Women's History
Massachusetts, ca. 1807-1830, 1854-1860
Correspondence of Sisters involved In Home Industry Massachusetts Family in Early-Nineteenth Century
Archive

[WOMEN?S HISTORY.] Archive of Autograph Letters Signed, 1807-1830, 1854-1860. Most to Charlotte Adams and Susan Adams. 33 letters, 58 pp. General toning consistent with age; some tears on edges and folds; some staining; minimal paper loss, often from original opening of wax seals.

This series of letters involves the children of Titus and Anna Adams of Medway, Massachusetts. Sisters Lavina, Ann, Susan, and Charlotte and brothers Levi and Thomas were born between 1780 and 1802. Most of these letters were written to Charlotte Adams both before and after her marriage in 1818 to Christopher Slocomb. The final letters in the collection are written between 1854 and 1860 by Susan?s illegitimate son Rodolphus Adams, who was working in New York City as a bell hanger and silver plater.

The letters discuss social and economic conditions in Massachusetts among these women who worked as seamstresses, school teachers, and bonnet makers. The family suffered many early deaths, as all of the siblings died before reaching fifty years of age, except Lavina and Charlotte.

Contents and Excerpts
-Susan Adams to Sister, July 1807, Medfield, Massachusetts.
?As you requested me to write and I promised you I would I think I cannot with \propriety and a clear conscience say I will not devote a few moments of my time to try to amuse you the few moments you are a reading it provided you can?

-Ann Adams to Charlotte Adams, June 29, 1808, Boston, Massachusetts.
?I want to know whether mothers ticket has draw[n] a prise I have not found out whether mine has or not Charlotte why dont you come down here and see me Mr Parsons says he should like to have you come and stay a while?

-Ann Adams to Charlotte Adams, November 24, 1808, Boston, Massachusetts.

-Parsons to Susan Adams, February 22, 1812, Boston, Massachusetts.
?I received your letter Susan and went immediately in pursuit of your sister Charlotte whom I found at Mr Joseph Ripleys in the capacity of sempstress it is a respectable family. Your sister was not very well pleased with your cousins wife & thought it best to change her quarters. She called at my house last evening, says she is much pleased with her place & has writen twice to you since she left your cousins house.... I told her that in future she might make my house her home when displeased with her situation.?

-Betsey Morse to Charlotte Adams, January 29, 1813, Medway, Massachusetts.
?I attend school this winter, and feel much engaged in the studies of Arithmetic and Grammar, which I attend. There are but few large girls attend our school this winter what there are attend to the study of Arithmetic... I think the death of your cousin Polly Adams must be very affecting to you as well as to all other of her acquaintances: may her death teach us the uncertainty of life and the necessity of our having an interest in Christ Jesus...?

-Charlotte Adams to Susan Adams, October 5, 1813, Medway, Massachusetts.
?Why my dear sister do you neglect to enjoy that happiness which may be derived from corresponding with your friends, and which the wise disposer of events has still left at your disposal. What reason may I assign for this neglect. Is your time so engrossed by the duties incumbent upon you so that you have no leasure hours to devote to that pleasing exercise? Or are your affections alienated to your child who is bound to your heart by still closer ties? Pardon me for I was mistaken, as I was siting at my table a writing I perceived a gentleman stop his waggon and hold out a letter. I soon imagined who it came from and ran with joy to receive the invaluable prize. I am pleased to hear of your health but was surprised to find your letter had been wrote nearly a month.?

-Susan Adams to sister [Charlotte Adams?], January 16, 1814, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
?Dr Starkweather was in here last week he said they talk?d some of applying to you to keep the school in the middle of the town I have not heard any thing about it since it is a tolerable large school I am afraid it will be a hard task for you in your bad state of health. they intend having it begin soon I hardly dare think of it for fear you wont come?

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams, July 18, 1814, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

-Betsey Morse to Charlotte Adams, January 15, [1815?], Medway, Massachusetts.

-Susan Adams to Levi Adams, May 21, 1815, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
?I was much pleas?d that you was so good as to write but greatly disapointed that you had engaged a housekeeper I was in hopes to have liv?d with you I am happy to hear you intend marrying in the fall I think you can enjoy yourself much better in that state than in any other if you are so fortunate as to get an amiable wife which I sincerely hope you will... May I not Levi endulge the pleasing hope that you will when you are married let me come & live with you I will let you have my child to bring up as your own he is a sprightly child I know you will love him his being a boy prevents my bringing him up I must before long let some one have him I do not know of any one that I would so willingly let have him as yourself I will pay you for his board untill he is a suitable age to earn his living...?

