History essay, 4 pages

FARM to FACTORY Women's Letters, 1830-1860

Second Edition

Edited by Thomas Dublin

GEISEL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

• Columbia University Press • New York

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title:

Farm to factory

Includes bibliographical references. 1. Women-Employment-New England-History.

2. Women-New England-Correspondence. 3. Textile workers-New England-Correspondence. I. Dublin,

Thomas, 1946- HD6o73. T 42U53 331.4'877'00974 8o-28o84

ISBN o-231-o8156-1 AACR1 ISBN o-231-o8157-x (pbk.)

Columbia University Press New York Chichester, West Sussex

Copyright C 19131, 1993 Columbia University Press All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

p 10 9 8 7 6 C 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

FOUR

Mary Paul Letters

MARY PAUL, the d aughter of Bela and Mary Briggs Paul, grew up in Woodstock and Barnard, in northern Vermont. The third of four chil- dren, Mary led a migratory life from the age of fifteen until her marriage at twenty-seven. We have a clear record of these years because Mary proved a steady correspondent and her father saved twenty-five of her letters that cover the seventeen-year period between her departure from home in 1845 and the last letter in this collection, dated April 1862. The correspondence offe rs a rare view into the work and family experiences of o~an whose life was touched by mill empl~ent.•

Judging by the letters, Mary Paul was a restless spirit. She moved around from place to place and job to job in these years. The letters open with Mary employed as a domestic with a farmingJamily in Bridgewater, just a few miles fro m her family home in Barnard. Difficulties there led to her departure and her entrance into the textile mills of Lowell, Massa- chusefts:-She labored off and on in Lowell for the next four years, but returned home to Claremont, New Hampsh ire, where her widowed fa- ther resided in 1850. • Two years later her letters show her living in Brat- tleboro, Vermont making coats in a partnership with another woman. After two years there, she was off to Redbank, New Jersey, where s he resided in a utopian agricultural communi_!y for a year with friends she had met in Lo well.J After that undertaking collapsed, she returned to New Hampsh ire for a stint as a housekeeper. Finally, in 1857, a fter twelve years of supporting herself away from home, Mary Paul marr ied

1 . Paul Family Genealogy and Mary Paul Letters, Vermont Historical Society, Mon~her, Vt.; hereafter cited as VHS. See also letters from Mary's brother, William Paul. 1 . Bela Paul, sixty, and Mary Paul, twenty-one, are recorded in the 1850 Census m dwelling 533 in Claremont, N.H. J . The No rth American Phalanx, founded by American followers of Charles Fourier, was the largest and most successful of the phalanxes, with mor_e than a hundred members when Mary Paul joined in 1855.

122 MARY PA UL LETTERS

Isaac Guild, the son of her former Lowell boardinghouse keeper. The new couple moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, where Isaac found employ- ment in a marble works. Mary Paul Guild bore two children over the next ·five years, and domestic concerns dominate her_ correspondence with her father. Bela Paul by this date had moved to Windsor, Vermont, and lived with a married son. He died in 1863, at the age of seventy-nine, an event that may well account for the ending point of this collection.•

Mary Paul's letters offer repeated examples of the importance of eco- nomic independence and continued family ties for miJI workers. Al- though economic motives are paramount in Mary Paul's initial decision to enter the mills, it is important to note that she has individual economic gain in mind. Hers is not a family decision-though she seeks herla- ther' s approval-to send a daughter to work. She expected to do better for herself in Lowell than she could in rural Vermont. While in Lowell she supported herself quite adequately. In her first eleven months in the mills she earned $128, an average of about $2.70 a week. With room and board in company housing set at $1.25 each week, she would have had a margin to buy clothes, attend church and lectures, and still save stage- coach fare to permit her to return home.s

Her father was a widower in these years and was not in the best of heallh. Mary offers him occasional bits of advice and clearly would have liked to have taken better care of him in his old age. As she wrote in 1853: "I hope sometime to be able to do something for you and some- times feel ashamed that I have not before this." And although Bela Paul does visit his daughter briefly when she is married and living m Lynn, Mary continues to live apart from her father. Despite some eVJdent guilt, personal economic need proves more pressing than her sense of familial obligation. As she explains in one letter: " [I] must work where I can get more pay."6

Mary Paul's strong ties to her family are evident throughout her corre- spondence. Her letters are punctuated with questions ahoutJarruly mem- bers and expressions of concern for them. When Mary first went to Lowell ·she wrote of her disappointment that her father and brothers had not come down to see her off. She suggested that her family move to Lowell, indicating that her brothers could find employment in the mills.

4, 1 For marriage and ~irth records see Massachusetts Bureau of Vital R"°rds,

;od. 109P p. t7'. Irving Tracy Guild, December 30, 186o, vol 132, p. :z68, , :::y ratt mid, Aug~st 31, 1862, vo l. 150, p . 230. 5: wrence Manufacturing Company Payrolls, Vo l. GB-8 Manuscnpl Divi- sion, Baker Library, Harvard Business School , 6- Mary Paul to Bela Paul Nov 27 D•c 18 · 8 , . , ~ . , 1 53.

MARY PAUL LETTERS 123

There was evidently a lively family corresponde nce, particularly with brother William who lived in Tennessee at this time. Other relatives figure in the letters, Aunt and Uncle Miller in Woodstock, and Uncle Jerry in Claremont, New Hampshire, in particular. It is evident that al- though Mary Paul left home to work by herself in Loweli, she was by no means distant from her family.

These letters strikingly reveal a gap between the actual experiences of women in this period and contemporary ideals concerning " woman' s sphere." These years saw the rise of what one historian has termed the "Cl!lt a£ Irne Womanhood," that body of prescriptive literature which defined-women.in terms of their roles as wives and mothers , Women were viewed as parti~larly suited for domestic pursuits; thei~ influence in the world was felt primarily within the familial circle. Their position in society was characterized by submission and dependence, first as daugh- ters in the parental home, and later as wives under their husbands' sway. In contrast to this ideal, Mary Paul lived away from family twelve years before her marriage, and there were undoubtedly many women like her.8

In Mary Paul's letters we see evidence of the increased economic and Slldal independence enjoyed by many single women even in the face of the dominant ideology. They suggest the importance for historians of constantly testing broad ideals against the realities of the concrete atti- tudes and behavior evident in the everyday lives of ordinary men and women.

Bridgewater [Vt.] July 25th 1845"9 Dear Father

Mr. Angell received your letter on the 22nd And I supposed would do something about my staying, but he has not. 10 And so I thought I would write to you & have you come over yourself. I did not leave

f T W nhood " J'\mtric"n QuQrftrly, 7. Barbara Welter, " The Cult o rue oma ,

(1966) 18:151-74. . 1

Com an in Lowell dis- 8 for the 175 women workers from the Hamt ton P Y be . . .11 ~ in the introduction the mean length of time between gmrung mt employment and marriage was almost eight years. p

1 . B mard Vt Bela

9. This letter, Like the next five, i~ addre~sed ~? !e;a au e::;s :arlier.' M~ry is is a widower at this time, his Wtf~ having ie f ou_r y town about fourteen fifteen years old and is living in Bndgewater, a anm.ng miles from Barnard. Paul Family Geneal~ VHS. Angell recorded in dwell- 10. The Angells are probably Col bum and anssa ing 103 in the 1 850 Census of Bridgewater.

124 MARY PAUL LETTERS

uncle Millers until Sunday morning. Aunt Sarah was quite sick [and I] have not heard from he r since. Mrs. A did not speak to me after I got home till after supper but s he has done remarkably well since your Jetter came. I suppose Mr A wants I should stay but I do not want to. I did not see as anything was going to be done and for that reason I write. I suppose Aunt Nancy expects m e every day but she will not see

me till you come. 11

I want you to start as soon as you receive this. Yours,

Mary

[Woodstock, Vt.] Saturday Sept. 13th 184511

Dear Father I received your letter this afternoon by Wm Griffith. You wished me

to write if I had seen Mr. Angell. I have neither written to him nor seen him nor has he written to me. I began to write but I could not write what I wanted to. I think if I could see him I could convince him of his error if he would let me talk. I am very glad you sent my shoes. They fit very well indeed they [are] large enough.

