Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, July 9, 1825
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, July 9, 1825
transcriberTranscriber:spp:keh
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1825-07-09
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to Frances Miller Seward, July 9, 1825
action: sent
sender:
Louisa Canfield
Person
Name: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805
Death: 1839-01-04
Person
location:
Florida NY
Place
Name: City: Florida
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: keh
revision: crb 2016-02-01
<>
Page 1
Florida July 9th
The archivist dated this letter as 1827, but the recipient's clerical on p 4 says 1825 and the internal evidence of the letter is that it predates LCC's marriage in April 1827.
My dear Sister
I have been to Church twice
today – & had no nap beside I have got
the tooth ache a little which makes me
feel rather ill-natured, but I suppose you
feel a little curious to know how I got
along in company with Parson Sitgreaves
Name: Samuel Sitgreaves
Birth: 1798
Death: 1832-08-12
and Anne. After weI left you I felt rather
sober minded we took in Mr & Mrs S & a Mr
Mrs Payne
love all the way which shocked Mr S much
there was not much talking done except now
& then a solitary question to Anne or myself
mine were answered with fear & trembling for
I was & am now more than ever afraid of Mr S
we breakfasted at Marcellus
Name: City: Marcellus
County: Onondaga
State: NY
Country: US
after which
Mr S express'd his opinion very freely of
[left Margin] Monday Morn –
Ma says Henry has certainly had the measles
Gen Wickham
Name: George Wickham
Birth: 1772
Death: 1845-11-16
& Fred Betts
Name: Frederick Betts
Birth: 1803-07-02
Death: 1879-10-12
were not here to tea yesterday Fred changed his mind
write me soon if you please
yours affectionately
Louisa
Page 2
Lansing
Name: Dirck Lansing
Birth: 1785-03-03
Death: 1857-03-19
& Finney
Name: Charles Finney
Birth: 1792-08-29
Death: 1875-08-16
& finally of all the Presbyte-
rians. I encouraged him & afterwards told Mrs
S that I was a Presbyterian – she told him
he blushed very much & made a great many
apologies – he told us the history of the Iron Mask
which was very entertaining we stop'd at Onon- daga hill
Name: City: Onondaga Hill
County: Onondaga
State: NY
Country: US
to change horses mrs S went up-
stairs to rest her a moment & was admiring
the clean white counterpane before she lay down
when lo we found a number of bugs in the
nook we dined at dirty house where they were
making preparations for the 4th we reached
Utica
Name: City: Utica
County: Oneida
State: NY
Country: US
at 7 oclock with
^out^
accident delay or other
inconvenience except excessive fatigue the stage
had 14 passengers inside and out – we used all
speed in getting on Board the Canal Boat
where we tea'd on Lemonade & some very nice cake
Mrs S had in prefrence to going to a public
house it was very dusty before we reached Utica
we had a strange mixture of people for company
& Bed bugs with ^out^ number I need not enter into a detail
of the horrors of a canal Boat we dragged out
a long tedious day. I contrasted it with the comfort
you were alll enjoying at Lollas
Name: City: Schenectady
County: Schenectady
State: NY
Country: US
– at
1/2 past 9 the Band seronaded us ^up landing^ which the first in-
timation we had that anyone remembered
Freedoms Jubilee
Page 3
Mr S was exceeding kind to me even to inquiring
if the bugs annoyed me we left Schenectady at 5 in
the morning atBreakfastad at Albany
Name: City: Albany
County: Albany
State: NY
Country: US
and took the Steam
Boat Richmond at 9. We haad all the canal diggers
who had been to the city to keep the 4th on Board and
all the children in Rensellare Co
Name: City:
County: Rensselaer
State: NY
Country: US
5 belonging to
John Livingston
a pleasant sail one of the passengers a dirty looking
Frenchman troubled our party or rather Mr S as he did
not choose to have us looked upon he took me for some-
one of his acquaintance & after making up to us a great
many times we could not help looking after him Mr
S said very seriously Anne why do you stare at that man
so much – it encourages him so much – nobody would
do it but Anne – he is very tender of Anne's feelings she is very
independent & teases him a great deal you would be amazed
to heaer her contradict him. I had the hip all day Wed. I did not
see anyone to put me ashore at N.B.
Name: City: Newburgh
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
and I felt badly but was
well provided for in Col. Brett
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
–
he landed me & saw me in the stage safe the
next morning for home. I found a Southern
Gentleman in the stage going to Warwick
Name: City: Warwick
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
who was ta[
lking to
]
Reason: hole
my Beau all along the way home you must think he got very
sociable. I reached home at 2 oclock found all well very glad
to see ^me^ altho entering unexpected – little Freddy spent the afternoon
with us & was fixing to stay the evening when I proposed to him
to go up to Mr C
Name: Mahlon Canfield
Birth: 1798-11-26
Death: 1865-01-05Certainty: Possible
– we made a clall & when we came out to
come home the steps in front of the house gave way & brought Mr C.
