Letter from Augustus Seward to Frances Miller Seward, April 5, 1844

  • Posted on: 29 July 2016
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Letter from Augustus Seward to Frances Miller Seward, April 5, 1844
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:atb

student editor

Transcriber:spp:sss

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1844-04-05

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Letter from Augustus Seward to Frances Miller Seward, April 5, 1844

action: sent

sender: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1820-05-18  Death: 1889-05-08

location: Florida, NY

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

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: atb 

revision: ekk 2016-02-10

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Page 1

Florida, 5 April, 1844
My dear Aunty,
Grand Ma
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
' has recieved a letter from yourself and one
from Uncle Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
which she desires me to answer, as she is unable
herself to write. Grand Ma' wishes neither to excite an un-
necessary degree of solicitude, nor to alloy your fears farther than her
case will justify: she requests me to state plainly her situation.
I may say then, that for several months past we have been
anxious concerning her and our anxiety has often amounted to alarm.
Indeed she considers herself as rapidly drawing to the termination
of her pilgramage, and does not regard it as at all improbable
that she may be called to leave us at any moment and perhaps
altogether suddenly. As often as every fortnight, and some-
times more frequently, she raises blood and for two or three
days contrives to do so in smaller quantities until it ceases
and she has a respite. Occasionally a warm sun and a pure
air seem to revive her and she feels better; but her feebleness
and difficulty of breathing indicate that she is ^but^ comparatively
better. She is however free from pain, for the most part, except
such as results from constant expectation; rheumatism
A painful disease affecting muscles and joints of the human body, chiefly the larger joints, as the hips, knees, and shoulders •
has
troubled her but little during the winter.
Extreme debility, a violent cough and an utter loss of appetite
are her troubles - we are induced to believe that her situation might
have been far better now if she could have had that attention
which in her own house is not given her, and which, in any
other circumstances her children
x Birth: 1808-08-26  Death: 1888-12-07  Birth: 1799  Death: 1872-04-23  Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10 
and friends would gladly
have paid her. But it is a distressing thought both to her and
to us that the whole attention of the house must be turned
towards other matters, while she is compelled to wait upon
Page 2

herself so far as she is able, and to do without such assis-
stance as she ought to have but cannot obtain.
With regard to a visit from yourself and Uncle H.
she often expresses a desire to see you once more, but her
fear of giving her friends too much trouble, whch is so
characteristic of her, leads her to hope that you will not
come before the roads are good and the weather has become
settled; yet I do not believe it possible for any one of us
too say how long the matter may safely be deferred none of
us would be surprised if we were called at any moment to
witness her departure.
Grand Ma' has charged me in the fear that she may
never see Uncle Henry again, to express her gratitude to
him for his many kindnesses to her and to say that she
will remember them with her dying breath: she instanced
especially the gift of her Rocking chair which has offended
her more comfort than she has received from any thing else
in her whole sickness.
It will no doubt interest you to know that
death has few terrors for her; She feels that her race
is almost run, and submissively awaits the decree of him
in whose lands are the destinies of every living creature.
April 6. Grand Ma' has been confined to her bed during
the whole day, and for several hours has had a raging fever.
She is completely exhausted this evening and can scarcely
talk at all. Her rest has been very broken for two nights
and we earnestly hope she may sleep well to night: but her
bed is in the same room with Grand Pa
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
's, and she is awakened
often during every night.
Page 3

Monday afternoon. I have kept my letter open until the arrival
of the mail that I might give you the latest accounts of Grand
Ma's health. She is perhaps a trifle better today; the air is
dryer & warmer & she feels it - she rested better last night than
for two or three night before. Still she is feeble - has had
her usual fever to - day - though perhaps not so high. D'r
Jansen
Birth: 1788-07-13 Death: 1844-10-02
is hourly expected from Goshen to see her. Auntie
Tuttle
Unknown
came out to day & will remain a short time.
I am in haste,
Your affectionate Nephew
Augustus
Page 4

Mrs W.H. Seward
Auburn,
N.Y.
Hand Shiftx

Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
Florida NY
April 8th
Augustus Seward
April 1844