Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, June 20, 1832
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, June 20, 1832
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Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1832-06-20
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, June 20, 1832
action: sent
sender:
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
receiver:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Albany NY
Place
Name: City: Albany
County: Albany
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: anb
revision: ekk 2015-05-21
<>
Page 1
Wednesday night - 20th
My Dear Henry, Two such long days I never remember, happily they are
the longest of the season - I had the hypo all day yesterday — did not
even go to see Lazette
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
— recieved a very desponding
note from her
during the afternoon. After tea very much to my astonishment
Sarah Scott
Name: Sarah Scott
Birth: 1811
Death: 1837
announced Mr Tracy
Name: Albert Tracy
Birth: 1793-06-17
Death: 1859-09-12
. I was very very glad to see
him and to see him looking so well. I suppose he will be with you
before this letter reaches you as he thought he would not be detained
more than two days at Utica
Name: City: Utica
County: Oneida
State: NY
Country: US
. He staid with us but a very
short
time, attempted to reason me out of my fears of the Cholera, with
very little success however. Caroline Miller
Name: Caroline Miller
Birth: 1810
Death:
called in the evening
I was glad to see her feeling just now some degree of looming kindness
towards mankind in general. she will spend two or three days
with us before she returns home. I sat up late for the purpose
of seeing the Journal and reading Cholera news, felt considerably
relieved that Albany still continued in a healthy state, conclud–
ed you would take the disease on the rail road as there appears
to have been a death there of suspicious character. This morning
the earliest intelligence, communicated the satisfactory information
that 3 cases of Cholera had appeared in the village. Sarah Scott said
that Harriet Rupel
Name: Harriet Rupel
Birth: 1818
Death:
told her that Dr
Pitney
Name: Joseph Pitney
Birth: 1786-11-18
Death: 1853-04-20
told Mrs Dill
Name: Mary Dill
Birth: 1809-01-19
Death: 1886-04-24
that
this was the case, making due allowance for, the propensity to exag–
gerate stories of all kinds common to the first part of the authority
I thought it possible that there might be one case of local Cholera
Morbus in la town. Mary Ann Browell
that a man was taken in the night with Cholera real Asiatick Cholera
who lived the next door to them. he had been on the Canal recently
but what part unable to say. This report is very current in town this
Page 2
evening. I do not know how much foundation there may be for it. Pa
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
is
Cha sceptical, advises the use of chloride of lime that is advises
Peter
ation I think it would be advisable. I took little Fred
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
this af-
ternoon and walked up to see Lazette. She had gone to ride out
I staid until she returned, found her improving in health and spirits
came home to tea. old Mrs Fields
Name: Phebe Field
Birth: 1756-11-04
Death: 1840-03-28
took tea with us. she lamented
much that she had not seen you before you went away. Pa has been
to Skaneateles
Name: City: Skaneateles
County: Onandaga
State: NY
Country: US
. I am tired so good night dearest.
Thursday night — This morning the earliest intelligence I recieved was
that the case of cholera was not the cholera Asiatick but the cholera
of this country and the patient in a fair way to recover.
Maria Kellogg
Name: Maria Kellogg
Birth: 1811
Death: 1839
called this morning with her
little brother David
Name: David Kellogg
Birth: 1821-09-24
Death: 1880-08-20
whom I last saw in pantaletts he is now a large boy of
11 years. Maria is a very plain girl not remarkably intelligent
I imagine. This afternoon Clary
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1793-05-01
Death: 1862-09-05
and I have been out to make
calls
what a heartless piece of business it is for me. I believe some people
enjoy such things better than I do. Well we went first to Mrs
Vredenberghs
Name: Robert Merritt
Birth:
Death: Certainty: Probable
where we could
not
get in because they were painting, fence, steps &c. then to Haskins
Name: Hannah Haskin
Birth: 1790
Death: 1878
staid there until Clary went to sleep and by way of arousing her
I proposed continuing our interesting expedition. Then we called
at Dr Rudds
Name: John Rudd
Birth: 1779-05-24
Death: 1848-04-15
to see Mrs
Howe
Name: Marcia Howe
Birth:
Death:
and Caroline Miller. Mrs Howe
appeared very much like Sarah Hulbert
Name: Sarah How
Birth: 1808
Death: 1866-04-16Certainty: Probable
Caroline
amiable, Mrs
Rudd dignified and the Dr as though he was greviously afflicted
with the asthma. Thence to Wallaces
Name: George Swan
Birth: 1807
Death: 1897Certainty: Probable
there
Ann alias Mrs Andrews
Name: Ann Andrews
Birth: 1805
Death: 1839-04-14
had just left for Aurora
Name: City: Aurora
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
. it appears
that George passed through here yesterday on his way to Albany
I was sorry I did not see Ann. From Wallaces we went to George
Throops
Name: George Throop
Birth: 1793-04-12
Death: 1854-02-23
— not at home — thence to Mrs Akins
Page 3
at home but we went in to see Miss Akin
how refreshing to be glad once to find the inmates of the house at home,
but even this enjoyment was of short duration as Mrs Eleazer Hills
Name: Sarah Hills
Birth: 1796
Death: 1863-04-22
made her appearance at the door in a few moments and contin-
ued with us during the remainder of our visit. Lazette continues
better but Harriet
Name: Harriet
Birth:
Death: Certainty: Probable
is ill and Clark
Name: Clark
Birth:
Death: Certainty: Probable
is about leaving in pursuit
of
higher wages. We got home to tea about 7. Pa had taken both the
little boys
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
to ride.
