CHAPTER V
CONTAINING
LETTERS FROM 1835 TO 1845 TO NATHANIEL SAVORY FROM HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND
TWO LETTERS FROM NATHANIEL HIMSELF, ONE TO HIS FATHER AND THE OTHER TO HIS
SISTER, MRS. STICKNEY
(1) From his Sister, JUDITH STICKNEY.
Copy.
“BRADFORD.
“July
3lst, 1835.
"DEAR
BROTHER,
"I have now retired from the labours of
the day. My family all being gone to bed, I thought I could no better employ my
time in writing a few lines to you to let you know that our healths are all
very good at this time. And I should be very glad that these lines might find
you enjoying the same blessing. It being your birthday as I could not see you I
thought I could no better employ my time than gathering up a few seeds to send
you although it does seem a great distance. But as we have been blessed with
the privilege of seeing one who could give us so much of an account about you I
feel great gratitude to a kind providence in directing you to write to us and I
feel that I am indebted to Captain North for the visit he has made us. But may
the blessing of God follow him and you whether by sea or by land and may you
have the blessing of again seeing each other. And may the glad tidings he shall
bear to you refresh your heart and may it be a medicine which shall enable you to
say I will arise and go to my Father. O Brother, the box I have sent you is one
that was your mother's. It is a small present but it may remind you of her as
she has gone out of our sights, but may she be still saying to us Prepare to
meet thy God. I have sent you a Bible not knowing whether you have one or not
but if you are a stranger to the book while I am writing may it reach you
rejoicing in the Lord. And may you be led to say that it was good that it was
sent. Here I pray you may receive it in love and practise in faith. May you
search the scriptures daily and may it be your meat and drink to do the will
of. your heavenly Father. May you realize that you left your best property
behind. Martha Thurlow is living ; her father and sister Mary is dead. She said
she would not part with the book only she felt it was a going home. I would
inform you that a great many of your friends since you left us have gone to the
world of spirits too many to enumerate but may it be our greatest concern to
lay up a treasure in heaven, and to be prepared to meet our God. I must now be
drawing to a close lest I should weary your patience in reading such poor
composition. You must not think it strange that I have not written no more
particulars concerning the family. If you are so fortunate as to get my letter
which I have sent before, you would not want to read them over again.
"I remain your sincere friend and well
wisher
“JUDITH STICKNEY.
"Do write often if you have an
opportunity, do come quickly. They all want to see you, brother, and so do I.
Sister Thurlow sends her love to you."
(2) From
his brother BENJAMIN SAVORY.
Copy.
"DEAR
BROTHER,
"I now take this opportunity in writing a
few lines to you that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you
enjoying the same blessing. I had the pleasure of seeing the letter that you
sent to Father and was very much gratified in hearing from you who we thought
was not numbered among the living, as it was a great number of years since we
had heard from you and that you would have written us were you alive, but it
must be that you had forgotten that you had friends and relations in America.
But you know best the reason that you have not written before but I hope that
you will in future embrace every opportunity in writing to all of us, as I
shall in writing to you. I have no news to write to you for my brothers and
sisters are a going to write by the ship. I thought that I would write a few
lines to let you know that I had not forgotten you although it seemed that you
had forgotten us who was far distant from you but I hope that we shall all meet
together once more in this world but should we not I hope that we shall be
prepared to meet in the world to come. If you have a plenty of shells on the
beach please to send me a few.
"I remain your loving Brother
"BENJAMIN
SAVORY.
“Salem,
Massachusetts.
"August the 3rd, 1835."
(3) From
his brother ELEAZAR SAVORY.
“NEW
ROWLEY,
“June 15th, 1836.
“DEAR
BROTHER.
"'Tis with pleasure that I take this
opportunity to write you hoping you are in the land of the living and enjoying
good health by the goodness of God. Your Father and all your brothers and
sisters are enjoying a tolerable state of health, except Mrs. Thurlow is not
very well. She met with a fall about four weeks ago but now is recovering. Your
Father is married again, he was married the first of April, you have a mother
in law. I want to come out and see you if there is an opportunity to come I
think I shall. But we entreat of you to come home, come and see your honered
father once more is well and smart, able to do a day work but is almost 75
years old already. I am in a great hurry at present. I got but very little time
to write a cant think half dear brother although you are a far off we think of
you after wishing you to write every opportunity as I shall write to you by
every opportunity. I must now bid you goodbye from your affectionate Brother. “ELEAZAR
SAVORY."
(4) From JUDITH STICKNEY.
“BRADFORD.
"Sep. 20th, 1838.
