1840.04.21 - Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, April 21st, 1840
Elizabeth begins with apologies for not writing sooner, and thanks for Frederic's attentions through her sickness. Letter discusses Frederic's missionary work visiting prisoners, ferry transportation to Northampton now that the bridge is out, rules about visiting a child at school, reading Longfellow's poetry collection Voices of the Night, Frederic's eye troubles, herbal medicine, and the illnesses of various friends. The letter contains much religious commentary on prayer, church services, various ministers and a mention of Dan Huntington preaching in Deerfield. It ends with a detailed description of reunion in Heaven. There is a lot of cross-writing additions to this letter, including a joke about a neighbor and the Whig Party.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 8)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1840-04-21
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence
1829.04.21 - Elizabeth Huntington to John Huntington, Apr. 21st, 1829
This letter is made up of two parts: one written by John Huntington’s sister Catherine, the other written by his mother Elizabeth. Both parts are general updates about life at home. They write a lot about their family members (like Pa, Theophilus, Bethia) as well as about neighbors and townspeople. Elizabeth updates John about the spread and effect of disease and death in town, which may have been interesting to him because he probably knew the people she wrote about. The most intriguing part about this letter was Elizabeth’s cryptic mention of the “expected object”; she goes on to talk about the status of the help at home. Catherine does not mention religion at all, but her mother brings it up twice, as what seems like a way to remind John to thank God for his health and situation currently and in the future.
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 11)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
1829-04-21
Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Correspondence