[The letter is undated but the dealer who sold it to me determined that it was written in 1855, based on Miss Phinney's marriage, the novels mentioned, and the construction of Mount Holyoke's first library.]Patricks lane. Dunbarry.
Sometime in SeptemberDear Lizzie
I suppose you have long ago given up expecting or (wishing) to hear from me; but dont [sic] flatter yourself, for my motto in this case is, "Better late than never", so be patient. Looking in my desk today I found a letter partly written, to you I suppose by myself[.] I had entirely forgotten it, but not you, for I have been intending to write long ago but was so intolerably lazy or something has happened to prevent me from performing my good intentions. - (I am not quite well yet but improving all the time. I hope you are enjoying your vacation as much as possible and not taking it for study.[)]
It must have been very difficult for you to have kept "silent study hours" after I left. I was such a help to you to keep the rules.
Every body asks me if we were not kept very strict in the Sem. I judge from the last term and say "No". - How grand the Sem will be next year with a real Library! I should like to see it very much.. [sic] Are you going back next year? of course they could find no objections to your returning. Oh! I forgot your health. I dont [sic] see how Miss Jessup noticed you did not look well. I hope you are better now. You ought to feel flattered that Miss J. noticed you so much. Dear me, my head would be turned entirely! - Uncle was in Lee a short time ago and saw Miss Phinney she is married I forget her name. -
I am not going to return next year on account of my health I did not apply but Aunt thinks I had better not go back. I have commenced studying but alas I want a french Teacher more than a little I miss you so much. the only rule I have is
to forpronounce the words as they are spelt.If you know a better (?) please send it to me. I also miss you in debates. I have no one here to contradict as they are all of the same mind I am afraid that America will suffer and be lowered in my estimation if no one upholds its cause and that would be a great loss for it. The idea of "Classic" groves (I suppose you meant) in America! It is well you took it back or I should imagine you thought yourself in "some far off countrie" [sic] rather than in this matter of fact America. - I suppose you read all the news of the "war" now. I can hardly bear to read anything about it. I try to look on the bright side of course for the Allies[.] I have had the account of it all from an eyewitness, and am now reading "The Camp before Sebastopol" Oh it is dreadful! I cannot bear to think of it. - I have just finished a novel - "The Heartsease", it is very interesting.
aYou must not think I makeita practice of reading such books, for I only read them when they fall in my way. - I hope you were not troubled with an "unsubdued light" if you are we are not, it is cloudy or rainy nearly all the time.I have just heard that if I had been ready I would have gone to the Ipswich Seminary today, glad I was'nt [sic], if I go any where, I want to go to the Sem. - There is a large party here to night in which Maggie is going to make her debut (pronounce it right). I was invited too, but the old ladies must stay at home to make room for the young ones. I dont [sic] love to go to parties for my experience is like the "Bashful man" invariably. I have had the most amusing time dressing her. this evening, one of her mates was here, and it was as good as a comedy to hear them talk.
I suppose you are wishing for the. [sic] close to this lot of nonsense so I will relieve you. I dont [sic] want you to write to me if you dont [sic] wish to, but I will be most happy to hear from you, and you know I would, or ought to.
With much love, I am yours
Jennie T__I am ashamed to send this, but you must excuse it on the plea of sore eyes they are so bad that I am not allowed to read or sew, write either if Aunt knew it. If you will condescend to write please write the "five foolscap sheets full".
asthey will be most welcome.[Notes from the seller:
Fascinating four-page stampless letter written by Jane "Jennie" Tatlock at Williamstown, MA, and mailed on September 18, 1855, to her former classmate Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ford in Morristown, NJ. Pages measure approx. 6 1/4" x 8".
Postal history: UNLISTED YEAR. Black 32mm CDS, WILLIAMSTOWN Mass., with a matching "PAID 3" in an arc.
Condition: Envelope is age-toned, soiled on back, slight stain on front, flap is torn. Letter has a few ink smears and slight foxing.
Jane "Jennie" Tatlock, a student at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary during the 1854-55 school year, had left the school due to ill health. She writes to her former classmate Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ford, letting her know how much she misses the school and her friend. Jennie had been born in England and, after the death of her parents, had come to the U. S. with her siblings to live with an uncle who was a Professor at Williams College in Williamstown. She expresses her patriotism for America and her horror at the news of the Crimean War she received "from an eyewitness." Jennie and Lizzie seemed to have a lot in common and both enjoyed long careers as teachers. The letter is undated but we have determined that it was written in 1855, based on the marriage of a Mount Holyoke teacher that Jennie mentions in her letter as well as the time period in which she attended the school.