BELOVED
BROTHER,
"I have put by all work to answer your
beloved letter dated July 1lth, 1837 and most gladly have I done it. Oh if the
spirit of the Lord would be with me to teach me what to write. It gave me and
others satisfaction to hear you was well and found us the same. Those lines you
sent me have been read to many relations and friends and they most all express
a wish to see you. And I hope you will not let it long before you will visit
that sweet home you speak of--Dear Brother when I think of the great distance
that parts us tears flow, and did I not view the hand of the Lord in all events
I could not endure it. But do you make an attempt to come soon and do not go
back again, as you are not married you can come to me better than I can come to
you. I would inform you, when you read my
feelings about you, you may know sister Mercy's are as great, you know she
cannot write you must forgive her. Your letter I received 16th of July and
since that have been expecting Capt. North to make us a visit but very sorry to
say he has not been, but can I express enough to you for him for what he has
done for us, and may the Blessing of the Lord be with us by sea or by land. The
Record you sent for I have done all I knew to get the dates correct and I hope
it will be completed and you will receive it in kindness and love. But do not
let the names of all and ages satisfy you without coming to be with us. You
know that time is rapidly passing away and soon it will be said of us we are no
more. I would inform you that almost all the Fathers and Mothers are gone that
was alive when you went away. Our dear mother is gone and never can we have
another here. She expressed great desire to s6e you in her last sickness.
Father has a great desire to see you but says he shall never see you but I hope
he will. He is married again to a kind wife, lives close by Brother John's. He
has a little land to work on which is his wife's thirds [third wife's ?] and he
appears to enjoy his health pretty well for anybody as old as he is. Brother, I
would wish to inform you a few particulars respecting my family. At this date I
have a kind husband and three children and a Bachelor that compose my family.
For stock, one horse, five cows and one yoke of oxen, some sheep. The Boys have
got so that they make their father considerable help but my help[1]
is small. but I hope as my strength is declining my help will increase but would remind you that your sisters has to
work hard to take care of what we occupy. Brother, if you and I and all the
rest could live so when called for to give up our account with joy and not
grief what a happy change it would be for us. I want to give you a little small
account of your aunts and uncles that are living. Uncle Jonathan Savory of
Derry ; David Foot and wife ; Aunt Saunders ; Aunt Adams. Uncle Eliphaz Savory
died last January and aunt is but just alive. Uncle Samuel's wife is living and
Uncle Daniel's wife is living. Uncle Caleb Burban--and wife is living. That is
all the uncle and aunts there is alive. And as to your acquaintances some are
neighbours to me. Thomas B. married Hannah Dow lives where his father lived.
John Tenny lives where his father lived. John Colby lives where he did when you
lived with him. I must be drawing to a close lest I should weary your patience
with my imperfect lines, I hope you have got those other letters that you said
you had not received for they contain many things which I have not written now
but you are too far off to write all the particulars, but I should write about
my brothers did I not expect they would write. I am very sorry to hear you have
lost some of your members[2]
but a great chance it was not your life. May these thorns in the flesh prove to
humble us. O brother do write often if you have a chance and I will do the
same.
"This is from your friend and well wisher,
“JUDITH STICKNEY.
"Dear brother having been blest with the
priviledge of going to meeting with my family, Sabbath 23rd, between the hours
of intermission I thought I could not seal up this letter without putting you
in mind to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy and to search the
scriptures duly for in them there is food for the soul and health for the body.
The Map of Bradford if you should be so fortunate as to get remember that I
sent for it and Dr. Spoffard said that as you was once a Bradford man they
would send it as a present and so receive it--Do excuse my bad writing."
(5) From
BENJAMIN SAVORY
“SALEM,
" Sept. 23rd, 1838.
“DEAR
BROTHER,
"I now take this opportunity of writing a
few line to you to inform you that I am well and my family at present and hope
that the few lines will find you enjoying the same blessings. But there may be
a great change before you receive these few lines from your affectionate
brother and well wisher for there is great changes in this world for there is
nothing that is certain in this world and we know not how long we shall be
here. I have not any news in particular to respecting our brothers and sisters
for I expect they will all write. We have a very short notice. We expected
Capt. North would have paid us all a visit before that he left for Bonin Island
but he was taken sick at Boston and had to leave for Nantucket. I saw him a few
minutes and his lady but I expected to see him again. I did not say half so
much to him as I should, had I knew that I should not see him again. He said
that he was a coming up to Georgetown, late N. Rowley [New Rowley former name
of Georgetown], but brother P. B. Savory had a letter from him saying he was
going to sail in a few days and it gave us but a short time to prepare and to
get everything to Nantucket. I have seen all brothers and sisters a few days
before writing to you except you, and hope that we shall all meet together
though not forgotten by us for there is not scarcely a day but that I do not
make enquiry of sailors that I carry on the Stage if they have ever been at
Bonin Islands or knew one N. Savory there, but find none except Capt. John
Bradshaw of Beverley, Mass. said that he knew you well when at Sandwich
Islands, I am very well acquainted with him. He wish to be remembered to you.
He is a very fine man. I have not ever received any letters from you nor the
Box of shells that I wrote to you last about, but I will excuse you this time,
do not forget it the first opportunity. Write every opportunity and do not
forget you have brothers and sisters in the land of the living. Write me if you
ever calculate to be home again and when.
“Your affectionate loving brother,
“BENJ.
SAVORY."
(6)
From PATIENCE PEARSON.
“Sep.
22nd, 1838.
