Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 19, 1837
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 19, 1837
transcriberTranscriber:spp:mec
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-08-19
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 19, 1837
action: sent
sender:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Westfield NY
Place
Name: City: Westfield
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Lazette Worden
Person
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: mec
revision: crb 2015-08-19
<>
Page 1
Westfield Saturday Aug. 19th
My dear Sister,
I am very weary of my prolonged
stay here I do not seem much nearer home
now than I was a week ago. Henry
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
says now he
cannot get ready to go until the middle of next
week the only reason that I have to think we
shall actually get away at that time is that
he must go to Philadelphia
Name: City: Philadelphia
County:
State: PA
Country: US
in the course of
a few weeks and wishes to stop awhile at
Auburn
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
. Last Monday we took a lumber wagon
and went on an exploring expedition intending to
return Tuesday evening to be in readiness to meet
the Bishop
Name: Lucius Smith
Birth: 1784-04-09
Death: 1847-01-12
– the roads were horrible and the
country not interesting. Monday we only got
19 14 miles – we stayed all night at Mr Walkers
Name: Richard Walker
Birth: 1802
Death:
. I had the sick headache and found the
house so dirty that I did not stay very willingly
but there was no tavern near. Mr Walker is a
step brother of the Miss Wests
sisters was there. He is a very agreeable Irishman
his wife
that I could not touch it. They were all very
kind and attentive to us and are what Lewis
(who went with us) calls "good livers" – which signifies
that the table is loaded with all manner of
good things that are usually found in the
country. This is in the town of Mina
Name:
Birth:
Death:
.
Page 2
Tuesday we rode through the towns of French Creek
Name: City: French Creek
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
and Clymer
Name: City: Clymer
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
, two of the newest towns in the
county – as the roads bear testimony. I often thought
of you when we were going through the "pitch holes"
or riding on two wheels winding about among the
stumps – would you not have enjoyed it? – We
reached Harmony
Name: City: Harmony
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
that night having accomplished
the astonishing journey of 19 miles – the whole
afternoon we rode in the rain – we were now
20 miles from home, it was 6 oclock, the tavern
was good, so much in favour of staying – but it
was Tuesday night, we expected by nine oclock
the next morning the Bishop Parson Smith & wife
Name: Margaret Smith
Birth:
Death: 1861-08-25
and Mr
Name: William Peacock
Birth: 1780-02-22
Death: 1877-02-21
& Mrs Peacock
brethren as they chose to bring along to dinner.
It would be placing Jennings
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
and Marcia
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-28
in a
very unpleasant situation – what was to be done.
We were soon brought to a determination. Henry who been
unwell all the afternoon now manifested decided symp-
toms of cholera morbus – he continued sick through
the night and in the morning was so feeble that
he did not feel able to proceed – the recollection
of the state of affairs at home induced him to make
the attempt so after taking a cup of coffee and a
mouthful of toast we set off at 8 oclock – the roads
improved as we went east and we reached Mayville
Name: City: Mayville
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
at 11 oclock – rested there half an hour. Henry
revived. Lewis drove like Jehu and set us down
at the back gate just as the bell rung for 12.
Jenning & Marcia had concluded that some dreadful
accident had occured to detain us – the Bishop
Page 3
Parson Smith, wife, and daughter
Name: Margaret Smith
Birth:
Death: 1884-11-13
had all been here, robed
themselves and gone to church at ½ past 10. Marcia
was roasting beef, pig, &c &c with the assistance
of Lauretta Brown
Name: Jane Perry
Birth: 1819-10-04
Death: 1898-02-12
. Mrs Thompson
the boys were in church. Henry notwithstanding his fatigue
and illness dressed went to church and was confirmed
As the Bishop administered the sacrament the services
occupied 4 hours – we had a good dinner. Mr Baldwin
Name: Amos Baldwin
Birth: 1779-01-22
Death: 1848
of course came along with Mr Hues
again at 4 oclock. I went in the afternoon – very
hot – good sermon – one woman confirmed – too late
in the morning – Parson Smith & wife came back
to tea. 3 youg young men also & Collins' singers and
musicians. Parson Smith wife and daughter went
home soon after tea feeling very jolly – the Bishop left in [ the ]
Reason: wax-seal
evening boat for Buffalo
Name: City: Buffalo
County:
State: NY
Country: US
. Father Baldwin went home and
Mr Hues I think must have been glad of a respite, the
great magnitude of his responsibility altogether overcame
him he was pale and dispirited looking as if he had
passed through a severe illness. Just as I was thinking about
going to bed Marcia commenced sending invitations for a concert
another Collins and his wife came – in about an hour Danton
Reason:
Augustus
Reason:
The Music was very good but I was too tired to enjoy it
a little before ten we crawled into bed happy to be released
from the toils of the day. The next day I was more sick
than I have been any day since I came – yesterday better –
Henry has now visited every town in the county, the Bishop has made
his visit and we are about ready to go home[ . ]
Reason: I hope Henry
will finish his business as early as Tuesday or Wednesday
I am very impatient to set out – Marcia and Jennings have
Page 4
gone to Gerry
Name: City: Gerry
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
– Augustus and Lauretta to Fredonia
Name: City: Fredonia
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
. Tell Frances
Name: Frances Chesebro
Birth: 1826-12-12
Death: 1909-08-21
that when
we came home from Mina the first thing we saw was Locke
a young rabbit in his arms which he said belonged to Frances
there is but one it is just the color of Fred's and I think
rather the prettiest little affair I ever beheld – it eats milk
