Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Lucretia Day Sewall wrote from Portland to her husband, Kiah B. Sewall, in New York, nearly a year after the couple began living apart while Sewall tried to establish himself in business.
While separated, Lucretia Sewall gave birth the the couple's first child, Eunice Day Sewall, in August 1837. Her husband had not yet seen the child.
She told him she did not like the idea of taking in boarders. "I think a family should be a little community by itself." She said her family would not be opposed to her returning to New York "if they think you can properly pay your way."
She wrote that her parents knew he was studying law and that it was therefore impossible for him to make any money. She also discussed her brother and sister-in-law, John and Sarah Adams Day, commenting that John had no debt (as Sewall did) -- but also was unemployed. The couple also had a young child.
The Panic of 1837 led to a nearly decade-long economic crisis.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Lucretia Day Sewall to husband on separation, Portland, 1838
- Creator: Lucretia Day Sewal
- Creation Date: 1838-03-19
- Subject Date: 1838
-
Locations:
- Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- New York, NY
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 23 cm x 19 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 105, Box 1/1
- Collection: Sewall family papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Debt
- Economic & social conditions
- Land speculation
- Real estate investment
- Recessions
- Sewall family
- Sewall, Kiah Bayley, 1807-1865--Correspondence
- Sewall, Lucretia Day--Correspondence
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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