Augustus’ examination took place this afternoon
but I cannot obtain much light on the subject from him I asked him
if the boys spelt, he said no, they read first and then spelt afterwards
Maria
Name: Deborah Wood Bronson
Birth: 1809
Death: 1888-03-16
called after tea and Clary went with them to see
Mrs Horner
Name: Eliza Horner
Birth: 1807
Death: 1876-10-31
, has just come home went to the
Lyceum
Name: City:
County:
State:
Country:
in place of going
to Mrs Horners. Dick
Name: Richard Johnson
Birth: 1780-10-17
Death: 1850-11-19Certainty: Possible
lectured on
Mineralogy. I am extremely tired
with my walk this afternoon and must join my little boys in their
slumbers. I wish I could see the Journal but Pa has taken it
with him to his bedroom and to night it must remain to me a sealed
book. Friday night — I had half persuaded myself that I should get
a letter to night but, I know it is almost impossible. I have just
returned from Lazettes. she is not so well to day coughs a great part
of the time. Harriet is confined to her bed and Clark leaves tomorrow
night I do not know where to find any one to assist her and Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
does not appear to take any interest in the matter. Every one is still
alarmed about the cholera, talk of nothing else, camphor has risen in
price and some of the druggist have sold out all their chloride of lime
I paid 50 cents for a quantity of camphor that I might have purchased
a fortnight ago for 12. We hear that the cholera is at Geneva
Name: City: Geneva
County: Ontario/Seneca
State: NY
Country: US
Syracuse
Name: City: Syracuse
County: Onandaga
State: NY
Country: US
&c. I put little confidence
in these reports however, but
I feel homesick to night, feel as if my heart was at least 170 miles
away, have not seen the evening paper. Dr and Mrs Pitney
Name: Harriet Pitney
Birth: 1797-12-04
Death: 1862-05-06
called this
evening while I was out. Caroline Miller is here spending a day or two.
I have written this letter in the evening entirely. I know it is hardly legible
my eyes are so weak. Please remember me to all our friends to Weed
Name: Thurlow Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15
Death: 1882-11-22
partic-
ularly and above all to Tracy. Tell Mr Cary I was sorry that he
did not call. It appears to me that this is an intolerably dull
commonplace letter but I know it will be acceptable from your own Frances
The little boys are quite well Fred loquacious as usual.
Page 4
My Dear Henry I open this letter this morning to say that I recieved yours of
Thursday morning last evening. It was very gratifying to be assured by yourself
of your well being.
F.A.S.