I want you to consent to let me go to Lowell if you can. I think it would be much better for me than to stay about he re. I could earn more to begin with than I can any where about here. I am in need of clothes which I cannot get if I stay about here and for that reason I

, want to go to Lowell or some other place. We all think if I could go ..g- with some steady girl that I might do well. I want you to think of it

f<.:::;.'v and make up your mind. Mercy Jane Griffith is going to start in four or ~- five weeks. Aunt Miller and Aunt Sarah think it would be a good ~ J chance for me to go if you would consent-which I want you to do if

possible. I want to see you and talk with you about it. Aunt Sarah gains s lowly.

Bela Paul Mary

11·. Unde Miller and Aunt Nancy are Nathaniel and Nancy Pa ul Miller who resid~d in nearby Woo d stock. Aunt Sarah is Sa rah Paul, an unmarried youn- ger sister of _Bela Paul. Paul Family Genealogy, V H S; 1 5 50 Census of Wood-stock, dwelling 372. 12

• The postmark of th is letter and its contents indicate that Mary has left the :'ngeHs and _come to Woodstock, about eight miles from Barnard where she 1s staying with the Millers. '

MARY PAUL LETTERS 125

Dear Father Woodstock Nov 8 1545

As you_ wanted m~ to let you know when I am going to start for Lowell, I improve this opportunity to write you. Next Thursday the 13th of this month is the day set or the Thursday afternoon. J should like to have you come down. If you come bring Henry if you can for I should like to see him before I go. Julius has got the money for me. ,3

. n.,u()J -Iv 9t.

-< jV(f

Yours Mary

Dear Father Lowell Nov 20th 1845

An opportunity now presents itself which I improve in writing to you. I started for this place at the time I talked of which was Thursday. I left Whitneys at nine· o'clock stopped at Windsor at 12 and staid till 3 and started again. Did not stop again for any length of time till we arrived at Lowell. Went to a boarding house and s taid until Monday night. On Saturday after I got here Luthera Griffith went round with me to find a place but we were unsuccessful. On Monday we started again and were more successfu l. We found a place in a spinning room and the next morning I went to work. I like very well have 50 cts urst

{cJ-'f-t

payment increasing every payment as I get along in work have a first hG~ rate overseer and a very good boarding place. I work on the Lawrence Corporation. Mill is No 2 spinning room.•• I was very sorry that you did not come to see me start. I wanted to see you and Henry but I suppose that you were otherways engaged. I hoped to see Julius but did not much expect to for I s[up]posed he was engaged in other matters. He got six dollars for me which I was very glad of. It cost me $3.25 to come. Stage fare was $3.00 and lodging at Windsor, 25 cts. Had to pay only 25 cts for board for 9 days after I got here before I went into the miU . Had 2.50 left with which I got a bonnet and some other small articles. Tell Harriet Burbank to send me paper. Tell her 1

shall send her one as soon as possible. You must write as soon as you

f M ' b th s Henry and Julius both 13. The references here are to two o ary s ro er , . ' . apparently living with their father at this time. Henry was thirteen and Juhus twenty-seven. Paul Family Genealogy, VHS. d • h f" t

P I d $o 30 per ay in er ,rs 14 Surviving payrolls reveal that Mary au eame · f m~nth in the mill, making $1.80 per week, or $o.55 ~bo~e /h~:.'.:;:\

0 p=,;

and board. Lawrence Manufacturing Company Recor s, 0 · • Room No. 2, Nov. 20, 1845.

126 MARY PAUL LETTERS

. . I should like to hear from him. If you hear receive this. Tell ~l~nry ·t for I want to know what he is cfoing.'J I

th · from Wtl 1am wn e any in~ le Millers folks the firs t opportunity. Aunt Nancy sh a ll wnte to U~ch lpacca dress before I ca me away from there Presented me wit a new a . "f . I d f J think of staying here a year certain, 1 not which I was very g a O · h I h" k th • h d H e nry would com e down ere. t m at more I w ish t at y o u an h ·11 d I

. . h d II I ess that Henry co uld get into t e m1 an you mtg t O we · gu h Id l"k think that Julius might get in too. Tell all friends that I s ou I e to

hear from them. excuse bad writing and mistakes

T h is from your own daughter Mary

P.S. Be su re and direct to No. 15 Lawrence Corporation.

Bela Paul Mary 5 Paul

Lowell Dec 21st 1845

Dear Father I received your letter on Thursday the 14th with much pleasure. I am

well which is one comfort. My life and health are spared while others are cut off. Last Thursday o n e girl fell down and broke her neck which caused instant death . She was going in or coming out of the mill and slipped down it being very icy. The same day a man was killed by the cars. 16 Another had nearly all of h is ribs broken. Another was nearly killed by falling down and having a bale of cotton fall on him. Last Tuesday we were paid. In all I had six dollars and sixty cents paid $4.68 for board. With the rest I got me a pair of rubbers and a pair of 50.cts sh oes. Next payment I a m to have a dollar a week beside my board. •7 We have n o t had much sn ow the deepest being not more than 4 inch es. It has been very warm for winter. Perhaps you would like

15. There are repeated refere nces to William, a third brother who lived and married in Tennessee during these years. Paul Family Genealogy· Letters of William Paul, VHS. , 1 6. These were probably the ca rs o f the Boston and Lowell Railroad. uich firm had railroad siding running right up to the mills to facilitate transport of raw cotton and finished cloth. 1 7- In fact, Mary earned only $2.04 per week during the payroll period which ended January 10, 1846, making $o.79 above the cost of room and board. She worked as a d offer removing full bobbins of yam from the spinn.ing frames and repl~cing t~em w!th empty ones. The work called for speed and dexter- ity, but it was mtemuttent, requiring only about fifteen minutes of activity ~ut ghof each hour. Doffers were almost always c hildren usually sons or

au ters of boardinghouse keepers or skilled workers. '

MARY PAUL LETTERS 127

something about our regulations about going in and coming out of the mill. At 5 o' clock in the morning the bell rings for the folks to ~t up and get breakfast. At half past six it rings for the girls to get up and at seven they are called into the mill. At half past 12 we have dinner are calleaback again at one and stay till half past seven. •8 I get along very well with my work. I can doff as fast as any girl in our room. I think I shall have frames before long. The usual time allowed for learning is six months but I think I shall have frames before I have been in three

) )J, I

as I get along so fast. I think that the factory is the best place for me "(J and if any girl wants employment I advise them to come to Lowell. Tell Harriet that though she does not hear from me she is not forgotten. 1 have little time to devote to writing that I cannot write all I want to. There are half a dozen letters which I ought to write to day but I have not time. Tell Harriet I send my love to her and all of the girls. Give my love to Mrs. Clement. Tell Henry this will answer for him and you too for this time.

Bela Paul Henry 5 Paul

This from Mary S Paul

Lowell April 12th 1846

Dear Father I received your letter with much pleasure but was sorry to hear that

you had been lame. I h ad waited for a long time to hear from ~ou bu~ no letter came so last Sunday I thought I would write again which I did and was going to send it to the [post] office Monday ~ut at noon 1

received a letter from William and so I d id not send it at all. LaSt

Y ted to know what I am Friday I received a letter from you. ou wan . f . . d tending four sides o warp

doing. I am at work in a spinning room an d a irl h.ch . . ls k The overseer tells me that he never ha g w 1 15 one gu wor . b h by me I

get along better than I do and that he will do the eSt e can 1

· stand it well though they tell me that I am growing very poor. h _was

, t d am to have more t JS one paid nine shillings a week last _paymen an b kwater which will take though we have been out conside rable for ac h we

. t y us nearly as muc as off a good deaJ. •9 The Agent promises o pa

. dule when operatives took breakfast 18. Muy 1s outlining the winte r sche ' h the next letter indicates,

k I h summer mont s, as kfa d btfore beguuung wor . n t e . h d hort breaks for brea st an work began at 5:00 A .M . and operatives a s d1Mer dunng the workmg day. . . f ames each with 128 spindles, 19 Mary tended four sides of warp spinning r '

128 MARY PAUL LETTERS

should have made but I do not think that he will. The payment was up last night and we are to be paid this week. •0 I have a very good boarding place have enough to eat and that which is good enough. The girls are all kind and obliging. The girls that I room with are all from Vermont and goo-cf girls too. Now I will tell you about our rules at the boarding house. We have none in particular except that we have to go to bed about 10. o'clock. At I alf past 4 in the m orning the bell rings for us to get up and at five for us to go into the mill. At seven we are ca lled out to breakfast are allo"wed half an h our be tween bells and the same at noon till the first of May when we h ave three quarters [of an hour] till the first of September. W e have dinner at half past 12 and supper at seven . If Julius s hould go to Boston tell h im to come this way and see me. He must com e to the Lawrence Counting room and call for me. He can ask some one to s how him whe re the Lawrence is. I hope he will not fai l to go. I forgot to tell you that I have not seen a particle of snow for six weeks and it is settled going we have had a very mild winter and but little snow. I saw Ann Hersey last Sunday. I did not know her till she told me who she was. I see the Griffith girls often. I received a letter from a girl in Bridgewater in which she told me that Mrs Angell had heard some way that I could not get work and that she was much pleased and said that I was so bad that no one would have me. I believe I have written all so I will close for I have a letter to write to William this afternoon.

Yours affectionately

Mr. Bela Paul Mary S Paul

P.5. Give my love to all that enquire for me and tell them to write me a long long letter. Tell Harriet I shall send her a paper.

E th

e n 1 _ohrmal complement for spinners in these years. She quoted her wages rn

ng is currency, though sh d b di . h ·tt· b . e was un ou te Y pa,d American money nine s I mgs emg equal to $ A · h 1• . •

1 . 1 -5°- s m t e ear 1er cases, Mary is refemng to 1-,er

::~e: c:~~s~~e p~~~f°m . an~ board charges. " Backwater," mentioned here, melting snow led to h~~ : : e i5pri~g, wh~n hea vy run-off due to rains and waterwheel. Mills oft:n h:d e~ eve • causing water to back up and block the The April payroll at the La O cease operation~ for several days at a bme. only fifteen of the normal I wre~ce Comp~ny indicates that Mary worked 2.0. It was standard pra~1ce~:nty- our days in the payroll period. the production and the e . poSt on a 1>tac1c0oara m eacn room or tne m1us monthly payday to e nabl/mmgs_ of each worker several days before the complain if the ~sted proJi::ahv;.s to see _what they would be paid and to ords of the work. on ,gures did not agree with their own rec-

MARY PAUL LETTERS 129

Dear Father Lowell Nov 5th 1848"

Doubtless you have been looking for a letter from me all the week past. I would have written but wished to find whether I should be able to stand it-to do the work that I am now doing. I was unable to get my old place in the cloth room on the Suffolk or on any other corporation. I next tried the dressrooms on the Lawrence Cor[poration], but did not succe[e]d in getting a place. I almost concluded to give up and go back to Claremont, but thought I would try once more. So I went to my old overseer on the Tremont Cor. I had no idea that he would want one, but he did, and I went to work last Tuesday- warping-the same work I u sed to do." , t "'\ J \ <'i" \ I;,......_, ~

j •'-.,; \ ~ ' ) It is TJtry hard indeed and sometimes I think I sha I not be able to

endure it. I never worked so hard in my life but perhaps I shall get used to it. I shall try hard to do so for there is no other work that I can do unless I spin and that I shall not undertake on any account. I presume you have heard before this that the wages are to be reduced on the 20th of this month . It is /me and there seems to be a good deal of excitement on the subject but I can not tell what will be the consequence.•> The companies pretend they are losing immense sums every day and therefore they are obliged to lessen the wages, but this seems perfectly absurd to me for they are constantly making repairs and it seems to me that this would not be if there were really any danger of their being obliged to slop the mills. _

It is very difficult for any one to get into the mill on any corporat10n. All seem to be very full of help. I expect to be paid about two dollars a week but it will be dearly earned ... I cannot tell how it is but never

M p I h I ft d returned to Lowell since her previous letter. She 21. ary au as e an d f Oct b 846 Lawrence remained .1t the Lawrence Company until the en ° O er 1 · N H Co II Vol GB 8 This letter is addressed to Claremont, · ·, mpany payro s, . - • where her father has recently moved. d . m in the mill 22. The "dressroom" mentioned here would be a ressrng roo II k'

d f h · g process Genera Y spea mg, where warp yam was prepare o r t e weavm · d d'- k d . h d sing room wages an con • more txpenenced women wor e m t e res . ' • and s in-

hons of work being considerably better there than in the ca rdmg P

ning rooms. 11

.11 •n November 1848 See 23. Wages were reduced in all of the Lowe mi s

I ce Company Rec~rds;

Henry Hall to John Aiken, September 4, 1848• 8

La;~e';cs_ 3

Tremont-Suffolk Henry Hall to John Wnght, September 4, ~84 , 0 · ' M·11s ' b H ard Business School. f 1 R_ecords, Baker Li rary, arv . f to earnings exclusive o

11u A S per week again re ers 14. s wage gure, 2 .00 ' 11

A of $J 25 weekly was ex- charges for room and board. The overa t!ut 'd w~men workers in the tremely low for warpers, usually amon~!h;. 5 fip:::.ation of Work and Commu- mills Thomas Dublin, Womtn al W ork: t(N rans; rk · Columbia University n,ty '" l.motll, Massachustlfs, 1826-J860 ew O • Press, 1979), pp. 66, 159.

130 MARY PAUL LETTERS

since I have worked in the mill have I been so very tired as I have for the last week but it may be owing to the long rest I have had for the last six months. I have not told you that I do not board on the Lawrence. The reason of.this is because I wish to be nearer the mill and J do not wish to pay the extra $.12-1 / 2 per week (I should not be obliged to do it if I boarded at 15) and I know that they are not able to give it me. Beside this I am so near I can go and see them as often as 1 wish. So considering all things I think I have done the best I could. I do not like here very well and am very sure I never shall as well as at Mother Guilds . I can now realize how very kind the whole family have ever been to me. It seems like going home when I go there which is every day.'' But now I see I have not told you yet where I do board. It is at No. 5 Tremont Corporation. Please enlighten all who wish for information. There is one thing which I forgot to bring with me and which I want very much. That is my rubbers. They hang in the back room at uncle Jerrys.><1 If Olive comes down here I presume you can send them by her, but if you should not have the opportunity to send them do not trouble yourself about them. There is another thing I wish to mention-about my fare down here. If you paid it all the way as I understand you did there is something wrong about it. When we stopped at Concord to take the cars, I went to the ticket office to get a ticket which I knew I should be obliged to have. When I called for it I told the man that my fare to Lowell was paid all the way and I wanted a ticket to Lowell. He told me if this was the case the Stagedriver would get the ticket for me and I supposed of course he would. But he did not, and when the ticket master called for my ticket in the cars, I was o~liged to give him a dollar. Sometimes I have thought that the fare might not have been paid beside farther than Concord. If this is the ca~e all is right. But if it is not, then I have paid a dollar too much and gamed the character of trying to cheat the company out of my fare, for the man thought I was lying to him . I suppose I want to know how it is and wish it could be settled for I do not like that any one should think me capable of such a thing, even though that person be an utter Slranger. But enough of this. The Whigs of Lowell had a great time on

2a5bo. " Md~thehr Guild" refers to Mrs. Betsey Guild who with her husband kept ar mg ouse at 15 Lawr C ' ,

Mary Paul did get to know a:n;~.k omp~~y at least _bet;';"een 1847 and 1853. in 1857 she married a s

1 · 1 e lhe wh~le family, as she indicates, for

on, saac, and settled m Lynn Lo U 0 . 1 8 1853; Massachusetts Bureau of Vital Records . we ,,.,, ory, 1 47- 26. Jerry refers to Jeremiah Paul . ' ~ol. 1~, ~ - 147. young children in Claremont N H ~~~ hved . ~th his. wife, Betsey, and tw_o letter, was their two-year-old d~u · h Little Lois, mentio ned at the end of this 407. g ter.

1 850 Census of Claremont, dwelling

131

the night of the 3rd. They had an immense procession of men on foot bearing torches and banners got up for th e occasion. The houses were illuminated (Whigs h o u ses) a nd by the way I sh o uld think the who le of Lowell were Whigs. I went o ut to see the illuminations and they did truly look splendid. The Merrimack house was illumina ted from attic

MARY PAUL LETTERS

to cellar.' 7 Every pane o f g lass in the house h a d a ha lf candle to it and there were many others lig hte d in the same way. One entire block on the Merrimack Cor[poration) with the exception o f one tenement which doubtless was occupied by a free soiler who would not illuminate on any account w h atever. 28

(Monday Eve) I have been to work today and think I sh a ll manage to get along with the work. I am not so tired as I was last week. I have not yet found out what wages I sha ll get but presume they will be about $2.00 per week exclusive of board. 1 think of nothing further to write excepting T wish you to prevail on Henry to write to me, a lso tell Olive to write and Eve/me when she cornes.'9

Give my love to uncle Jerry and aunt Betsey and tell little Lois that "Cousin Carra" thanks her very much for the apple she sent her. Her health is about the same that it was when she was at C laremont. No one has much hope of her ever being any better.

