Beloved Sisters and Loving Friends

by Farah Jasmine Griffin

  During her visit to Boston, Rebecca takes in the sights, visiting the Bunker Hill Monument.

  Boston July 18, 1866

  Wed. Eve.

  Dear Mother

  […] We are all well, the baby is teething we think, and for that reason she has not been feeling as well as usual a few day past, but today she’s been very lively and good natured. She goes out with us whenever we go and seems to enjoy it very much.

  We all visited Bunker Hill Monument Saturday P.M. & while there Gen’l. Sherman came with some friends.

  We attended ch. all day Sunday took tea with Henry & his wife & then she accompanied us to church at night.

  Monday P.M. about sundown we were invited to take a ride which of course we accepted, & rode as far as Jamaica Plains, across Charles River.

  Yesterday P.M. we all went to the museum & Bell, Amerett & I remained to the play in the eve’g. but Nelson was obliged to return home with Leila because she couldn’t be kept quiet, as soon as the music commenced she to make a noise too, therefore he had to take her out. This P.M. we went down on the Commons to hear Band play but a thunder storm was coming up & we only stopped to listen to two pieces, we reached home without getting much wet & just in time too, to escape a hard shower [….]

  Our love to father and yourself.

  Ever your affectionate Daughter Rebecca

  P.S. Please excuse whatever mistakes may have occurred.

  Here we have the most comprehensive portrait of the eccentric Josephine Booth, Rebecca’s fellow teacher in Hartford. There is also evidence of Rebecca’s rather wry, sarcastic sense of humor. In Baltimore, Rebecca enjoys a full social life centered around the other teachers and their visits to Baltimore’s churches and attendance at several lectures throughout the city. Baltimore nourishes her socially, spiritually, and intellectually.

  184 Park Street, Baltimore, Md.

  Sept. 22, 1866 Sat.

  9 A.M.

  My Dear Parents & Sister

  We have just breakfasted, it is a cool but very pleasant morning. My colleague had gone out (alone) for a walk she has on that elegant black sack or bague I don’t know which is the most appropriate term to apply. All look at her I don’t know what they think. I tell them she is rather peculiar.

  […] Josephine seemed to enjoy the travel, as soon as the train moved off conversation began & I suppose would have continued had I encouraged it, but finding I only ans’d. in monosyllables it lacked interest & finally ceased to my entire satisfaction.

  We shared jointly the contents of my basket, and our food was appreciated with gusto, especially on her part. We had no difficulty in obtaining good seats in the cars & in retaining them throughout the route. We reached Phila, at two or a little after, changed cars, and started again about 3½ o’ck.

  Hartford Sept. 26, 1866

  My Dear Sister

  […] I received your welcome missive Monday 1P.M. My pen cannot portray the feelings in perusing its contents. I am thankful you arrived safe in Baltimore. I hope it will be the same when you reach your place of destinations. I sincerely hope you will enjoy good health. You must take the best care of yourself. I called to see your mother yesterday I found her quite well Bell was up to Mrs. Saunders sewing. I took my album to show them. Your ma think it a very nice one. She also put her picture in it which I was very much pleased I have five of the family now. Aunt Emily is in Farmington she went Monday P.M. Miss Porter father is dead he was quite a old Man. He was in his eighty fifth year. Cedar Hill Cemetery was to be consecrated today. I rather think they would have to postpone it. I don’t think anyone would dare to venture out there [….]

  [Addie]

  184 Park Street, Balto.

  Sept. 27 1866

  Thurs. P.M.

  My dear Parents & Sister

  By today I expected to have been on my way to Eastern Shore, but instead, I am still in this large city. I have been detained here waiting for a letter respecting my pay for traveling expenses & my advance salary from New York, this has been rec’d. today, together with my new Commission, and now I can not continue my journey till Saturday, we shall leave her in the 7 o’ck. A.M. Boat [….]

  Nearly all of the teachers have arrived in the city, I met Miss Howard at the Rooms this morning, her sister has procured a situation to teach in N.Y. & has been there three weeks.