23d June 1832
William H. Seward
Congress Hall
Albany
AUBURN N.Y. JUN 23
Type: postmark
Wednesday night - 20th
My Dear Henry, Two such long days I never remember, happily they are
the longest of the season - I had the hypo all day yesterday — did not
even go to see Lazette
Person
during the afternoon. After tea very much to my astonishment
Sarah Scott
Person
Person
him and to see him looking so well. I suppose he will be with you
before this letter reaches you as he thought he would not be detained
more than two days at Utica
Place
time, attempted to reason me out of my fears of the Cholera, with
very little success however. Caroline Miller
Person
I was glad to see her feeling just now some degree of looming kindness
towards mankind in general. she will spend two or three days
with us before she returns home. I sat up late for the purpose
of seeing the Journal and reading Cholera news, felt considerably
relieved that Albany still continued in a healthy state, conclud–
ed you would take the disease on the rail road as there appears
to have been a death there of suspicious character. This morning
the earliest intelligence, communicated the satisfactory information
that 3 cases of Cholera had appeared in the village. Sarah Scott said
that Harriet Rupel
Person
Person
Person
this was the case, making due allowance for, the propensity to exag–
gerate stories of all kinds common to the first part of the authority
I thought it possible that there might be one case of local Cholera
Morbus in la town. Mary Ann Browell
Unknown
soon
after arrived and deposedthat a man was taken in the night with Cholera real Asiatick Cholera
who lived the next door to them. he had been on the Canal recently
but what part unable to say. This report is very current in town this
evening. I do not know how much foundation there may be for it. Pa
Person
Cha sceptical, advises the use of chloride of lime that is advises
Peter
Unknown
to sprinkle it about. if he could
cleanse himself by the oper-ation I think it would be advisable. I took little Fred
Person
ternoon and walked up to see Lazette. She had gone to ride out
I staid until she returned, found her improving in health and spirits
came home to tea. old Mrs Fields
Person
much that she had not seen you before you went away. Pa has been
to Skaneateles
Place
Thursday night — This morning the earliest intelligence I recieved was
that the case of cholera was not the cholera Asiatick but the cholera
of this country and the patient in a fair way to recover.
Maria Kellogg
Person
Person
whom I last saw in pantaletts he is now a large boy of
11 years. Maria is a very plain girl not remarkably intelligent
I imagine. This afternoon Clary
Person
what a heartless piece of business it is for me. I believe some people
enjoy such things better than I do. Well we went first to Mrs
Vredenberghs
Unknown
— not at home — then to
MerittsPerson
get in because they were painting, fence, steps &c. then to Haskins
Person
staid there until Clary went to sleep and by way of arousing her
I proposed continuing our interesting expedition. Then we called
at Dr Rudds
Person
Person
appeared very much like Sarah Hulbert
Person
Rudd dignified and the Dr as though he was greviously afflicted
with the asthma. Thence to Wallaces
Unknown
, found George
SwanPerson
Ann alias Mrs Andrews
Person
Place
that George passed through here yesterday on his way to Albany
I was sorry I did not see Ann. From Wallaces we went to George
Throops
Person
Unknown
to see Mrs
EnosUnknown
— not at home but we went in to see Miss Akin
Unknown
. finally we stopped at Lazetteshow refreshing to be glad once to find the inmates of the house at home,
but even this enjoyment was of short duration as Mrs Eleazer Hills
Person
ued with us during the remainder of our visit. Lazette continues
better but Harriet
Person
Person
higher wages. We got home to tea about 7. Pa had taken both the
little boys
People
but I cannot obtain much light on the subject from him I asked him
if the boys spelt, he said no, they read first and then spelt afterwards
Maria
Unknown
and DebbyPerson
Mrs Horner
Person
Place
to Mrs Horners. Dick
Person
with my walk this afternoon and must join my little boys in their
slumbers. I wish I could see the Journal but Pa has taken it
with him to his bedroom and to night it must remain to me a sealed
book. Friday night — I had half persuaded myself that I should get
a letter to night but, I know it is almost impossible. I have just
returned from Lazettes. she is not so well to day coughs a great part
of the time. Harriet is confined to her bed and Clark leaves tomorrow
night I do not know where to find any one to assist her and Worden
Person
does not appear to take any interest in the matter. Every one is still
alarmed about the cholera, talk of nothing else, camphor has risen in
price and some of the druggist have sold out all their chloride of lime
I paid 50 cents for a quantity of camphor that I might have purchased
a fortnight ago for 12. We hear that the cholera is at Geneva
Place
Syracuse
Place
I feel homesick to night, feel as if my heart was at least 170 miles
away, have not seen the evening paper. Dr and Mrs Pitney
Person
evening while I was out. Caroline Miller is here spending a day or two.
I have written this letter in the evening entirely. I know it is hardly legible
my eyes are so weak. Please remember me to all our friends to Weed
Person
ularly and above all to Tracy. Tell Mr Cary I was sorry that he
did not call. It appears to me that this is an intolerably dull
commonplace letter but I know it will be acceptable from your own Frances
The little boys are quite well Fred loquacious as usual.
My Dear Henry I open this letter this morning to say that I recieved yours of
Thursday morning last evening. It was very gratifying to be assured by yourself
of your well being.
F.A.S.
23d June 1832
William H. Seward
Congress Hall
Albany
AUBURN N.Y. JUN 23
Stamp
date:
Wednesday, June 20, 1832
receiver:
sender:
year: