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

1852-05-05

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about the growing anti-Spiritualist movement.

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

925

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

I am very happy here
and shall feel sorry            Lockport May 5^th, 1852.
to leave   but very glad
          to be at Rochester
Dear Friend
                    Yesterday I recieved [sic] letters from
Joseph Putman and my Sister Louisa = [obliterated]
the last conveying the sad intelligence of Harriets
supposed expected death =          Louisa is at present
surrounded with many trials - I only wish
that health and other circumstances allowed
my presence in Boston Just now-
        I. have made what hasty arrangement
I could for pecuniary assistance - and [advise?]
in the trying emergency-

Joseph Putman = hopes (but with little faith
however of attending the annual meeting.

Mrs. Trevor is quite doubtful of reaching
Rochester - but may do so= she sends her love
to You. –

                  My last Colds have brought on a
relapse of several former symptoms . but I am
tolerable now    the weather is glorious-
I rise about 5. retire at 9. plenty of Milk
Cream- Vegetables= and exercise in Gods
free air = pure and invigorating-
   I think Glen Haven will be my next
destination - I expect to leave here saturday
      Truly Yours Wm C. Nell

(Page 2)

Wednesday 6PM
Being mistaken as the time
of the Boat leaving here and
by which I intended sending
I have now the chance of
penning down some more
observations –
Has Amy Post any sarsaparilla
and Boneset: If not will Jacob
get a Small quantity of each for
her fixing = I need its strengthening
properties very much-

Dr and Mrs Trevor are (did I tell
You) Adventists =and Anti
Spiritualists = He has Just
commenced reading my copy of
the Richmond and Capron
discussion from the Tribune
I have conversed much on
religious matters with them
She has presented me Storrs
Pamphlet = Are the wicked
immortal? He will visit
Rochester about the 20^th to attend
the Advent Convention.

(Page 3)

I enjoy thier [sic] morning Service –
and read my verse from the
Bible as one of the family –
There are charms for me in many
of the modes of worship =I can
always cull some inspiration
and feel renewed by = thoughts
on things divine
Love to every body [sic], and his Cousins

Please deliver to

     Amy Post
     36 Sophia St
                       Rochester

The Black Swan concertizes here
Friday night= I hope Colonel
Wood will not challenge me=
Dont Laugh at me, You and Sarah
- I shall commence my letter to
J.H.P about that unlucky
insertion Oh had I but health-
    wanting that I am Bankrupt
in most all things.

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist, is writing from Lockport, New York to fellow activist, Amy Post.

Joseph H. Putnam was married to Caroline Remond- the sister of Charles Lenox Remond, an abolitionist leader. Louisa Nell Gray was Nell's sister. Harriet likely refers to Harriet Brent Jacobs, a former slave and author of the book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.

Jacob was Post’s son. Nell refers to the growing anti-Spiritualist movement. Spiritualists believed that through mediums they could communicate with the dead. Nell mentions George Storr's pamphlet that he wrote after leaving the Congregationalist Church and becoming an Adventist. E.W. Capron wrote the book Modern Spiritualism.

Sarah Kirby Willis was Post's sister.

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/3215.

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