Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER S 1012
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE November 3, 1832
[date based on marriage date of Eunice Hale and Joseph Hervey: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHNW-FH3 ]
AUTHOR Eliza Becket (“Betsy”) Churchwood
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DDF4-4RN2
RECIPIENT Mary Anna Sawyer Schuyler
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE Mrs Lee, Elisabeth ??, Miss Faris, Miss Little, Mr. Schuyler, the
“young gentleman”, “your Dear Mother” (Sybil Farnham Sawyer), “Ben Hale”, Mr. “Hervey”, Mr. K ??, Mrs. Frothing[own?], Mr and Mrs Proudfit, Mary Eaton, Mrs. Parish, “the child”,
PLACES Newburyport, Boston, New York,
KEYWORDS servant, housekeeping, housekeeper, fabric, mistake, sewing,
clothing, cape, languages, “French work”, oysters, clams,
“embargo” (joke), marriage of “Mr Ben hales Daughter to Mr hervey”, marriage, engagement, “almost made a convert of me” (to marriage), Eunice Hale marriage to Joseph Hervey, shirts, chemises, night gowns, night caps, handkerchief, bag of flaxseed, poultices, lace, working Collar, tape, cotton, boarding,
[PENCIL/INK - later]
[Re??] [J] B P / 1835 / From the old servant Betsy Churchwood
From / Betsy / Newburyport [A] [American?] servant
before 1835
[ORIGINAL]
Newbury Port Nov 3
My best and dearest friend - I thought I would / write a few lines just to inform you that we are / about leaving the good old mansion on Monday and / have but little time to acquaint you with particulars / I will first mention my misfortune through / carelessness - of a mistake in cutting the piece you / left marked which I took myself and got you / another which I hope will prove us good = Mrs / Lee wrote for us to come sooner than we expected / on account of Elisabeth leaving them and wants / me to take her place I then whent over to / Mifs Faris to let her know lest they should not / be ready : they expecting to have the whole of / next month to do them in had completed / but five which I have done up and send - / Mifs Little has I think finished the cape to / your satisfaction and in my opinion it is / much handsomer than the French work _ /
So much for favouritetism May I say / for I must say that it is not in the / power of any languag to express my / disappointment in not seeing Mr Schuyler / and the young gentleman as your Dear / Mother and I expected and as for oysters / and clams I almost wish for power / to lay an embargo on them that nobody / may feast upon them until /
[END OF PAGE 1]
Mr Schuyler has had an opportunity as I / calculated he would have had your mama / wrote you a bout the weddings so I need / not only one more this morning Mr Ben / hales Daughter to Mr hervey and Mr K … / has almost made a convert of me by the / dazzling descripsions he is giving me of the / enjoyments and happiness of a married / life nothing but truth of the good old saying / that absence heightens real love and keeping / my eyes and thoughts upon you has saved / me from the dilemma in which he / has been labouring to place me ?? /
Pleas to pardon and forgive this / from your ever true and devoted / friend and servant / E B Churchwood
I send 6 shirts 7 chemises 3 night gowns / 3 night caps a Cape and handkerchief / and a bag of flaxseed for Mr Schuyler / poultices should he need them /
Paid Miss Little 25 cents for lace / and five shillings for working the Collar / Paid Miss Faris five Dollars / four shillings a piece and tape and cotton / they will send the other two by Mrs Frothing[own?] to / me at Boston
[RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE 2]
Your mama wants you not to forget her / handkerchief I am writing in the greatest hast
[END OF PAGE 2]
Mr and Mrs Proudfit is going to spend / the winter in New York and mary / Eaton is going with them they / offered Mrs Parish their house / and the use of their furniture as / a reward for the Childs name I / expect they did not except but / have gone to Board your mama is / very well and sends a great / deal of Love to all and I to if I / had But wings I would soon take / my flight to you
[END OF PAGE 3]
Mrs M A Schuyler
New YorkTranscriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