out of a saucer and Clarence
Name: Clarence Seward
Birth: 1828-10-07
Death: 1897-07-24
says he saw it eating clover
Jane brings it up in my room occasionally where it hops about
just like any rabbit – it must be 3 or 4 weeks old the
mother has kept it hid all this time – we shall try to bring
them all along when we come. I suppose you have not written
because you expected me home. I have not heard one word from
my dear boy
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
. Jennings had a letter from his father
Name: Samuel Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
yesterday
they are home at Florida
Name: City: Florida
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
– went to Pittsburgh
Name: City: Pittsburgh
County: Allegheny County
State: PA
Country: US
, Philadelphia
Name: City: Philadelphia
County:
State: PA
Country: US
[right Margin] New York
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
and home all in about 2 weeks. Piteous Mud –
all send love – your own sister – Frances
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Ontario County
WESTFIELD N.Y. Aug 20
Type: postmark
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Aug 19
Westfield Saturday Aug. 19th
My dear Sister,
I am very weary of my prolonged
stay here I do not seem much nearer home
now than I was a week ago. Henry
Person
cannot get ready to go until the middle of next
week the only reason that I have to think we
shall actually get away at that time is that
he must go to Philadelphia
Place
a few weeks and wishes to stop awhile at
Auburn
Place
and went on an exploring expedition intending to
return Tuesday evening to be in readiness to meet
the Bishop
Person
country not interesting. Monday we only got
19 14 miles – we stayed all night at Mr Walkers
Person
house so dirty that I did not stay very willingly
but there was no tavern near. Mr Walker is a
step brother of the Miss Wests
Unknown
who live here, one of thesisters was there. He is a very agreeable Irishman
his wife
Unknown
dull enough, and the childUnknown
so filthythat I could not touch it. They were all very
kind and attentive to us and are what Lewis
Unknown
(who went with us) calls "good livers" – which signifies
that the table is loaded with all manner of
good things that are usually found in the
country. This is in the town of Mina
Person
Tuesday we rode through the towns of French Creek
Place
and Clymer
Place
county – as the roads bear testimony. I often thought
of you when we were going through the "pitch holes"
or riding on two wheels winding about among the
stumps – would you not have enjoyed it? – We
reached Harmony
Place
the astonishing journey of 19 miles – the whole
afternoon we rode in the rain – we were now
20 miles from home, it was 6 oclock, the tavern
was good, so much in favour of staying – but it
was Tuesday night, we expected by nine oclock
the next morning the Bishop Parson Smith & wife
Person
and Mr
Person
Unknown
with as many episcopalbrethren as they chose to bring along to dinner.
It would be placing Jennings
Person
Person
very unpleasant situation – what was to be done.
We were soon brought to a determination. Henry who been
unwell all the afternoon now manifested decided symp-
toms of cholera morbus – he continued sick through
the night and in the morning was so feeble that
he did not feel able to proceed – the recollection
of the state of affairs at home induced him to make
the attempt so after taking a cup of coffee and a
mouthful of toast we set off at 8 oclock – the roads
improved as we went east and we reached Mayville
Place
at 11 oclock – rested there half an hour. Henry
revived. Lewis drove like Jehu and set us down
at the back gate just as the bell rung for 12.
Jenning & Marcia had concluded that some dreadful
accident had occured to detain us – the Bishop
Parson Smith, wife, and daughter
Person
themselves and gone to church at ½ past 10. Marcia
was roasting beef, pig, &c &c with the assistance
of Lauretta Brown
Unknown
and JanePerson
Unknown
andthe boys were in church. Henry notwithstanding his fatigue
and illness dressed went to church and was confirmed
As the Bishop administered the sacrament the services
occupied 4 hours – we had a good dinner. Mr Baldwin
Person
Unknown
– churchagain at 4 oclock. I went in the afternoon – very
hot – good sermon – one woman confirmed – too late
in the morning – Parson Smith & wife came back
to tea. 3 youg young men also & Collins' singers and
musicians. Parson Smith wife and daughter went
home soon after tea feeling very jolly – the Bishop left in [ the ]
Supplied
evening boat for Buffalo
Place
Mr Hues I think must have been glad of a respite, the
great magnitude of his responsibility altogether overcame
him he was pale and dispirited looking as if he had
passed through a severe illness. Just as I was thinking about
going to bed Marcia commenced sending invitations for a concert
another Collins and his wife came – in about an hour Danton
Unknown
[
,
]
Supplied
Augustus
Unknown
and LockwoodUnknown
succeeded in gathering about 30 people[
.
]
Supplied
The Music was very good but I was too tired to enjoy it
a little before ten we crawled into bed happy to be released
from the toils of the day. The next day I was more sick
than I have been any day since I came – yesterday better –
Henry has now visited every town in the county, the Bishop has made
his visit and we are about ready to go home[ . ]
Supplied
will finish his business as early as Tuesday or Wednesday
I am very impatient to set out – Marcia and Jennings have
gone to Gerry
Place
Place
Person
we came home from Mina the first thing we saw was Locke
Unknown
witha young rabbit in his arms which he said belonged to Frances
there is but one it is just the color of Fred's and I think
rather the prettiest little affair I ever beheld – it eats milk
out of a saucer and Clarence
Person
Jane brings it up in my room occasionally where it hops about
just like any rabbit – it must be 3 or 4 weeks old the
mother has kept it hid all this time – we shall try to bring
them all along when we come. I suppose you have not written
because you expected me home. I have not heard one word from
my dear boy
Person
Person
they are home at Florida
Place
Place
Place
[right Margin] New York
Place
all send love – your own sister – Frances
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Ontario County
WESTFIELD N.Y. Aug 20
Stamp
Person
date:
Saturday, August 19, 1837
receiver:
sender:
year: