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

1856-04-12

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to Amy Kirby Post. Nell writes to Post about recent events in the Boston anti-slavery community and in the 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

1115

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                               Boston April 12 1856
My Kind Friend Amy,
                                I resign hearing Allen Putnams
Lecture on Mesmerism , Witchcraft and Spiritualism
and a Visit to a nice Young Lady friend

that I may say a few words acKnowledging my
reception of Your long looKed for but all
the more welcome letter of April 1^st -
for I had indeed began to wonder if sicKness
had not prevented Your writing -
Wendell Phillips told me of the grand time at
Rochester. I am glad it was so satisfactory to
the friends. = My own sentiment towards Miss
Wilbur has been one of distrust = the position
she occupies of Close fellowship with Your enemies
materially unfits her for Confidence of Your
Circle = and I have queried much on the
amendment of her being an inmate at W.R.H.
but only for the reason . that she must hear
many things   not intended for = the ears of the
New Organization = aside from this I have
no opinion to express = She may not give any
occasion for her friends to find Fault . but
she certainly has a wide field for
annoying both parties -
[Obliterated] Mr Garrison has the Same opinion

(Page 2)

John M. Spear : Daughter is dead = he gave me
an account of F.D. at Rochester Free Meeting
                                         -
   On Fast day I accompanied Theodore ParKer to
   Leominster where we both talKed antislavery [sic]
   Mrs FH Drake     liKe Mrs Ives of Salem are
women after Your own heart -.     I would delight
in seeing the Trio together -
returning next morning we were Joined by
Wm Lloyd Garrison and Wm Wells Brown who
had been to Fitchburg 5 miles west              You
Know of course = we had a pleasant time
   ParKer had before met Garrison at the antislav [sic]
office     Since the Liberator criticism upon
the sharps Rifle Sermon = Mr ParKer complimented
Mr Garrison for his fidelity to principle and
took occasion to maKe quite merry on the subject
       Francis JacKson is now rather indisposed
but it is hoped he will be at New YorK

     I learn from Dorcas Collins that Phebes
health is   very delicate      =     the family have
been much afflicted of late -
                          -
I have been much surprised that the friends
in Rochester have not taKen my BooKs.
    I don’t believe Dewey has sold any -
I would pay some agent a handsome commission

[Text aligned upside down along top margin of Page 2. Sentance begins upside down along top margin of Page 3]

last . December . He is expected home in June.

(Page 3)

[First line of text aligned upside down along top margin of Page 3]

Joseph H. Putnam has sent me a letter dated

to taKe them round =in Rochester - I Know
they will all be sold in time. but it is very important
that I should maKe early sales : especially to
promote .future plans - = If You can recommend
me the right person ( perhaps a woman is preferable
please do so . ( Sallie Holley volunteered to do
Something for me in New YorK State - but when
She can commence -I have not been advised of .
         Harriet Jacobs is now unwell = She
was expecting to be at the New YorK anniversary
So is Mary E. Bibb - _ H.H. Gannett and Wife
    C. L. Remond W Wells Brown et al
       the anticipation of meeting You and Isaac
there is very pleasing to me -                 Will my
valued friend Sarah Hallowell Willis also be
there =     I hope so =             Louisa was very much
pleased with Edmund P. Willis -_. and will
never be tired talKing of You - William & Mary
Sarah Burtis and others -
                                       So Joseph has a
little responsibility =running round the house
   He is ahead of me =         I.    Jacob most ready
to tie up - Why need he wait for the
wagin [sic] of Bachelor Blessedness?

     I presume the two Marys . Johnson and
PitKin      are in the . Same place = 36 Sophia St

(Page 4)

Little Ira progresses very well at school -
and as Amateur Drawer and Musician
His Father has Just presented him with a
Splendid Guitar -
          I am glad You find so much satisfaction with
our mutual friend Mrs Colman =   .

     Mrs Webb though expected East all through
     March       has not Yet arrived from her Western
trip -
            .      You may congratulate Yourself proper
the successful course of antislavery [sic] lectures
in Rochester . I need not say to You
     Never weary in well doing -
I meant to have told You of the interest
recently felt by Louisa and our entire

[Line of text written vertically along right margin of Page 4]

Louisa Sends her love.

Circle of acquaintance in spiritualism
. I never since coming from Rochester made
any special attempt to proselyte any one [sic] here
only as opportunity offered stating my experience
and observation = a Young woman of our acquaintance
has recent been developed as a Speaking . Tipping
and Trance Medium . and the communications
and manifestations have been abundant
Various and convincing =           Louisa is very much
interested = but more of this anon -
Hoping to meet You in New YorK and finish up our talk
      I remain Ever Fraternally Yours Wm C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Boston to fellow activist, Amy Post. The members of the Putnam family were abolitionists. Nell refers to Spiritualism, whose followers believed that through mediums they could communicate with the dead. Wendell Phillips was an abolitionist, Native American advocate and lawyer. W.R.H. or William R. Hallowell was Post's son-in-law. William Lloyd Garrison was a radical abolitionist and the editor of the newspaper, the Liberator. John Murray Spear was a Universalist minister, who became active in the Spiritualist movement. F.D. or Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist and former slave. The Rochester Free Meeting may refer to a local abolitionist meeting. Theodore Parker was a Transcendentalist and reform minister in the Unitarian Church. John P. Hale is noted as being the first Senator, who campaigned as an abolitionist. Mrs. William Ives was president of the Female Anti-Slavery Society. William Wells Brown was an African American abolitionist, lecturer, novelist, playwright and historian. He was born a slave, and escaped to the North in 1834, where he wrote the first novel by an African American titled- Clotel. Francis Jackson was a Spiritualist. Sallie Holley traveled the anti-slavery lecture circuit with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone and Sarah Remond. Harriet Jacobs was an abolitionist and former slave.

Mary Bibb was born a free black woman and became active in the abolitionist movement. Charles Lenox Remond was a lecturer and abolitionist. Sarah Hallowell was Post's sister. Edmund Willis was Sarah's husband. William and Mary Hallowell were Post's son-in-law and step-daughter. Sarah Burtis was a mutual friend of Post and Nell's. Joseph and Jacob were two of Post's sons. Mary Pitkin helped to take care of Post's youngest son, Willie. Mary Johnson was a black woman who lived with the Post family for a period. Nell refers to the family home at 36 Sophia Street in Rochester. Ira was Nell's nephew. Lucy Coleman was a woman's rights activist and abolitionist. Mrs. Webb performed in a play titled Black Siddons during this period. Louisa was one of Nell's sisters.

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/3405.

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