Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1839.10.9 – Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, Oct. 9th, 1839
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 8)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1839-10-09
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
D. Huntington P.M.
Free
North Hadley
October 10th
Mr. Fredk D. Huntington
Warwick
MA
Elm Valley Oct 9th 1839
My dear Frederic,
Your’s of the 6th and 7th we received this morning; It was good to hear of all you told us; and most cheering and refreshing to be assured that you are supported and comforted by the same considerations with which we are also comforted. Blessed [you feel?] of the Son of God! Who can comprehend its worth?
Thanks to the Father of our mercies, we are all able to walk about the house, and to walk our of doors a little, and to ride out in this delightful autumnal air, all excepting our dear Mary, who has at last been obliged to quit her labours of love, and care of the sick, and herself be the object of our solicitude. Last week on Tuesday, she gave up, and has been confined to her bed ever since. Her fever has not been very high, but she has been under great nervous excitement, in consequence of her over exertion, and extreme anxiety for the sick. We keep her as quiet as possible. She has taken my bed, and Bethia and I endeavor to give her the best of nursing. Doct. [M. Gray?]1 thou[gh]t her more comfortable this morning than yesterday. Your uncle’s family2 are in a state of affliction Caroline3 […?] who was taken sick at the same time with Theodore, has finished her labours and sufferings, as we hoped, and as your aunt said, had probably [joined?] [Whiting and Catherine?], in the great company of the redeemed. She died yesterday about two o’clock. They sent for William to make a prayer with the family, and [she expired which he?] was there. Marianne4 has been sick of a fever, more than a week, tho’ the Doct. does not think her dangerous. On Friday I think it was, Sarah5 was attacked also with fever, and more violently than Marianne. Your father & I rode over this morning to express our sympathy, and to see the remains of the beautiful and accomplished, the amiable and the pious. Amelia left, a fortnight since. That I have written seems chiefly a recital of grievances. You will not I hope think that we are unmindful of our blessings, sooner may our right hand forget her cunning and our tongue shave to the roof of our mouth. Unite your prayers with ours dear Frederic, that these uncommon visitations of divine Providence may increase our devotion to God, our love to our [brethren of the heaven? family], and [thus our more active preparation for last sickness and final change.
Bethia says she was delighted with your letters, and hopes soon to answer it. Your visit will be to us a high treat, if the Lord will. Yours with the sincerest love
E.W. Huntington
Dear Frederick, your brother William would just say that he has preached at [?] the two Sundays past; & that he is to be absent from there the nest two Sundays to come. Then, he is engaged to supply one Sabbath more-that is, the last in October,-out of compliment to his friends & relations, some of whom have not yet heard him. If you remain at Warwick6 next week instead of coming home, & defer your visit to the week following that on which you proposed to come, it is possible that I shall take a trip to Warwick & Brattleboro against Sunday after next; in which case you shall be seasonably [approved.?]
Thursday morn[in]g The night-past has been a trying one, with poor Mary, & with us all. This morning presents a prospect, a little more cheering. Hope prevails that she may be still spared to us. But why should we wish it? At the longest the period will be short, before we must experience the alternative, either of learning or being left, so far as the present life is concerned. The great-scene of action is within the vail. There let us cart anchor[?] dear Fredk. The reunion of virtuous friends in brighter wonder to me is sure, beyond a doubt. I have long since resigned my dear earthly friends, one & all, into the hands, of an all-wise & most merciful disposer of all events, for time & eternity, & let what will come under his all perfect government-.It is well I speak of poor Mary. So we speak. Notwithstanding I use this term, I do not mean, what it some times imports. I use it with regard to present suffering. She is rich. rich in faith, rich in hope rich in good works. She has the fortitude & composure of a martyr. Her prevailing desire is to depart. She is evidently disappointed, that one of her paroxisms the last night did not prove the final one: tho she is still willing to go thro what her friends think best for her restoration. Her mind is clear as light. Believing in [?] she is not troubled come what may her prayers discover deep experience in faith & hope & trust. But the life of our dear Mary. Her life! A how pure & excellent! This is what gives me a lively hope concerning her. My paper is gone! We shall give you notice of every interaction.
- Name is bracketed because the spelling is unclear. There is no reference to a Doctor Gray in other letters from Elizabeth Huntington, or in the Hadley genealogy. ↩︎
- Dan Huntington had no recorded brothers, so we can assume that the uncle Elizabeth is referencing in this letter is her brother, (Moses) Charles Porter Phelps (1772-1857). ↩︎
- Based off of the reference to Frederic’s uncle, Charles Porter Phelps, this could potentially be Caroline Phelps Bullfinch, daughter of Charles Porter and Sarah Parsons Phelps. However, there is no record of her year of death. There is one record of her marriage to Charles Bullfinch in 1842. This does not match up with Elizabeth’s reference of Caroline’s death in this letter, leading us to believe this discussion is about another Caroline. ↩︎
- Marianne Phelps, child of Charles Porter and Sarah Parsons Phelps. ↩︎
- Most likely in reference to Sarah Phelps, daughter of Charles Porter and Sarah Parsons Phelps. ↩︎
- Warwick, MA is located near the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Between the years of 1839 to the early 1840’s, Frederic had graduated from Amherst College and the prepared for the Unitarian ministry at the Harvard Divinity School. His residence in Warwick, MA does not seem to be for a lengthy stay. What was Frederic doing in Warwick at this time? ↩︎