Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER VC 1197
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE January 26, 1855
AUTHOR Rev. Stephen Henry Battin (son-in-law)
RECIPIENT Philip Gilbert Van Wyck
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L7NQ-87X
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE -Catharine VW Battin (“Kate”, wife, “Mrs. B”),
-Sarah [Hasey?],
-“Katy” (likely: daughter, Catharine VW Battin),
-“Aunt” (also “Aunty”),
-“Mother Van Wyck” (Mary Smith Gardiner Van Wyck?),
-“Joanna” [likely: Livingston VW, sister to wife Catharine VW Battin),
-“the baby” (likely: Anna Van Cortlandt Battin, approx 2.5 years)
-”other little girls”: Catharine VW Battin (approx. 10 years)
Mary Gardiner Battin (approx. 8 years)
PLACES Christ Church Rectory, Cooperstown NY, Ossining (“Sing SIng”),
“my schoolhouse”, our Lake,
KEYWORDS infrequent letters from “Father” (Philip G. VW), illness of “Aunt”,
convert schoolhouse to dwelling his will rent out, educating his
children, sleighing, “Lake is tight” (ice firm for riding?), fair rent,
cost of building home, girls learn English French and music, baby
weaned (around 2.5 years?),
Christ Ch. Rectory, Jan’y 26. 55.
Dear Father.
Your kind letter was duly / received and met with a cordial welcome / as well for its rarity as for its pleasing contents. / It is a long time since your last letter to us was / received . and we hope that you may be [spared] / to write us a good many more. Katy and myself / could not help compare your last with a pre / vious one and notice that your hand does not / yet show by any faltering, your increased years / It is seldom that a person of 70 years, can / write with a firm trembling hand, A few / days before yours came . Mrs B. received one / from Sarah [Hasey] giving us quite an account / of things . + particularly of the way in twitch a / kind Providence was pleased to deal gently / with Aunt in her last sickness _ She also / stated the articles devised to Katy, and begg’d / us still to make her house . which she
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Hoped soon to get. Our home, as we had done / at 87. We rejoiced that Aunty had thought / to make some special gifts . during her life / time . to several persons. Tho’ small they show / she thought of them. It is very difficult to please / all . under such circumstances . and I doubt / if any persons will or bequests / ever gave entire / satisfaction to all the parties concerned. We feared / Aunty had forgotten Mother Van Wyck + Joanna, / and this because we know both have paid her / great attention while at Sing Sing on several occasions / However we can all rejoice that a good portion / is in the family . _ We get on as usual. I am / fully occupied in my parish duties and in the / Education of my children _ My school house / is in process of being turned into a dwelling / + is nearly ready to be entered. I can realize / more rent / tho no more interest upon capital, / but a more certain income from it.
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On the whole our winter has been moderate, / tho’ we have had considerable cold weather, / our sleighing all came in December, but / to day the snow falls as tho we might again / get about in Sleighs _ our Lake is [tight] / and they are riding on it daily.
My house will cost me when finished + paid / for about $1300, and will rent for $100 . / per annum certainly + perhaps $120, This is / fair pay. It will be finished off nicely, so / that in case of emergency . my family will / have a roof over their heads _ It is convenient / to the church + pleasantly located, though / it has no garden spot.
The baby grows, is very stout + healthy. The other / little girls are improving in their English studies / french + music. The baby is just weaned.
Affectionately Your Children, with / love + affection to all family
S.H. and Katy Battin,
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[LABEL]
Rev’d Stephen H. Battin
Jany 26th 1855Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