Write soon. Yours affectionately Mary S Paul

Mr. Bela Paul P.S. Do not forget to direct to N o. 5 Tremont Cor and tell all others to do the same.

Lowell July 1st 1849 Dear Father

1 received your letter dated the 25. of June on Wednesday the 27. and would have answered immediately but had not time. I was very glad to get the letters from William. I had a lmost given up the hope of

27. The Merrimack Ho use was the leading hotel in Lowell and usually housed distinguished visitors and millowners when they came to to".'n. The date of the illumination, November 3, suggests it was part of election day festivities. 28. The Free Soil Party was a third party opposed to the extension of slavery · · · · h t M · n War Former President into the territories acquired m t e recen ex1ca · Martin Van Buren ran on its t icket in 1848. 29. Eveline here is Eveline Sperry Paul, the wife of Set~ Paul, an°the~ y~u}r- ge r brother of Bela. S ubsequent letters also refer to their o ldest son, et · Paul Family Genealogy, VH S; 1 850 Census for Claremont, dwelling

1 35·

132 MARY PAUL LETTERS

hearing from him and had commenced a letter to him when yours came in which his [was] enclo5ed. I will give you his words in regard to his health &c: "As for my own health, it has been generally very good.

~, \Though for the last few days I have been quite unwell and was · ~~ confined to my bed for a day or two. I feel quite unsure at this time." 'tv " And of the Cholera he says, "It has broken out fearfully within a few

days on the 10th inst. (June) there were 10 deaths from it, on the u[th] 25, and I have not heard the report for yesterday (the 12th)."'°

He is often in the Prison and will probably remain there until a better situation offers. He says "tell Henry I will write to him without fail before long."

My health has been pretty good though I have been obliged to be out of the mill four days. I thought then that it would be impossible for me to work through the hot weather. But since I think I shall manage to get through after a fashion. I do not know what wages I am to have as I have not yet been paid but I shall not expect much, as I have not been able to do much, although I have worked very hard.,• I shall send a letter with this to Eveline so that-ymrcan give it to her when you see her. Give my _love to Henry and tell him I will write him as soon as I can and tell him to write and not waif forlife.

Yours affectionately Mary S Paul

Dear father Brattleboro [Vermont] Nov. 7th 185i"

I received a letter from Henry last night inclosing yours from William. He (Henry) said you wished me to send it back to you as you were going to send it to Julius. I send it therefore with this. His letter

JO. A cho~era epidemic swept through American cities in the first half of 1 849'. W1llta~ Paul was an officer in the Tennessee Penitentiary in Nashville at this date. 'The Affairs of William P. Paul," typescript, VHS; Charles E. Rosenbe~g, T~• Choltra Ytars: The Uniltd Sta/ts in 1832, 1849 and 1866 (Chi- cago: University of Chicago Press, 1962 ). 31 · The fact that Mary Paul does not know what her wages will be suggests that _she has recently returned to the mills after a period of absence Since eami~gs were based on piece wage rates, it always took a new w~rker a r:ont or tw~ to determine exactly how much she could expect to earn. 3 · The previous letter is the last one Mary wrote from Lowell. In 1850 she ::J ~~~tK~.1;~:7:ont living with her father, Bela, in the dwelling of William 01

. h · There have been numerous references in the letters to 1ve, w o may have been · To· 1 . wh M . . a cousm. 1s etter 1s sent from Brattleboro, Vt., ere ary is working as a seamstress.

Merrimack House, 1835. , 1

lowt/1 H1slor1ca/ S0t1tly Courttsy 0,

'

134 MARY PAUL LETTERS

contained also the news of the death of Frank Sperry. I think the family must take it rather hard . I wrote to William lasfSunday and directed the letter to Nashville, Tenn. but I do not know as I ought to have done so as his letter is mailed at Jasper, Tenn. if I read rightly. When you write to h im I wish you would tell him that I have written and directed to Nashville. I wrote to Julius also last Sunday. I presume he will be surprised to get a letter from me still I thought he might like the idea after all. I do not know as I have any news to write. I am well and doing pretty well. Abby and I have hired a stove for our room and ' bought half a cord of wood so we are quite c.amfotlllQle these cold damp days and evenings. Have you had your rooms partitioned off yet? If not I hope you will before it comes to be much colder. We had quite a storm h ere last night. The wind blew so hard that we who sleep in the upper part of the house began to fear the roof would blow off. The house is four stories high . It makes me think of the house Adams told about, that was 500 ft. long 700 ft. high and 2 ft. wide. It is getting dark, so I must dose hoping you will write soon. Love to Uncle Jerry and family.

i

Dear Father

ti)((}- {!/ll'0/1

IJ.h,) df y.JA,/ Yours affectionately

Mary S Paul

Brattleboro Nov. 6th 1853

I dont know but that you are waiting for me to write to you, as I have been waiting foI you. I have no news of any importance to write that I know of, excepting that I received a letter from William a few days since. He was w ell, and doing about the same as when he wrote you. Is e m?loyed by the same firm as when he wrote, not married yet but expecting to be sometime.33 He said he would write you soon. It is very cold here today. The ground was covered with snow this morning, but there is little to be seen now excepting on the hills in the distance. 1 at:' sorry that winter is so near us. I dread the cold. Abby is at Guilford today . One of her brother's wives is very sick there. I have not he_ard from Henry for some time. I wish Julius would write to me. I sent him a ~a?er last week. I wonder if he got it. Last night I saw a paper contammg Cousi·n L · B · · · d b ouise nggs marriage. It was a paper ed1te

Y her husband, a Mr. Stebbins of Michigan town of Adrian. I saw the

33. WiUiam Paul married Lu M I h . children before sh d' d . cy c ntos m March 1854 and they had two e ie m i857. Paul Family Genealogy, VHS.

MARY PAUL LETTERS 1 35

same notice in a Claremont paper a few days before . It was very unexpected to me, and I think it must have been sudden to her. She has ~n uncle. here by the na~e ?f Woods, and Mrs. Woods gave me the information. Mr. Woods 1s m company with Mr. Carpenter in the Melodeon business. Mr. Carpenter is the man I am boarding with. How is Olive nowadays? Is she well and strong again? Are Uncle Jerry's family well? Give my love to them when you see them. I am getting along in the shop as usual. Have been making coats for a few weeks. I like it pretty well and am hoping to do better than on smaller jobs. I have plenty to do all the time. Write very soon for I am anxious to hear from you.

Yours affectionately Mary S Paul

Brattleboro Nov. 27, 1853 Dear father

I think I will write you a few words tonight as you may be wishing to hear from me. Your letter of Nov. 13th tells me that you have been lame. I was sorry to hear it though I expected as much from your not writing before. It troubles me very much, the thought of your being lame so much and alone too. If there were any way that I could make y, it expedientl- would-go ba-ck-to Claremont myself and I sometimes / ~ ought to do so but the chance for one there is so small, and I can do so much better elsewhere that I have thought it was really better for me to be somewhere else. But the thought of you always makes me wish to be where I can see you often er. I feel anxious about Julius. I really wish that he might find steady employment at some good business. I am so sorry that he and Uncle Seth could not manage to agree. I wonder if he ever got the paper I sent him several weeks ago?

I have a plan for myself which I am going to lay before you and see what you think of it. When I was at Manchester last spring my friend Carrie and her husband were ta lking o£__g_oin to New Jersey to live and proposed that J should go with them . They have decided to go and are thinking of going in a few weeks, maybe as soon as Jan. though they may not go until April or May. I have been thinking of it all summer, and have told them that I will go if you do not obie~ hardly get my own consent to go any farther away from you, t ugh 1

know that in reality afew i:niles cannot make much difference. T~e name of fhelown is Atlantic is about 40 miles from New York City.