“DEAR
UNCLE,
“I now take these few leisure moments to
address an absent friend. I thought it might be some pleasure to you to have a
few lines from some of your nieces. I was very small when you went away from
home. I can remember the bottle you gave me and the riding stick you gave my
brother Tristram that is dead. Times has altered very much since you left this
place. There was but two of us and there is the same number left but not the
same persons. It is a sister in the place of a brother and she was called for
her Grandmother Judith Savory Thurlow. I have been married six years and have
two children as you will see by the record and we live in the house with father
and mother [or with father's mother] in Grandfather's Thurlow part of the house
with Aunt Martha Thurlow. We are all well at present and I hope these few lines
will find you enjoying the same blessing. Mother's health is very poor for she
got throwed out of a wagon two years ago last May and she has not been well
since. Father's health is poor for his old humour rages bad. Mother wants to
know whether you fare any better than you did when she warmed your bed and
tucked up your back. We all as one sends our best respects to you and wishing
you good luck in all your undertakings and we hope you will soon come back
again when we shall see one another face to face for we are very impatient
awaiting to see you. You must write to us as soon as possible.
"Yours affectionately,
"PATIENCE PEARSON."
(7) From
ROBERT SAVORY
“GEORGETOWN,
“Sep.
23rd, 1838.
“DEAR
BROTHER,
“I take my pen in hand for the first time to
write a few lines to a distant brother. I think it is twenty-four years since I
parted with you at Mr. Benjamin Plummers where I then lived and I have never
had any letter from you though some or all of my brothers and sisters have had
a letter from you. I think you cannot have forgotten me. I trust you have not
for I must assure you I have not forgotten you. I know I was to blame for not
writing by Capt. North. He stopped with me and I had considerable conversation
with him respecting you. The boots and the cider you received were from me
though I expect a letter would have been more acceptable. I thought the cider
would turn into vinegar before it got to you which I thought would be a rarity
in your country. I live in Georgetown, formerly New Rowley, within a few rods
of Bro : John's and he lives where the widow Pilsbury kept tavern when you
lived in this place. Seven years ago the first day of this month I married
Catherine Spofford daughter of Mr. William Spofford and we have one son only
which is a son five years old the first day of last May and we are all in good
health and I am in comfortable circumstances as to property, all my brothers
and sisters are well off that they have enough to make them comfortable as
riches we don’t expect here in this place. Brother John has got the most
property of any of us, but as for property it is but little consequence ; all
we want is enough to live on. We can't carry anything out of the world and we
ought to try make ourselves and our friends as comfortable as we can while we
stay here in this world which will be but a short time if we should live to the
common age of man. I hope it is not for the sake of property that keeps you
away from your friends. We should all of us rejoice to see you if you was poor
as though you were rich. I should be willing though I had but one dollar to
give you half of it. You don’t know how glad we should be to see you. If you
should come soon perhaps you might see us all, if you should put it off long
you cannot expect to. We cannot expect father to live but a few years at any
rate if any of us do. It would be a time of rejoicing to see you here before
any of us are taken away . We cannot tell who will go first old or young but I
beseech you come and see your father if it is possible, come and see him if you
have to go back again. You have been informed of the death of mother by Capt.
North the only death in the family since you left which is not common for so
long time. Father is married to the widow Tenny wife of David Tenny so called
who lived on the corner. She used to keep his house when you lived here. Her
name was Mary Saunders. I think he enjoys himself very well. I can go and see
my father and all my brothers and sisters in one day except you only. Think if
you were here how pleasant it would be Father, five brothers and two sisters
all within a few miles of each other. Shall I live to see it I feel as though
it might take place. If I could only see you to talk with you I could persuade
you to do it. Many of your old friends would be glad to see you. George
Spofford keeps store within five rods of my house, he often mentions about you,
tells of the good times he has had with you, wishes to be remembered to you. I
expected to have seen Capt. North but sickness prevented him from visiting us.
It is now growing late in the evening and I am going to retire. I hope in the
morning I shall think of something more to say.
"Monday
morning Sep. 24. It is now past 11 o'clock. I have been engaged all the
morning. I dont know what to say. I have been looking round to find something
to send you. I dont see anything to send you except a pair of boots. Perhaps
you can wear them if not you can sell them. My wife and son send their respects
to you and would be glad to see you. I hope you will write to me the first
opportunity if you do not come to see us but I entreat you to come without
fail. If I had not got any family I should like to come and see where you live.
I wish I could think of more to say to you but I must bid you farewell from
your friend and brother,
“ROBERT SAVORY."
(8) From
his brother JOHN B. SAVORY'
“GEORGETOWN,
“Sep.
24, 1838.
To NATHANIEL SAVORY.
“MY DEAR
BROTHER,
"Your letters by Capt. William North 2nd.
were gratefully received the early part of last summer, notwithstanding you
have been absent from us now about twenty-four years we have not forgotten you
nor are our kind regards for your welfare at all diminished. We presume you are
doing well so far as the mere matter 'of money making goes, and have you not
made money enough already to enable you to return home to the land of your
nativity and visit your father and your friends once more ? Our aged father yet
lives and enjoys good health. He married a second wife April 5, 1836 as you
will see by the family record which I send enclosed in the box herewith. This
2nd wife was the widow of David Tenny who used to live just above Little's
corner on the Haverhill road. She has some property and she treats our father
kindly we think he enjoys himself better than he would had he remained single
By the family record above mentioned you will see that your brothers and
sisters are all living and they all enjoy comfortable health. Sister Thurlow
was quite sick last spring however and her health is not very firm now. You
will see by said record the number of children each brother and sister (now
married) have had and how many of their children have died, etc. Brother
Eleazar only remains unmarried (except yourself). Speaking of Little's Corner
above I believe that place was built up since you left it is the place then
called Widow Pilsbury's Corner. I send you a map of the town of Rowley with a
line drawn across it marking a division made last April by the General Court.
New Rowley is now incorporated by the name of Georgetown, the place has been
very much altered since you left here. By the map you can see the number of
houses there was (in 1830) then in the town with the names of the owners quite
a number have since been erected and the population considerably increased.
“The manufacture of shoes is the principal
business of the place and that is carried on to a great extent. The shoes are
principally sold to southern and western merchants. The western states of this
Union are now settling rapidly. My wife sends her best respects to you and
wished me to inform you that her brother Wicom Hale who left here the same year
that you did is now settled in New Albany, Indiana (a new western state) about
1500 mi. from here. He has visited us once and only once during the time. The
amount of boots and shoes manufactured in this place in I 836 was (by a return
then made) about 500,000 dollars worth. Eleazar desires to be remembered to
you. He still remains a stiff old bachelor some say he has been courting most
ever since you left here how much longer it will take to get a girl well
courted I cannot tell. I suppose he wont marry till that is done. We have a
Bank in this place with a capital of 100,000$. Benjamin Little is the
President. He desires to be remembered to you. They all call him Uncle Ben yet.
“I remain yours with
"Sentiment of Respect
“JOHN B. SAVORY."
(9) From
his brother, ELEAZAR SAVORY.
“BOSTON.
“Sep.
12. 1839.
"I
take this opportunity to inform you my health and the rest of the family. Your
father is well and the rest of your brothers and sisters. My health is rather
feeble at this time. It has been my intention to come out in the Barque Dan Quixote, and came to Boston on that
business and was taken sick. I had got a good deal tress (?) to fetch out to
you, but the doctor says I must not embark, if I should 'twill shorten my days
so you must take the will for the deed. Dear brother, we want to have you
return to America very much, all your friends would be exceeding happy to see
you especially your aged father. Your brother Benjamin has got a boy named for
you about six months old and a fine boy he is. I should think that you would
like to come and see him. I send you one tin box of garden seeds by the barque.
I left home eight days ago but I have heard from home this morning by M. Little
and they are all well. Be so good as to come to your native land once more and
see your near and dear friends.
“I remain your sincere brother
“ELEAZAR SAVORY."
(10) From
his sister, JUDITH STICKNEY.
“July 28, 1839.[3]
“DEAR
BROTHER,
"I have now commenced writing a few lines
to an absent brother to inform you that this day would have been our mother's
birthday if she had been living. But though she be dead may she still be
speaking to us and saying 'Prepare to meet thy God.' This morning was Sabbath
and my children was saying Mother where is this thing and that thing which put
me to remembrance that it seemed but little while ago that we were together and
calling upon our mother the same. But the great distance you are from us we
little thought of then and it is quite too much to think of now with pleasure.
But O, may it soon be said that our tears of grief are turned into joy. O
Brother I have sat down to write a few lines on your Birthday although very
tired with work but let us remember that every birthday brings us nearer our
end and how important that we should spend every year and day as though it was
the last for we know not what a day may bring forth. But was you situated so I
could call and see you on that day or any other day or you could call and see
me I should be very glad, but we seem to be debarred from those privileges now
but I hope it will not be long before we have that favour granted us. I will
leave this subject lest I should weary your patience and will now give some
account of my family which is in pretty good health now and has been since I
wrote last. Should you be so fortunate as to get these few imperfect lines may
it find you the same. My husband and sons are very much engaged in gathering in
the former harvest,, our hay is not so great as it is some years but how the
latter harvest is to come in is known only to God who is so good as to send us
showers and sunshine and may he continue the same blessing to each of us and
may we not be ungrateful but thankful to Him who giveth us every good and
perfect gift. My family remains the same as when I wrote last, the neighbours
pretty much the same, they wish to be remembered to you and says they have not
forgot you and says they would be glad to see you. Brother, your sister has a
desire to write a few lines in respect to your brother Eleazar making you a
visit and I am troubled in mind to know how to compose them so they may be
comforting to you if he should not arrive to see you for his health is very poor,
he is not able to perform what we call work but he has had a great desire to
make you a visit ever since he heard where you was. But I must say he has
caused me to weep and to mourn on account of his undertaking such a journey but
did I know that he would be permitted to find you I would say Go and bring a
dear Brother home with you and I think so far as I know the mind of Father,
brothers and sisters they would utter the same sympathy and language. But I
must leave these things with an all-wise being who has a wright to govern me
and all as he thinks best, may we be enabled to say that all things are working
for our good though they may seem grievous at the present. Should Brother set
sail my prayers to God is that he may go out with joy and be led forth with
peace and be received gladly wherever he shall land and may be sent back in
safety and you with him and may his friends receive you both with gladness of
heart and I think they will if you should be permitted to come. And now brother
I must be drawing to a close lest I should weary your patience with these
imperfect lines. But did I know you would see Brother Eleazar I should have
written a little different from what I have but thinking it uncertain and not
knowing whether the rest of the family will write I take liberty to inform you
that we are all as well as can be expected considering cares and the work we
have to perform. Sister Thurlow and Sister Stickney each of us send you a
cheese and hopes you will have the pleasure of eating of them both.