  Miss Dickson is also here and has called upon me, she says that the ladies at the Studio Building regretted very much my transfer.

  She does not yet know whether she’d to be returned to her old school or not, she’s assisting in one of the city schools at present.

  Two of the white teachers in this city have resigned, and instead of putting competent col’d. teachers in their places, they have got some new white ones.

  We called on Mr. Cook at his office this A.M. he was pleased to see us, and informed Josephine of a good place for her to go & open a school—a place called Oxford on Eastern Shore he was there last Monday & they asked him to send them a teacher, and he advised her to go there & say that he sent her. She seems quite pleased.

  She gets along nicely here, and appears well, they all see there’s something to her although she’s so odd. She brought a new bonnet with her which she wore Sunday it is a dark straw and of the same shape & size of my own, the milliner also trimmed it, & you’ve no idea how becoming it is. I’ve expressed much admiration therefor. She also wore a new dark brown dress. We attended service three times on Sun. A.M. at the St. James Episcopal ch. the funeral services of a young [?] were held there, P.M. we went to the Presbyterian ch. & at eve attended the Bethel, there were good discourses at each of these churches and the congregation were quite large.

  […] In the eve’g we attended a lecture with Mr. Thompson the Publisher of the Communicator at the Catholic ch. col’d. given by Mr. Wm. A. Williams, a young man of color who obtained his education in Rome, Italy where he was studying nine years. The subject of his lecture was the Negro and his progress, which is to consist of a course of 6 lectures, the one we attended being the first. We are all endeavoring to induce Josephine to write a criticism upon it. I doubt whether she will do so or not. Mr. Cook is very anxious that she should, he is coming up here tonight or tomorrow & I anticipate having an interesting time as he’s going to get Mr. W. to accompany him.

  Mr. Simpson, the artist from Boston is here, we visited his studio this noon, he has some fine paintings on hand, all of which he has produced since coming into this city.

  There is to be a great mass meeting of the Johnson party here tonight, they have erected a very large stage on Monument Square, I suspect it will be a gala night with them. There are to be five thousand troops to guard the city during the coming elections this Fall. The rowdies have threatened to burn down or out, I don’t know which, the Communicator office tonight, the ed. did not seem to be much alarmed. It’s only upon the next street from where the assembly is to be gathered. Yesterday it rained here very hard & steadily all day. Two more teachers arrived here yesterday P.M. & went away this morning [….]

  Upon returning to Royal Oak, Rebecca’s primary concern is raising money for the schoolhouse. All of her letters through the end of the year report her progress in this endeavor and encourage her family to organize fund-raising activities in Hartford. These letters also relate her growing familiarity with the area and the development of her relationship with the local people.

  Royal Oak, Talbot Co., Md.

  Oct. 1, 1866

  Mon. A.M.

  My Dear Parent & Sister

  […] Mr. Thomas did not get my letter informing him of my coming, & therefore had made no preparations for meeting me. I was told on the Boat that he was very sick & 1 expected to find him in bed, but he was not at home when I came. He has been very low & last Wed. week he was not expected to live. He was taken with a shaking ague which resulted in a Billious Fever. Yesterday was the first time that he’s been from home. He’s looking miserably being so very thin & pale. He complained of his head�
��s aching all the time. Mrs. Thomas had not been very well either. I suppose its from waiting upon him so much. They are both delighted with that bottle of wine, Mr. Thos. says he’s not had anything to taste so good. Mrs. Thos. desires me to tell you that he thinks it’s all for him and don’t want her to have any. They send a great many thanks. She is very much pleased with his collar and also the things Mrs. Freeman sent her. Emily5 is delight with her sack collar & apron. After my arrival here yesterday, eleven persons called and only one was a female, since I’ve been writing this letter five of my old pupils have called upon me, & now it’s all quiet here again, three of the girls have gone to sweep out the school house this A.M. & Saturday it’s going to be thoroughly cleaned & white washed, it would have been done last week but the stormy weather prevented, & they would not have it done before because the said it would be all dirt again before I came [….]