C

136 MARY PAUL LETTERS

The people among whom they are going are Associationists.J-4 The name will give you something of an idea of their principles. There [are] about 125 persons in all that live there, and the association is called the " North American Phalanx." I presume that you may have heard of it. You have if you read the "Tribune." The editor Mr "Greely",, is an

_JN Associationist and a shareholder in the " Phalanx," but he does not live f,0'1 there. The advantage that will arise from my going there will b~ that 1

can get better pay without working as hard as at any-other place.-The price for work there being 9 cts an h our, and the num er of hours for a days work, ten besides I should not be confined to one kind of work but could do almost anything, could have the privilege of doing anything that is done there-Housework if I choose and that without

, degrading myself, which is more than I could do anywhere else. That I' s, in the opinion of most people, a very foolish and wrong idea by the

way, but one that has so much weight with girls, tha t they would live on 25 cts p er week at sewing, o r school teaching rather than work at housework. I would do it myself altho ugh I think it foolisn. This all comes from the way servants are treated, and I cannot see why girls can be blamed after all, for not wishing to " work o ut" as it is called. At the " Phalanx" it is diffe rent. All work there, and all are paid alike. Both men and women have the same pay for the same wor . There is no such word as aristocracy there unless there is real (not pretended) superiority, that will make itself felt, if not acknowledged, everywhere. The mmrbtrs can live as cheaply as they choose as they pay only for what they eat, and no profit o n that, most of the provision being raised on the grounds. One can join them with or without funds, and can leave at any time they choose. Frank has been there this Fall and was very much pleased with what he saw the re and tho ught that it wo uld be the best thing for Ca rrie and me to do with ourselves. A w oman gets much better pay there than elsewhere, but it is n ot so with a m an, thougfine 1s not meanly paid by any means. There is more equality in such things ac Ording to the work not the sex. You know that men often get more than do uble the pay-for doing the sa me work that women do. Carrie and Frank are both Associationists and have been almost ever since I knew the m, and I am acquainted with many others who are and their

34, The Ass_ociationists were utopian reformers, followers of Charles Fourier. They estabhshed m odel communities, or phalanxes throughout the North- east and Midwest in the 1840s and 1850s. ' ~f A~ora~e _Greeley, editor of the New :ork Tribun e, was an early supporter

d SOCt~hon, atte~ded numerous national conventions of the movement, an gave 1t support m the pages of his newspaper.

MARY PAUL LETTERS 1 37

principles are just what I would like to see carried into practice and they a~t _as far as ~ea~s will allow at the Phalanx. Another advantage from hvmg there 1s this, the members can have privileges of Education free 0£ expense to themselves alone, the extent of this Eaucafion must of course depend on the means of the society. If I could see you J could give you a better idea. That I can possibly do by writing, but you will know something by this, enough to form an opinion perhaps and J wish you to let me know what you think of my plans. If you have any I real objection or if you would rather I would not go so far away, let C { me k-no,w and I will cheerfu lly give up the idea of going. I hope sometime to be able to do something for you sometime and sometimes feel ashamed that I have not before this. I am not one of the smart kind, and never had a passion for laying up money, probably never shall have, can find ways enough to spend it though (but I do not wish to be extravagant). Putting all these things together I think explains the reason that I do not " lay up" anything. One thing more, I have never had very good pay. I am getting along slowly on coats, and shall do better as I get used to the business. I can work at my trade if I wish at the Phalanx. How are Uncle Jerry' s family? Give my love to them and Julius when you see him . I hope you will write me very soon as I shall be very anxious to know your mind and I wish to let Carrie know. If you should think it best for me to go I shall visit C[laremont] in the course of a few weeks that is if we go in Jan. If not till April I shall not probably come to C[laremontl until about that time. I have written you quite a long letter and it is not very plain. I am afraid you will never be able to read it. I ought to have written more plainly but I am in something of a hurry and mus t offer that a s my excuse. Write immediately, please.

Affectionately yours Mary S Paul

Brattleboro Dec. 18, 1853

Dear Father I am otry bred tonight but I s uppose you are anxious to hear from

me so I will write a letter. I was glad to find from your letter that yodu . N J rsey J have not hear approve my plans in regard to go ing to ew e · .

anything definite about my going since I wrote you. I am hoping to

kn d h I •11 Jet you know. I suppose ow somtth,ng very soon an t en wi . 11

JI Cl t soon He w1 te you Henry will be here on his way to aremon · . 1 h . h . k f these things a so is when you see him what the Lowell folks t in °

138 MARY PAUL LETTERS

own opinion I suppose.'6 The thing seems to meet with general approbation and I still think it the very best thing I can do. I may not go till Spring, may not go at all. They may refuse us for our want of money to invest. Still if they do, I think we shall try to go somtlimt.

Last week I received a letter from WiJliam. He was well and sent love to you, was expecting a letter from you. You spoke in your letter of your wish to have a home for us all. I wish it too dear father, but not on my own account. I find comfortable homes almost everywhere and have no reason to complain of my lot but for you I would wish it otherwise. It grieves me to think that in your old age you must live away from your children with none to care for your comfort but strangers, and if I live long enough it shall not always be so. I do not get along fast, cannot earn much but I hope to do something for you. Do not work when you do not feel able to do so. I cannot bear to think that you must work as long as you can crawl and I do wish that it could be different.

If I thought I could make a decent living at C[laremont] I would come back there but I have tried to my satisfaction and must work where I can get more pay. I am very tired and must not stop to write any more. My love to all friends.

Most affectionately,

Sunday morn May 7 th 1 554 Dear father

Your daughter, Mary

North American Phalanx, N.J.

I feel that you must be · t h f · · . anxious o ear rom me, and so ~"111 wnle a few Imes that you may know that I am h ere safe and well ve I left, or we left Lowell the day I wrote you from there.;1 We had a

Th ry pdleasant p~ssage to New York, arrived there about eight-o'clock urs ay morning Ca · & 1 . . · rne were too tired to go about the city much

so we did not see many of th " L· ,, three o'clock Th d e ions · We left N.Y. for this place al as we intended u~s ay afternoon, instead of staying over night in N.Y.

w en we left Lowell and it was well that we did for

36. By this date Henry Paul w I' . . Lowell Machine Shop L I.I Das ivmg m Lowell and was employed m the

Th · owe 1rtclory 1 s 8 37. e letter referred to h h ' 53, 1 55• it clear, however that M er~ das not been preserved. The reference makes hind her. ' ary a not left her Lowell experience entirely be-

Seriatery N~ 18 , .. WI,,./

fentral Bui ]dings ~I. 11 Fu/ «J,ov,. Tt"d"' .

·- •" ; I,. .

a. ' ' 1 .,i,., •. .. ·• <-: :. . . ..., . . · -:__. ··

Saith Farm Builiin(•· 30.

Courtesy of New York Statt Historical ~ s.«ratu••·

N o rth American Phalanx, 1855.

MARY PAUL LETTERS

there has not been a day since when it would have hbeen ~leas/mtht or even comfortable on the water. You have of course read t e ace to e severe

ale of that day which sunk the "E ricsson" in the harbor of New York. ~e very fortunately escaped the hardest of it. The boat had just reached the landing, when the wind began to blow tremendously and the rain to pour in torrents. The lifeboats blew off the top of the boat into the dock and frightened many of the horses which were attached to coaches which were standing on the wharf waiting for passengers. There was no serious damage done as I have heard, though many of the carriages came very near being overturned into the dock. We staid in the boat until the rain abated somewhat and then took the coach for this place. The rain came on again shortly and we got the hardest of the shower on our way. The ride seemed a long one & the prospect before us anything but encouraging (behind ditto) for our trunks were on the rack of the coach without the least covering or protection from the rain. Thus we rode ten miles or more over a rough hard road. 1 thought Redbank sure enough for the earth when wet is as red as any brick I ever saw.J8 It is mostly sand. It forms a very pretty contrast with the bright green grass above. By the way it is spring here, peach trees are out of blossom, cherry & appletrees are in full glory. As far as 1 can see from the window, at which I am writing, nothing but immense orchards of peach, cherry & appletrees present themselves to view. I never saw orchards before, but I have got a long way from my story. I'll go back. Well we arrived here a good deal wet & were kindly received, had been expected for a long time they told us. The first thing attended to was getting off our wet things and getting some supper. This over we looked to our trunks; nothing in them was much injured though a great many things were wet. So far we were comfortable, and finally we have been that ever since we came, though we have had many discouragements. Our things which should have been here with us did not come until Monday afterward and then not all of them. We have been very busy all the week putting things to rights. Have not done much work beside our own. I have worked about two hours each day f~r _the Phalanx, three quarters in sweeping, one and a quarter in the dmi~g hall, clearing & laying the tables. Tomorrow I am going to begin sewmg which will add three hours each day to my work. On ironing :;ys I shall ir?n one, two or three hours just as I like. I must prepare

go to my dmner now. We have one hour from 12 to 1 for dinner, breakfast from 5 1 ; t t f ' ' 2 o 7, ea rom 6 1 / 2 to 7 1 / 2 . After dinner from

JS. Redbank, N .J., was the location of the North American Phalanx.

