Nell, William Cooper. Letter to [Amy Kirby Post?].

Title

Nell, William Cooper. Letter to [Amy Kirby Post?].

Creator

Nell, William Cooper

Contributor

[Amy Kirby Post?]

Date

1865-07-27

Description

Handwritten letter from William Cooper Nell to [Amy Kirby Post?]. Nell wrote this fragment and describes the book he's been working on.

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

1504

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

Sanctum, where indeed now
most of my time is occupied
when not in the Post Office
I am hard at worK upon the
new edition of my Colored Patriots
which in augmented chapters
of 1776 and 1812, will contain
a record of Colored american
Services in the present rebellion
I desire to maKe it instrumental
in promoting Equal Suffrage
for Colored citizens throughout
the United States. when
finished I shall feel like
an emancipated man.
and Shall resume perhaps
visiting and public meetings
for this together with some
other considerations have for
many months past kept me
almost a recluse.-
      at Post Office
                                  July 27, 1865
Louisa is at the White Mountains with her
Husband=the Nephew Ira= has until
September to serve on board Sabine
now at New London or New YorK
He was at Boston a day a few weeKs
ago. Benjamin Cleggett is now in

(Page 2)

Boston Harbor on board Vanderbilt
I have not Yet seen him though
hardly expecting to. He has never met
Louisas Husband or son.

           Harriet and Louisa Jacobs have left
Alexandria and in a few weeKs are expected
to reach Boston :   -
                    My position at the
Post Office is as agreeable as ever
    have had recently some reciept [sic] signing
to share will other clerKs= despite
the Dred Scot decision = but You
and Isaac have long since been

aware, that the world does move
some, even though there is Yet work
for the faithful = a struggle
ahead. but Victory just over
the border = press on - Hope
on, Hope ever-
     I Knew very well that Isaac & Amy
were still in the enjoyment of thier [sic] Honey Moon [sic]
Somewhat apropos is the following [scrawl]
Robert Newton and Wife
The Rochester Papers mention
David Cunningham corner of Spring and
Fitzhugh Street of of John Browns
men = recently died
    Did he Join the Company at
Harper Ferry ? I dont remember
any special account of him.
can tell me any thing? [sic]

[Newspaper clipping pasted onto bottom right corner of Page 2]

                          A Happy Married Life.
               There would be fewer divorces in our world
if all married couples had the spirit of the one
alluded to in the following paragraph:
When Robert Newton, the Wesleyan pulpit
orator, married, he and his bride began the
married life by retiring twice each day to pray
with and for each other. This practice they
kept up, when opportunity served, to the end
of life. Mark the result! When an old man,
Mr Newton remarked: “In the course of a
short time my wife and I shall celebrate the
jubilee of our marriage; and I know not that,
during the fifty years of our union, an unkind
look or an unkind word has ever passed be-
tween us.

[Handwritten text underneath newspaper clipping]

Please remember me
kindly to the
whole Rochester
circle and believe
me ever Fraternally
yours William C. Nell

Annotations

William Cooper Nell, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing, presumably to fellow activist, Amy Post. Louisa was one of Nell's sisters. Benjamin Cleggett was Nell's brother-in-law, married to Frances. Harriet Jacobs was an abolitionist and former slave. Louisa was her daughter. Nell refers to the slave, Dred Scott who tried to sue for his freedom. Nell refers to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.

Tags

Abolitionism; Family

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/3791.

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