Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
About two weeks after the birth of their first child, Lucretia Day Sewall wrote from Portland to her husband, Kiah B. Sewall, who lived in New York City, telling him about their daughter. She had sent him a lock of the baby's hair, which he apparently had not received.
The couple married in 1836. Sewall, who had failed in business in Portland, was trying to get established in business. The Panic of 1837 and ensuing recession added to his financial difficulties.
The baby, Eunice Day Sewall, named after Lucretia's mother, was born August 20, 1837. Her father had not yet seen her.
Lucretia wrote, "I am getting along quite well - sit up half a day - but I am very impatient of confinement ..."
She especially wanted to drink water, which she was told was bad for the baby. The lack of it, she said, "is bad for such an inveterate water drinker as I am."
She told Sewall she hoped to see him the next month and that she was getting discouraged at their separation.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Lucretia Sewall letter to husband about baby, Portland, 1837
- Creator: Lucretia Day Sewall
- Creation Date: 1837-09-08
- Subject Date: 1837
-
Locations:
- Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- New York, NY
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 23 cm x 19 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 105, Box 1/1
- Collection: Sewall family papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Births
- Debt
- Economic & social conditions
- Land speculation
- Real estate investment
- Recessions
- Sewall family
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--Correspondence
- Sewall, Lucretia Day--Correspondence
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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