Dura Wadsworth Letter (1882)

Collection Overview
Title: Dura Wadsworth Letter
Dates: 1882
Creator: Dura Wadsworth
Accession/Call Number: DAL.SMS.078
Repository: Drew Archival Library
Quantity: 1 Folder
Language: English

Administrative Information
Access Restrictions: Open to researchers. No restricted material in the Collection.
Administrative Note: The Collection was donated to the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society prior to 2007
Preferred form of Citation: DAL.SMS.078 Dura Wadsworth Letter in the Drew Archival Library of the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society.
Related Collections: image of Thomas Herrick in Dorothy Wentworth Collection – PDAL.1990.004.075
Finding Aid Prepared by: Carolyn Ravenscroft, Dec. 2014

Scope and Content: One letter written by Dura Wadsworth (Bridgewater, MA) to his nephew, Thomas Wadsworth Herrick (Duxbury, MA), on Nov. 22, 1882 with envelope. The letter is rather witty, equating people he meets to ships at sea. Also included in another envelope addressed to Mr. Thomas Herrick, Washington Street, Duxbury, MA and postmarked 1932.

Biographical Information:

Dura Wadsworth (1825-1910)was the son of Dura Wadsworth and Abigail Cushman.  In 1853 he married Olive Wentworth (1832-1896). He lived in Bridgewater for much of his life, working as a teacher, ships carpenter and, at the time of this letter, in a cotton gin factory.  Dura and Olive had five children: Arthur Clinton (b. 1854), Mary Alice (b.1858), Annie Ruth (b. 1860), Dura (b. 1862) and Edith Cushman (b. 1864).

Thomas Wadsworth Herrick (d. 1938) was the son of Henry and Abbie Wadsworth. His name at birth was Thomas Herrick Wadsworth, which he changed to Thomas Wadsworth Herrick. In 1884 he married Lizze B. Hall, the daugther of George and Emily Hall.

Transcription:

Bridgewater, Nov. 22nd, 1882

Dear Nephew,

I have been thinking of writing you for some time, but don’t seem get at it, but his eve I will try. My family are all well, and I can am at the Gin Shop most of the time. I haven’t got done tinkering my house yet, am at work on a Lattice to go under my Bay Window to hide them Drunk Piers, that Guss & Walter built. I think now I may get it done this week but can’t tell, as I work for myself when I can get a chance, there is a talk of our having a vacation after Thanksgiving. I expect Arthur at home Saturday, to stay a week he han’t [sic] seen us at home yet, and it will be as much of a change to him to find us here, as to any one else. I will now send you my log for the last 12 hours. I got under weigh this morning at 7 A.M., stood out into the street and made the 400 ton ship Harvy Kimbal. The craft was weighed this A.M. he was loaded with Burnishing Steel, Bound for Brockton, he was under Steam and Sail both. Aunt Caroline had just shook the Reefs out of his Dickey on the Starboard side and hadn’t got it swayed up, taught the Starboard side, stood up plumb and he had a new suit of sails throughout. I noticed that the Bright work on his upper works had been lately scraped, we were in company for a short time and then he changed his course for the Depot, and was soon hull down. At 12 N, on my Return trip I made a small craft close haul on the wind coming down by the Orthodox Meeting House, it proved to be the Millie Seward been out in search of Knowledge. At 5 P.M., made 2 suspicious looking crafts, so shortened sail for them to come up and they proved to be the 2 Clippers Susie & Edie out on a pleasure excursion, so I piloted them into my Kitchen and we all came to an anchor for a spell, finally the Susie got under weigh, and ran up channel to Waterman’s Ranch, where she will haul up for the Night. Elmer still tends the Light on Cemitary Street, and acts as Pilot to crafts on that street, there han’t [sic] been a Wreck on that street for a long time owing to his being on hand, and so quick in his movements. Dura is mining his store this week. Mr. Washburn is at Cut River, Fishing & Lining. I should think it would be pretty cold to have much fun. I suppose you have got your Boat in before this, are you going to Alston this Winter. I suppose Ella Will the Girls and all Aunts send love to all. Annie has Jane wearing straws in her ears and has some rings made of Cattle Show Gold, I guess them Gromets you made for her will stay this time, as it is getting late I must quit.

Yours truly

D Wadsworth