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

1852-12-17

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell recalls the October 21, 1835 pro-slavery mob, who tried to lynch William Lloyd Garrison.

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

962

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

Mr May tells me       ^Friday^
that                 Saturday Morning
Wm. W. Brown has sent You   Dec 17^th 1852
and other Rochester Friends
     a copy of his Book I will
                       bring them with me.
Garrison and Oliver Johnson
went to the Boston Museum last
evening and were much pleased
with the dramatic representation of
Uncle Tom = For 5 weeks
each night and 2 day performances
the house has been crowded
Mrs Stowe is preparing a series
of scenes from Uncle Tom for
the Hutchinsons = who are to blend
its representation a reading
with anti slavery [sic] singing -
this will prove an attractive
and novel means of
putting down agitation
Mrs Stowes Key to Uncle Toms
Cabin will soon be issued
containing facts long since
published by Pillsbury and Foster
but now bearing her charmed
name will be extensively read

(Page 2)

The new illustrated Parlor annual
of Uncle Tom is a gem
and the engraving of Mrs Stowe
much like her -
Mr Garrison has Just read a confession
of = Homer = the principled Editor
in getting up the Mob of Oct 21^st
                                               1835
He is now a pauper = this letter is
addressed to the Son of Mr Rand
the ^tall^ old Gentleman at the annual
meeting in May last = his son was
apprentice in the Gazette office at
the time = names and local
incidents are given and furnishes
an interesting Chapter = of righteous
retribution Keep these names away
from any Editor = the time is not Yet
for publication
Sallie Holley is soon expected here
Wm G. Allen also-
Lucy Stone was in Yesterday
I am daily looking for the Rochester Box
Weather this morning rainy
I am ordinarily well thank God
I hope Sarah Fish is gaining health.
How is Edmund P. Willis – Ever Yours Wm C. Nell

[Text aligned vertically along Page 2]

How is my Friend Clough?

Annotations

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

Samuel J. May was a radical American reformer, who advocated for women's rights, and abolition. William Wells Brown was born a slave and after escaping, he became an anti-slavery lecturer, novelist, playwright and historian. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and the editor of the Liberator. Oliver Johnson edited and contributed articles to anti-slavery newspapers.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, wrote the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which depicted the slave experience. The Hutchinson Family Singers used their music to raise awareness about abolitionism and women’s rights.

Nell refers to the mob of October 21, 1835, when the Boston Female Society announced that the British orator, George Thompson would be addressing their meeting. Pro-slavery forces threatened violence and Garrison spoke in Thompson's place. On the day of the event, a lynch mob formed and tried to drag Garrison away, but he escaped.

Sallie Holley traveled as an anti-slavery lecturer with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone and Sarah Remond, and others from the American Anti-Slavery Society. William G. Allen was editor of the National Watchman, a Temperance and abolitionist paper.

Lucy Stone was an American abolitionist and suffragist leader. Sarah Fish helped to plan the 1848 Woman’s Rights Convention in Rochester. Edmund P. Willis was Post's brother-in-law.

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/3252.

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