Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, April 23, 1849

  • Posted on: 5 December 2018
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, April 23, 1849
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:pxc

student editor

Transcriber:spp:msr

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1849-04-23

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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, April 23, 1849

action: sent

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

location: Philadelphia, PA

receiver: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01  Death: 1876-09-11

location: Fort Towson, OK

transcription: pxc 

revision: tap 2018-11-02

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Page 1

Philadelphia April 23d
My dear Augustus,
We are detained here
two days, on our way to Charlestown, by
the illness of our little girl
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
– We left
home last Thursday the day after I wrote –
My own health is much improved – Fanny
has taken cold – has a swollen face and
some fever – The Dr
Unknown
thinks she will be
able to travel tomorrow – We spent one
day in Albany and part of a day in
New York arriving here Saturday night —
We left Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
and Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
at our house
but they intended leaving the same day –
Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
returns this week to Schenectady
Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
and Abbey
Birth: 1822 Death: 1895-09-16
came with us as far as
Albany – were to return home after a few
days – We spent only part of a day in New
York came over here Saturday evening –
It is now Wednesday – Fanny continued too
ill to travel so your Father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
was obliged
to leave me here and go on to Charlestown
where he is to argue a cause this week –
If Fanny is well enough I shall meet him
on his return at Washington

[top Margin]
I found at Baltimore among
my letters from home yours of the 5th of April – I am
grateful that you continue in good health – Aunty Worden
has come to Auburn to stay with grandpa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
during my
absence – Willie is at home – His father is about getting
a pair of Carolina ponies which will relieve

[left Margin]
you from any further trouble on that subject

[right Margin]
We shall go home next week – are now
engaged in looking for a house for the Winter
as your Father is not willing to board – we shall
keep house on a small scale here as we
cannot close the house at home
Fanny sends a kiss – she
talks much about the
rabbits eating up your
peas –
God bless you
my Son – Your affectionate
Mother —
Page 2

The weather has been unusually cold for the
season – I see by the papers that the snow
has extended its visit as far south as
South Carolina where the fruit and cotton
are injured – We left snow four inches deep
at Auburn – I shall keep this letter open
to inform you of my further progress –
It is now Sunday – Fanny and I are still
in Philadelphia – Fanny is almost well
enough to travel and we will go to
Baltimore Tuesday or Wednesday – Harriet
Bogart
Birth: 1807 Death: 1888-08-20
came with me to take care of Fanny
I should feel very lonely were she not here –
Mr Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
and Harriet
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01
were here when we
we came – we tried to persuade Harriet
to go South with us but she was not well
and thought it best to go home – It is said
that Emily
Birth: 1827-10-10 Death: 1889-02-10
is to be married though I do not
hear the family say any thing about it –
I dreamed last night that you were with me
how I wish it were a reality – I cannot avoid
some apprehension of Cholera as I see there
are frequent cases on the boats on the
Missisippi and some on the Arkansas River –
We here no more of it at the North –
I had a telegraph message from Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24

to day saying all were well at home.
You remember attending the wedding of Marianna
Page 3

Wright
Birth: 1825-08-26 Death: 1872-07-03
– She is keeping house here – the mother
of two pretty children
x Birth: 1848-03-15  Death: 1927  Birth: 1846-11-08  Death: 1929-08-12 
– a very agreeable woman
She has been very kind in her attentions
to me – They
Birth: 1823-08-08 Death: 1899
are keeping house in a very
sensible manner for young people – a small
house – plainly but prettily furnished – It always
seems to me that people who commence life
in this manner have a much greater chance
of domestic happiness than those who live
more ostentatiously – Sunday May 6th
We are still in the City of “Brotherly Love”
Have been detained the last week by
my illness – I had an attack of neuralgia
which has confined me to my room
most of the week – I am better now
and intend leaving tomorrow for Washington
where I hope to meet your Father this
week where we shall return home together –
Fanny is again pretty well – I hear frequently
from your Father who is still in Charleston
where he says it is mid summer –
The inhabitants are very courtious and hospitable
He hopes to be able to leave there tomorrow —
The weather here is cold and unpleasant
for the season – it is raining to day so
that I cannot go to Church – I have
one letter from home which says all are
well – I miss the others being detained
here so much longer than I anticipated
I will not close this letter until I get to Washington
Page 4

Washington – Friday 11th
We are at length all here
I came over from Philadelphia with Harriet
and Fanny Monday – Tuesday o no Wednesday
afternoon we were joined by your Father
returning from Charleston – I have been to
see General Taylor
Birth: 1784-11-24 Death: 1850-07-09
and his family
x Birth: 1799-09-23  Death: 1869-03-28  Birth: 1811-04-09  Death: 1875-12-02  Birth: 1824-04-20  Death: 1909-07-25 
and am
much pleased with them – The General
certainly must be an honest kind hearted
man – His daughter Mrs Bliss is very pretty
sensible and well bred – Mrs Wood, his
other daughter the wife of a surgeon in
the Army, stationed at Baltimore, is also
here for a month or two – Mrs Taylor
Birth: 1788-09-21 Death: 1852-08-14

I have not seen – Mrs Bliss receives the
the visitors at the White house – Mr Weed, Gen
King
Birth: 1814-01-26 Death: 1876-10-13
and many other persons
Unknown
from our state are
here – I went with your Father to the War department
yesterday – Mr Preston
Birth: 1805-11-25 Death: 1862-11-16
is absent – Adjutant General
Jones
Birth: 1788 Death: 1852-07-15
and the deputies gave us some information about
your post – Gen Scott
Birth: 1786-06-13 Death: 1866-05-29
is soon to have the command
of the whole Army, to be stationed at New York –
Mr King says Gus will know best when to apply
for a furlough – pray let me know when it will
be – From what I heard at the War office I judged
that no furloughs were granted under two years
but was told that your being ordered to Mexico before
the expiration of your furlough would entitle you
to one a little earlier – I will not my dear child
urge you on this subject for I can trust your judgment
but I want you to let me know when I may hope to see
you

[left Margin]
Your father has franked your letter as he
thinks the postage is not
any longer paid by
government — is it? —
Page 5

Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
Lieut. A.H. Seward.
5 Infantry U.S. Army,
Fort Towson.
Choctaw Nation.
Arkansas.
FREE
WASHINGTON D.C.
MAY 11
x

Stamp

Type: postmark

William H. Seward
Free.