1842.12.19 - Elizabeth Huntington to Edward Huntington, Dec. 19th, 1842
Elizabeth feels it is hazardous to attempt writing to Edward due to the way recent letters have created hurting feelings among the family. Elizabeth is worried she will offend someone she writes to. She understands there must be a certain time in which issues between family members will still remain, but she does not intend to offend anyone. Therefore, she tells Edward they must write to friends such that they make them more comfortable, rather than less comfortable. Elizabeth tells Edward of her and the family’s travels and that Elizabeth was nearly sick, but got better. She hopes to see Edward at Caroline’s wedding next week.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 5)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1842-12-19
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1845.05.08 - Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, May 8th, 1845
The first part of the transcription is Elizabeth copying a letter from William she received earlier that day. William writes to his mother to let her know that he has rented out his farm for the harvest season and will be setting out on a trip early in May. Departing from St. Louis, William and his family will go to New York City to visit brother Edwards, then move to Boston and meet up with his brother Frederic, and finally arrive in Hadley or Northampton around the first of June. Elizabeth then begins to write to Frederic and gives him an update about her and Dan’s house calls to their various neighbors. She tells Frederic about her disappointment in not seeing or hearing from his family, clearly using some element of guilt to try and make them come for a visit. She then updates Frederic’s on his siblings and tells him that Theophilus’s wife Eliza is very ill. She complains about the difficulty of hiring a woman to do housework, and expresses pleasure in her grandchildren and pride in Frederic’s ministry and publications—while urging him to feel humble.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 10)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1845-01-04
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1832.05.21 - Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington, May 21st., 1832
Elizabeth writes to her 17 year-old daughter Mary while she is away at school. There seems to be some concern about Mary's health or happiness and Elizabeth seems willing to have her return home and study with her brother William if she prefers. Elizabeth sympathetically recalls her own unhappiness when away from home as a girl. The rest of the letter is full of family and town news with special attention to the family's horses and to the antics of baby Frances. She writes about church describing the music of the church organ and the content of a recent sermon. She ends with a postscript written in French--a language Mary was probably learning in school. Elizabeth planned to send the letter by post, but instead sends it with a man going west to sell hats.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 12)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1832-05-21
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1844.07.15 - Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, July 15th, 1844
Elizabeth is writing this letter to the youngest of her children Frederic Huntington and his wife Hannah. The couple just had a baby boy, which Elizabeth is very happy about and hopes they teach him about the importance of Christianity—god, prayers, heaven. Elizabeth also says during these happy times, we must remember the people who have died beforehand, like Frederic’s brother and sister and their babies: the circle of life.
Elizabeth cannot wait to see the new baby and then talks about some other travels she and her children will be partaking in soon. Elizabeth goes on to talk about the other members of the family: Walter goes everywhere with his father, but hasn’t learned to talk much. Theodore is quite well, but has started to feel sick again. Other than that, Elizabeth and her husband were preached to yesterday. Some other people in the community are also feeling sick. Frederic’s father is very busy with the silk worms and helping his kids, Frederic’s siblings, rake and cultivate the garden. Then she signs it off by wanting to hear about Frederic’s parish and love to both him and Hannah.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 9)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1844-07-15
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1833.04.23 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Apr 23, 1833
Mary explains that she is struggling with her physical and mental health to her Mother. For the first part of her time at Troy, her school, she was struggling to get to her lessons but felt that the only time for her to finish her studies was the present. She has dropped her studies completely, but she is still not much feeling better. She knits to pass the time.
Mary states that she wishes that she was as grateful as her mother, as her letters are filled
with positivity more often than not. She begins to muse about how “we” should look at our
blessings as well as our troubles. Mary believes that when things are bad, it is harder to think of our blessings than when things are good.
She then expresses her gratitude at being granted the ability to return home with Edward but then shows her hesitation towards actually going home. She feels as if the option is too easy, and is leaving the decision for her mother (the reader) and Pa to make. While she is disappointed that she will not be following the path she expected to take, she knows that it is best for her mental health to not continue her schoolings at the present time.
Mary then jumps to questioning what to infer from what Elizabeth wrote. She wonders if Elizabeth has become a believer and if so, she will celebrate that with her. Mary then says that it is important to have “the assurance of faith.”
Although Mary wanted to have written back by that afternoon, she was prevented from doing so by Pauline, a guest. Mary makes sure to mention that Pauline has a plan for when she turns twenty-one that includes living in the country on a farm and doing the
housework herself. Two of Mary’s (teachers?) left the seminary on a journey to Clinton, and she hopes they succeed in what they do. She explains how she feels discouraged about herself and a burden to her friends. She asks her mother to express any cautions she may have, especially since she could do it with kindness.
Mary received Bethia’s letter, and hopes to see her brother in a few days. She ends the
letter by asking her mother to send a prayer for her.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Apr 23, 1833
Public Domain
1835.03.31 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, Mar 31, 1835
In this letter to her mother, Mary is explaining the stressful things in her life. She writes that people do not understand what she is going through, but she also wants to write about the important things that Spring brings. She had been in Oswego for almost 6 months, and she cannot wait to see her mother and sister. Her time there had been so well, that the time and distance between them have not been so bad, making the letter so important to her staying connected. Mary describes the situation of the teaching position that is needed and asked that her mother propose it to a prospective teacher. Even though she misses her mother, Mary still wishes to stay with her sister on the lake until mid-June. She ends the letter pleaded for her mother to write back quickly, implying that it is of great importance to her to stay connected.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Mar 31, 1835
Public Domain
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
1835.05.09 - Mary Huntington to Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, May 9, 1835
Mary Huntington writes to her mother, Elizabeth W. P. Huntington, about her decision to travel to Albany. She makes this decision after considering other people’s travel plans of and deliberating. She preferred to be accompanied by some of her family members, but had no choice but to travel alone.
Mary Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20, Folder 13)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
May 9, 1835
Public Domain