Letters before 1850

History

The earliest letters did not have envelopes or stamps. They were folded and addressed on an exposted portion of the paper.

The Images

All letters have at least their first page or a portion of the first page scanned, and comments about their contents are included below.

A Letter Written on Dec 1, 1832: envelope Addressed to Miss Elizabeth S. Bull in Dorchester, Mass. Postmarked Jan 7 [1833] in Ipswich, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 2, 1835: envelope Addressed to Miss Maria A. Luce, Holmes Hole, Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Postmarked Apr 6 [1835] in Agawam, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 19, 1835: envelope Addressed to Rev. William Tyler in South Hadley. Postmarked Oct 19, [1835] in Newburgh NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 24, 1836: envelope Addressed to Miss Betsey Gibson in Lowell, Mass. Postmarked Sep 27, [1836] in Bristol, RI.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 16, 1838: envelope Postmarked Mar 16, [1838] in South Hadley, and transit marked in Wilbraham, Mass. Missent/forward notation.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 10, 1838: envelope Postmarked Aug 11, [1838] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 13, 1838: envelope Postmarked Aug 18, [1838] in Meriden, Ct. Addressed to Miss Hannah Blodget, Broad Brook Post Office, East Windsor, Ct.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 14, 1838: envelope Addressed to Miss Maria A. Luce, Holmes Hole, Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Postmarked Sep 15, [1838].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written around Mar 23, 1839: envelope Postmarked Mar 23, [1839] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Lucina Sikes in Shiawassee Mich.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 20, 1839: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Dated Nov 21 [1839] in Deerfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 9, 1839: envelope Addressed to Doct. Joseph Caldwell, Huron, Huron Co. [Ohio]. Postmarked Dec 12 [1839] in Oberlin, Ohio.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 8, 1840: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jan 9 [1840] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 29, 1840: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jul 30 [1840] in New Haven Ct. Addressed to Mr. Charles Eastman in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 22, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Dated May 28 [1841] in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Clara S. Montague in Millville NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 14, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Dated Jun 15 [1841] in South Deerfield.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 7, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Taylor of Derry NH. Postmarked in Ovid NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 24, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Nov 4 [1841] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 7, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Graves at the Seminary, and delivered via Mr Brown. No postmark.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 14, 1841: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Mrs. Harriet W Dame in Boston, care of A A Dame Esq, and hand postmarked Dec 16 [1841] in Sterling, Ct.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 23, 1842: front The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Lydia R. Baldwin in Southampton, Mass. Postmarked on Mar 28 [1842] in Roxbury, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 1, 1842: envelope Postmarked May 8 [1842] in Vergennes Vt. Addressed to Miss Sophia S Leavitt in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 3, 1842: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. "Miss Sarah A. Bonney, South Hadley Female Sem." Wow, didn't even need the state to find its way to her!; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 15, 1842: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Nancy M Woodbridge at the Seminary and annotated "Singly" in bottom left corner. Postmarked Jul 16 [1842] in South Glastenbury [sic] Conn.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 14, [1842?]: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Mrs Mary A Kent in Benson, Vt. Postmarked Oct 15 in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 12, 1842: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Taylor in South Hadley. Manuscript cancel ed on Nov 15 [1842] in Hampstead NH.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 18, 1843: envelope The letter is folded and addressed to Miss Lois B. Rice So Hadley Seminary, Mass., on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Mar 28, [1843] in Deerfield Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 16, 1843: envelope The letter is folded and addressed to Miss Harriet E. Walker in Keene NH. Postmarked Jul 17 [1843] in Palmyra NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 19, 1843: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Rev Cephas H Kent in Benson, Vt. Postmarked Jul 20 in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 5, 1843: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. "Miss Martha A. C. Leach, Mt Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass. From H. A. Buck."; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 14, 1843: envelope The letter is folded and addressed to Miss Harriet E. Walker at the Seminary. Postmarked Dec 16 [1843] in Palmyra NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 22, 1844: front The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss L. R. Baldwin at the Seminary. Postmarked in Springfield Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 17, 1844: front The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked May 2 [1844] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 29, 1844: front The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Emily Bridge in South Hadley. Postmarked Apr 29 [1844] in an indecipherable location, probably Gloucester, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on July 9, 1844: front Portion of the letter containing the address: to "Miss Harriet E. Walker at Miss Lyon's, South Hadley, Mass." It is postmarked Jul 9 in Boston. The text of the letter; supplement The owner of the letter before me did some research about the Dover Street fire that Sue mentions in this letter. The Massachusetts Historical Society discovered that the Dover Street fire took place on June 25, 1844. The Boston Almanac for 1845 stated that on that date "A great fire at the South end, which originated in Groton st. It commenced in the engine room of a steam planing mill, which spread with fearful rapidity, and burned up in its track about 30 buildings, including a valuable public school house. Dover st. was the scene of great destruction of property." With this information, the letter written to Harriet can now be dated July 9, 1844.