Fred & myself to the ground I hurt my ancle but did not feel it much
for it had awakened Freds feelings & he made so eloquent an appeal
to mine that I did not finds out that I had hurt myself until
after he had told me he should not come again when I could not
walk a step without screaming. I bathed my ancle & went to bed
next morning I could not walk atall but it has got most well
now I am able to walk & have got the house swept & garnished
& am ready to see you – we have had company every day
since I came home. Papa
Name: Samuel Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
& ma
Name: Mary Seward
Birth: 1769-11-27
Death: 1844-12-11
got home on SMonday Eve had
been to see N. Cooper
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-25
has gone to Owego
Name: City: Owego
County: Tioga
State: NY
Country: US
– nothing new
or strange in Florida it is so lonely I do not know what
to do with myself I wish you would come down & stay with
me a while my love to grandma
Name: Paulina Miller
Birth: 1751
Death: 1835-10-03
Henry
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
& Audnt Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1793-05-01
Death: 1862-09-05
Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Serene
Name: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1805
Death: 1884-01-19
and all friends.
Page 4
Mrs Wm H. Seward
Auburn
Cayuga Co
N.Y.
Florida July 10 th
Type: postmark
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Cornelia Seward
1825
Florida July 9th
The archivist dated this letter as 1827, but the recipient's clerical on p 4 says 1825 and the internal evidence of the letter is that it predates LCC's marriage in April 1827.Editorial Note
My dear Sister
I have been to Church twice
today – & had no nap beside I have got
the tooth ache a little which makes me
feel rather ill-natured, but I suppose you
feel a little curious to know how I got
along in company with Parson Sitgreaves
Person
and Anne. After weI left you I felt rather
sober minded we took in Mr & Mrs S & a Mr
Unknown
&Mrs Payne
Unknown
at Hudsons the two latter madelove all the way which shocked Mr S much
there was not much talking done except now
& then a solitary question to Anne or myself
mine were answered with fear & trembling for
I was & am now more than ever afraid of Mr S
we breakfasted at Marcellus
Place
Mr S express'd his opinion very freely of
[left Margin] Monday Morn –
Ma says Henry has certainly had the measles
Gen Wickham
Person
Person
write me soon if you please
yours affectionately
Louisa
Lansing
Person
Person
rians. I encouraged him & afterwards told Mrs
S that I was a Presbyterian – she told him
he blushed very much & made a great many
apologies – he told us the history of the Iron Mask
which was very entertaining we stop'd at Onon- daga hill
Place
stairs to rest her a moment & was admiring
the clean white counterpane before she lay down
when lo we found a number of bugs in the
nook we dined at dirty house where they were
making preparations for the 4th we reached
Utica
Place
inconvenience except excessive fatigue the stage
had 14 passengers inside and out – we used all
speed in getting on Board the Canal Boat
where we tea'd on Lemonade & some very nice cake
Mrs S had in prefrence to going to a public
house it was very dusty before we reached Utica
we had a strange mixture of people for company
& Bed bugs with ^out^ number I need not enter into a detail
of the horrors of a canal Boat we dragged out
a long tedious day. I contrasted it with the comfort
you were alll enjoying at Lollas
Unknown
reached SPlace
1/2 past 9 the Band seronaded us ^up landing^ which the first in-
timation we had that anyone remembered
Freedoms Jubilee
Mr S was exceeding kind to me even to inquiring
if the bugs annoyed me we left Schenectady at 5 in
the morning atBreakfastad at Albany
Place
Boat Richmond at 9. We haad all the canal diggers
who had been to the city to keep the 4th on Board and
all the children in Rensellare Co
Place
John Livingston
Unknown
of course you must infer we hada pleasant sail one of the passengers a dirty looking
Frenchman troubled our party or rather Mr S as he did
not choose to have us looked upon he took me for some-
one of his acquaintance & after making up to us a great
many times we could not help looking after him Mr
S said very seriously Anne why do you stare at that man
so much – it encourages him so much – nobody would
do it but Anne – he is very tender of Anne's feelings she is very
independent & teases him a great deal you would be amazed
to heaer her contradict him. I had the hip all day Wed. I did not
see anyone to put me ashore at N.B.
Place
well provided for in Col. Brett
Unknown
from N.YPlace
he landed me & saw me in the stage safe the
next morning for home. I found a Southern
Gentleman in the stage going to Warwick
Place
Supplied
my Beau all along the way home you must think he got very
sociable. I reached home at 2 oclock found all well very glad
to see ^me^ altho entering unexpected – little Freddy spent the afternoon
with us & was fixing to stay the evening when I proposed to him
to go up to Mr C
Person
come home the steps in front of the house gave way & brought Mr C.
Fred & myself to the ground I hurt my ancle but did not feel it much
for it had awakened Freds feelings & he made so eloquent an appeal
to mine that I did not finds out that I had hurt myself until
after he had told me he should not come again when I could not
walk a step without screaming. I bathed my ancle & went to bed
next morning I could not walk atall but it has got most well
now I am able to walk & have got the house swept & garnished
& am ready to see you – we have had company every day
since I came home. Papa
Person
Person
been to see N. Cooper
Unknown
. MarciaPerson
Place
or strange in Florida it is so lonely I do not know what
to do with myself I wish you would come down & stay with
me a while my love to grandma
Person
Person
Person
Person
Person
and all friends.
Mrs Wm H. Seward
Auburn
Cayuga Co
N.Y.
Florida July 10 th
Stamp
Person
1825
date:
Saturday, July 9, 1825
receiver:
sender:
year: