Jan. 1776: Moving to Chebacco Parish for safety

Letter 25   To my sister*   Gloucester   January — 1776

 Dearest of Girls

 I should esteem it a signal favour, if, in these days of calamity, we could, when we are obliged to leave our present residence, obtain a situation near you — such a vicinity would, I should imagine, shed a gleam of sunshine, upon our days, however we might be circumstanced — 

It appears to me, we have, at this moment, an opportunity of accommodating ourselves — We have fixed upon a dreary spot, and shall be obliged to submit to many inconveniences — But I am content, for it is in the neighbourhood of my Mother — It is not my dear the place, but the society to which we must look to soften the gloom of the coming winter — 

If then you would take the Doctor’s house, who informed Mr Stevens, it would be finished in a week, it would make me very happy — The time employed in fitting up the apartment you might pass, with me, Your presence would adorn my solitary hours, come my amiable sister — Let your sweet Boy come with you, and give pleasure to a heart which I do assure you, stands much in need of such an effort of affection

*Esther Sargent Ellery, Judith's younger sister by four years

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Notes: 

"days of calamity" = British ships threatening the port of Gloucester ("The Battle of Gloucester" had taken place mere months earlier)

"dreary place" = Chebacco Parish of Ipswich (later, renamed Essex)

"Mr Stevens" = John Stevens, Judith's first husband

"your sweet boy" = John Stevens Ellery, Esther's son

July 1, 1776: "I have passed through the Small Pox"

Letter 48    To my Sister*   Boston   July 1st 1776

You will, my dearest Girl, account for my silence, when you are informed that I have been extremely ill, and that, with a disorder which rendered it presumptuous to address any of my friends — After this you will not need to be told, that I have passed through the Small Pox — 

Yes, my dear, I have submitted to inoculation, and have, not withstanding, suffered severely — No less than one hundred pustules in my face, so that you will judge what a fright I am — But, no matter, I am now qualified to render any service in my power, to those friends who may in future suffer in this way.  

My Physician assures me that I should not run the least risk, in returning home this day, I have taken every precaution that the most scrupulous timidity could suggest — yet the fear of alarming my connexions, will keep me here another week, or ten days when I may surely return — 

Say, my Love, may I not safely meet you at that period? I believe I shall venture — I am impatient to see you once more — it seems a little age since I left Gloucester, and although I have been cruelly treated in that place, yet recollection is constantly reminding me that in Gloucester, my dearest connexions still inhale the vital air — 

Fancy often presents you in my sleeping moments, and I dream myself once more among you — yet this fleeting vision is too soon dissolved, and waking I exclaim — Beloved and most precious Circle, do you indeed exist, or are you only ideas floating, athwart the disk of imagination, which, however I may heretofore have realized, I shall not again be permitted to embody? — 

See my sweet Girl, how you have erred, I have not figured splendidly in the Beau monde, but I have been constantly confined by illness, although had your conjectures been correct, you have yet to learn the heart of your sister, if you suppose she would prefer any enjoyment, which the round of dissipation can bestow, to the pleasures which result from friendship.  

Often, and often, since I left home, hath my bosom sighed for the kind soothings of an amiable sister, for the dear presence of an affectionate Mother — Indeed Home hath ever been to me a world possessing most potent charms, and, I dare believe, its fascination ... to the whole of my existence. 

To Mr Stevens my plan, and its nature, was fully known — It was known and sanctioned — my letters to him are sufficiently explanatory — Remember me in the most affectionate terms to your husband and to my charming Boy** [—] 

Adieu — May Peace, uninterrupted Peace be with you

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Esther Sargent Ellery, her sister, four years younger; to date, no portrait of Esther has been found

** "my charming boy" is Esther's son, John Stevens Ellery

 

 

 

1776: While visiting Boston, Judith plans her small pox inoculation

Letter 45   To my Sister*   Boston   June 2d 1776

My Dear Sister

Perhaps you never saw a more pleasing situation than the present residence of my Uncle — Although in the midst of the Metropolis it yet in a great degree combines the beauties of the Country — It is in a retired part of the Town — the parade of military arrangements reach us not, and of the progress of hostilities we hear much less than at Gloucester.  

