1834.12.02 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Dec 2, 1834
Mary tells her mother of Mr. Merrick’s sermon upon his arrival to town. He spent more than an hour to indicate the character of God and denies the doctrine of original sin. Mr. Merrick says he is an abolitionist. Mary is pleased with him and thinks Elizabeth and Bethia would be pleased as well. However, she does not agree with all of his teachings. Mary then discusses a party she attended at Mrs. Dennings’ with her sister. She thought it was a strange way to prepare for the Sabbath. She asks about her mother’s Thanksgiving and says Thanksgiving is celebrated more in Massachusetts than in New York. She is glad Caroline decided not to go to the South. She asks for money to buy a bonnet. On Tuesday, Mary writes because Mrs. Fisher did not let her help make applesauce, so she thought writing a letter back was a good use of her time. Mary wishes to have heard Mr. Stearns’ sermon. She thanks her mother for her advice to be undefeated by temptations.
On Thursday, Mary says she had been busy working on making a hood out of silk since the last time she added to the letter. Mr. Fisher left for Utica. She wants Bethia to cut out her leaf impressions for her. She also tells her mother of Theophilus’s interest in Augusta, and she wonders if she is good enough for him. She apologizes for talking so much about Mr. Merrick’s sermons. Mary includes a P.S. to mention she is not prejudiced against those new religious teachings such as those of Mr. Merrick.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Dec 2, 1834
Public Domain
1825.07.05 - Elizabeth Huntington to John Huntington, Jul. 5th, 1825
This letter is largely an update of life at home. Elizabeth tells John about how his brother Edward has just left for Northampton, and then he will continue on to Troy. The previous day was the fourth of July. Elizabeth speaks of the celebrations, but they are muddled due to many indecipherable words.
Elizabeth resumes her letter the next morning. She talks about how the boys often go fishing and about the abundance of fruit they’ve experienced at their home.
She then gives her son some advice. She wants him to spend his Saturday nights and Sabbath days in his room with his Bible, much like many mothers today advise their children in college not to go out on weekend nights. .
Elizabeth runs out of paper and realizes that she has perhaps not answered all his questions. But she promises that if John returns home, he will have all his questions answered. Elizabeth clearly misses having her son around and longs to see him.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 11)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1825-07-05
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
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