Jane "Jennie" Tatlock (1837-1915) was born in Liverpool, England, the daughter of James Tatlock (1811-1846) and his wife Jane Orrett (1808-1847). James was the son of William Tatlock of England and Mary Lloyd of Wales. His brother John Tatlock (1808-1886) was born in Wales. John emigrated to the U. S. in 1830 and worked while preparing to further his education. He entered Williams College in 1832 and graduated in 1836. He served two years as a Tutor before becoming Professor of Mathematics in 1838. That year he married Lucy Benjamin Perry (1815-1842), the daughter of Dr. Alfred T. Perry and Lucy Benjamin. Their son John Tatlock was born December 4, 1841. Both mother and child developed tuberculosis, resulting in Lucy's death in February 1842 and little John's the next month. On July 18, 1843, John married Sarah Marie Benjamin (1810-1890), the aunt of his first wife. In 1845 Professor Tatlock was appointed Librarian at Williams. He became a U. S. citizen in May 1849 and was licensed to preach as a Congregational minister in October 1852. He received a law degree from Western Reserve College in 1865 and resigned from Williams in 1867. He was admitted to the bar in June 1868 and, in early 1869, moved to Pittsfield, MA, where he practiced law. John and Sarah are buried in the Westlawn Cemetery in Williamstown. See A Biographical Record of the Kappa Alpha Society in Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. (1881), The Evening Post (NYC, August 27, 1838), the New York Daily Tribune (NYC, August 4, 1843), the Detroit Free Press (June 5, 1867), and The Burlington Free Press (VT, February 17, 1869).
In 1850 John and Sarah Tatlock took in three of his brothers' orphaned children: Jennie, her brother John Tatlock (1835-1902), and her sister Margaret Tatlock (1841-1917). In 1852 their brother William Tatlock (1833-1896) joined them. At some point, the Tatlocks took in Henry Tatlock (1848-1942) from Ireland. John, William, and Henry all attended Williams College. John graduated from Auburn Seminary and became a Presbyterian minister in NY. William graduated from the General Theological Seminary in NY and became an Episcopal minister in CT. Henry taught school and married Margaret around 1875. He graduated from the General Theological Seminary and became Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor, MI. See A Biographical Record of the Kappa Alpha Society in Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. (1881), Phi Beta Kappa, Gamma of Massachusetts, Williams College (1887), and The Living Church (November 15, 1942).
Jennie attended Mount Holyoke during the 1854-55 school year. We could find few records on her. She was teaching school in New Haven, CT, in 1886 and was listed as boarding there in the home of Eli Whitney Jr. in 1889. Around 1895, she was living with her brother William in Stamford, CT. By 1900 she had moved to Washington and was boarding in New Whatcom, which became Bellingham. She passed away there on January 9, 1915, and was laid to rest in the Bayview Cemetery. See General Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass., 1837-1887 (1889), Quinquennial Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke College: South Hadley, Mass., 1837-1895, General Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke College, 1837-1911, and The Bellingham Herald (January 11, 1915).
Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ford (1836-1916) was the daughter of Edwin Ford (1801-1886) and Jane Pierson (1799-1875) of Morris County, NJ. Edwin was a prosperous farmer who lived in Hanover Township, near Morristown. Lizzie and her sister Abby both attended Mrs. Young's Female Seminary and were listed in the 1850 census as living in the household of Abby Elizabeth Young in Allentown. Lizzie and several of her sisters later attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary: Lizzie graduated in 1857; Abby was listed as a non-graduate in 1858; Charlotte graduated in 1862 and became a physician; Julia was listed as a non-graduate in 1863; and Emma graduated in 1864. Sarah began her teaching career in MD and taught in NY and PA before returning to Morristown to teach with Abby and Julia. Sarah passed away November 29, 1916, and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown, the final resting place for other members of her family. A collection of her correspondence is held as Ford Correspondence, 1853-1874 in the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections. See Quinquennial Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke College: South Hadley, Mass., 1837-1895.
"Miss Jessup" refers to Emily Jessup (1824-1893), who was born in Wilton, CT, the daughter of William Jessup and Nancy Odell. She graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1847 and taught there from 1847-1855. She served as Associate Principal 1855-1862 before moving to Oxford, OH, to join the faculty of the Western Female Seminary. Confined to a wheelchair due to health issues, she taught at Western until 1893. She is buried in the Oxford Cemetery. See Mount Holyoke catalogues 1843-1862 and History of Mount Holyoke Seminary, South Hadley, Mass. (1887).
"Miss Phinney" refers to Mary Frances Phinney (1832-1865), who was born in Lee, MA, the daughter of Caleb B. Phinney and Rebecca Hunter. She graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1852 and taught there 1852-1855. On August 27, 1855, she married in Lee attorney Henry Kirke Whiton (1827-1886), a graduate of Marietta College. She passed away February 7, 1865, and is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Janesville, WI. See Mount Holyoke catalogues 1850-1855 and General Catalogue Marietta College 1835-1887 (1888).
Deacon Daniel Safford (1792-1856) of Boston supervised the enlargement and improvement of the room used as the Library at Mount Holyoke. The work was done during the summer of 1855. Deacon Safford passed away in February 1856. By 1857 the Library had about 4,000 "well-selected and valuable books." See Historical Sketch of Mount Holyoke Seminary (1876).
A Month in the Camp Before Sebastopol by British author Henry Jeffreys Bushby (1820-1903) was published in London in 1855. Heartsease; or, The Brother's Wife, Vols. 1 & 2, by British novelist Charlotte Mary Yonge (1823-1901), was published in London in 1854.