Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 19, 1841

  • Posted on: 21 February 2018
  • By: admin
xml: 
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 19, 1841
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:nwh

student editor

Transcriber:spp:ahf

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1841-10-19

In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to place elements in the project's places.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file. verical-align: super; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration: line-through; color: red;

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, October 19, 1841

action: sent

sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24  Death: 1865-06-21

location: Albany, NY

receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01  Death: 1875-10-03

location: Canandaigua, NY

transcription: nwh 

revision: tap 2018-01-18

<>
Page 1

Albany Oct 19th 1841
My dearest Sister,
I came home last evening from Orange County
after an absence of 6 days from my dear Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
— He
was very well and had been so during my absence
I left home last Wednesday morning in company
with Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
and Frederick
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
— We went in the
day boat the ‘Kusciusko’ a small boat which
for one or two trips took the place of the
‘Albany’ which is broken down — The boat was
crowded with passengers — no one that I had
ever before seen among them, generally they
were a pretty rough congregation – A high wind
prevented my going upon deck — I was consequently
confined to a warm cabin and very sick whic[ h ]
x

Supplied

Reason: 

I always am on a boat — we reached New-
burgh
about 1/2 past 2 oclock — found there was
was no stage to go to Florida Goshen until the next
morning so Augustus procured a carriage and we
had a pleasant drive to Florida – the roads
were very fine – we reached our place of destina -
tion about 7 oclock – found Mr Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
a little
more feeble but otherwise much as he has been
for two years past — Mother
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
fails faster than
he she is thin and stoops very much – seems
to get about the house with considerable exertion
notwithstanding which she is constantly on her
feet and at no time during my visit sat an hour

[top Margin]
I doubt not did really feel, avoid speaking disrespectfully of
you and this to indifferent persons and to persons with
whom you were unacquainted – I love you to much to
see you thus imposed upon and I believe have hinted this
before Perhaps I magnify the importance of
trifles – I presume had he been reproved at the time he would
have protested that he meant no disrespect but I insist

[left Margin]
that a mind
which does not shrink
instinctively from any
thing of this kind is not
capable of entertaining the
noble sentiment of Friendship
I have not seen Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
yet
To night we are to go to Maria Brinkehof
Birth: 1803-01-30 Death: 1887-04-23

wedding! She is to marry Mr Pompella
Birth: 1795-08-01 Death: 1882-09-28

a ^nice^ widower with two children
x Birth: 1833-04-06  Death: 1902-05-28  Birth: 1832-04-27  Death:  
from Owego
Your own
Sister –

[left Margin]
Henry met
Mary Ann
Converse
Birth: 1805-05-02 Death: 1848-01-09

at N.Y.
Page 2

it is painful to see a person hurrying and worrying through
the last days of their existence in this manner – days
which should pass peacefully and quietly I visited
Tempe
Birth: 1812-09-30 Death: 1848-10-18
and Locky
Birth: 1805-07-15 Death: 1848-05-14
found them all in much more
comfortable circumstances than I have seen them
heretofore – Polydore's
Birth: 1799 Death: 1872-04-23
temperance has made him
10 years younger – he appears now as he used to when
I first knew him – is very industrious and for
two years has conducted himself respectably – It
would be wonderful if this great chance should
last – I trust it may – They have 5 children
x Birth: 1839-06  Death: 1843-09-26  Birth: 1842  Death: 1908  Birth: 1836-02-16  Death: 1910-02-06  Birth: 1833  Death: 1892  Birth: 1828  Death: 1905 

living the youngest an infant named Thurlow Weed
George
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
and Tempe occupy the old homestead
and Tempe's good management has given it an
air of comfort which does not pervade
the newer and more ambitious "mansion"—
George is still a warm hearted honest boy
Tempe is more sociable than she used to be
plain sensible and sincere – They have 4 children
x Birth: 1840-11-08  Death: 1910-11-28  Birth: 1838-04-16  Death: 1916-02-22  Birth: 1835-01-09  Death: 1926  Birth: 1833-06-08  Death: 1891-06-12 

