Kirby, Mary R. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Kirby, Mary R. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Kirby, Mary R

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1845-01-09

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary R Kirby to Amy Kirby Post, January 9, 1845.

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

624

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                           Jericho the 9 of first Month 1845
                  Who would have thought 20 years ago that I should
         be here to write this date 1845    but so it is – alass [sic] ^what^ for
Dear daughters
                  I due [sic] often mingle with you in sympaty [sic] in these
deep tryals [sic], no doubt they are permitd [sic] for some good purpuse [sic]
that is beyound [sic] our comprehension, and dear Amy I hope thou will
endeavour to seek for resignation, in thy keen tryal [sic] off thy darling
and only ^little^ daughter, now in her lovely and inocent [sic] state, nothing
to mourn for but our loss, hers is a shure [sic] and Eternal Rest
we knew off [sic] her beauty and loveliness how like the rose so soon to drop
and be gone, so will her sweetness remain, I trust, with many of us
we heard of the affecting tidings by E P Willis letter to P P W but I said
to myself my beloved Amy will not withold [sic] her pen to us on so
mournfull [sic] a theme, as the [sic] knew I always want to know more
particular than he writes, but in this his feelings – now very tenderly
toucht [sic] we had two of his letter to read one before her ixit [sic]
   Lamentable inded [sic] is the state of sosiety [sic] I pity you but believe
I might more justly pity myself and do sometimes look back when
I felt as an out cast from my friends, and am yet as a nothing
thou said thou should take no hasty steps If I have any right to say
I desire you not to[o] hope you will overcome their evil with good
we have no new difficulties that I know a very friendly
intercourse seams [sic] to subsist, as to our Meetings business
perhaps in a few days, P P W and myself shall pay Hannah
W Underhill a visit on account of her uniting in mariage [sic]
with a member Jourdan Underhll [sic] not ^acomplisht [sic]^ in the order of society
Wilet [sic] coms [sic] in and says mother who writing to he says tell Amy
to hold on going to meeting not give it up it looks so bad
they returnd [sic] from their father Pettits yesterday say the Old folks are
perty [sic] well, but their father seams [sic] at times to know but very
little Johns wife Sally is porly [sic] coughfs [sic] and raises looks like going down perty [sic]
much confind [sic] to the house shortness of breathing, dont hear from those gone to west in long
                                                                        time

[Text sideways in left margin]
Ana Wilis yet at the Asylum they did not inform her of her Mothers death – [they?] feel a litle [sic] hope she gains a little

(Page 2)

Lydia Seaman has made us a pleasent [sic] visit just before our
2 Meeting she seams [sic] perty [sic] comfortable but cannot come down stairs
without some assistance, weekness [sic] in her back, at times I hardly
know how to realize it that Sister Sarah is gone, my husbands [siff?]
visitd [sic] her abought a week before her death she said she had no pain
no not even a head ake [sic] her feet and legs very much swolen [sic] I me
-sured [sic] one just below the knee, it was ove [sic] a half yard she seamd [sic] very
quiet and patient, so different from she usually had been, she sat in
her chair nig^ts had not laid down in 3 weeks, but she soon did after we
left her seamd [sic] to sleep easy siting [sic], at Seventh day morning as Lydia was
washing and dressing her feet which had both got soar, James was siting [sic] by
and said I believe she is gone, so easy no apparent change, the corps [sic]
was brought up on the railroad second day morning – we met at the Mg
house at 2 ^oclock. quite a number of friends came up with them the corpes [sic]
not exposed which was a tryal [sic] to her neighbours Lydia said a change
seamd [sic] to take place first day night, she seamd [sic] very desirus [sic] to see Siste [sic] Phebe
again but she could not leave Samel [sic]. Robert Seman went up to see
S Phebe soon after Samuels death she was not well. something like intermiten [sic]
fever kept her room, but loot [sic] perty [sic] smart he thought – and said to him now
if you dont here [sic] from me – you may conclude I am geting [sic] a long – suppose
3 weeks after that – John Ketcham had a letter from David, which is now 3
weeks sins [sic] that was received, that she was at Pokeepsie [sic] at Dr Lappers in
-fermry [sic] – he said she did not need medicin [sic] only steaming and a little dashing
with cold water – and that he the Dr had her out walkin [sic] two miles that
morning – which is the last accont [sic] – Elijah & Amy had invited her to
stay the winter with them – which she accepted as she told Robert
and what then we know nothing – and how does our dear Sarah feel
like being a resident with us our doors are open to receive the [sic] cordially
if their [sic] is no way that seams [sic] pleasenter [sic] to thee our beloved Sarah
but as to seaing [sic] any business business that will be to thy advantage or satisfaction
I seam [sic] as a blank I cant feel that I want [to have] the [sic] ^to^ enter in our domestic
affairs with very little gain, (now dont feel that we don’t want thee) no entirely otherways [sic]
I remarked Amy said scarse [sic] anything abought thee, I want to here [sic] from the [sic] much more than we doe [sic]