This dwelling is entered through a neat gate, shaded, on either hand, by tall trees, cloathed with the most beautiful verdure, which, uniting at top, form over the head a delightful shade — you are first introduced into a long entry, the extremity presents an avenue, leading to a garden, abounding with fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables, at the bottom of the garden you have a handsome summer house, neatly finished, and enchantingly shaded by woodbines, honey suckles, &c &c [—] 

The atmosphere is highly perfumed, and we are ready to fancy ourselves in one of the bowers of Elysiums so fancifully described by Swedenborg — Seats erected in various parts of the garden are highly ornamented and umbrageous.  The Parterre is in great perfection — the whole plat laid out in serpentine walks pretty little knots variously displayed, and fringed with box — 

The apartments of the Mansion, in which were left many valuable pieces of furniture, are very elegant. I sigh for the original Possessors, and my heart bleeds for four sweet innocents, whom the Parents have left in this Town, and who, it is too probable, will be subjected to every hardship which caprice, and ill Nature can induce.   

My Aunt and her sister Harriot, are in fine spirits [—] they suffered very little from the Small Pox, and are earnestly solicitous that I should submit to inoculation — Would it please heaven to carry me through this disorder, how useful might I be to my beloved parents, to my sister and many other dear friends, who might chance to receive, by accident, this cruel despoiler — you know whoever is known to have caught the small pox is dragged from his or her dwelling, without respect of persons, and rudely conveyed to some inconvenient, desolate spot, nor is the attendance of any friend, who has not passed through the small pox, permitted — how comfortless, how forlorn the idea — a Father, a Mother, suffering agonies beyond description and surrendered to strangers, to mercenaries — The idea is truly shocking [—]  

Say, my sister, can I be censured for wishing to purchase liberty to watch around the suffering authors of my being — should they be thus tried? — you know many persons, much less exposed, have been suddenly seized with this calamity! — Let me whisper you — but you must be silent — It shall not be my fault, if I do not quality myself to share the sorrows of my friends —

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Esther Sargent Ellery

Notes:

• JSM had herself inoculated in Boston in complete secrecy. She wanted to be able to care for her parents in case they caught small pox. Her father, Winthrop Sargent, whose frequent travels to Boston for political work, did, in fact, catch the disease and Judith was able to nurse him back to health.

• "My Aunt and her sister Harriot" are Lucy Saunders Sargent, who married Revolutionary War officer Paul Dudley Sargent, and Lucy's sister Harriot.

 

1775: "In the midst of warlike preparations"

Stage Fort Park

Letter 23    To my Mother*    Gloucester    November 11 1775 

My heart was greatly set upon seeing you this day — but it must not be, the roads are so heavy, the weather so precarious, and my health so indifferent. 

My situation is truly unpleasant — in the midst of warlike preparations — Soldiers flocking in from the adjacent Towns — frequent alarms, drums beating, bells ringing, and not a single female associate, to whom I can resort for consolation — To the mind attached to show, military parade may be pleasing, although, even amid its most potent fascination — if the gentler vision pervade the soul — martial appearances in time of war, must be attended with melancholy presagement, and surely, Peace is the kindly soil, from which the social virtues must derive their fairest growth. 

In these days of apprehension, I am happy that my Mother and Sister, with their Fitz William, have obtained a sequestered spot. Thither, in imagination I shall often follow them, for my sincere affections are ever Theirs. 

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Judith Saunders Sargent

Notes:

• JSM's mother is Judith Saunders Sargent of Gloucester (1731-93); she married JSM's father, Winthrop Sargent, in 1750 in Gloucester.

• JSM's sister is Esther Sargent Ellery (1755-1811); she was married to John Stevens Ellery (1748-97).

• Fitz William is JSM's youngest brother, Fitz William Sargent (1768-1822).

• the "sequestered spot" they obtained was in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Mass., away from the coast and British war ships.

• In total, JSM had seven siblings; only three survived to adulthood. JSM was the first born. Of the three surviving siblings, their birth order was: Winthrop Jr. (1753-1820), Esther, and Fitz William. Winthrop Sargent Jr.'s papers are housed at the Mass. Historical Society.