Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Willis, Mary W. Kirby

Contributor

Kirby

Date

185-?

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary W. Kirby Willis to Isaac Post, 185-? Please note, this letter had previously been identified as being sent to Mary Post.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

812

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Text in top margin, written upside down]
Father is better has been out to meeting I think we shall
ride there to day I hope so it is a beautiful morning

[Text normal]
Dear sister
                       I have intended writing to thee ever since
the reception of thy letter to us jointly, but about that
time John escerted [sic] himself too much by lifting at
butchering time a hog that was heavy, which affected
his back in the weak part, and where he now thinks
the origin of the disease has been and still is, in the
kidney, and where the pain usually commences and
esctends [sic] to the hip ancle [sic] & instep. D^ctr Seaman "said
It may have all originated from the stomach" probable [sic]
it has for his throat and stomach has been affected
for a year or two and he said he could not describe
the feeling to any one except the soreness. I however
think they have been better some time.    On taking medicine
twice lately it has affected him very much and brought
away a good deal of offensive matter very much so indeed.
& although ^he^ feels his weakness much this morning & very
little appetite, I hope and trust strength will come
in its stead. and since I have ^been^ writing he spoke
about having a roasted potatoe [sic] which I got and put
in the ashes embers, and he is so remarkable for keeping
time that he could tell escactly [sic] when to take them out
and seem to relish them, but when he will be able
to sit long enough to answer thy letter I dont [sic] know.
he lies down mostly it seems to mitigate the pain. using the
limb often increases it.   We often think of aunt Phebe
heard lately by E.P. W. letter hope she continues mending
my love is to her. I hope she will be able to write to me soon

(Page 2)

Father has been very poorly lately mother thinks with an
inflamation [sic] of the bowels and bilious affection [sic]. Willet went
to D^ctr Carl and discribed [sic] his great distress, (he sent some
medicine for him to take that night as he does not go out nights,
he did not get his clothes off for three nights, but has now
got comfortable with the esception [sic] of some soreness of the
bowels. I have not been to see him since. he sent for Henry
Willis to go there I suppose on the subject of the free school law
and Henry said he was pretty smart and seemed very pleasant
The subject of the free school law, produces considerable escite-
=ment [sic] in some districts, Jericho being a large district and
a great deal of wealth went for free schools, being the first
time I suppose that our Jericho friends never manifested any
interest in district schools, (Jack _ Robbins says interest
will get them out) Our district did not go for free schools
the whole year, only the four months. [J?] and the remander [sic]
of the time the school is to be continued as heretofore, the poor
go free, and the rich ones [obliterated] defray their own
expenses, &c. 1^st day, It is near a week since the forgoing [sic]
was written. John has improved so that he walks out a
little he sais[sic] his stomach is much better than it has been
for a long time, and his affected limb is far from well
but has less pain,     Whenever we hear from Valentine N_
for some time past he is not smart has a cold or something
and aunt Abbie too is not very smart. but come to find out a
little more it appears that the same thing has returned again
"all their meat up here is a spoiling." &c. and we can imagine
how it is with them. ^those^ who have seen for our^them^selves aunt Phebe
can I expect ^imagine^ but they seem gaurded [sic] in their expressions on the subje [sic]

(Page 3)

I percieve [sic] the N Star has commenced with the married life
of ^[an?]^Mrs^ Mary Powell. I think her letters will remind aunt Phebe
of her friend who attends yearly meetings from Purchase or
thereabouts, and takes her baggage to Richards S Williams house
in the basement, & goes out among friends and finds them so beautifu [sic]
and kind that she cannot get away &c   Amy I read thy letter to
Henry a few days ago. he said I think she gives a fair state=
ment of things among you. but I thought from what followed
that he with us considered them as but of small consequence
[illegible] ^but may prove to^ to thee ^as^ little [foxes?] which spoil the
tender vine. Oh how much I have desired that those things
among you might be cast away, as the man formerly cast
his idols of silver and gold which he made for himself to
worship, to the moles and the bats, for fear of the Lord
and for the glory of his magisty [sic]. thy talents sister ought
to be devoted to more rational pursuits, if I may be judge
only look back to thy tried feelings when thee was about to
give up" and thee rallied thy strength [to see?] what trouble and
vexation of spirit. perhaps my rebuke is to [sic] severe after
all thy pains and kindness and trouble in writing so particu
=lar to us. I have thought some of reading thy letter to Robert
suppose thee would not object as it was a publick [sic] [examination?]
Thomas and Phebe Hallowell are gone to Pensylvania [sic] left their boys
William and Margaret are not well. the former we sometimes see
at meeting the latter not at all. Phebe manifests a disposition
to mingle with us both in a society ^and friendly^ capasity [sic]. it is really
so pleasant to have her here and see her so much like
herself so open so pleasant, that I cannot reconcile the idea
of her returning to Canada again to live. Oh how very smart
Catharine is she walks here and recommends uncle John to diet

