Letter from Joanna Livingston Van Wyck to Mary Smith Gardiner Van Wyck
Entry/Object ID
HHV 002.256
Description
Letter from Joanna Livingston Van Wyck to Mary Smith Gardiner Van Wyck
Subject
family life and travel; Arctic expedition news
Subject Person/Organization
Joanna Livingston Van Wyck, Mary Smith Gardiner Van Wyck
Subject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Providence, RI
Context
October 14th, 1853
Collection
Van Cortlandt Manuscript Collection
Letter Details
Letter Date
Oct 13, 1854
Transcription
Transcription
My Dear Mother
I have been expecting to hear / from you for this day or two past I have received / but one letter from you, which I answered immediately / The boat from Stonington to Greenport has stoped / running . so Eliza has given up her visit to Shelter / Island and will come to New York with me on / Monday , if nothing happens to prevent and the / weather is favourable , if it storms we will come / the next clear day, she will not come up to / Sing Sing until after she has made her visit in / Brooklyn . We expect to come by the [New South?] / the Providence + Fishkill Road, it is nearly open / to Hartford but from there we take the New = / Haven cars The baggage is checked through from / here to New York so we have no trouble / The cars leave here at 9 in the morning and / arrive in New York about half past four / I may come directly up that night, but / perhaps not I promised Sarah [Balton] to spend / a day or two with her on my return and if / the weather is pleasant I will do so. I have /
[END OF PAGE 1]
Had a very pleasant visit _. The weather has / been delightful and we have out every day / the all absorbing topic now is the loss of the Arctic / What a dreadful wreck it was, so many lives / lost. It is heart rending some of the accounts . of / course you have seen them, __ I see by the / papers that the steamers is in I feel very anxous / to hear from Annie + I hope to here from you / and her tomorrow . Eliza joins me in love / to all
Your affectionate Daughter
Joanna
Providence Oct 13th 185 [?]
[END OF PAGE 2]
Joanna L Van Wyck
To
MS V Wyck
October 14th
1853
Transcriber
Kathryn Alexander
Language
English
Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Former Number
Other Number
V 1245
Research Notes
Notes
The reference to Arctic exploration may be to the 1845-1848 "lost" Arctic expedition of Cpt. John Franklin into an unexplored portion of the Northwest Passage. Many subsequent expeditions (in the 1850s, 1860s and beyond) went looking for the remains of Franklin's crew at the urging of his wife, Jane, Lady Franklin, and public demand.
