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

1852-08-22

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about his recent travels to Salem.

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

937

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                   Salem August 22. 1852
Sunday Morning +

Esteemed Friend Amy Post and the Circle at 36
Sophia St.
                 Here I am this Lovely First day morning
enjoying myself at Charles Lenox Remonds = on
Dean St. = I left Boston last Tuesday and having
Sojourned at Carltonville with Mrs Putmans = am now
availing myself of the invitation as above and need
not tell You. that in company with Charles = and
his excellent Lady Amy Matilda = her Daughter
Mrs Smith and Miss Annie E. Wood -I am very happy
    But before I extend these particulars let me go back
to other matters =
                             The trip from Rochester to Albany
was very pleasant- though the passengers being all strangers
to me my time was occupied in reading papers and
eating the nice cake which Sarah Birney so Kindly
prepared - reaching Albany called at Wm. H. Topps
house and the Girl told me the family were out for the evening
I. improved the opportunity of visiting Lydia Mott and
there to my agreeable Surprise found Mr Topp and
his whole family including Professor Chas L. Reason
the association at both places was very agreeable
I left at 9 ½ Saturday morning and arrived at
Boston about 5. P.M. = 200 miles = Louisa Ira
and Little Ira made me welcome indeed
and hosts of Friends and Families have been
manifested = a gladness to see me once more

(Page 2)

I met Cordelia and her Husband in the
evening and have had quite a Season with
the Constellation of Brides and Grooms
at Howard House and other localities
I roomed a while at Lewis Haydens

I had a good time with Mr Garrison
and the friends at 21 Cornhill –
Mr. Bowditch is Yet away from home
but will soon return-

Should my health permit some plans
may be matured for my lecturing-
of which You will however be apprised

                        -

I am unable to say anything
definite as to time of returning
but expect it will be within 3 weeks
I have such a dread of
next Winter whether be
in Rochester. and Yet Where
and indeed I know not ^the^ what
locality where to be exempt from
apprehension = though my health
now is no worse than for the
past 3 months – and my friends
here generally speak well of my
appearance I have not room to send all
the messages I would but You Know I want my love
tendered all my friends = I shall not forget Wm. R. Hallowells Book.

[Text aligned vertically along the right margin of Page 2]

I saw a little girl
Kiss Willie for me    this morning like                   Mary Ann

(Page 3)

Mrs Remond & Caroline with the
others are now conversing about Spirits
and at the anti slavery [sic] office the other day
Mr. Garrison was narrating some facts
indeed. I find it to be a constantly
increasing subject of discussion and myself
as having come from the favored Spiritual
region looked upon as an authorised
exponent- I could have Sold some
of Isaacs Books.
                  Georgiana left Friday
for Williamsburgh = Helen is truly
engaged = and is very Sociable and
communicative with me –
Joseph is (though looking ordinarily)
quite far from well as his Mother tells me
I have attended several family re unions
at Salem and been made to feel very
happy = the fates however will exile me
from home and much loved associations

Louisa however anticipates visiting
Frank and in thier [sic] mutual
pleasure I can but derive satisfaction
Give me but health this Winter
and let me build up-

                    Tuesday morn at 21 Cornhill
Just been introduced to Rev. J. G. Forman of Nantucket a whole
Souled man = devoted to Humanitys Cause-
Last night = slept in room with my old        Chum
Ben Weeden = and for auld Lang Syne
mounted the roof to look at the moon and 500
                                                             miles west

(Page 4)

Tell Jacob = that I gratefully pocketed
the Investment—
I did not forget my promise to Sarah
when I reached Albany = Hope she is in good
                                               health & spirits
I am anxious to learn of Your and
Willies health = as I heard in the
morning of leaving that You were
both indisposed—

Anti slavery [sic] office       Monday 4 oclock
   I. left Charles Remonds pleasant Home this morning
before 6. expecting Iras Fishing party in Boston Harbor
but it has been deferred = I have recieved [sic] to day [sic] a good
letter from Mr Phillips and another from Dorcas Collins
    There is now seated near me Captain Drayton
Just liberated from prison conversing with an old
gentleman who has seen Washington and Monroe
Presidents of Our Country = Garrison is seated at
the long table his wife assisting him in proofreading
I heard him this morning discussing with an
learned Friend who was skeptical on the Spiritual
matters but has now gone to visit a distinguished
Medium =I am surprised to find the notice
now devoted to Spirits == they are subjects of
talk in most every Circle = Joseph Putman
is yet skeptical but honestly so =I shall have more
to say of this by and by (l am about reading Adin Ballous
                                                                    Book
Daniel Foster Just from Sandwich (Mass) tells me that
Jerry B. Sanderson now lives there = He was at
New Bedford Aug 2^D ^{(l shall write him and hope soon to see him}
                     I shall be most happy to recieve [sic] a line
from You= directed to Care R. F. Walcut 21 Cornhill for
whether in or out of the City I should soon recieve [sic] and
acknowledge accordingly =I want to hear how all our
friends      too many for detailing here =
                                    Believe me most Sincerely Yours
                                                                            William

Annotations

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

Nell refers to the Post family home at 36 Sophia Street in Rochester. Charles Lenox Remond was an American orator and abolitionist. Caroline Putnum was Remond's sister and married to Joseph Putnam, an abolitionist. Lady Amy Matilda was an active participant in the anti-slavery conventions of American women. She later married Remond and moved to Salem. Sarah Birney was a fellow activist.

William Topp was an African American abolitionist and tailor from Albany. Lydia Mott was an abolitionist and suffragist. Professor Chas L. Reason was an African American mathematics professor, who advocated for African American education, abolition, and suffrage.

Louisa was Nell's sister, Ira was her son. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and the editor of the Liberator. 21 Cornhill refers to the address of the central anti-slavery office in Boston. William Ingersoll Bowditch served as Treasurer of the Anti-Slavery Society, and he opened his home as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

William R. Hallowell married Mary Post- Post's step-daughter. Willie was Post's youngest son and Mary Ann helped to take care of him.

Nell refers to the Spiritualist movement, whose followers believed that through mediums they could communicate with the dead. Post's husband, Isaac believed himself to be a medium and published a book Voices From The Spirit World, Being Communications From Many Spirits. Frank may refer to Frances, one of Nell's sisters. Reverend J.G. Forman reported on the proceeding of the 1850 National Woman's Rights Convention.

Ben Weeden worked on the organizing committee for the People’s Convention with Nell. He refers to Auld Lang Syne, a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. Jacob was Post's son. Sarah could be referring to Post's sister, Sarah Kirby Hallowell. Ira was Louisa's husband. Captain Percival Drayton was a United States Navy officer. Adin Ballou was a proponent of pacifism and abolitionism. His book: Christian non-Resistance was published in 1846.

Daniel Foster was a Congregationalist minister in Concord and became an abolitionist. He also wrote for Garrison's newspaper, the Liberator. Jerry B. Sanderson was a free black man and an abolitionist, who became an influential spokesman and advocated that schools educating black children should receive public funding.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal; Spiritualism

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/3227.

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