Papers, ca. 1819-ca. 1886.

ArchivalResource

Morse family. Papers, ca. 1819-ca. 1886.

Papers, ca. 1819-ca. 1886.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/191259550

Almost all of the approximately one hundred twenty-five letters in this collection were written between 1852 and 1858. They were generated by the departure of Solomon Bradford Morse III from his home and family in East Boston, Mass., for California. Bradford's early letters describe his passage to San Francisco, Calif., as a member of the crew of the _Flying Fish_. He concluded that "a sailor's life is a dog's life in truth" and found work as a clerk for J.M. Kennen & Co. In 1853, Bradford made a voyage of eight weeks to improve his health, traveling to the Puget Sound area with a Captain Valpey. California in the 1850s was a difficult place to earn a living. After several jobs as clerk, Bradford eventually tried mining, first working at Mokelumne Hill. In 1860, when his letters in this collection end, he was working a claim in Spruce Gulch. Bradford's letters tell not only of his struggles to succeed but also reveal his affection and concern for his parents (particularly his mother) and his siblings. His intention, seemingly unfulfilled, was to earn enough to return home and buy a farm for his family. The letters to Bradford from his family are less numerous and express their desire that he return home, as well as giving him news of the family. Of great importance to Bradford was the kindness shown to him by the widowed Carrie Cheever Butler and a more distant cousin, Captain Henry Allen Cheever (1816-1873). Carrie's letters to her aunt, Mary Melledge Cheever Morse in East Boston, include descriptions of life in San Francisco and her reports of Bradford. Carrie's siblings who are mentioned in the correspondence are Emily Cutter Cheever (1820-1854), Almena Cutter Potter (1822-1878) who married George C. Potter ( - ) in 1861, Ammi Cutter Cheever (1824- ), Mary Harriet Potter (1828- ) who married Charles S. Potter ( - ) in 1857, and Ephraim Lombard Cheever (1831-1858). The collection also contains documents of other members of the Morse Family, including miscellaneous correspondence; a "testimony of approbation"; a copy of a will of Thomas Huxford, dated 22 February 1819; a poem; advertisements; Wells Fargo notes; and Franklin School Association membership cards. Also included in the collection is an "Order of Exercises at the Annual Exhibition of the Adams School, in East Boston ..., July 21, 1857," as well as two monthly reports from that school, for the month of February 1858, for both Charles W. and Henry H. Morse. There are two quarterly reports from English High School, dated March 1 and June 2, 1862, for Henry H. Morse. The collection also contains a number of student essays written by Henry H. Morse, c. 1860; a log of a voyage to Calcutta, India, and China from 1857 to 1858, kept by Joshua C. Morse; and a notebook containing accounts of Joshua C. Morse; the first act of a play ("L'Orgueil du Marche") written in French; a list of places; "Compositions written by Henry H. Morse while a member of the High School Boston"; other accounts; and a drawing. written by Henry H. Morse, circa 1860, and a log of a voyage to Calcutta and China from 1857 to 1858 kept by Joshua C. Morse.

1 box (197 items)

Gadsden Public Library