(Page 3)

         the 12 of first M^o 1845
yesterday we went Johns for the first this winter I calculate to went to the Cove with
PPW but heard their [sic] the Death of Samuel Underhill ^to be [burd [sic]?] to morro [sic]^ sudenly [sic] thought it not sutabible [sic]
we spent the day, Isaac & Samuel Hicks with their wifes & three great grandchildren came
MF one only 5 weeks old wich [sic] they call William C       James & E Mott with
their [theer] 3 staid [sic] a night the first of the month and attended the funerals of Phebe Willis
at [Tohmas?] Thomas he spoke and no one els [sic] ^likewise^ E attende [sic] David Kectham [sic] funeral the next day
after Phebe his failure was very gradual, E and children all well fate babe and quiet James
had perty [sic] heavy coald [sic], Ed & MR left here a few days past E said e was well of his lamness [sic]
and appeared so – but does not expose himself to outdoors work much yet – I feard [sic] at one
time he never would get straight again – has suffered great pain at times could not
keep his seat long enuff [sic] to eat a meal tryd [sic] many things at last cold water bathing seamd [sic]
to relieve him it was their [sic] first and only visit this winter here
         Sister Esther has had a very painfull [sic] hand prceded [sic] by a bruise on the right hand
from [finge?] cuting [sic] dat butchering tim [sic] look coald [sic] & it sweld [sic] all the fingers stood out stiff
it gathered and discharged in 10 different places now its all heald [sic] up, but it’s a
poor hand yet, dont get limber feels numb & stiff but can bend the finders some
expect it will be a great while if eve [sic] she gets the full use,        Betsy Mathews her [helps?]
been a good nurse and help too she has been out to Mg twice – Joseph & Mary Post
here last week all well. Isaac Rushmore at Johns last first day a pleasnt [sic] from him
last 5 day he said not one women at their Mg 6 or 7 men a snow storm the day before drifted
much on 5 only 9 women at ours more men none from our house but Willet
Rachel Willis was fetcht [sic] to flushing very nearly 3 weeks ago by
William Post Esther Lawrence very poorly so that did not expect her to live
but a very short time, but the last account she still ingered along her
Neice [sic] Esther P Lawrence & others their [sic] their last accout [sic], its reported that W Post
visits Esther satisfactorily to their friends        I think Kecthams [sic] wife abought
size of MF Hicks and appears agreeable so far as I have seen, pleasent [sic] and easy
in her maner [sic], she with W soon have us a call after that they with Phebe &
Margaret took tea with us agreeably – Phebe often hars [sic] from Thomas say
he hears nothing from Rochester she seams [sic] easy and pleasent [sic] in her undertakin [sic]
the family too as appears, its said Wiliam expects to remain at home but
how & in what way I dont know Phebe now at the Riverhead with then went
last 7 day with a Slead [sic] to leave [C^h^arry two weak?]

good all write [sic] no heavy cold has not lost one meal
from indisposion [sic] mist [sic] [very] only one meeting on account of snow drifts cuts & saws wo^o^d
for the franklin eats a great many apples – & reads hour after hour this week very much eng
aged with Elwoods journal, last week the bible, sometimes the news paper take his [attention?]
my head destress [sic] that I mentond [sic] to you some time is very much relievd [sic]
and am comfortable I most practice cold bathing every morng and
conclude it has been beneficial, how is Cousin A Moot [sic] our loves to her
if you see her our Neighbours are now generaly [sic] in usual health
E W often out and cuts wood occsionaly [sic] walk to tomys & c
M W W has a tender feeling for you with much sympathy
think to write ere its long
         fifth day morng all well in much love M Kirby
         13 of 2 mo

[Text sideways, bottom right margin]
I thought I would just say
Isaac has paid for that standerd [sic]
long enuff [sic] for our folk        I think
they dont wish to pay it
now you nead [sic] never mention
it on paper to us to let our
children know that I have
mention’d it to you

[Text sideways, center of page]
Jericho NY.                                      18
Feb 13^th

         Isaac Post for Amy Post
                           Rochester Monroe Conty [sic]
                                             NY

Tags

Family; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Kirby, Mary R, “Kirby, Mary R. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2916.

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