1829.02.18 – Elizabeth Huntington to My Dear Children, Feb. 18th, 1829.

19th cen: Huntington family correspondence

Letter

1829.02.18-Elizabeth-Huntington-to-My-Dear-Children-Feb.-18th-1829Download

Dublin Core

Title

1829.02.18 – Elizabeth Huntington to My Dear Children, Feb. 18th, 1829.

Creator

Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington

Source

Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 2)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives

Date

1829-02-18

Rights

Public Domain

Type

Correspondence

Transcription

Hadley Febry 18th 1829-Wednesday evening
My dear children1,
By your letter, which we received yesterday; we were highly gratified to find that you are contented in your absence from home2 and that you are both3 in health as I suppose you were when you wrote, or you would have informed us_. You must think we missed you very much after you left us-poor Bethia4 I suspect laid it to heart rather more than any of us and to quiet her feelings under the loss of her little bedfellows, I took her into my bed, the two following nights_.
Our evening circle has been diminishing gradually and tonight your Pa Bethia and myself have the table and room to ourselves-you will wonder where Theophilus Theodore and Frederic are5; -they with Whiting6 have gone to the store to eat oysters and spend the evening with Edward.7 You probably recollect that yesterday was the day for examination.8 Bethia Theodore Frederic and I went down in the afternoon_.9 In the evening Whiting carried John Willard10 to Northampton that he might take the stage this morning_. Bethia and I have been to Northampton this afternoon-with Whiting and Frederic-we called at Judge Lyman’s11, found Ann-Jean12 making bracelets for the society – she has earned about seven dollars_.
We begin to look forward to the time of your return; I hope it will be so arranged, as to have you brought home next week by some of your brothers and your sister13 for I think a little trip of that kind would be pleasant to them, and I know it would be gratifying to you to return with them_. I trust you are endeavoring to improve your advantages in the best manner14; remember the importance of time; that when once gone it can never be recalled-and remember also, that an account must be rendered of the manner in which time has been spent every hour should have its allotted business and then we shall be more likely to know whether any of our precious time is lost.
Among your various employments my dear children, do not forget that you were made for eternity; and that all the occupations of this life should be so conducted, as to assist us in our preparation for another life beyond the grave-always bear in mind that God is the first as well as the greatest of Beings15, and that our best affections, and services are his due; worship him daily in [secret]-praise him for his mercies, seek of him the pardon of your sins, and his guidance in all your ways-this you will learn to love those duties which bring you near to him-and thus you will find indeed that wisdom’s ways are pleasantness [?] and all her paths peace.
Remember me with respect to Doctor W16 and his wife-give my love to your instructress and be assured of the affectionate remembrances of us all especially of your mother E.W.H___

Thursday Morn-
If it is good sleighing, it is probable that Whiting and I shall start for Boston next Monday morning17 -of course you will not expect any of the family on the proposed visit to Vernon. If they should come however, you will know it. If they do not, you will pursue the plan proposed of going to Greenfield on Saturday. I may not pass thru Greenfield on Saturday, on my way to Shelburne18; if I do not I shall expect if to find you there by 10 or 11 o’clock Monday morning. Affectionately your father D. Huntington.

D. Huntington P. M.
Free
Hadley M. Mills
Febry 19th
Miss Catherine C. Huntington
to the care of Doctor C. Washburn
Vernon Vermont

  1. Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington addresses her tenth child, Catherine Carey Huntington, b. 1817, d. 1830. Carey Huntington died at age 13 after a two-month bout of typhus fever. Who is the other child being addressed? ↩︎
  2. Why are the children away from home? Is Catherine? sick yet? If she is sick, why hasn’t she made mention of it to her mother yet? Is the other child sick as well? NOTE: The letter is addressed to Catherine, “in the care of Doctor C. Washburn” in Vernon, Vermont, a town on the Connecticut River, just north of the Massachusetts/Vermont border. This is Cyrus Washburn, a well-known doctor in Vernon, who was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts. ↩︎
  3. Two children are being addressed in the document. Who is the other child? Possibly Mary (see footnote14). ↩︎
  4. Bethia Throop Huntington is the fourth child and second daughter of Dan Huntington and Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, b. 1805, d. 1879. ↩︎
  5. Theophilus Parsons Huntington is the seventh child and fifth son of D. Huntington and Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, b. 1811, d. 1862. Theodore Gregson Huntington is the eighth child and sixth son of D. Huntington and Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington, b. 1813, d. 1885. Frederic is the youngest child of D. Huntington and Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, b. 1819, d. 1904. ↩︎
  6. “Whiting” refers to John Whiting Huntington, the sixth child of D. Huntington and Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, b. 1809, d. 1832. He attended Harvard but died before his commencement. ↩︎
  7. Edward Phelps Huntington was the fifth child of D. Huntington and Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, b. 1807, d. 1843. He moved to Northampton in the early 1830s, shortly after this letter was written. ↩︎
  8. What is the day of examination? ↩︎
  9. Where did they go? Presumably, Huntington is referring to traveling to Northampton with her children to visit Judge Lyman and his wife. ↩︎
  10. Who is John Willard, and why does Whiting “carry” (travel with him?) him to Northampton? Presumably, Willard is a friend of Whiting’s. ↩︎
  11. Refers to Yale graduate Judge Joseph Lyman, b. 1767, d. 1847. Held various positions in the Hampshire County courts, including clerk of the courts and judge of common pleas and probates. Served as sheriff of Hampshire Country from 1816 to 1845. ↩︎
  12. Refers to Anne Jean Robbins Lyman, wife of Judge Joseph Lyman, b. 1789, d. 1867. ↩︎
  13. I find it interesting that it says just “sister”. Does that infer that Mary, Catherine’s older sister by two years, is the other child with Catherine? Because the only sister mentioned at home has been Bethia. ↩︎
  14. Again, if Catherine isn’t sick yet, what is she doing away from home in order to “improve your advantages”? ↩︎
  15. Exemplifies E. W. P. Huntington’s deep faith in God and the importance of religion in her life (as referred to during Porter Phelps Huntington house tour). ↩︎
  16. Refers to Doctor C. Washburn, to whom Catherine Huntington’s care was entrusted. Why, however was Catherine living with him in Vermont, away from home, if she did not contract typhus fever and die until August of 1830? ↩︎
  17. What is the purpose of the trip to Boston? ↩︎
  18. Greenfield and Shelburne are neighboring towns in Massachusetts, just north of Deerfield and south of Vernon, Vermont. ↩︎