MARY PAUL LETTERS

one till quarter past two I do my work in the dining hall. Three o'clock, I have come back to finish my letter. I cannot tell you anything definite now about matters and things because I dont know about them myself. I shall write you again as soon as I can & then I will tell you more about ways here. The place is very pleasant and the people remarkably kind. Upon the whole I think that I may like very well after I get used to the strange ways. That which seems oddest is the manner in which the meals are conducted. I believe I told you about it when I was at C[laremont]. I want you to write me as soon as you can, tell Julius to write. My love to him and Uncle Je rrys family and all who enquire for me. I sha ll write to Henry today and to William as soon as I can. Take care of yourself and dont work too hard. I wish that you could be here. I think you might find enough at your work to keep you busy as many hours in a day as you would want to work. There are a few here who work at one kind of business all the time but it is from choice. My work in the sewing room is to make a certain part of a stock (gentleman's stock). They make a great many of them here. Dont fail to write soon. I shall be anxious until I hear from you.

Yours truly, Bela Paul Mary S Paul

Phalanx October 2nd 1854 Dear father

Your letter of Sept. 10th reached me in due season, & I was really glad to hear that you were so well. Hope you will continue so.

I received a letter from Henry last week saying he had heard from William &c which I was glad to hear. I shall write him again soon.

I am getting along very well here, better than I should at sewing. I have averaged about 6 hours work per day through the month 0 ! Sept. I do not yet know how much I shall have for it but I find I can live here easier & work but half the time than away from here & work all the time. Besides I am convinced that the work I do is better for my health than sewing I have not done any sewing of any consequence~

· d b · d own & there 1s shall not be likely to have a great deal to o esi e my . h II h through the winter always enough of that. I presume we s a s tay er~ f h

. .d h t fon until the end o t e if no longer but we cannot dec1 e t a ques 1 . hi present month Then Frank will know what the prospect is for h ":1·

· k with Emma w o 1s Carrie is now in New York, has been two wee s . M t . . f m the White oun ams, side of bilious fever. She was on her way ro

142 MARY PAUL LETTERS

got as far as New York and was unable to get any farther. She is getting better but probably will not be able to go ho~e for _a week or two longer & Carrie will stay with her, I suppose until she 1s able to go

home. When I wrote you before I think peaches were the go but they are all

gone & forgotten now I expect. The sweet potatoes are being gathered now. They raise a great many here & we have plenty of them to eat. Three weeks ago yesterday the " mill" was burned to the ground. This was a great loss to the Association and puts them back in all their work as well as their plans. I do not know what the actual loss was but believe it was about $6,000. There were $3,000 worth of grain burned. There we~e several kinds of business carried on beside the milling, in the building, & the tools connected with them belonged to individuals. Some of the losses are heavy. They have about decided to build again, on the old spot.

I suppose William & Olive have returned from their journey to Lynn, bid they enjoy it.J9 I hope to hear from you again soon. How are Uncle Jerry's family & how does Julius get along? I wish he would write to me. I must not stop to write any more tonight for 1 must go to bed. I wait on the tables in the morning now & have to be up in good season. Love to all.

Write soon. Affectionately yours,

Mary S Paul

My dear father Phalanx New Jersey March 3rd [18]55

I have been wishing to write you for some time but was prevented by the state of affairs here, at least I did not wish to write until I had something definite to say respecting my prospects here But the prob~bility is that I shall not know at present how affai;s are to terminate,_ so I will wait no longer. I expect what I have just written needs a bit of an explanation. I think I wrote you early in the winter tha! th~ loss of the mill involved the Association in difficulties from which 1t would be har...1t t · . Th d u._ 0 ex ncate it. at fear seemed to pass away an many seemed to think the foundations were too firm to be shaken even by an enormous d bt b t · e , u 1t seems these were wrong for this

~ho!i"~~f=~~n~ here is ~rob~bly to ~ m and Olive Kimball, with gone to Lynn to r:~~ul_l;edd m 1 850. As a shoemaker IGmbaJI may havt

mis e shoes and pick up additional leathtr stock.

MARY PAUL LETTERS 143

Association is most certainly in the very last stage I am t • . sorry o say 1t but theie-appeMsTo be no hope and a year at the farthest will tenninate the existence of the North American Phalanx in all probability. I do not know how long I can stay here bu~ I shall not leave until I am obliged to do . The life here has many attractions & advantages which no other life can have, and imperfect as it is I have already seen enough to con\lince me that Association is the true life. And although all the attempts that have ever yet been made towards it have been failures, inasmuch as they have passed away (but they have all left their mark) my faith in the principles is as strong as ever, stronger if possible. There is a better day coming for the world. "We may not live to see the day But Earth shall glisten in the ray of the good time coming." Dant be worried about me, father, for I am certainly more comfortable here than I could be anywhere else. I suppose when I leave here I shall have to take up sewing again as that seems to be the only thing open to me. I flattered myself that I had fairly escaped from the confinement of the needle, but I shall have to return to it after all. Well I expect it will be all for the best. I was glad dear father to learn from your letter that you were so comfortable and I hope soon to hear that you are still more so. Oh that it were in my power to provide a comfortable home for you. A few days since I rec' d a letter from Wm. He was well and apparently doing well. Said he had intended to have sent you some money long ago but had been unfortunate about getting it etc., but would send you some yet. His wife is in Nashville at her fathers. He wished to be remembered to you when I wrote you . I presume you will hear from him soon if he has not already written. Frank & Carrie are still at South Orange & will remain for the present. Frank seems to be improving under the treatment. The weather is very fine here now. It seems more like May than March. I have in a glass of water, buds of the Mayflower which I got in the woods the 21st of Feb. Ooes' nt that seem like Spring? I want to hear from you very much & I hope you will write as soon as you can. I cannot think of Julius without the heartache. I wish I could do something for him . I wish he would answer my letter. Give my love to everybody that cares for me and accept the same for yourself from

Your affectionate daughter Mary S Paul

144 MARY PAUL LETTERS

Phalanx, April 12th, 1855 Dear Father

I intended to haYe__written__you before this time but I thought likely J:of -you had heard of me by Henry so would not be worrying about me. I , :-I suppose he has told you that I can remain where I am for the present ~ through the summer probably, at any rate until my probation has ':/'?, expired. It is not at all likely that the Association will exist in its

present form more than a year longer at most. A good many of the members have already gone away and others are preparing to leave.

From your last letter I perceive you have a very erroneous idea of affairs here. You say the place of interest seems to be in the hands of capitalists who have lost their courage when the hard times came. In this you are wrong. To be sure a good many of the stockholders are rich men, but the man who hold $2000 of stock has no more control than the one who only has $100, but of course he is the greater loser if his stock does not pay. It is true that many have lost their courage in the hard times but it is no more the rich man than the poor one. There have been many false steps taken & in a life like this which is but an experiment of itself there must be many failures, since man is not perfect. I know many will exult in the downfall of this place, but each are shortsighted. Charles Fouriers doctrines, although they may contain many absurd ideas, have enough of truth in them to keep them alive until the world shall be ready for them, and I am confident that it will take more than one lecture from "Dr. Lothrop" to annihilate Fourierism. Why I can mention any number of Associationists in Boston even who are just as strong in the faith as ever, confident as the " Herald" seems to be.

Oh there is one thing I intended to have spoken of when I was on the subject. I said, the man who had $100 of stock had as much control as one who had $2000. Perhaps you will ask if one who has no stock has as much. Yes in everything excepting in choice of public officers, and I suppose you can see the justice of that, but then, I know of but one member here who is not a stockholder, and I hardly think the privilege is denied him, for although he is poor he is very useful & probably that balances his deficiency in money. I guess I have said enough on this subject for the present.

Carrie & Frank spent a few days here last week. Frank is better but not well enough to take hold of hard work, therefore they are going to return to Lowell, soon. They have nothing in prospective to do but are in hopes to find something light which [will] not injure Frank & still afford them a living. It look rather dark for them, still I hope

MARY PA UL LETTERS. 145

something good will come of it. I am sorry to hear of ousin Lois' misfortune. The poor girl is having a hard time. I h; pe she get better of this attack. Oh there is a remedy for r umatism that a lady here told me of. I was telling her about your case. &.she told.me..to tell you to tak~ am baths, in this way. When you feel the lameness coming on, have a sheef wrung out of hot water and wrap it about you. Then over that put flannel blankets and dont spare the clothes. The object is to produce heavy perspiration and thus throw off the disease. Half an hour is long enough to remain in the sheet. On coming out of it take a wann bath and rub till the flesh is dry. I have never heard of this remedy before but I have a great deal of faith in it and I do wish you would try it. You will find but little trouble I think, anyway I will pay anyone who will assist you, give it a fair trial. How is Julius? I am hoping to hear something encouraging of him. Give my love to him if you see him, also to all who inquire. We have had a very backward Spring here thus far, a great deal of cold weather. Planting has been going on briskly for a good many weeks, still everything will be late. The grass is now quite green but it should have been so weeks ago.

