Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Willis, Mary W

Contributor

Kirby

Date

1838-12-30

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary W. Kirby Willis to Amy Kirby Post, December 30, 1838.

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

519

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Text upside down at top of page apparently added as postscripts:]

all well as usual to father Kirbys    mother talk of writing
to thee sister Elizabeth has been to New York on a visit. I think
she is                              pretty smart to get out am very much
pleased with it I hear Edmund and Mary talk of going to
Rochester this winter

                                      30^th of 12^th M^o 1838

My husband offerd [sic] me a sheet of
paper to enquire the cause of this long enterval [sic] [of] ^in^ correspondence
it seems natural to imagine one thing as a prevention
and then another but finally settles upon wonders Still
accompanied with hopes that sickness is not the ultim
ate. We have not heard from Sarah but once it is too
strange to let pass unnoticed, We are this evening en=
=tirely alone or in other words without the company of
a child which makes it appear like being alone
I dont know whether they are at cousin Roberts picking
the wedding fragments but it is possible thee will be
surprised at this, though not probable as you have so
many friends to communicate all the knews. [sic] this marr
=iage was new and unexpected to me indeed, although
I heard it named many months ago yet it never met
me in a way to believe, untill [sic] a few days previous
to its being made public, and on the 27 of this month
we witnessed the consummation of the marriage of
Robert Seaman and Abigail Jones with his children arrai
-gned before them, after which they resorted to Cedar swamp
where the wedding dinner was prepared for a consider
able large number convened on the occasion, her family
of brothers, sisters, and their children embracing the prin
-ciple part [four?] overseers Valentine and wife,
Willis Robbins and Amy Willets. on the next day

(Page 2)

to tea the company were invited to Roberts (although he
has expressed a wish to pass through it in a moderate
and small way becoming their age and srarion ^but^ a pretty
considerable company collected to rejoice with him on the
arrival of a wife. We also partook with them, a very
different circle from which our cousin has been accustom
=ed to shine in, but what we consider bright and
shining in him, may on the other hand be construed into
dulness [sic]. but all went on nicely as far as I perceived
I was informed while ^there^ that William Waring and his wife
had made up their minds to go to the West Indies on accou
=nt of his health, likewise Solomon and Clarissa
Griffin, her health being yet very delicate. Samuel
Parsons having embarked about twelve days since with
a very feeble wife and two children for the above named
place, I was informed that Mary Parsons was so very feeble
that she was taken out of the house at Flushing on a cot
which was set in an omnabus [sic] and rode slowly towards
the city appearing to be not of ability to reach there
after riding a while she revived [after?] getting there
she seemed so much exhausted that they began to desp
=air, D^ctr Cock their physician, proposed to call in some
of the most emminent [sic] physicians in the City for a
consultation, which resulted as their best judgment
to proceed, they said she raised a sheet full of blood
in New York. Anna W. told me that Rachel [Kimble?] took
two cotton sheets from her mouth and that she thought
their [sic] was not more than half a yard in them both
but what was wet with blood said they heard it rattle in
her throat.

(Page 3)

          1^st Mo 5^th
I have felt so much engaged this evening in the perusal of
Mrs. L. H. Sigourney’s letters addressed to Mothers, that I felt
loath to lay it down, has thee read them? If thee has not do get it
it contains much good counsel. I want Elizabeth and Mary F.
to read it. Has thee heard that Rachel Barker has lost a dear
child and that by fire, she being out of the room heard a crying
which appearing distressing ran to her assistance on opening
the door where the dear creature was beheld her beautiful
hair all in a blaze she lived to suffer thirteen days and
died. John Barrow deceased with inflammatory rheumatism
his funeral took place on the 3^rd of this M^o James C. Haviland
and company arrived the 24^th of last mo. we spent [the] an
evening at uncle Willets with Joseph and Mary, the latter
seemed rather reserved I thought, but J free as usual we
questioned him a little on the Rail Road subject, the [obliterated]
J Silas call’d [sic] the company together again with the overseers
which resulted in their better satisfaction it appears. what
becomes of Charles Lawrence has he [cintred?] with friends again
his aunt A.W.W. seems bravely although her eyes are yet weak
how is my niece Mary and what is she a thinking and doing
I have not heard from her in a long time and I want to hear
about Jacob and Joseph whether they are good children
I think their [sic] is some prospect of Matthew F Robbins getting
Ephraim Valentines farm at Westbury as he has very recently

lost his wife and wishes to sell. they have been to view it and
that is about all that I know about it. David Ketcham has not
succeeded yet in getting a farm but came very near purchasing
John Wines farm this fall, just before the bargain closed. John and
Jane wanted a little more time, and finally gave out.

(Page 4)

[Text upside-down on top of page]

first day morn the 6^th very fine weather the ground
covered with snow just enough to make pretty good
sleighing I forgot to tell thee we had a visit from
William Haviland and our cousin Esther I told him
I supposed I might call him cousin by and by he said I hope

[Text of letter concludes in bottom margin of page 4, right side up.]

(Page 4)

It is almost meeting time I cannot say much more this time
we do not succeed yet in forming an Abolition Society yet
not being able to see that any advantage can arise from organ
=izing. We have a color’d [sic] Woman with us who it appears
escaped from bondage although she had a good Master.
do write affectionately Mary W Willis

[Address sideways in center of page, running downward]

Jericho NY                               18¾
Jany 7

                   Isaac Post
for Amy Post Rochester City
                             New York
Pleas [sic] return
this

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Willis, Mary W, “Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 22, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2818.

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