(Page 4)

strictly she is recieving [sic] so much benefit by it and cold bathing
she is very active and sais [sic] she is able to keep doing something
almost all the time. said she had work'd all the morning before
walking here and back again. Mother W is smart much better
John just asked if I had mentioned John Plummer prospect
of taking Elizabeth Dodge for his wife the proposal came
to our last Mo meeting. what is the reason sister Sarah
is so pent up that we cannot hear from her. I hope she will
take up the pen and tell us what she and Edmund are about
I dont see that the rest of you intend to, and Mary and William
ought to write to us. I cannot bear to become strangers
to our own dear relatives, unless their [sic] is something of
the kind there is much to fear ^on that account^. James Mott has been
quite poorly for a number of weeks so that he sat up a
very little. when I last heard he was better but not
out. but Elisabeth left him and went to meeting. Cornell
is kept to [Lot?] Cornelius school steadily. by report he is
improving nicely. and manifest talent. 6^th day 18^th of the 1^st
month. yesterday was our Monthly meeting which Joseph
and Mary Post attended John Plummer seem to feel pretty
cleaver [sic] to judge by his preaching. he and his intended being
present and nothing appearing in the way for their proceed-
=ure [sic] they propose consummating their intentions of Marriage
on 7^thday at her fathers. Mother thinks as he is a minister the
marriage out ^ought^ to be at the meeting house where the elders can
witness it. but they have been appointed a Minister to attend it
viz [Whitehead?] Hicks I hoped J & M Post would have come
here yesterday, but I suppose they could not as Willet
S. wife is up been spending the week with them &
they brought her with them to Jericho. I should like
to give her a call if I can, but I am very much
confined rather more than is good for my health I fear.
I have intended looking for those papers thee recommended
but have not succeeded as yet. I read so much now that
Mother takes many long breaths. Isaac Mary F. & Rachel I escpect [sic]

(Page 5)

have gone to NY to see Gilbert their [sic] is no doubt but you are
informed of his being placed in the Institute some time ago
he has been home twice in the time. they say much of him
as being an uncommon fine boy. which they assign ^attribute^ very much
to careful attentive training. William Robbins son has had very
little attention. aunt Esther sais [sic]. & we shall escpect [sic] to see more
improvement in him if he is kept there but he dont like to stay
very well I learn. Henry has just come in as he often does very accept
=ably he has a cold in his head and feels poorly.    23^rd of the month --
If I send this at all it seems time that It is closed but
it seems not worth sending ^at^ all but for acknowledging the
acception [sic] of thine -- James and Elizabeth Mott were here
[obliterated] couple days since very pleasantly, read thy letter to E--
did not have an opportunity to read it to James on account
of the presence of others. but he thinks if the noises break out
here that he would endeavor to find where they originate, as unim
=portant as it may be to us. James has thought considerable
of going to the Harbor with his business but as he and [Hegeman?]
differed so much in the valuation of property it appears to be sus=
pended, Oh how I rejoice to see them so happy and devoted to
each other, it had been a long time that they had not been to
fathers, (owing to his sickness) and now he said he has come to go the
rounds with E --- and she might visit all her friends.
I think John is improving every day the pain abates he
sais [sic] he is on a rigid diet and grows thin and weaker but
that he dont mind that so much as hard pain has sat reading
his paper all the morning without once taking the couch
and now with love to all as if named in which my husband
joins I am they affectionate sister M.W.W.

(Page 6)

[Text in center of page, written downward]

                        Isaac Post

                             Rochester
            Monroe C. o     N Y

Tags

Family; Medicine; Quakers; Women's Rights

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Willis, Mary W. Kirby, “Willis, Mary W. Kirby. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 24, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3103.

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