Write soon, and believe me ever Your affectionate daughter

Mary Bela Paul

I Y\ \~~f'i¥\ 1. ~l'r'h Phalanx June

Dear Father \ I dont know but you will think I am "stri'yed away or stolen" it is so

long since I have written you but I assure youlam safe & sound. Before Henry came I waited to hear from him & since I have been so busy that I have hardly thought of pen or paper. I was very glad to see him. He came two weeks ago today (Monday) & left Wednesday . morning. I presume he has got fairly initiated into his work before this lime. I am expecting a letter from him every mail. I was very glad . indeed to get Julius' letter by Henry. It was a very good one. Tell him 1

will answer it before long. When you wrote me last I concluded you had not received my last letter, but from Henry I learned that you did get it finally. J do not see why my letters should be missent as I . suppose they are for I direct them as plainly as I can. The weather is & has been cool all the spring. We have had but a few really warm days as yet. Neither has vegetation suffered from dry . ~eather as it has ~a St

according to reports. Everything is in good condition, potatoes are m

MARY PAUL LETTERS

blossom & everything else as forward. Strawberries ripened late but we are having them soon in great abundance.

Yesterday 2,000 baskets (measuring half a pint each) were sent to market. They were all picked in one day on the domain. I presume as many or more will be sent today. All kinds of fruit are going to be as plenty as strawberries they say. Tell Olive I wish she could come out here & make us some strawberry shortcakes. I know they would be appreciated here. I am going to try to coax the cook to make one for me. I have all the strawberries I want to eat & it is the first time in my life that I was ever so favored . I went out one day & picked 20 baskets, but made myself almost sick by doing it. It is much harder picking them where they are cultivated than wild ones because they grow so closely it is hard to avoid stepping on them & then they are all picked clear of the hulls, and are ready for market as they are picked. This saves handling & crushing.

I suppose you recollect George Brewster of Woodstock.40 He used to work for Eaton with you I believe, at any rate he used to know you. He is here with his wife. She was Frances Richmond, a niece of Walker Richmond. I think she told me her moth er married a Shepherd for her second husband . I presume I have seen Mrs. Brewster & W[alker) but do not recollect her. She recollects you & knows everybody in Woodstock I should judge by what she says. They are travelling for pleasure I expect and came here to see as people go to Niagara to see. They are real nice folks but seem rather countryfied in their ideas. They have been married seven years, but Mrs. Brewster is still distributing her wedding cards.

Henry tells me you had not heard from William. I think it strange he does not write to you. I shall write him soon. How are Uncle Jerrys family? My love to them all, also to Uncle Seths family. Tell Cousin Seth I have not seen the letter he was to ' have sent m e. I have tried to write coarse & plainly so it would not trouble you to read but I dont know as I have succeeded. I dont know how long I can stay here but for the present I suppose but what I shall do & where I shall go when I go away is more than I can guess. Write as soon as you can & as often as you feel like it. Dont wait for me. I will write when I can. I always want to hear from you & dont care how often.

Yours affectionately Mary S Paul

4o. This would be Woodstock, Vt., where Mary stayed briefly with her aunt and. uncle before entering the Lowell mms, and where the Pauls had lived earlier.

MARY PAUL LETTERS 1 47

East Unity [N.H.] Oct. 8th 1856•• fA Dear Father . . . ((,~~v ~C) ,U I .J( \le J l J ~rtl

I guess you will begm to thmk I write you often enough but I a m '\,~ living at the Post Office now and can send as many letters as I please if I only pay for th~m. T~e ~olks that Maroa & I are keeping house for keep the P.O. m their k1tchepY They went away this morning & are coming back Friday. I got your note with the enclosed letter Monday morning. I am sorry to hear that you have not found a room yet. Wha t are you going to do? You must not stay in that damp place. Cant you find another place to sleep and let your things be there, that would be better than ~ing. Give my love to Julius if he is with you now. I hope he will go back to Acworth again if h e can get a living there & I suppose he does get that.43 This mornings mail brought me a letter from Henry. He says he expects to go to Memphis, but does not know certainly, has not heard from Wm. since he wrote you, so there is no news from him. I presume we may not expect to hear from him (Wm.) until he gets his family moved to M[emphis).

The reason for my sending this letter now is to tell you if a bundle should come for me from Isaac-and I expect there will be one before many days-to send it by stage to Unity Village as I shall be there in a day or two.« I expect Mr. Glidden after me Friday or Sat. You had better direct the bundles to his care. I dont know what the bundle will be, but it would not be out of the way to tell the driver to keep it dry if

possible. My eyes trouble me some but I dont think they will be any worse.

Write often, and get o ut of that damp hole if possible.

Love to all, Affectionately,

Mary 5 Paul

Manchester [N.H.] June 28th 1857

Dear Father I suppose you will think soon that it is about time for another letter

from me so J[']ll write, although I have little or nothing to say. The

41. East Unity is just south of Claremont, so Mary was living quite close to

her father at this date. . 5e bel 42. This i~ probably the same Maroa whom Henry Paul marnes. e ow the letters of April 11, 1861, and after. 43. Acworth, N.H. is the next town south of Unity and is only about ten

miles from Claremont. . Paul marries in 44. This is the first reference to Isaac Guild whom Mary October 1857.

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MARY PAUL LETTERS

weather seems to be the principal topic here-its unusual coolness- but of course its all the same at Claremont so I wont waste time on

~~rote Maroa last Sunday and if you have seen her within a few days I presume she told you what news she had of me. My eyes are just about as they have been, or perhaps I ought to say better for they were worse than usual for several weeks. They are now about as they were when I came here.

I had my teeth fixed a short time ago and feel as if it were a good job done, though I hated to spare the money. I wanted it so much for something else, but my teeth needed it very much so I paid it out for them. It is quite warm today, seems like Summer. I want to hear from the boys, think it very strange that Henry dont write.

You said in your last letter that you had got your new vest & pants. Dont stop there, get a hat & coal, you need them.

I am glad you are thinking of going to Woodstock. Dont put it off, go right away, and go to Barnard with the little Tablet-if you can.45 Isaac often speaks about it and once said he would have it put up, but I told him no. Give my love to Friends at Woodstock if you go before I write again.

Tell Maroa to direct when she writes me to CF. Livingston's care. I forgot it when I wrote her. Give my love to her & to Julius, also to all who care for me.

Write soon and often Yours affectionately

Mary S Paul

Dear Father

Perhaps you begin to think it is a thing to be doubted whether you have a daughter in these parts or not. I'll settle the matter however for the present by giving written proof of my existence. I am so busy all the time that I do not write any letters at all. I got very tired doing my work and sometimes think I shall not be able to do it. I think though that I shall find it easier when I get more accustomed to it. 1 was very s_orry to ~ear that you were lame again. Hope you are better by this hme. I wish you could be here with me, comfortably stowed away in

~ - ~he tablet here is probably a marble slab intended to mark the grave of / ~ -m_otr, Mary Briggs Paul, who died in Barnard in 1841 t ·.

1 d 15 is ary' s first letter from Lynn, Mass. after her marriage to Isaac

ui on October 7, 1857. He was a marbleworker in both Lowell and Lynn.

/

MARY PAUL LETTERS 1 49

my little bedroom where I could look after you a little when you needed it. Where is Henry now? He wrote me from Unity a fortnight ago. I suppose I shall not see him again before his return to Ohio. I wish he could come this way and make me another visit but I suppose that is harclly to be expected.

The ground is now for the first time this year covered with snow, but it wi11 soon melt away I suppose in a few hours of bright sunshine. We have had very little cold weather but there is time yet to make it all up. I have not written Wm. for a long time, am thinking of doing so today if I can. I have a severe cold which makes one feel rather uncomfortably. Remember me to all friends who ask for me. Love to Julius. Tel1 him to write to me. Write soon.

