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

1853-01-20

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about his health and recent abolitionist activities.

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

971

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

I have Just had a few minutes talk with Mr Rogers the anti
Spiritual theory advocate Boston January 20. 1853
I think him very candid
however
Anti Slavery office 11.oclock
Thursday. A.M
Esteemed Friend Amy .

                       Frank has come
to the conclusion of leaving
Rochester on a visit to Boston
and may have left before this
reaches You = but if not I
hope You will forward a line
to me by her = that I may
be favored with the latest
Bulletin from 36 Sophia Street
    Great times are expected at
the annual meeting = only wish
You and Isaac could be
present. but perhaps You
both accompanied by William
and Mary Hallowell anticipate
being at the May Convention
of Course Sarah Hallowell will
improve the Same chance of
visiting the Athens of America

(Page 2)

Hutchinson Concerts soon coming off
Here comes Peter Still whom I
have promised to assist some
in calling for subscriptions -
I have lately recieved [sic] a letter
from Louisa Jacobs = she speaks
very affectionately of You -
since then I have a letter
from Anna Jacobs = speaking of
Phebes absence from Rochester
I wonder if I shall ever
meet Phebe and Abby again?
Times and circumstances change

Jerry B. Sanderson has sent me
a line informing me that his
wife will soon present him
with another object for a
Fathers love
Joseph H. Putman and Wife were
in Boston Yesterday = he holds
on to the idea of leaving soon
for California or Australia
How lonesome I shall feel
in view of his absence and
the mutation of affairs among

(Page 3)

my choice friends East & West
I. shall feel the more like
doing what only seems all
the more difficult to accomplish
“get a home of my own
Mr Garrison introduced me a
few days since here in the office
to Harriet Beecher Stowe.
She has a great plan in her
head for elevating Colored
Americans = Professor Allen
lectured in Andover Tuesday
Eve and I hope made her
acquaintance
I witnessed Uncle Tom as played
at Arduays Hall a few nights
since = it differs some from the
Museum representation = though
none the less anti slavery [sic]
except a Colonization Clause = not so potent as I dreaded
one Young man sing -
the unhappy Slave which
I have so many times
heard Joseph Post sing
and with much beauty of
stile [sic] = and which I hope to hear
                          again-

(Page 4)

a week last Sunday I attended an
antislavery [sic] meeting at Danvers -
and last Sunday at Manchester N.H.
had good times = spoke little
but ^and^ gained little pecuniarily [sic]
                             less
I. however enjoyed meeting some
of my early friends married
now settled there – of which
more anon
my purpose is to leave Boston
soon after the annual meeting
doing what I may enroute for
antislavery [sic] = on my own hook
My health continues tolerable -
but for many reasons I feel
after = depressed = perhaps it
will wear off
The weather now is beautiful = sliegh [sic]
parties in thier happiest mood = Vc
oblige me by special remembrance to
all the inmates of Your happy home
How eagerly do I long to look them
all once more in the face and
give them a hearty shake of the hand
Had I anticipated being in Boston so long
I should have brought my drab surtout
which hangs in the wardrobe
How is Edmund R. Willis       Ever Yours Gratefully
Is Sarah Yet on Long Island }      Wm C.   Nell.

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. Nell refers to the Spiritualist movement, whose followers believed that through mediums they could communicate with the dead. Frances was one of Nell's sisters.

Nell refers to the Post family home at 36 Sophia Street in Rochester. William and Mary Hallowell were Post's son-in-law and step-daughter. Sarah was Post's sister.

The Hutchinson Family Singers used their music to raise awareness about abolitionism and women’s rights. Peter Still, a former slave became an anti-slavery lecturer to raise money to buy his family out of slavery. Louisa Jacobs was author and former slave, Harriet Jacobs’s daughter. Phebe and Abby were relatives of the Posts. Jeremiah B. Sanderson was a free black man and abolitionist, who moved California. He became an influential spokesman and educator, who advocated to secure public funding for schools that taught black children.

Joseph H. Putnam was married to Caroline- sister of Charles Lenox Remond, an abolitionist leader. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and editor of the Liberator. Harriet Beecher Stowe was the athor of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that depicted the slave experience.

Professor William G. Allen was the editor of the National Watchman, a Temperance and abolitionist newspaper. Joseph was Post's son. Edmund P. Willis was Post's brother-in-law.

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 24, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3260.

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