the youngest George Frederick — Sarah the little
girl is it not pretty but more agreeable and
gentle in her manners than any of the other
children I saw — They all seemed very glad
to see me – Tempe seemed rather displeased
when any one said that Mary
Birth: 1815 Death: 1879-08-29
and I were alike
she said there was not a particle of resemblance
in person or manners – furthrmore she said not
She asked me how I liked Mary and when I enumerated
her good qualities neither assented or dissented so
that I am quite at a loss to know her opinion
Lockey did not see her at all – being sick at
Page 3

the time of her visit – All the others seemed much pleased with
her – Mr Seward neither asked my opinion or expressed
his own though he undoubtedly has come to some
very positive conclusion – He had written to her
the week before I came to come to Florida and
make a visit — She would have come up with Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10

who went to N. York Wednesday night but he knowing
that the remains of the first wife
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
were on their way
to their final resting place deemed it a rather an unsuitable
time for the presence of the second among the
mourners — This argument I believe had some weight
with the Mumfords
x Birth: 1791-06-01  Death: 1862-01-09  Birth: 1791-09-18  Death: 1863-04-25 
but was entirely unthought of at
Florida — Mary is to go next week and stay I
do not know how long but Julia
Birth: 1824-02-11 Death: 1895
thought about
a week — I suppose there will be many unrealized
calculations made upon this invitation, which means
just nothing at all – Augustus left Westfield one week
a ago he has not yet reached Albany – Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
had
made a rather unfavourable impression at Florida
particularly upon his Grandpa — Dr Canfield
Birth: 1798-11-26 Death: 1865-01-05
seems
to have been there often enough to have entirely exhausted
all the kindly feeling produced by Cornelia's
Birth: 1805 Death: 1839-01-04
death – They
were as much disgusted with him at Goshen as at Florida
Frances Grier
Birth: 1801-01-16 Death: 1860-02-07
said he seemed to think you were the only
person in the world capable of appreciating him and intimated
that you and he would make a very happy couple did
the circumstances permit Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
grows coarse and
unamiable – Mother says there is not a single trait in her
character resembling Cornelia – The boys
x Birth: 1832-02-20  Death: 1876-01-14  Birth: 1829-12-04  Death: 1867-10-25 
are still running wild
at Bargintown and their father is still in full pursuit of a rich
wife — He left – Henry came to Florida from N. York
Saturday night – we left there Sunday afternoon – stayed one
night at Goshen and came to Newburgh in time for the
morning boat yesterday — All our friends at Goshen and
Page 4

made me promise to bring you along when I came again –
Dear Cousin Mary is a heart broken woman – the death of her
oldest son is to her a severe calamity and with her
affectionate nature she suffers as much as you can im-
agine – Frances expects to be confined every day. George
Tuthill
Birth: 1807-05-17 Death: 1883-05-25
with his wife
Birth: 1819-10-31 Death: 1899-08-26
and children
x Birth: 1840-06-13  Death: 1870-01-31  Birth: 1839-03-19  Death: 1862-01-23 
have just returned
to Mobile – I found your last letter and the packet brought
by Worden on my return – I am sorry Sam
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
behaves so badly
but not surprised he is fickle and inconstant in his feelings
and has a heart so singularly constructed as to admit
of affection for but one person at a time no matter how different
the nature of that affection – At present he spends the greater
part of his time at the Astor house where the Lyman's
x Birth: 1813  Death:   Birth: 1804  Death: 1869 
are
I have not seen him since the day I came down when I do I
will hand him the letters and your message which would
give a person less selfish more than positive unkindness
I am sorry to speak so unkindly of one for whom I certainly
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
paid WHS
ALBANY N.Y.
Oct 19
x

Stamp

Type: postmark


[right Margin]
feel much interest but he has so many unamiable
traits of character that one cannot well shut
their eyes upon them – He never mentioned the
affection you bestowed upon him and could not
with all the kindness which he proposed and