Yours affectionately, Mary P Guild

Isaac sends r~ards. M.

[Lynn] Monday Eve., Nov. 29, 1858 Dear Father

It is some time s ince I wrote you, still I have not much of interest to write about. The world jogs on and we jog with it, taking our share of what life has to give. We are well and comfortable for which we cannot be too thankful. I wish every one could say as much.

We had a little snowstorm yesterday, traces of which still remain. Sleighs have been running all day though wheels run more easily than runners as yet, I think. We see nothing of Henry as yet. I should [think] Maroa would grow tired of putting of[f] so many times from month to month. I am sorry Henry finds so much trouble in getting his money. It is very unfortunate for him. I hear nothing of William either. He may be waiting to hear from me though I wrote him last. Isaac's business is dull now as it is always at this time of year, but he will keep busy, getting out work for Spring. It is already past ten oclock and I ought to be in bed, so I must not write any more. I hope to hear from you soon. I am glad you had the thick vest made and hope you will have some warm imdershirls & drawers. Dont neglect to get them. Keep as warm as you can.

Love to Julius & all friends. Affectionately Yours

Mary P Guild

150 MARY PAUL LETTERS

Lynn March 6th 1859

Dear Father I learn by Aunt Betsey that you are willing to come to Lynn for

awhile and I hope to welcome you to my home before many weeks. I think the necessary arrangements cannot be made short of three weeks or thereabouts. I do not wish you feel troubled or anxious about coming here. I wish you to feel free & contented & as much at home as if you owned the premises and I hope you will never allow yourself to feel for a moment that you are a burden to anyone. Henry and William will defray all your expenses and be glad to.

There is one thing which I owe it to Isaac to speak of & which I hope you will not take unkindly. As you are coming into a new place where nothing is known of your previous life can you not for your own sake as well as for Isaacs and mine refrain from that one habit which always brings naught but trouble & an ill name? I d~sh to reproach you with the habit nor blame you in any way. I only ask you to regard your own reputation & ours. I would not ask you to do this if it were only a matter of reputation & did not involve a principle of ri&b!.:_It is right for you to do it. Do not be offended with me dear father. I have only done what duty demanded of me.•1

I shall come to Claremont & come down with you. I think this would be the best way. Keep up good spirits and dont worry yourself to death. Lynn is not a bad place, and my home is a much pleasanter place than your damp room. I shall not need any of your bedding & you had better not bring anything but your clothing and such things as you will want with you.

I must close now. Give my love to Julius.

Yours affectionately Mary P Guild

Dear Father, Lynn April 11th 1861

~et us make you acquainted with your grandson Irving Tracy Guiid.•8

~~~ ~~~;s~~~~:n d~~~erately vague here, she is probably co~cemed about setts with m g e !~mperance Movement was strong m Massachu- l8 ' any communities passing local prohibition ordinances in the

sos. 48. Irving Tracy Guild was bo D b of Vital Records vol m ecem er 3°, i86o. Massachusetts Bureau with I · , . ' ·,,132• p. 268· The note at the bottom of this letter "sent

rvmg s picture was add d · .1 ' probably a daguerrotype or tin~pe~ pena at a later date. The picture was

151

We tho~ght you and Henry & Maroa would like to see the bo s we send him along. Y,

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MARY PAUL LETTERS

We are all well.

Yours aff'ly Isaac Orr and MP Guild

[sent with Irving's picture)

Dear Father Lynn Oct. 27, 1861

1 presume that by this time you have got back to Windsor again so I shall send this there.•9 I was glad to get your letter and hope you will favor us often in the same way.

Soon after your letter came, one arrived from Henry, announcing the advent of a daughter to his house & home. I rejoice in his good fortune and I dare say you all do. We consider our boy the best gift that has ever been bestowed on us, and we try to take the best of care of that gift.

He is a healthy happy boy thus far, full of life and strength. I know it would do your heart good to see him and I wish you could. He is not as largt now in proportion as he was 3 months ago but he is strong. He is not handsome but good looking, and we are very well satisfied with him and hope he will grow up to be a good man.

You will find the [Lynn] "Reporter" which we send this week badly crumpled with his little fingers. He is not allowed to have papers but he laid violent hands on this one, so we send it to Grandpa for a message.

I have been wondering whether Julius went with the Fifth N.H. Reg't.J• Let me know when you find out. I suppose he thought it his duty to go, but I am sorry. I hope nothing will ever induce Henry to go. Isaac of course will never go as he is a nonresistant in principle.s' Henry is fortunate in haveing work in these hard times but I hope he wont kill himself at overwork. Isaac has absolutely nothing to do and

49. This is the first letter addressed to Bela Paul in Windsor, Vt., located just across the Connecticut River from Claremont. H enry Paul and _his wife ~aroa were apparently also living there, as is clear in the ne~t letter m the senes, m which Mary offers advice to them in bringing up their daughteL . . 50. In fact, both Julius and Henry Paul served in the Army dunng _the Gvil War. ~e Otis Waite, History of tht Town of C/artmont, New Hampshire (Man- chester, N.H.: John B. Clarke, 1895), pp. 277, 280. . . . . 51. Isaac Guild may have been a Quaker, hence his position as a non-resis- tant. Lynn had an outspoken Quaker group throughout the antebellum years.

152 MARY PAUL LETTER S

winter coming & a family to support. He is not very well but better ' than he has been, and I am not well either. Shall have to keep a girl all winter I am afraid. That is, if we can manage to pay her. We have a house now at 72 dollars a year, which is better than paying one hundre d though our rooms are smaller & fewer in number. I shall do my own work as soon as ever I am able to and I hope that will be before a great while.

I am afraid you wont be able to read this it is so poorly written but it tires me very much to write a nd that will a ccount partly for the writing if it is w orse than u sual. I hope this will find you aU as well as can b e & I hope also that some of you wilJ write me soon and let me know how Maroa and the baby are getting along. Love to all.

Yours affectionately MP Guild

Lynn April 27th 1862

Dear Father I meant to write you weeks ago, but I have been so nearly tired out

that I have put it off hoping to feel stronger, but it is of no use. I never felt so nearly used up as now. I h ave had no " girl" since January and Isaac and I have managed after a fashion to get along. He has had so little to do that he cou ld help me a great d eal about my work. 1 could not have got along at all only for him.

We made another move April 1st and I h ope we are settled to stay for some time where we are. We were very much crowded for room where we were and what was worse the house was so situated as to get almost no sunshine at all in Winter, and that circumstance alone would prevent our staying in it any longer than necessity compelled. We have plenty of air & sunshine where we are now, and larger & better rooms tho ugh the same number of them. We live up stairs as usual. I wish we could afford to live in a lower tenement, it is so hard for me to do my work up stairs though I manage not to go over the stairs more than once or twice a day b ecause I have to be saving of my strength.5' Irving is nicely as u sual and a great comfort to me as well as a great trouble, for he has to be watched so closely to keep him out of mischief. He dont talk any but is goin g to one of these days I suppose though we are in no hurry to have h im. I had made u m_y mind.to make you a

52, Mary '.aul was five months pregnant at t his date. On August 31, 1862, she gave birth to a second son, Sidney Pratt G uild. Massachusetts Bureau of Vital Records, vol. 150, p. 230.

MARY PAUL LETTERS

visit this Spring, but~e times are so hard, and the trouble of taking a child on such a journey so much, that I have decided to wail a little IQ1Jger but hall rome as soon as I can with any comfort to myself and-you. I want to see you all very much. I hope little Mary is thriving, dont play with her too much, and dont feed her too much (to H[enry] & M[aroa]) if you wish her to get along comfortably through "teething." My boy lives entirely on oatmeal gruel (cooked six or seven hours) with a little cream for breakfast & supper and rye mush (well cooked) with a little cream & sugar for dinner, half a graham cracker for luncheon in the middle of the forenoon. This will probably be his diet until he gets all his teeth, which will be a long time for he has only six now. There may be, and doubtless are ways of managing babies, as good as mine but I am sure that the more simple and unvaried their food for the first three years of their life the better. I dont know anything of Julius, and I suppose there is no reason to expect anything from Wm. at present. I

I

"'~ hope though he will come out all right when the end comes. I hope you are all well and will write as soon as you can. Cousin Seth ca1/lled /1 to see us last month. I forgot to tell you where we are living now, on Essex St., cor. of Washington, west side of Essex & north side of Washington. You' ll find it easily enough. WritE!._soon, love to all.

Yours affectionatel , MP Guild

I