Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Kiah B. Sewall (1807-1865), a native of Phippsburg who was living in New York studying law and trying to get out of debt, wrote to his wife, Lucretia, in Portland about his continuing lung problems. He had been sick and confined to his home for four weeks.
Sewall wrote, "...the best thing I can do is to go south to Florida or to Havannah & remain till Spring - "
The couple had a 17-month old daughter, Eunice. Lucretia and the child lived with her parents in Portland because Sewall did not have sufficient money to support them in New York. He had not yet seen his daughter.
Sewall wrote, "Do not be alarmed my Dearest wife, I may not be so bad as this will lead you to suppose - but I am not so well as my friends here think."
He added, "I have been able since last July to support myself - & if I could have my health, before another year could do more - but unfortunately I have no surplus, nothing for 'a rainy day' - and whether I should seek a milder climate, or see you here I can do neither without aid."
He wrote a post script asking Lucretia if he should ask her father for money to go south.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Kiah B. Sewall on continuing illness, New York, 1839
- Creator: Kiah Bayley Sewall
- Creation Date: 1839-01-28
- Subject Date: 1839
-
Locations:
- Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- New York, NY
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 25 cm x 20 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 105, Box 1/2
- Collection: Sewall family papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Debt
- Land speculation
- Real estate investment
- Sewall family
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--Correspondence
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--Health
- Sewall, Lucretia Day--Correspondence
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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