"This is from your friend and well wisher
“JUDITII STICKNEY.
"Dear Brother, I feel as though I could
not close up my letter without informing you that Brother Benjamin's family
left my house yesterday all of them excepting Brother.
“Today is
the first day of September. They have another son born the first day of
March and I think they will name it for you. They are at Sister Thurlow's
to-day. They expect to return home on Tuesday. Their children are very pretty
ones. Brother Robert has a son born your birthday and they would like to name
it for you if Benjamin dont his.”
(11) From NATHANIEL SAVORY to his sister.
JUDITH STICKNEY.
(A reply to the previous letter.)
“BONIN
ISLANDS.
“July
20, 1841.
“DEAR SISTER,
"Your letter dated 28yh July 1839 was most
gladly received by me the 20th of last month which was happy to say (thank God)
met me in good health as I am at present. A few days more will be the birthday
of our dear departed mother. Dearest sister, the Lord help and assist me to
mingle my prayers with yours. May she still be saying Prepare to meet thy God.
The past times you mention, our childhood and calling on our kind mother are
scenes never to be forgotten by your brother Nathaniel, but the great distance
that separates us debars us the privilege of seeing each other at present. I
make no doubt you and the rest of the family have received the letters from me
forwarded by Capt. North in 1839 and 40. I then stated my intention and
determination of coming to the States to spend the remaining part of my days.
But who can foretell the things of tomorrow? I have thus far been disappointed.
I have not been able to effect a sale of my premises which would enable me to
return home in a decent manner, but should my brother Eleazar arrive as I
expect from what you express in your letter I shall try very hard to get home
if I should have to return here again. But I am at a loss to know where he is.
Isaac Adams writes date 25th August 1839, I send this by your brother Eleazar.
I know not what to think, it causes me great anxiety of mind but my hopes are,
trust in God, that he arrive in safety to this Island and feel it will be the
happiest meeting ever experienced by your too long absent brother Nathaniel,
who will if possible be more than a brother. I shall be as a father, anything I
have shall be at his service; O, how I anticipate the joyful day--but I have
said enough, an hour or a moment is sufficient to destroy our greatest hopes,
but let us all willingly submit to the divine will of Heaven, the great Father
of the Universe who doeth all things according to his own good will and
pleasure, dear sister, perhaps this is the last chance of writing this season
and this a poor one--an English ship bound to Japan and I hope will fall in
with some American ship. If I have time I will write again tomorrow to my
honoured and aged father; if not I inform you that I have been much
disappointed by Capt. Squire Sandford of ship Phoenix N. Bedford is not calling here this month promising to take
my letters and a small cask containing curiosities. But I dont expect he will
it being too late in the season. I am well acquainted with Capt. Sandford and
with all the officers and crew. He is a very candid man and has talked of
calling on my father on his return home next Spring. I wish some of my brothers
to go to N. Bedford as they ill learn many particulars concerning my affairs.
Captain Sandford will be happy at seeing a brother or friend of mine in the
States. I received no letter last season, and he only one this, is yours and
one from my niece P. W. Pearson, one from Isaac. The seeds by Patience I have
received. The cheese you and sister was so kind to send I can hear nothing of.
It grieves me much the loss of anything from home especially from my beloved
sisters. Adieu, give my love to my father, my respects to my mother in law, my
love to all my brothers and sister Mercy, husbands wives and children and
accept the same for your husband and children.
"From your loving Brother
“NATH. SAVORY."
(12) From NATHANIEL SAVORY to his
FATHER.
“BONIN ISLANDS.
“July 21, 1841.
"HONORED
FATHER
"My anxiety of mind is greatly relieved in
hearing from you. I received a letter from sister Judith the 20th of last month
which brought me the joyful tidings of your being in the land of the living and
in good health. I am astonished to hear you are able to labour in the field.
