Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Nell, William Cooper

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1850-12-05

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about the recent events surrounding the ratification of the Fugitive Slave Law.

Subject

Post, Amy Kirby, b. 1802

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

876

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Illegible] I Just learn by Telegraph   Monday Dec 9^th 1850
That “Frances” is better -though yet                        3. oclock
      dangerous = we breathe again –
But I may soon be
        in Rochester
                                             Boston December 5. 1850
Esteemed Friend Amy Post
                                              Confined at Home this
(as last Evening) by an Influenza = My Landlady
Mrs Weeden and Her assistant- sewing and
performing Household duties- the 3. children having
Just Bid Good Night = and like the Birds
snuggled away to sleep= =reminds me of many
an Evening at 36 Sophia St = and as I now
sit writing at a Desk similar to Yours when
I was want to be talking to You and Sarah of
Boston and at the same time writing to
my Sisters and Friends here     I could not longer
defer my long since mentally commenced
letter = to You my Choice and Kind Friend.
     Among the many suggestives [sic] for this letter
I indite [sic] as follows = 1^st I. happened in at the
anti slavery [sic] office when George Thompson recieved [sic]
Thy letter of invitation to Rochester-
2^d While at the Worcester Thompson Faneuil Hall
adjourned Meeting -I discoved [sic] the Tribune
account of a Fire in Rochester = Dundas & Co
Woollen factory = I was glad to learn of its
full insurance _ 3^d The arrival of
Dr. Delany in this City and his admission
to Harvard Medical School - 4^th a few days
since our mutual Friend Jerry B. Sanderson
addressed me an affectionate letter from his new home

(Page 2)

                                 ps I have a Nephew in Rochester
                                                William Albert Cleggett
at Wareham _ but I will not prolong
the list of suggestives [sic] = when I am
reminded that long since my letter
to You should have been forwarded

         Sunday Evening 5. o'clock Dec 8^th

Yesterday Louisa and Myself had our
hearts saddened by Benjamins Letter
mailed at Rochester 4^th inst [sic] informing us
of her Severe illness and ^its^ probable fatal
termination = I immediately Telegraphed to
Him at 75 Main Street = “to let me Know
then How she was,”   -   to the present no
answer has been recieved [sic] = but of course I
shall look for a Telegraphic Despatch [sic]
in the Morning = Though hardly within
my power to do so . Yet if her life is
preserved . and a necessity exists for my
presence I must obey the Summons

at present I have no words for the
occasion = to You they would be unnecessary
I can only hope that the crisis is over
and Frances lives - before You read this
I shall learn more definitely from Her
possibly maybe enroute [sic] for Rochester

Trouble seems to be my portion = in this world
I am not complaining only uttering the fact

(Page 3)

Though hardly in the vein for a Free
and easy correspondence = You will not blame
me for filling out my Letter with such
items as I have = presuming them interesting
to my Friend who reads.

     The stirring anti slavery [sic] events for the
past few months here in Boston the
Modem Thermopylae = would fill a large
Volume – If I were to narrate even my observation
and experience among them = to be appreciated
Amy and Isaac Post should have been present
=           The Fugitive Slave Excitement
          William and Ellen Crafts = The
George Thompson = arrival = Reception and
other Meetings = But I may Yet have an
opportunity of talking them over with You
all in the Family Circle = I happened to
be familiar with many of the public
and private matters connected with
them all-

“Francis Jackson R. F Walcutt and Myself –
met Mr. Thompson on board the Steamer and
accompanied Him to Mr Garrisons residence
He is at the anti slavery [sic] rooms every day
    You can therefore    easily imagine
“         What a Feast of nectared [sic] sweets –
The Liberator -of late = of Course You and
                        Isaac find much delight in

(Page 4)

Now for a Secret = I have partly resolved
on accepting a Business engagement abroad
of perhaps two Years length = Should I finally
do so. Rochester would be visited first –
the whole matter is however in
Embryo= = in another letter I can say more
about it = ad interim please not circulate

I am Kept quite busy as Agent of the Boston
Vigilance Committee = It is a school indeed
for learning the Heart perennial Lessons.
I visited Harriet last week = She is now
comfortable as can be expected –

When You write please give me some word
of Dorcas Abby Phebe Henry V= V=
and of the Post family = whether You certainly
will = I do not forget my other friends
I trust You duly remember me to them
if mention of my name is ever made
I noticed Sarah C. owens Cash for the
Star = some weeks since = the name awakened
[on?] a cluster of pleasing associations.
Can You trouble Yourself enough to secure
for me the North Star of      August 15^th 1850
and reserve for some good     Sept 12^th     “
chance of Sending= I can now     “   19^th       “
only pay You in thanks                 "      26^th      “
My Kindest Regards to all and believe me
                         Gratefully Your Friend Wm C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post.

Frances was one of Nell's sisters. Mrs. Weeden was Ben Weeden’s wife. Ben Weeden worked with Nell on various abolitionist activities. Nell refers to 36 Sophia Street, the Posts' family home.

George Thompson was a British anti-slavery orator and activist. Martin Robinson Delany was an abolitionist and physician.

Jerry B. Sanderson was a free black man and an abolitionist. He moved from the northeast to California during the gold rush to explore potential business opportunities. Louisa was Nell's sister. Benjamin Cleggett was married to another of Nell's sisters. Nell's nephew, William Albert Cleggett was born during this time.

Nell refers to the Battle of Thermopylae that took place between the Spartans and Persian forces.

William and Ellen Craft were slaves from George who escaped to the North in 1848. The Fugitive Slave Law had recently passed making it illegal for any free person to harbor a slave.

R.F. Wallcutt published an anti-slavery pamphlet containing a speech by Reverend Bleby. Francis Jackson was an abolitionist from Boston and affiliated with the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and other abolitionist organizations. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and the editor of the Liberator. The Boston Vigilance Committee formed after the Fugitive Slave Law passed. The members worked to aid escaping slaves.

Abby and Phebe Thayer were fellow abolitionists. Abby worked as Frederick Douglass's governess for a period of time. Sarah C. Owens helped to plan the 1848 Woman’s Rights Convention in Rochester. Douglass published a newspaper called the North Star.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Nell, William Cooper, “Nell, William Cooper. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3166.

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