This particular letter is from Martha who I gather was a close friend and possibly relative of the addressee, Miss Almeria Fitts, who would have been 18 when this letter was sent.
Through some research, I’ve found that Almeria’s father was from Salisbury and had Almeria with her mother whose family was from Dedham. Her mother had died when Almeria was only six. Almeria had been teaching school in Dedham, possibly living with her mother’s family, perhaps even Martha, for one or two years, and then mid-school year, Almeria went up to Salisbury where her father was still living.
In the letter, Martha references that Almeria was at school, although it was unclear if she was teaching or attending. From other public records, I can see that she returned to teaching in Dedham after a year or two from 1847 until her death in 1850.
From the timing and the context, it is plausible that Almeria had to leave teaching suddenly to go to her father's to have a child, give it away, recover, ultimately returning to teaching in Dedham with her reputation reasonably intact.
Martha makes lots of references to beaus, parties and chaperones, and seems to be getting little correspondence from Almeria including when she might be back for a visit. Almeria would die at age 23, unmarried, so perhaps not everyone was as unaware of the situation as Martha might have been.
I've kept the punctuation and capitalization as close as I could to what was in the letter. That means there are very few periods or initial caps to show where sentences or paragraphs start. That's just the way it is.
Miss Almeria E Fitts
East Salsibury
Mass
Cancel:
Dedham
Ms.
Aug 26
5 in script in upper right (for 5 cents)
Page 1:
Dedham August 24. 1845.
Beloved Friend.
I now improve a few moments in answering your letter which I received after waiting a long time. I had begun to scold about you pretty hard because you did not write. We had concluded you had someone else to write to so you did not care about writing to us any more but I believe I won’t scold any more about it for I suppose you wish to hear something else. The folks are all well excepting your Grandmother she is pretty feeble Sophia has been here two or three days last week she told us to tell you that she should answer your letter as soon as she heard from your uncle lock he has gone on to the south they expect him back soon. I am staying out of the mill and have a first rate time a keeping house.
Mary Jane has been out a few weeks. she is going in again next week. she is in boston now making a visit. she sends her love to you and and wants you to write to her I believe she is going to send you a paper. Mary has moved over to milton they have bought a small farm and there they moved about the first of July so I cant pop in and see them so often as I used to it is about three miles from here. Abba still lives in Weymouth she was here last Wednesday and went to Squantum with us we had a first rate time there was seventy three in our party I went with Eben and Susan and Harriet Dresse
[larger version at end]
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[Addition at the top]
I dont believe your beaus have all gone to Trepoy(?) I guess there is one left bring him on home and let us see him
Mr Dournings(?) folks went with us. I wish you had been there. You dont know what a time we had going in the water some of them went in all over we was so afraid the men would see us we did not know what to do. Mr Burgesses folks have gone on a journey to Canada they expect them back this week. Mr Woodbury has preached for him the same one that preached for him when they went a journey last summer Mr and his wife Sharlotte Rodgers are staying up there to keep house for them. Mr Fish has lost his babe it died with the lung fever very sudden. I have been to mount Auburn this summer I went with Eben and Susan it is a very pleasant place. You wanted to know how I spent the fourth of July you said you supposed I went in to the fire works but I did not I went down to Marys Thursday night and came back Friday night most of the girls went in to the fire works but I could not get anyone to carry me. Mrs Pauls folks all went in to Boston John Yeltorn(?) was on here from Canada a few weeks ago. he came down to the mill and went down to see Belinda I do no know whether he has gone back again or not. We have had some very hot weather this summer quite a number in Dorchester and Roxbury have died in the heat Sarah Abrams and the children are up in the country to her fathers. Mr Henney has sold his farm they have two school teachers boarding out there from Boston during the vacation. Elizabeth goes to school this
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[Addition at the top]
How much longer is your school going to keep come as soon as it is finished dont keep me waiting six months for an answer.
[odd word on the upper edge]
harm(?)
summer she is about the same as ever I wish you would come down and see us you did not say one word about coming in your letter if you would only come we would have a real time now I am out of the mill do come I wish you would be here some night when Sargent comes up after the milk he trains more this summer than I ever see him especially when Mary Jane is over here he was quite sober to night for his face is all swelled up with the tooth ache there is no truth in that Mary J wrote to you about his stopping up here so long I expect he is hitetrinny(?) on some where else If you would come on here I would keep all the caterpillars off of you I wonder if you have heard any lady hana(?) lately I should like to hear you. I most forgot to tell you that we went with quite a loss this summer we have lost our horse he got lost and hurt him so bad we had to kill him so I have to foot it to meeting and I should like your company very much I wish he would come along and say Ladies if youll ride youre welcome to. Cousin Elbridge is going to keep our school again this winter Lavey(?) Ellis has got a beau so I dont despair yet Susan Smith has got a beau his name is Birkett(?) I believe Fairus gave her the mitten. Mr Thomas Beals is building him a new house off of Mill Village I should like to take a peek at you in those big perns(?) we have first rate times(?) sundays noons along we always sit together Mother sends her love to you and you may have mine to let no one see this so good bye
[text up the edge]
Martha
Answer this soon remember
[probably finished in that added text along the top]
Notes:
Almeria Eurphratia b. Oct. 28, 1826; d. Feb. 12, 1850
The Cousin Elbridge mentioned in this letter is Elbridge Clapp who took over the teaching role at the same school while Alemeria was in Salisbury.
Eben and Susan mentioned seem to be:
Ebenezer White Hayward and Susan Hayward (married)
Eben would have been 47 at the time of this letter
Squantum was a recreation area off Dorchester where city people went to have parties
To “give the mitten” was slang for telling someone you weren’t interested in marriage with them
