Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Kiah B. Sewall wrote to his son Somers, who was at school in West Chester and wanted to leave mid-year. Sewall (1807-1865) told his son he needed to stay through the end of the year -- and spend the school vacation there.
Sewall, a native of Maine, was a lawyer in Mobile, Alabama. He and his wife, Lucretia Day Sewall, had eight children -- with another on the way.
Sewall had been involved in land speculation in Maine in the 1830s and been heavily in debt. He apparently recovered while practicing law in Mobile, but frequently told his children, a number of whom went to school in Maine or elsewhere in New England, that he did not have money to send them, or that money was in short supply.
He suggested Somers (1843-1867) stay at school over vacation and for the rest of the year because of the expense of a change.
He also suggested his son not go through the "usual college course." Sewall, an 1829 graduate of Bowdoin College, wrote, "Judging from my own experience & observations the majority of College graduates fail of success in life -- and fail in health."
He thought Somers, who would be 17 years old, could find a mercantile position the following fall -- and learn a profession there.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: K.B. Sewall to son on changing schools, Mobile, 1860
- Creator: Kiah Bayley Sewall
- Creation Date: 1860-02-17
- Subject Date: 1860-02-17
- Location: Mobile, Mobile County, AL
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 20.5 cm x 13 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 105, Box 1/5
- Collection: Sewall family papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Debt--Alabama--Mobile
- Schools
- Sewall family
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--Correspondence
- Sewall, Lucretia Day
- Sewall, Somers, 1843-1867--Correspondence
- Sons
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.
