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

1854-07-31

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post and shares with her news about their mutual friends.

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

1031

Location

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

Transcription

                                                                                                  (Page 1)

Monday Morning 10. O’clock}                   Boston July 31. 1854
    at antislavery office
                                                 Esteemed Friend
                                                                                   Amy Post-
The Board are now in session = Abby Foster
on hand = I sieze [sic] this early moment to pen a
line = by way of telling you of my safe arrival V=
                                Leaving you Henry and Dorcas
( a choice trio to me) I reached Albany in time
too late for Boston train = I repaired to my
friend Wm N. Topp who tendered me a cordial
welcome = He with his family were in affliction
having Just [obliterated] ^lost^ a much loved connection by Cholera
the wife of Thomas [Vogelsang?] = a young and lovely
woman leaving 3 little ones =-
   Visited Lydia Mott and had a course of a
good conversation = found Amos G. Berman
who roomed with me at Topps-
      during the night I was half crazy with
the tooth ache = but my first business on rising
was to Colonize the troublesome customer and
but for a semi Cholera attack = continuing
to Springfield I soon resumed my usual
comfortable state of health and spirits-
                    I was Joined at Springfield by a
young man (Howell or Powell) who knows you and
Rochester friends = well = he Just reached Boston
in time to meet Stephen & Abby in the Stoneham train

(Page 2)

Here comes Stephen Foster =.

     I found a large batch of letters
here   one from Harriet Jacobs announcing
her recent illness = and the fact that
     Louisa was in Boston = = I met her Sunday
and after tea crossed the Charles River in a
Ferry Boat (the Bridge being repaired ) with her
and Mr & Mrs Louther = had a pleasant
chat = free and easy = hope to enjoy her
company at the Abington celebration
tomorrow = and perhaps more in future
(    what are you smiling at ?
           Mum’s the word-

                               Wednesday 10. at Night -
Yesterday I did enjoy Louisa Jacobs company
at Abington = the Liberator will tell you
of the very interesting occasion = every thing
   contributed to render this First of
      August         a triumphant event
                   Returning we were Joined by
Charles Remonds wife and friends at tea
in Vintons        Saloon thence to Boston
Common where a Band was discoursing
    sweet music by moonlight-
        Today I have had a good time at
Cambridge = anticipate more tomorrow
and perhaps on Friday Louisa will leave for
                                 for New York.

                                                                 (Page 3)

                Thursday = and Lovely weather

One week ago = at Just this hour I was
at Mrs Jenkins = where we had a very
happy reunion = = to day I am to
accompany Louisa Jacobs to my sister Louisas
and call on a few friends then have a pleasant
Moonlight sail across the river to Cambridge
where an evening party will tender thier [sic]
good wishes to the        Visitor from New York

Henry C. Wright and Stephen S. Foster
are better impressed with William R.
Hallowells Face of Phillips than the Boston
one = = They are both so good = the friends
are puzzled = I shall likely get a grand
one by the artist blending the beauties of
each -

I shall not soon forget Mary Pitkins
singing = Wait for the Waggon [sic]-

Her voice should be cultivated = but
harmoniously with her other powers -

I saw but too little of Jacob & Joseph
Sarah Birney = and indeed of Mary
and Sarah Hallowell with thier [sic] other
halves = but was happy very happy with the
share of thier company that I did get favored with

(Page 4)

I certainly meant to have called at
Benj Fishs but was detained so long
with Charlotte Murray at Mrs Stanleys
as to cut off the chance = please tell
Sarah Fish this much for me

I believe I left some notions up stairs -
besides the little Almanac for Elizabeth Jacobs
please see = what there is of mine =
perhaps a Razor = Handkerchief = Note Book
cover scraps V= = I was told that Watkins
would leave in a few days for Boston -
I will ask Frank to call for them that he
will take them

I hope to recieve [sic] more of English Laws for
Women = so dispose of the one you have to as
good an advantage as possible = it is promised
to Susan Anthony.

Please divide my Love among
the whole circle = Write soon
from Isaac to Willie
and believe me
Sincerely your Friend
William C.Nell

Annotations

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

Abby Kelley Foster and her husband, Stephen, were both abolitionists and women’s rights activists. William Topp was a tailor and a black abolitionist from Albany, New York. Lydia Mott was an abolitionist and woman's rights activist. Amos G. Beman was a black minister from Connecticut and a supporter of abolition, suffrage, and Temperance reforms.

Harriet Jacobs was a former slave and wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Her daughter's name was Louisa. George Lowther was a black anti-slavery writer who wrote a testamonial at the end of Jacobs's book.

Nell refers to radical abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison's newspaper the Liberator.

Charles Lenox Remond was an American orator and abolitionist. The Jenkins family opened their home as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Reverend Henry C. Wright was a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.

William R. Hallowell was Post's son-in-law, married to Sarah. Jacob and Joseph were Post's sons. Mary Post Hallowell was Post's daughter.

Benjamin Fish was Sarah Fish’s husband. The Fish family were women's rights activist. Charlotte Murray was Frederick Douglass's sister-in-law, who lived with them for a number of years.

Nell mentions woman's rights activist, Susan B. Anthony. Isaac was Post's husband and Willie was their youngest child.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal; Women's Rights

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/3321.

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