Your great age has already exceeded the common age of man but if it should
please God in His goodness to spare our lives to meet once more in this world I
shall have a thousand pardons to ask not for crimes but the trouble and anxiety
of mind which I have been the occasion of. I know not what has been my thoughts
in my younger days to treat the best of parents with the neglect which I have
done but I feel all my Father would express--My son return to my arms and be
forgiven . I know your tender feelings and I beg and beseech you will not
suffer grief to oppress you but rather be cheerful. You have been blest by
having your children (except myself) settled so near you and becoming
respectable members of society. all who I hope and trust are kind to you and
happy I am to hear my mother in law
[should be "stepmother"] treats you with great kindness. I mentioned
in my former letters of coming home which was my intention and is, yet if an
opportunity offers but I have no prospect at present. If I had I should wait
till I see brother Eleazar or hear from him as I hear by sister's letter and
one from J. Adams I judge he is somewhere on his way. Should he arrive and his
health should admit I shall have one to leave in charge of my affairs. Be
assured it is no want of inclination that I have not been home. I acknowledge I
am loath to leave what I have earned and gained by honesty and industry. I am
very glad to hear Eleazar is coming. I have long been wishing to invite him but
was afraid it would cause you and the family a great deal of sorrow, but I hope
all our sorrows may be turned into joy and in all things the Lord's will be
done. I am endeavouring to do my duty to the best of my abilities. I hope you
received the articles I sent you by my friend Capt. North who promised me he
would come and see you, as I thought it would be a great satisfaction to hear
so much from me. I have become acquainted with a number of masters of vessels from
Nan-tucket and N. Bedford this two years past. One Capt.. Sandford, Ship Phoenix N.B. a fine man who I hope will
call and see you, and Capt. Neel of Salem who is acquainted with brother Ben
and family. I have nothing particular to inform you of respecting my
circumstances. I am doing the best I can. When you receive this letter let it
comfort you and not depress your feelings. Oh Father if I could see you once
more in this world which I hope I shall my mind would be at ease. Blessed are
they that trust in the Lord. Give my love to my Mother in law [sic] to brothers
and sisters and friends and receive the affections and love from your absent
son
“NATHL.
SAVORY.
"To MR. BENJAMIN SAVORY
"Georgetown,
“Mass
U.S.A."
(13) To NATHANIEL SAVORY from his brother BENJAMIN.
“SALEM,
“March 22, 1843.
“DEAR
BROTHER,
"I now take this opportunity of printing a
few lines to you to inform you that we are well at present and hope that the
lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. I received your letter from
Capt. Neal and was very glad to hear from you but should be very glad to see
you. We are looking for you all the time. Capt. Neal told me that he thought
you would be home before he was. I believe there has not been any letters sent
to you since you sent the box by Capt. North. I should have wrote before this
had I not expected you would have been home before this time. Father enjoys
very good health considering his age. I have hot seen him for a year and a
half. You will think that I am very neglectful for not going to see him for so
long a time. Nor have I seen Sister Thurlow within that time. Sister Stickney
has been to Salem this winter or I should not have seen her. Julia S. Thurlow
is married to Mr. Harriman of Georgetown son of Moses Harriman whom you know. I
do not know whether any of the rest are going to write to you this time. I told
Wilcom H. Savory that he must write and let the others know that there was a
chance to send to you, but have not seen him since but I thought that I would
write a few lines. I have a chance of sending this letter by Capt. Geo. Brown
of Beverley Mass. who's going to sail for the Sandwich Islands. He is to be
stationed there as commission merchant. I have nothing more to write for news.
I should have wrote more if I thought that you would be at the Bonin Islands
and should have sent you some papers if you have not left when you receive this
letter you will write as soon as you can and every opportunity if it be but a
few lines.
"From your affectionate brother
“BENJN. SAVORY."
(14) From
his nephew WICOM, son of JOHN B. SAVORY.
GEORGETOWN,
"March 26, 1843.
“UNCLE
NATHANIEL,
"I take this opportunity as I have a few
moments to write to inform you a little how things stand this way. As to
business at this time it is very dull indeed. Folks do not hardly know what
they are all a coming to. I am in my twenty third year and have this year
commenced business in company with a Mr. Ayer--the dry goods line. I have been
in the store with Father for three years past and now we have taken his store
and are doing a cash business. Father is in the Tavern same as usual and
trading Horses and everything else that he thinks he can make a dollar by. His
health is first rate together with Mother and the rest of the children. I have
not known what it is to have a sick day for many years (1 wish I was out with
you). Aunt Thurlow's health is very poor indeed and I dont think we shall have
her to stay with us long. She often speaks of you and says it seems as though
she could not die before she sees you. Aunt Stickney's health is very good and
all the rest of the family. They seem to enjoy life finely and take it just as
it comes along. As to Grandfather you can realize how he does want to see you.
He says it seems to him as though he should never see you for he has been
expecting to see you for a year or two past and you have not come and he is
well aware that he cannot live much longer yet he may. I think his health is as
good as you can expect for an old man at that age. I think he worries himself
very much about you for fear that you will not visit this way at present. He
tells me to write you that if you have any kind of regard for him to come on
this way immediately. Eleazar is married and lives in the old Granite state. I
am very well acquainted with his wife and I think she is a very good kind of
woman. She has got some money and that tells the story. I should just as quick
as thought that the heavens and the earth would have come together as that he
would have got married. His health is very good for him and I expect now he has
got married he will be fat as a seal.
