Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, July 26, 1830

  • Posted on: 9 March 2016
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, July 26, 1830
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:cef

student editor

Transcriber:spp:sss

Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1830-07-26

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, July 26, 1830

action: sent

sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23  Death: 1841-02-24

location: Bolton, NY

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: cef 

revision: ekk 2015-09-16

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Page 1

Bolton 26 July. 1830
Dear Henry
After journeying several days
through intense hot weather, I arrived at home
safe on Saturday last & found my little family
all blessed with health. I was in Florida
a day or two, where all were well except
Father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
, he is complaining much of pain
in his breast and says he thinks he has a
complaint there which will one day carry him
to his grave. Still he was in the harvest
field all day, and otherwise occupied all night,
and it was with difficulty that I obtained
audience with him. He was either too
unwell to talk much, or too indifferent
to my small concerns, to give me much
satisfaction. After opening the case prety
fully to him by stating all our consultation
difficulties & hopes, he replyed that he felt
as if every thing was uncertain with him,
he is oppressed & abused by the tax gatherers,
has been long a faithful public servant
stands well through the county for a
nomination to Congress, but cannot get any
support from his own town or village, has
so much trouble with Stephen Jayne
Birth: 1778 Death: 1863
and
the swamp road, the people are envious of
his successes & will not support him.
Page 2

In short, after waiting two nights & two days,
to have opportunity of speaking with him
I felt disposed to get home & as he then
was wholy indisposed to give me any of
his reflections, or to talk to me at all
I left him, under the understanding that
when he felt better he was to write me.
His total want of sympathy in my case
his unconcern as to the issue of the effort he
understood me to be engaged in, came in
such bold contrast with the kindness and
interest you shewed to the same concern,
that I cannot but express my thanks to
you & to mention how much more grateful
your favours, seem to my heart. You
may rely upon ^a^ suitable return of gratitude,
I will hold myself ever ready to answer
to every sign & summons sent me to advance
your interest & well being, as far as within
the reach of the cable tow of my ability. I
will trot of antimasonic
One opposed to freemasonry •
or other errands for
you, ever bearing in mind the obligations of
gratitude I owe you. From what I learned
of fathers feelings, or rather want of feeling
I suppose I am to expect little or no help
from him to enable me to get off to St Louis,
but shall probly hear by letter more about
Page 3

it & will let you know. I have thought
of taking an agency for the Observer or Sunday
school magazine, to bear my expenses, but
this will require time, still I must cut
my garment according to my cloth. I did
not press the question when in Auburn, how
much it would be convenient for you to
advance me, because I was willing to
draw as little from you as possible, but since
my hope of getting the residue from father is
nearly destroyed I feel as though your kindness
was my only resource, please
state to me deffinitely, what
you can conveninetly do, so
that I ^may^ shape ^my^ affairs to suit
the case, without liability to embarrassment.
Please inform me how the health of
Frances
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
& the little boy
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
is, and whether
you have scheduled a name for the
little stranger. Give our best regards
to her and tell her Marcia
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
sends her warmest
congratulations. Mr Bolton
Unknown
does not ex-
pect me to go to business for a few days
during which I shall anxiously wait your
answer. My health is still improving.
Give our very best respects to Mrs Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03

Mr
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
& Miss Miller
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
& Miss Harris
Unknown

Your brother B.J. Seward
Page 4

Col Wm H. Seward
Auburn
New York
Kingston N.Y..
July 24
x

Stamp

Type: postmark

Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
B.J. Seward
July 26
1830