A Letter Written On Aug 30, 1844: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Caroline Henshaw. Sent from Hadley, Mass on Sept 10 [1844].; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written On Oct 10, 1844: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Nathaniel Sawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio. Postmarked Oct 11 [1844] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 20, 1844: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. No envelope or postage was necessary? Postmarked Nov 21 in South Hadley. Addressed to Emma J. Edson in Andover, NH. The name Edna Dean Proctor is pencilled up the side.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 6, 1844: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Dated Dec 10 on the outside. Addressed to Miss Mary Clark, Mt. Holyoke Seminary South Hadly [sic] Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Mar 28, 1845: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Mar 31 [1845] in Orwell Vt. Addressed to Miss Mary P. Thompson at the Seminary. A pencil inscription was added later: "Miss Cushman"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Aug 9, 1845: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Dated Aug 9 on the outside. Mailed from Hatfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 16, 1845: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Mrs Martha A. Curtis of Ann Arbor. Postmarked Oct 17 [1845] in PittsfordVT.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 5, 1845: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Nov 6, [1845] in New London, Conn. Addressed to Mr. James O. L. Hillard for Miss A. Davison Care of Seth Low Co Merchants New York.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 18, 1845: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Nov 20, [1845] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written On Feb 7, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Lydia E. M. Abbott in South Hadley. Postmarked Feb 12 in Newburyport Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written On Apr 14, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Samuel Williston Esq in East Hampton, Mass. Postmarked Apr 16[?] in Pompey NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written On May 4, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Mary J. Talcott in South Hadley, Mass. Postmarked May 5 in Easthampton, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written On May 5, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Mrs. Gillette in Bloomfield Ct. Postmarked May 6 in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 18, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jul 20, [1846] in Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 10, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked on the 12th in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 18, 1846: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Nov 19 in St Francisville, Louisiana. Addressed to Miss Lucy A Parker, c/o Miss Lyons [sic] at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 1, [1846?]: envelope Addressed to Lucien S. Wilcox in New Haven Conn. Postmarked Dec 1, [1846?] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on June 14, 1847: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Charlotte Hoyt, Salina, New York.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 1, 1847: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Elizabeth W. Marsh at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Sep 7, 1847: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Sep 9 in New York. Addressed to Miss Wealthy Dresser, Goshen Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 18, 1847: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Oct 19 in South Hadley. Addressed to Rev Mr Clancy, Belchertown, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Oct 27, 1847: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Oct 28 in New York. Addressed to Miss Mary P. Thompson, Aberdeen, Brown Co., Ohio, care of Dr. Moore.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
An Undated Poem, 1848: envelope No postmark. Addressed to Mrs. Eloisa Ely, Huntington, Conn.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 10, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked in South Hadley Mass. Addressed to Mr William P Clark in Media Ohio. Inscription added later: "Feb 10 48 / No 14" [presumably the 14th letter she received from him]; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written Mar 13, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Louisa D. Whittlesey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. No postmark.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written Mar 24, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Madelia A Patrick at the Seminary. Postmarked Mar 25 in Hanover Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written Mar 27, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Mrs Daniel W. Youngs, Pleasant Valley, Litchfield County, Conn. Postmarked Mar 30 [1848] in Baton Rouge, La.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written Apr 28, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Julia Fanning at the Seminary. Postmarked Apr 28 in Rushville NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 14, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jun 15 [1848] in South Hadley Mass. Addressed to Mr William P Clark in Media Ohio. Inscription added later: "June 15 48 / No 20" [presumably the 20th letter she received from him]; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 21, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jun 25 [1848] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 11, 1848: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jul 12 [1848] in Suffield Conn. Addressed to Mr. H. [Harvey] D. Smith, Governeur, St. Lawrence Co. N.Y. Inscription on the reverse: "Rev. A. [Asahel] C. Washburn July 1848"; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 10, 1848: envelope Postmarked Oct 11 [1848] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. Edward E. Atwater, Ravenna, Ohio.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 22, 1848: envelope Postmarked Oct 23 [1848]. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Ware in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Oct 26, 1848: envelope Postmarked Oct 28 [1848] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mr George W Gorham in New Haven Conn., care of Mr Eleazer Gorham.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Dec 1, 1848: envelope Postmarked Dec 5 [1848] in Tuscaloosa Al. Addressed to Miss Harriet Hawes in Boston, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
An Undated Poem, 1848: envelope No postmark. Addressed to Mrs. Eloisa Ely, Huntington, Conn.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 1, 1849: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jan 5 [1849] in New Haven CT. Addressed to Miss Esther Gorham at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jan 19, 1849: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Jan 21 [1849] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mrs. N. F. [Nathaniel Fanning] Stevens, Essex, Conn.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Feb 6, 1849: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Postmarked Feb 7 in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Caroline E. Wilson, Seminary, East Hampton, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 23, 1849: envelope The letter is folded and addressed on an exposed portion of the paper. Addressed to Miss Julia Fanning at the Seminary. Postmarked Apr 23 in Rushville NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Apr 28, 1849: envelope Addressed to Miss Margaret Atkinson, Falls Port, Wayne Co, PA. Postmarked May 1, [1849] in South Hadley. The back has some pencilled notations about Margaret Atkinson, written by her great great nephew, Joseph Atkinson von Hake.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on May 26, 1849: envelope Addressed to Miss Harriette Haskell, Castleton Seminary, VT. Postmarked May 26, [1849] in Greenwich NY.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 1, 1849: page 1 No cover page exists. Full contents of letter, though only the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jun 25, 1849: envelope Postmarked Jun 26, [1849] in Thomaston, Me. Addressed to Miss Sarah F. Woodhull at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Jul 27, 1849: envelope Postmarked Jul 27, [1849] in South Hadley.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Sep 29, 1849: envelope Postmarked Sep 29, [1849] in South Hadley. Addressed to Mssrs. Merriam Chapin & Co., Springfield, Mass.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only part of the page is scanned.
A Letter Written on Nov 24, 1849: envelope Postmarked Jan 2, [1850] in Remsen, NY. Addressed to Miss Jane Everett at the Seminary.; page 1 Full contents of letter, though only the page is scanned.; page 1 Another letter, written on Jan 2, 1850, is enclosed. Full contents of letter, though only the page is scanned.; page 1 A third, undated, letter is enclosed. Full contents of letter.
A Letter Written on Nov 30, 1849: page 1 No cover page exists. Full contents of letter, though only part of the first page is scanned.