The folks this way think that you are on your way and that you wont get this
letter but if you should they want to have you come the first opportunity for
they are all very anxious indeed about seeing you. When you come I hope you
will bring us a good lot of shells and curiosities. I have not said anything
about Uncle Benjamin's folks for I supposed he is a going to write. I dont know
as I can tell you any news that would be very interesting. I hope we shall have
the pleasure of seeing you this way soon never to return back to that country
again. Do come soon.
"Yours with the greatest of Respect
“WICOM H. SAVORY.
“Son of the Hon.
John B. Savory."
Addressed
“Politeness of CAPT. GEORGE BROWN.
“MR. NATHANIEL SAVORY
“Sandwich Islands.
“To care MR. RUNNELS."
(15) From his sister, JUDITH STICKNEY.
“BRADFORD,
“Oct.
20, 1845.
“BELOVED
BROTHER,
"I have a desire to write a few lines in
answer to your last kind affectionate letter dated July 1st. 1840, which I
received not far from one year after and likewise a very pleasant visit from
Capt. North and wife and I think it will be pleasing to you to hear that your
father waited upon them to my dwelling place. They took tea with us and would
inform you that we received them kindly and gladly for he gave us such an
interesting account of your affairs that it made it a very pleasant meeting. He
said he thought in the course of one more year you would be here. I thought
that the time would soon roll away but I have been very anxious for your return
ever since the length of time is above four years. O Brother I must express my
feelings are so tender that I know not how to compose a few lines as I should
like to. The first of July I was down on a visit to Sister Thurlow and she and
I was a talking about you. I told her that I had about given over ever hearing
from you again but I was happily disappointed. The day before your birthday
Capt. Bunker and his wife came to see us and dined with us and we gave them a
cordial welcome but what he told us about your coming seems to be uncertain. I
told him that strangers was very good to come and see us with tears in my eyes
and I said I thought you might do as much as they did but I hope they will all
be rewarded here or hereafter for the kindness to the family they have
manifested and likewise to you for directing them to us but I hope coming and
going will not fully satisfy you from striving to come to see your near and
dear friends for if you delay it till we are laid in the cold grave you may
have wished you had come before. But you and I do know life is uncertain and
death is certain. How soon we shall be called to meet our Judge we know not and
how important that we lay these things suitable to heart so that we may have
the approbation of our Judge 'well done, good and faithful servants enter thou
into the joy of your Lord. Lest I should weary your patience with my poor
composition and mean writing I will leave here and return to the family for I
think it will give you more satisfaction to hear something about them. As to
our healths we are all able to perform labour which is the greatest blessing we
can have here is health of body and health of mind. My constant family consists
of seven, my husband and his sister and Mr. Sawyer and my three children. They
are all at home. It gives me great satisfaction to have them with me. My
husband has done the farming last year mostly and the boys are busily engaged
in shoemaking. Betty has just commenced going to school for the winter term,
she is tall as her mother, you must judge how old I must feel when you think
how old my children are. My eyesight begins to fail me, I write with glasses
on, my strength fails me at times, I feel quite old and my memory goes with the
rest of my faculties will soon be gone. I cannot close writing without
remembering our father desires to see you for I think they are very great. He
often says he never shall see you and unless you should return soon tis not
likely he will although his health is better than could be expected, he is able
to carry on what land he improves, he seems to be comfortly for the things of
this world and I hope he is laying up treasures for another. Time will not
permit me to write what I want to but you must excuse me and from whence it
came. I expect therewill more of the family write to you so I shall not write
so many particular things as I should if that was not the case. Your sister
Mercy, wanted me to remember her in particular, she wants to see you very much
and you will ever be remembered by your dear sisters. Brother Eleazar is
married and moved to Epsom about 40 mi. off. His health is rather poor. I think
he will be deprived of this opportunity of writing, but do not think it is
because he would not like to have written for he ever has taken a very active
part to hear from you and send to you. He would have made you a visit if his
constitution been so that he could performed the journey. So you must take the
will for the deed. I have sent you a little visiter another book the daily food
and a few tracks and may they prove a comfort to you and those around you. But
above all things look into your Bible daily and if we are weary and heavy laden
may we go to Christ who has died to atone for our sins and may we look and
live. If my cares was no more than when you left home I would gladly have
filled up this whole sheet of paper. It has been very dry with us this season
but our crops have come in about middling we think. There has been and
continues still to be deaths often but when it will enter our dwellings God
only knows. May we stand ready if He calls to say Hear Lord do as seemeth good
in thy sight. I must close with requesting you to excuse my misspelt words and
black marks. In health and prosperity I hope these lines will find you is the
desire of your unworthy sister
“JUDITH STICKNEY.
"Do come or write the first opportunity
but I hope I shall once more behold your face in this world, for we shall all
be glad to see you. Farewell. Give Capt. Bunker my best respects. Thank him for
coming to see us."
(16) Copy
of a letter which it will be convenient to insert here from CAPT. NORTH alluded
to in the above letter.
“NANTUCKET,
“July the
30th. A.D. 1841.
“ESTEEMED
FRIEND.
