Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Kiah B. Sewall wrote from New York to his father-in-law, Ezekiel Day of Portland, to discuss his job prospects. Sewall's wife, Lucretia Day Sewall, had been living with her parents in Portland for more than a year. They were caring for her and the couple's daughter, Eunice Day Sewall, who was born in August 1837.
Sewall, who had been trying to establish himself in business for several years and was apparently in debt in Portland and New York, wrote that he was working as an apprentice lawyer.
"My whole time is given to another without any compensation," he wrote. He said he had been borrowing from friends. He said his continuing lack of funds had almost led him to give up the law and enter some other business.
He wrote that he had not confided his circumstances earlier -- and had not been to Portland since his wife went there in April 1837 -- because he thought Day was "perplexed with your own affairs and I wished as much as possible to refrain from adding any thing to your cares or anxieties."
"My prospects are poor," Sewall wrote. However, he believed that when his apprenticeship ended and he could begin charging for his services, he would do well.
Day had sent him $100, for which Sewall thanked him.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: K.B. Sewall to Ezekial Day on job prospects, New York, 1838
- Creator: Kiah B. Sewall
- Creation Date: 1838-03-30
- Subject Date: 1838
-
Locations:
- New York, NY
- Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 25.2 cm x 20.2 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 105, Box 1/1
- Collection: Sewall family papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Day, Ezekial--Correspondence
- Debt
- Economic & social conditions
- Land speculation
- Real estate investment
- Recessions
- Sewall family
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--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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