  It is rather sickly here, a number are having the chills very badly, and are very sick. I learned while in Balto, that it was very sickly here on Eastern Shore. It is the season for the chills & then at some places the small pox is raging.

  Eight teachers were to leave Balto. Sat. besides Josephine and myself, & I don’t know but there were more. Miss Dickson is sent to Cambridge, Dorchester Co. on Eastern Shore, a couple of white teachers formerly taught there & it is said to be a good place, she is very well pleased with the change; most of the other teachers are, or have returned to their old situations. There is much dissatisfaction felt on the part of the teachers with Mr. Israel. I could not get my note cashed in Balto, because none were acquainted with the Bank in New York on which it is made. I shall therefore enclose it in this having endorse it, & will you please get it cashed in Hartf’d. out of the money please take $7.00 for expressing my baggage, give addie $9.00 which I borrowed of her, & with the remaining $3.00 please pay for my shoes.

  I thank you father very much for the crackers & ham, the receipt of which I neglected to acknowledge before I left. Also mother you will please accept my thanks for the gum drops you place in my trunk I discovered them to my surprise Sunday A.M. as I was taking out my dress to wear to ch. I shall be as choice of them as gold dust, however I did not want you to get them, for I feel that I’ve been a great deal of expense to you and father as it is.

  Give my love to everybody, every thing around me is clean & comfortable, the house has been white washed inside & out, and everything is in order. I hope this will find you all well & that you have rec’d. the two letters I wrote you in Balto. Mr. & Mrs. Thos. send a great deal of love.

  Give my love to Aunt Em & Sarah, and accept a very large portion to yourselves. I hope to hear from you this week. Your affectionate daughter & sister.

  Rebecca

  P.S. I forgot to mention that these people have had a festival here to get coal etc. for the school & they realized $37 & [?] they have bought two tons & a half of coal at $8.65 cts. per ton. I judge they are very much interested in the school question. Give my love to Jim & take good care of him—little Jim is well.

  Addie writes of picking up a bag of Rebecca’s letters and rereading them. This certainly suggests that she saved Rebecca’s letters. One hopes they are waiting to be found.

  Hartford Oct. [n.d.] 1866

  My Dear Sister

  […] A Mr Fairbanks spoke to the Methodist church congregation [….] He was in prison for 17 years for freeing some slaves he was very interesting indeed and quite amusing at times. He went to Oberlin in 1839 and received his diploma in 1844. He then went and met with a colored man name Lewis Haiden. He tried to free him so he was put in prison for four years and six months and his father came and several other distinguished gentlemen had him pardoned out. Few months after that he put in again for the same and remain 13 years his statements about his life while there made a deep impression on the people hearts. After he got through they took up a collection for him he received $16.00 and some cents which he seem to be very much please. He will speak tomorrow eve at the Methodist.

  […] Saturday Eve I had to go to market so I thought I stopped to see Aunt Emily they went to Miss Ward prayer meeting I got my bag of letters and return home. I then peruse a great many of your letters while in New York. It was a balm to my aching heart [….]

  If Miss Booth succeed in getting the school in Oxford she will be near you will she not? I should like to see her fashionable bonnet. I think she would look well [….]

  Royal Oak,

  Oct. 6, 1866

  |Sat. 9 A.M.

  My Dear Parents & Sister

  It is with pleasure that I resume my old custom of writing to you Saturday morning. It is the only real leisure day that I have to myself, that is, in which I can call the whole time my own to use solely for my own purposes.

  I continue to enjoy good health though there is sickness all around me, there are no less than seven persons on this road sick, two children four men & one women, the children are getting better also one of the men, but the others are considered to be very ill. I think they have the chills & fever. During the present week there have been three fatal cases of cholera in this county, two at St. Michaels and one below Bayside. All were intemperate men who had been eating and then drinking to an excess. One was a colored man & he leaves a wife and six children [….]

  I have seen old Mr. Moore once he’s been very sick this summer but he’s to be about again. When you come on if you can get any old clothes to bring him or some shirts I hope you will do so. To obtain a livelihood he has caught fish and sold them this summer. Only one little child has died among the colored people since I left them, but a number of the people have been sick.

