. Letter to Kirby Jacob.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2732.

Transcribe This Item