-Charlotte Adams to Susan Adams, April 1, 1816, Boston, Massachusetts.
?Who can foretell the various vicissitudes of human life. Since I wrote you a very great change has taken place in this family. You well recollect what I wrote you respecting the increase of our family which was expected the last of April. But unfortunately by the means of a fall which Elizabeth had she was confined about a month since She was I believe very sick her child lived but a few hours she has now however recovered her health. This my dear Susan has prevented my writing before. And must I now disappoint you and add another wound to the many which you have already received Yes I must have fortitude to tell you and you I trust will cheerfully submit to the trials which are allotted you I fear must give up the idea of living hear this summer which I fully know will be a severe disappointment to you. In consequence of this unhappy circumstance Elizabeth thinks she shall be able to do alone this summer but I cannot think she will be so well as she thinks for she will try to do her work for a while Levi says he cannot afford to hire her a maid he told me when he thought of have you live with him next summer that he could not afford to pay you any thing for your work he told me he thought if he boarded you both that was as much as you would earn you might have what time you could get to work for yourself I was afraid you would not make out so well as would in the country...?
?I think I shall come home in about a month, if I do not teach a school any where here.?

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams, n.d. (ca. 1816), n.p. (Boston, Massachusetts?).

-Cordelia Morse to Charlotte Adams, May 25, 1816, Boston, Massachusetts.
?Dear Friend do write me the particulars of your arrival and how you made out the first day you opened school I have no doubt but you will prosper in all your good undertakings.?

-Charlotte Adams to Susan Adams, September 18, 1816, Medway, Massachusetts.
?I am much pleased with my new situation. I think I never was more gratified with any school I ever taught. I have about thirty five scholars mostly small; they appear under good government and some of [them are] very ambitious.?

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams, October 20, 1816, Boston, Massachusetts.
?Levi wife did not appear much pleasd to se me I never felt more disagreeable she appeard however better the next morning I now like her better than I expected to Rodolphus is well & likes very well he is not a verry good boy I have had to whip him & expect to more he has been with marm so long that I find it very hard to make a good boy of him I intend he shall go to schooll as soon as I can make him some clothes.?
?they have a new fashion here to make straw Bonnets I do not like it very well perhaps you will...?

-Cordelia Morse to Charlotte Adams, October 23, 1816, Boston, Massachusetts.
?Dear Charlotte I continue at Mrs Huggefords at presen[t] and am highly delight with them but should be still more pleased if you would come to Boston and attend to painting at Mrs Hugefords School and I have no doubt but what you would like it very much but I presume your mind will be quite opposite to the idea of leaving Medway at present for I hear you have a suitor and I hope he will prove himself worthy of so ameable a partner as my friend Charlotte?

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams, December 1816, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
?I want you to see if you cannot sell some Dunstable or trimming at some of the stores in Boston at a better price than I can here.... I want you to tell me about the fashion & send me some new patterns of slips & hankerchiefs...or tell me what bonnets they wear Rodolphus comes & says give my love to Aunt Charlotte.?

-Charlotte Adams to Susan Adams, March 7, 1817, Medway, Massachusetts.
?you have often told me you had rather live in a kitchen than to live and do the work at Levi?s; if this be true I think you might easily obtain a place by applying to the intelligence office. your pride may say that you cannot do this, and if you have got that to conquer I dont know that I can direct you to any thing. If advertising does not avail any thing it is necessary for you to apply to those you think would be likely to employ you. Straw sewing is often wanted at this season of the year there are many shops in Malborough St where they make straw bonnets and one in union St.... Susan I feel for you but it is beyond my power to relieve you.?

-Betsey Morse to Charlotte Adams, June 17, 1817, Medway, Massachusetts.

-Charlotte Adams to Susan Adams, September 21, 1817, Medway, Massachusetts.
?Having as good an opportunity of sending to you, I cannot neglect writing, notwithstanding the many unpleasant things you have said about me. Yes, I feel it my duty ever to treat you as an affectionate sister, as I am sure it will coincide with the sentiments of my heart.... I was glad to hear you are boarding Rhodolphus in the country I think the air will be more conducive to his health give my love to him when you see him.?

-B. Wight to Charlotte Adams, October 2, 1817, Bellingham, Massachusetts.
?A little more than four weeks have elapsed since I changed my name and entered into the marriage covenant; a covenant, which, next to that of the church of God, I consider the most solemn and responsible.?

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams Slocomb, December 26, 1818, Boston, Massachusetts.
?Mr Hunting has not call?d here since I returned nor do I no that he ever will call again I am very unhappy Charlotte about it not that I want to se him for I am not convinced beyond a doubt that had I married him he never would have made me happy but I want him to pay for Rodolphus? board I do not no what I shall do if he does not I suppose you no what Mr Hunting told Mr Sanford never Charlotte before was I convince of his infidelity to vindicate his own character at the expence of mine is more than I could ever believed possible which he could not do only by telling that which was absolutely false I hope their is but few men so lost to every virtuous principle as he has proved himself to be Charlotte you cannot imagine nor will you ever no what disagreeable sensation his unfeatling treatment has caused me never was I so unhappy in every sense of the word as I have been since I returned to Boston you know the strength of my attachment to him & from that can judge what my feelling must be when convinced that I never possessed even his friendship.?
?tell me if Rodolphus is a good boy & how he likes to go to school I want to if he reads in the same class he did when he first went.?

-W. Hunting to Susan Adams, n.d., n.p.
?Susan / I unexpectedly came this way sooner than I anticipated when I saw you Last, not having time to call on you I inclose ten Dollars which I leave with your mother. I shall probably be this way again in a few weeks.?

