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Letter of (19) Ruth (Daggett) Bacon (born c1676) to her mother Hannah (Mayhew (21) Daggett Smith, now married to Samuel Smith. Ruth Daggett married Nathan Bacon of Barnstable on 11 November 1696. At the time of this letter Ruth is carrying her fourth child. Transcribed Sep 2007 by CM Mayhew.
Barnstable January 6th 1704
Honored mother after our most humble Douty presented [prefented] to your self and best respect [refpect] to mr Smith hopeing you are in good helth as we all are Exsept myself [I] have not ben well for a considerable time I have ben and am still held under so Grat pain and weaknes and what my portion may be I no not I no my time and am all my wais are in the hands of the Lord and I Desior Grace and patince to wait on him for his Salvation I have had grat Babies so and hope that should have inJoyed your Company but now by reason of the Season of the year and Coldnes of the wether I begin to Despare thereof of intr intreat that Tho I Cant inJoy your Good Company yet that I may inJoy your prayers to God for me that he would prepare me for his Good will and plasuer [plafuer] and if it may Stand with his Good plasuer that he would Carve out another portion of mercy for for me and inable me to work sutably there in unto So Landing myself and all my Conserns with him and Desior agen your prayrs for me
I rest
your Doutyfull Daghter Ruth Bacon
I would not for get
but but Give you many
Thanks for your [words?]
which I received of Lat
Description/Analysis:
This letter was written
by Ruth Daggett Bacon to her mother Hannah Mayhew Daggett Smith on January 6,
1704. Writing to her mother in Edgartown from her home in Barnstable, Massachusetts, Ruth conveys her fear regarding the impending birth of her fourth child. While the note conforms to the highly stylized
conventions of 18th century letter writing, the intimate relationship between
daughter and mother is apparant. Ruth is quite comfortable stating her fears of
mortality. She complains of the pain and weakness that she is suffering and asks her mother to pray for her continued well-being, never using the word "pregnancy" to describe her physical
state.
Ruth
Daggett Bacon's letter offers a rare glimpse into colonial family life
and communication. Despite marrying into her husband's family and moving off the
Vineyard, she maintains a close and loving relationship with her mother.
In general, the literacy rate for colonial women was quite
low. However, judging by the author's prose, one can assume that Ruth read the
family Bible and possibly other mass produced religious pamphlets.
This letter is part of a larger collection
of colonial manuscripts and legal papers that James E. Chadwick (1849-1938) collected
over several decades. As a native Vineyarder, Chadwick was known as a prominent
Edgartown businessman, a collector of historical artifacts, and a member of the
Duke's County Historical Society. In 1986, the Chadwick
Collection was donated to the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society, now the Martha's Vineyard Museum.
Questions to Consider:
1. How
does the author greet her mother? Do you think Ruth is following a standard form
of introduction?
2. Describe the emotional relationship between mother and
child.
3. How does this letter provide insight into marriage and familial
ties?
4. Describe the author's sense of her own mortality. How does this letter
reflect the realities of pregnant women and 18th century medicine?
5. How
does prayer play into Ruth's everyday life? How does her religion shape her understanding
of the world and her family ties?
6. Ruth is married and has started a family,
why do think she is stricken with loneliness?
7. Why does Ruth Bacon never
directly state to her mother that she is pregnant? Why does she use coded language?
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