"It is with much pleasure that I set
myself to communicate to you these few lines to inform you of my health which
is not very good at this time hoping that this may find you enjoying perfect
health peace and prosperity. I will inform you that I made a short visit to
Georgetown in the month of June last where I found all your dear brothers and
sisters and father and Mother enjoying perfect health. I will inform you that
they expect you home in the space of one or two years. They are all doing well
in their employment. I took tea with your sister Stickney and enjoyed a good
glass of punch with your father at five in the morning after taking tea with
him and wife the evening previous together with Mrs. North. They all feel very
desirous for you to come home to America. Your father feels very much about
your not coming home while you was in
Salem but he feels in great hopes to see you once again in this world of
trouble. You must write him every opportunity. Please give my best respects to
Thomas Baily and Wm. Gilley and to my old friend Mr. A. B. Chapin and all of my
acquaintance.
“I remain your esteemed friend
“WILLIAM NORTH.
“To Mr. N. Savory at the Bonin
Islands."
(17) To NATHANIEL, from his brother, BENJAMIN SAVORY.
“SALEM, MASS:
“NOV.
7. 1845.
"DEAR
BROTHER,
"I improve this opportunity in writing a
few lines to you to inform you that I am well and Family except my wife. Her
health is very poor and has been for some years but she attends to her family
concerns and hope that these lines will find you enjoying the same blessing and
good circumstances so that you will be able to come to native country once more
if you are able so to do. If you only knew the wish that our aged Father and
Brothers and sisters had for you to come I doubt not that you would come back
the first opportunity you had after receiving these letters. I saw father and
sister Thurlow John and Robert Oct. 1845. Father expressed great desire to see
you before that he departed this life, but, said he, it is not likely that I
ever shall. Said he, it is not to be expected that I can live many years on
yet, and I thought so too, but I didnt tell him so, his health appears to be
very good. When I received the letters by Capt. Neal we thought that you would
be at home long ere before this but we suppose that, you have altered your
mind. I hope that you will think better of it and return as soon as you receive
these letters on return of Capt. Bunker if you can. Capt. Bunker thought it was
very uncertain about your coming back at present but I hope that you will think
better of it and come immediately. Your money will not do you any good if you
stay on the Island too long. It would be great consolation for you to come home
and see all your brothers and sisters living but life is very uncertain but I
hope you will improve the first opportunity in coming home, it would give us so
much satisfaction in seeing you who had been absent so long a time. But I do
not expect to even to see you in this world but I do think if you only knew
what desire that your friends had for you to come you would not stay long after
you receive these lines. I never see sister Thurlow nor Stickney but what there
is some conversation respecting you--whether I think you will come back again
which is a very hard question to answer. You can answer it when you write to us
again but hope you will answer it by coming yourself. I shall expect to hear
from you before you will receive these letters. I see by the papers of a ship
which belongs to New Bedford bound for Bonin Islands which I hope you will
write so that we may hear from you and hope that you will write by every ship
that comes to Bonin Islands or is coming to any ports of America or to Sandwich
Islands. There is ships coming from the Islands every little while if you will
improve the opportunity. I send you a box containing some books newspapers or
the beans Sister Thurlow and Sister Stickney has wrote all the particulars
about I suppose. John and Robert, I have not received their letters. I have
sent to them twice but they have not sent them yet. I shall close the box
tomorrow. Benjamin my son has sent you a Book marker ‘absent but not
forgotten,' the other is from my daughter which she worked for her Uncle. They
thought it would be something new to you to see done with a needle. Benjamin
aged 13 years, Mary aged 8 years. I have forgotten to say anything about
Brother Eleazar, he is in the country and does not know that there is a chance
of sending out to you, you will excuse him for not writing to you. But John and
Robert there is not any excuse for not. I expected that Uncle Benjamin Little
would have written to you as I told him that I was a going to send to you but
have not received his. I send you a few pens so that you may write a few more
letters to me and write every opportunity. If you have only little curiosities
to send you may send some to my children as they would think it very nice if
anything came from you one that they have never seen and one that they have
heard so much about. You will excuse my bad writing and spelling as I am a very
bad hand to write letters. You are all the one that I write to. I should have
wrote before this had I not thought that you would have come home before this
time. When you wrote to me the last time you wrote not to send you out anything
more and have been waiting all this time to see you and probable shall have to
wait a long time before seeing you, but I do hope that if you have health that
you will come with Capt. Bunker when he comes back.
"Write every opportunity,
"I am your affectionate Brother
“BENJ. SAVORY."
No family letters have been preserved after
this date. It is possible that all later ones were destroyed by the tidal wave
in 1872 to which reference is made at the end of Chapter VIII. The letters
sufficiently prove that true affection existed between Nathaniel and all the
members of his family. Even in his letter to his father while he asks
forgiveness for having forsaken his home, he professes himself innocent of
anything in the nature of a crime. We gather from the letters that, during the
"forties," Nathaniel had been seriously contemplating leaving the
Bonins for good and returning to his family; also that one of his brothers,
Eleazar, had been on the point of setting out to pay him a visit.