-Charlotte Adams Slocomb to Susan Adams, January 20, 1819, Medway, Massachusetts.
?I trust I sympathized with you in your severe trials, and deeply regretted that it has been in the power of the destroyer of your happiness, to add another sorrow to your wounded heart. But on the other hand I could but rejoice and consider it a happy circumstance that your eyes were open to discern the true character of the man who had ruined your peace and that you was now willing forever to renounce him. I have long thought him a villain but he has now proved himself to be worse than I ever thought he was You now see that he never deserved your affections, & men like him ought never to marry.?

-Susan Adams to Christopher Slocomb, May 18, [ca. 1819], Boston, Massachusetts.
?I am acquainted with a Miss Day who keeps a straw shop she says she has a great call for Bonnets & can sell a great many I told her one week past that I would write to you to send some she says she has many customers a waiting for them. She wants nice ones as she has common ones enough on hand?

-Charlotte Adams Slocomb to Susan Adams, August 5, 1819, Medway, Massachusetts.
?I suppose you have heard that Elizabeth [widow of Levi Adams] is at M she has been up two weeks I have not as yet seen here but an hour or two she has been with Levina about a week I expect her here the last of the week Mother says she appears quite dejected and Melancholy.?

-Charlotte Adams Slocomb to Susan Adams, September 2, 1819, Medway, Massachusetts.

-Susan Adams to Charlotte Adams Slocomb, January 15, 1826, Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
?Mr Hunting has not been up nor I have not heard from him since last June Rodolphus is well he was most pleas?d with the things you sent him?

-Thomas Jefferson Adams to Charlotte Adams, January 4, 1830, Westborough, Massachusetts.
?I am about the same as when I wrote to you on Friday. I think my appetite gradualy increases & gain a little strength, but feel weak at the stomach, continue to blister about the s[t]omach & side I keep a plaster of black pick on my side & Burgunday on my back. I have some favourable symptoms now, but it is uncertain how long they last. such complaints are flatering, I may get well but it is uncertain.?

-Rodolphus Adams to grandmother Anna Adams, February 19, 1854, New York, New York.
She had died on January 14, 1854, at the age of 93.
?It has always proved a perelous undertaking to write to you my best friend for there are always mouths wide open in Medway fraught with malignent splene they fatten upon calumny and even here in New York their hideous cry of Mad Dog persues me. One would suppose that the imps of accursed murderer and their forster Mother would be the last to trouble the waters or at least be content that they spat upon me when I was digging Mr Slocumbs ditch a loathsome cripple but not so they or some of them know no bounds and seme to have forgotten that the vilest worm will turn when tramped upon. Never have my hands been tainted with crime there is enough of my poor mothers disinterested worth and honest pride to keep me above that and still there are thos that say or write very spicey things about me?

-Rodolphus Adams to Charlotte Adams Slocomb, May 11, 1854, New York, New York.
?I have taken part of a shop to myself and need other things more than clothes I have a Laithe and other tools to buy and a high rent for me to pay.... And now once and for all if there is anything Grandmother wished me to have that will amount to money more or lease please send it forthwith.?

-Rodolphus Adams to Charlotte Adams Slocomb, July 26, 1857, New York, New York.
?If my health returns with the cool weather I shall endeavour once more to succede with my business of silver plating Bell Hanging and Engraving plates work such as name and number plates why should I not be loth to give it up I have spend nearly Twelve years in learning and want to do my best...?

-Rodolphus Adams to Charlotte Adams Slocomb, January 20, 1860, New York, New York.


Charlotte Adams (1795-1871) was born in West Medway, Massachusetts, to Titus Adams (1758-1808) and his wife Anna Johnson Adams (1760-1854). In September 1818, Charlotte Adams married Christopher Slocomb (1788-1861).

Susan Adams (1790-1839) was born in Medway, Massachusetts, to Titus Adams (1758-1808) and his wife Anna Johnson Adams (1760-1854). She never married but had a son named Rodolphus Adams (ca. 1813-1885) by W. Holding. Susan Adams died in Boston in January 1839 of a heart disease.

Levi Sprague Adams (1789-1819) was born in Medway, Massachusetts, to Titus Adams (1758-1808) and his wife Anna Johnson Adams (1760-1854). In July 1815, he married Elizabeth Lovett (1793-1820), and they had at least three children, two of whom died as an infant and as a child. He was a baker in Boston and died there in April 1819. His wife died nine months later, in January 1820, fewer than two weeks after giving birth to their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Adams (1820-1865).

Ann Adams (1787-1811) was born in Barre, Massachusetts to Titus Adams (1758-1808) and his wife Anna Johnson Adams (1760-1854). In April 1811, she died in an accident.

Thomas Jefferson Adams (1802-1831) ) was born in Medway, Massachusetts, to Titus Adams (1758-1808) and his wife Anna Johnson Adams (1760-1854). In 1826, he married Joanna Pond (1806-1892), and they had at least two children, both of whom died before reaching their second birthday. He died in January 1831 of pulmonary consumption.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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