Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER VC 1284
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE March 9, 1853
AUTHOR Catharine Van Wyck Battin
POSTSCRIPT Annie Van Wyck
RECIPIENT Philip Gilbert Van Wyck (“Father”)
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE Stephen H. Battin, Kate, Mary, Judge Nelson, Mrs Alfed Clarke,
Miss Susan Cooper, Mrs R Cooper (her sister), sister Charlotte
[Cooper?], Mrs Pell (Mrs Alfred Clarke’s sister), her son, her
daughter (died in England), Annie [Van Wyck?], “Aunt” ??, Joanna
[Livingston Van Wyck], “Gardy” [Gardiner Van Wyck],
PLACES the Lake, the Cooperstown Bank, Rochester, England,
KEYWORDS sleighing, school, female education, will come down to pay a visit,
Chicken Pox, influenza, scarlet fever, new President, Inauguration,
new Bank come to town “Cooperstown Bank”, Judge Nelsons
horses had accident on the ice, ice harvesting, Annie’s birthday
March 9, “Aunt’s choice wine”, “no key”, sent box of candles,
received bundle,
March 9th 1853
Dear Father.
I received your letter a few days / ago and hasten to answer it, we are going on / pretty much after the old sort, we have had / very fine sleighing here but We [^ I] have not myself been / out to enjoy it much, having rode out but once, and / the ride was up the Lake which is always pleasant / and it also being a very beautiful day which added / much to the pleasure of it, Stephen has quite a school / of boys numbering 12 he also Teaches Kate who is progressing / rapidly with her studies such as these, Philo-[^so]-phy and / Geography Grammer, with spelling, reading, and _ / Music, Stephen thinks something of bringing / Mary down with him to pay you a visit and / remain down untill I come but at present I can not / tell you at what time I shall probably be with you / but will let you know when we write again, / The Children have been sick with Chicken Pox but / have now got entirely over it, they had it quite / light, I am rejoyced they have got over it so nicely / we have all had Influenzia colds which has been very / prevalent here this Winter, and also some cases / of scarlet Fever but not in the immediate Town __ / Will we really we have got another Presedent / but I thought you would have said some -
[END OF PAGE 1]
-thing about the Enaugaration as this letter was / written on the fourth of March but not a word / was uttered about the Presedent, we have had / for a long time one Bank but we have another / one started which will probably be in opperation [^ by fall] / the branches will commence building this Spring / it will be on Main Street next to Judge Nelsons, / if you recollect, opposite the Principle stores, / it is to be called Cooperstown Bank, Judge Nelsons Horses / while on the ice took Fright and run into a hole / from which his man was procuring ice for his / ice house the Horses’ got sc–??-ed hurt a little / it took some time, before the men that were / collected together to extricate them, form there / perrilous situation, Mrs Alfred Clarke is still at / Rochester improving slowly she has been quite / an invalid for some time, Mifs Susan Cooper / has been here and made a short visit at her / sisters Mrs R Cooper, she with her sister Charlotte / intend returning to in about 2 months — / and then think of spending the summer / Mrs Pell [^ Mrs Alfred Clarkes sister] has a fine son 3 weeks Old, this will / somewhat make up the vacancy that was / made in the death of her Daughter, who / died while on a visit to England she took / a fever while there which soon terminated / in death, This day the 9 of March is Annies - / birth day I suppose you have drank her health /
[END OF PAGE 2]
In a nice glass filled with Aunts choice wine, / we thought of you at Dinner time but had / not the Wine to do you the same honnour _ / and also to morrow the 10th another – / memorable day in [opening] those letters which / you have laid a way so carefully, no one home / but Joanna and Gardy but alass no Key to open / the basket, It is thawing and our sleighing will / soon be over for this winter, And then Spring _ / with its return of the singing of Birds and Trees / buding and leaveing out, which is the delightful / part of the year to me, we are all enjoying / good health here at present, I must now close / hopeing this may fine you all enjoying health / and happiness, remember us kindly to all / at No 87 State Street,
I remain as ever your
Affectionate daughter Kate
[END OF PAGE 3]
[POSTSCRIPT - ANNIE VAN WYCK]
My dear Father
I enclose this interesting letter / from [Katy] am happy to say / we are all well. The bundle / by the Express came safely / We sent the box of candle / I wish to know if you have / received them - Write soon
Annie
[LABEL 1 - REVERSE]
Mrs Catharine Battin
9 March 1853
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[LABEL 2]
Mrs C. Battin
March 9th
1853
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To PGVW
—------Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