  Than Easton murderer has never yet been caught and never will be now I don’t think. I suppose the circumstance is well nigh forgotten except by those most nearly connected, by this time. Tis shameful that such things are allowed to go on with impunity.

  I rec’d. a letter from Josephine Tuesday which I will send on. She was well and I think she bids fair to do well there, as you were informed concerning the distance from this place to Oxford you were correct, for by water tis only about three miles, but to go by land there it’s sixteen miles, so Mr. Thomas informs me. The colored people are said to be a very respectable class of people and they are getting along very well I’m told. When you’ve read her letter you can judge for yourselves what the state of her mind was when writing and also what her future hopes are. I answered it the next day.

  The women are at work at the church today I expect to find it in excellent order tomorrow, and shall endeavor to see that it is kept so while it is used as a school house. As far as building a school house is concerned nothing has been done as yet, for they’ve not been able to get the land yet. Mr. Benson has it still under consideration I expect we’ll know about it one of these days & just as soon as we can have any satisfaction about the matter I’m going to push it ahead.

  I opened school Wednesday. The rain Tuesday prevented my opening it that day. I’ve had fourteen scholars this week but shall have more next. They will not all be able to come now on account of so much sickness among the different families. Those that came have lost nothing during the vacation, and I have bright hopes for their future course.

  The Sunday School has not been attended well this Summer, it will be resumed under my auspices tomorrow A.M. & I requested the children to tell everybody to come.

  I rec’d. your’s & Addie’s letter Thurs. noon sent for them, and I was happy to know I was not disappointed by not rec’g. them. I did somewhat look for a letter previous to this one, but then I thought you might be at a loss how to direct it and therefore I gave it up. I rec’d. Addie’s while in Balto [….]

  I am pleased to hear of the success of those freedmen you wrote about, and I think they commend themselves very highly. I hope they may be as successful wherever they may go. I think I’ve heard of or read about that other man who has been in prison so long [….]

  Henry Ward Beecher (1812-87) was one of the most influential reli
gious figures of the nineteenth century. He was the charismatic pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn and the brother of Catherine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

  Addie’s commentary on Henry Ward Beecher’s speech demonstrates her intellectual independence. In spite of his stature, she is not too intimidated to challenge his interpretation of history. She is beginning to read more critically and is displaying a greater degree of confidence in her ideas.

  Hartford Oct. 16, 1866

  My Dear Sister

  […] At eight o’clock Sarah and I went down and the boat was just coming in the dock we staid until Mr. Tines went to the Post Office and back and then he accompany us home […. ] I went home or rather to Aunt Emily to see Mr. Tines for the last time for sometime the boat is going to leave here on Saturday at 2½ oclock PM. Tomorrow he go to Phila. His sister is married at 8 o’clock tomorrow eve. He said he would like to had me to accompany him he also wish me to give his kinders regards to them and will answer your letter the first opportunity.

  […] There has been a great fire […] 18,000 people homeless 2,500 houses burned to the ground. The steamer evening Star was last said hundred seventy five on board only sixteen were saved to tell the news ain’t it dreadful.

  I have been reading the speech by Henry Ward Beecher the duties of the hour he is very plain. He says the recent history of the nation may be divided into three periods. Discussion, martial conflict, and reconstructing I should think it was four. The paper spoke of being 30,000 people to hear him. Rebecca Camilla Vaso is coming here the 21st I would love to go and hear her again will be at the Allyn Hall this time.

  […] I am very much please to hear such incouraging account of Miss Booth and her letter she seems to be perfectly happy. I hope we will get along nicely yes I receive both of your letter while you was in Balti. and also answer them. I don’t think anything about going to Middletown. I received the $9.00 last evening fr[o]m your mother and gave her the receipt today no doubt they was glad to have the Sabbath School resumed under your […] I suppose you will get so attached to them that you will not leave them you ask will another be found to take the same interest in them as you do so they won’t be any friend like you.