Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER VC 1196
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE October 3, 1855
AUTHOR Rev. Stephen Henry Battin (son-in-law)
RECIPIENT Mary Smith Gardiner Battin
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE Catharine VW Battin (“Kate”, wife), George Christy (of Christy’s
Minstrels - blackface performers), 3 children (Catharine, Mary
Gardiner, Anna), Bishop Potter, baby (Anna?), “her aunt”
PLACES Christ Church Rectory, Cooperstown NY, New York City, “and
vicinity”, Exchange, Reservoir, Crystal Palace, Staten Island,
telegraph point, Ocean, New York Bay, fortifications, Albany
KEYWORDS returned from visit to NYC, toured many locales, theater (George
Christy), telegraph, retinue of luggage/belongings (trunks, valise, picture frame, demijohn, basket), boat “Isaac Newton”, silver thimble and pincushion lost, school (“academical operations”), Convention ??, “wise pullers”, gift of tea set for baby,
Christ Church Rectory,
Cooperstown, Oct. 3d 55
Dear Mother.
We arrived safely / at home on Saturday Sept 29, at / about 3 in the afternoon, and in good / health, finding our house in order, / and friends generally well. We / enjoyed our visit to New York and / vicinity very much indeed, more / than we had anticipated, The / weather was so fine and cool, not / a single stormy day to detain us / in the house. The children were / delighted with the many handsome / Edifices _ churches + stores _ inside /
[END OF PAGE 1]
And out, the markets _ Exchange / Reservoir _ Crystal Palace _ / They went to see + hear George / Christy - + were convulsed with laughter _ I took them also / to Staten Island _ + down to / the Telegraph point where they / saw the Ocean, outer + inner / New York bay, and fortifications. / Since we came home it has / retained incessantly _ The leaves are / rapidly changing, warming us / of approaching winter, / Mrs Battin _ three children / myself _ three trunks _ one / valise _ one carpet bag, one / Picture frame, two bundles /
[END OF PAGE 2]
One demijohn + one basket, / took passage on board the / “Isacc Newton” for Albany, / and we only miss two articles / a silver thimble + a pincushion, / The children have already com / menced academical operations, / The first few days _ it rubs a / little _ but by next week, we / shall begin to work smoothly / steadily _ profitably. _
Our convention I believe ad / journey, some time, but quite / a number of clergy _ Laity / were on board with us, who / did not wait for the wise / pullers to end their speeches.
[END OF PAGE 3]
There is a deal of this thing / going on in New York and / vicinity _ and it is [disgusting?], / Bishop Potter’s address was / very good.
We are now pretty well / prepared for our Winter’s / Campaign _ The baby seems / to remember her old haunts, / and enjoys the nice little tea / set - given by her aunt,
With love + kindest regard to / all, Your affec Son
Stephen,
[REVERSE]
[LABEL]
Rev. S. H. Battin
October 3rd 1855
_________Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
