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

Title

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

Creator

Willis, Mary W Kirby

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1844-10-14

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary W Kirby Willis to Amy Kirby Post, October 14, 1844.

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

615

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

Jericho 14^th of 10^th Mo
Dear sisters
                  Having del^a^yed taking my pen time
after time to remind those in affliction that my sympathies
are extended, and tears of affection for my dear sister
Sarah have often been shed on her account, yet I have
felt inadequate to express them. the very sudden event
was indeed shocking to us, having not even heard a syllable
of ^his^ indisposition, and now the consoling language of the poet
[illegible]curs to my remembrance,
         “Our earthly ties are frail and weak,
                  Whereon we dare not rest,
         For time dissolves, and death will break,
                  The sweetest and the best.
         Yet their’s [sic] a tie that will remain,
                  Which time and death assault in vain.
and young sais [sic] “When heaven would kindly set us free,
                           And earth’s enchantments end,
                  It takes the most effectual means,
                           And robs us of a friend.”
What shall I say of sister Elizabeth she too has her trials
and little Jacobs life seemed past finding out, (I was ready to say/
it seemed that he was reduced to a skeleton and his body and
limbs motionless he outlived all power ^to move^ except a little in his
eyelids and lips, which at times he did move, but the eyelids were
mostly wide open even when asleep they thought. On 7^thday the 5^th
sister E. had a little daughter, resembling herself dark hair
and her head in shape more like [Elizabeth] ^her^, the boys favor their father

(Page 1)

[Text sideways, left margin]
Father thinks not to attend Q. M.g. mother will go with us

[Text sideways, right margin]
Joseph came here this evening
with Edmund I intend to shew
him thy letter when an opport
unity offers.
                  thy sister M.W.W.

(Page 2)

I went to see them second day, mother was there and sister looked
comfortable had a good nurse and Jacob ^was^ lying ^[was]^ in the cradle and
would now and then groan, we put a clean gown on him and
laid him in the cradle which I thought would be the last time
yet he lived untill [sic] 4^th day 9^th on 6^th day we were invited to his
funeral, when I entered the room James sat ^with two little boys closely^ at the head of the
bed where Elizabeth was lying with her babe on her arm. and father
and mother sitting by the fire. it was altogether affecting. although
they had long expected the change and probably felt resigned to it
yet the final separation was sensibly felt, Elizabeth said
as I sat alone with her during the meeting.) I feel sorry it rains
to day I wanted Jacob should be laid away nice and dry.
when Timothy commenced speaking she had the door opened
we could then hear pretty distinctly, after which Rachel spoke
said that in the present instance their [sic] was no cause for mourning
but for rejoicing that he was removed to mingle with other spi
-rits, &c 2 day evening my pen has been laid aside to go
and see father about going to brooklyn to see aunt Sarah
who you have learned ere this will reach you is very
poorly or at least I imagine you have heard it.
mother does not feel like leaving Elizabeth to go
their [sic], so that I am calculating to go with father
and shall leave a space in this to fill after getting
there. William Robbins wife is verry [sic] poorly I percieve [sic]
their [sic] is great anxiety about her she has been addicted
to asthma for some years, also affected with it at the present
time, with pain in her side and other symptoms of decline.
Mary R K... is with her. her sister Hannah ^it^ seems is

(Page 3)

not at liberty to go and be with her. I apprehend her time
and attention is occupied in preparation for a marriage
they say Jordan Underhill in steadily visiting their [sic].
I think Abbe will miss her a good deal she is an active
girl in the family. I see Joseph Post frequently altho [sic]
he gets but little time to visit us fairly he steps in
on errands and interests us in his frank manner he
does not commence school yet altho [sic] we have one
near taught by a female and is considered a compe
tant [sic] teacher. I hope Joseph will be willing to go and
conform to her she has older and larger boys than he is.
a little advice on the subject from his parents might
be useful, I think Abbe Thurston gave repeated advice
to her son while he was with us, she felt great anxiety
and was faithful to do all she could and now she feel
paid [I expect] to see him settled [with] ^in^ steady habits
and good principles. do write to me once yes thrice will
be very acceptable. I heard to day that E P W – was in
NY. my love is to you all as if named I do not hear
that William and Mary have come with Edmund perhaps
they will come with Sarah when she feels ready, we
want to see sister S. and [you] all of you when it appears
to you best to undertake the journey Thomas Hallowell
made a visit to Phebe of nearly two weeks, he did not come
here and I felt quite sorry not to have an opportunity to get
any acquaintance ^1^st day evening^ William Ketcham is about getting a wife to River
head. Charry Jagger. I believe ^is^ very agreeable. we did not go to brook
-lyn as anticipated it proved rainy &c. we heard again from aunt Sarah
to day that she is a little more oppressed her feet and limbs are very
much swolen [sic] and she is very much inclined to sleep she does not
lie down at all at night or day on account of her oppression, she
seems pleasant, conversant and patient. Lydia still gains a little
can walk without a cane, I recieved [sic] thy very acceptable letter
this evening. Had the company of Robert and Esther Titus they took a journy [sic]*

[Text sideways in left margin]
immediately after their marriage but did not get to Rochester went on to see aunt Phebe Gifford
from thence to Skaneatless [sic]. They say E P W. is like to be married to Julia

(Page 4)

[Text upside-down, top of page]
wether [sic] I have mentioned Anna Willis I have forgotten
she is in the asulum [sic] and reports are not very favorable
as yet, poor cousin Phebe is almost blind, and cousin
Tommy is poorly tho [sic] keeps about. John thinks he
may possibly have something to write by Edmund.
I hope Sarah will feel like writing to us soon
I feel as if this would be a very poor letter and I
wish I was competent to a better one. but so it is

[Text upside-down, bottom of page]
and I hope you will accept the will for thee deed.
Rachel has a nice growing baby named Anna two months
old. R has the ague very often but gets relief quickly and
exposes herself she thinks she must do so to get hardened. Isaac H
attended Indiana Y M.g. alone, and returned immediately after. seems
pleased and can tell a great deal, having an excellent memory and
quick perception, was in company with green Plain friends.*

[Text normal, top of page]

*Richard Glazier was their [sic] and the Y Mg refused to say his company was
acceptable on account of his conduct relative to select meetings

(Page 4)

[Text sideways]
Jericho NY                     18 ¾
    Oct 25.
                  Isaac Post
         for A. Post
                           Rochester
                                    N.Y.

Tags

Family; Medicine

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Willis, Mary W Kirby, “Willis, Mary W Kirby. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 22, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2907.

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