Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, September 11, 1842

  • Posted on: 20 December 2017
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, September 11, 1842
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:nwh

student editor

Transcriber:spp:srr

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1842-09-11

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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, September 11, 1842

action: sent

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

location: Staten Island, NY

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

location: Canandaigua, NY

transcription: nwh 

revision: crb 2017-11-13

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Page 1

Staten Island – Sunday
My dear Sister,
We are here with the Doane's
x Birth: 1806-03-31  Death: 1887-06-28  Birth: 1808-04-02  Death: 1852-01-27 
who are all
kindness and hospitality. When you last heard from me I
was expecting to go to Sharon Springs with our afflicted little
boy
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
Dr Williams
Birth: 1812-05-12 Death: 1882
disapproved of our going to the Springs and
and a letter from from Dr Francis
Birth: 1789-11-17 Death: 1861-02-08
of N. York determined us to
come to the city for advice. We came away Thursday
afternoon intending to spend the night at West Point with
Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
came with us intending to go no further
than the Point – Henry Underwood
Birth: 1818-02-08 Death: 1881
came to return with her –
Harriet
Birth: 1807 Death: 1888-08-20
as nurse and Nicholas
Birth: 1801-12-24 Death: 1893-02-15
, valet — Soon after
we came on the boat a storm arose which continued
through the night and prevented our landing – I was very
sorry particularly on Clara's account who was brought to
N York against her inclination – however she made no
complaint – never does – We staid at the Astor house –
Went to see the Croton Water works – and spent the evening at
Nilla's garden – Clara was sick all night and I the
Page 2

next day – Clara and Underwood left for Albany Saturday
morning – I have not heard from them since – Dr Francis
came to see Willie – he seems to know just about as much
as other Dr's and no more – that I of course anticipated
he is rather inclined to think Willie's eyes will get well
again – gave him some purgative medicine of course – – advises
light and air – did not seem to think it would do
either good or harm to come here – I came because I
had promised the visit a long time and probably shall
not be in this region again very soon. We came over yes-
terday afternoon having refused a number of pressing invitations
to go elsewhere – The situation of this house is very beautiful
looking directly upon the bay on the N. East end of the Island
not far from New Brighton, the watering place – There
are three Hospitals in the immediate vicinity which is
not quite so pleasant – one for Yellow Fever one for Smallpox
and the General Hospital – beside a number of other buildings
on the Quarantine Ground — Some 15 or 16 vessels are
anchored in the bay performing quarantine, with their
sails furled & apparently deserted by all living things
beside these many smaller craft are sailing about with
their canvass spread, many row boats, and every hour a
steam boat comes and goes to New York —
Page 3

Mr Blatchford
Birth: 1798-04-23 Death: 1875-09-04
came here to dine today – told me that Sam
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07

and Mary
Birth: 1823-10-29 Death: 1852-02-14
were still in Canandaigua – they have made you a
much longer visit than they proposed — I left dear Freddy
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25

at home with Abbey
Birth: 1822 Death: 1895-09-16
and Mr Carlin
Birth: 1813-06-15 Death: 1891-04-23
Cl Carlin's picture is
a complete failure which occasions us much regret – The likeness
is sufficiently strong but it looks like some of the faces of
Washington
Birth: 1732-02-22 Death: 1799-12-14
seen upon sign posts, which certainly give you no
idea of a living and breathing person – Henry says Harriet Weeds
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01

is of the same character – I regret it exceedingly as I am much
interested in him – Mary Seward
Unknown
is somewhere in this vi-
cinity – I have not seen her yet – She is visiting a Mrs
Rhodes
Birth: 1810 Death: 1891-03-31Certainty: Possible
Mrs Mumford
Birth: 1791-06-01 Death: 1862-01-09Certainty: Possible
is also here – I have been told of
a report that Mary is to be married to a Mr Thompson
Unknown

an old bachelor boarding at the Astor House – I hope it may
be true – Monday morning – It is a bright warm morning
this place is beautifully situated – Willie's eyes are
not materially improved though I think he bears the lig[ ht ]
x

Supplied

Reason: 

rather better – I wish to leave here tomorrow – make a
visit at Mrs Webbs
 Death: 1848-07-01
another at Drapers
x Birth: 1798-11-02  Death: 1870-11-28  Birth: 1795-04-14  Death: 1866-11-06 
and then proceed
to Florida – how thankful I shall be when it is all
over – moving will be nothing in comparison to setting
up to be agreeable for 5 or 6 days in succession – I
verily believe it would kill me in a month – which shows
how adverse it is to my natural character – I think upon
the whole it is rather a vain attempt and the exertion neither
others nor satisfies myself — Were you not
surprised by the nomination of Firman
Birth: 1800-01-23 Death: 1854-11
– I never had been
told that it was talked ofBradish
Birth: 1783-09-15 Death: 1863-08-30
is very happy –
I close this letter in haste that it may go to N. York
on the next boat – Clara was to leave for Auburn on
Monday – I tried to persuade her to stay longer here
but she could not – H. Underwood goes with her to Utica
I am writing with a steel pen Your own Sister –
Page 4

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua