Letters between various members of the Bates family between 1815 and 1835: These letters have a formal tone and are quite religious, but they also discuss everyday concerns and events. There are 81 pages — someday I hope to separate the letters into their own files to make it easier to browse and read them, but that will be a big job!
Letters between Dr. Roswell Bates and his son Charles Carroll Bates, 1856–1865
Letter to Mary Williamson Bates from her mother, Mary Foster Williamson. Younger Mary has broken her arm falling from a hammock. In this very short undated letter, her mother sends her sympathies and advice (“The hammock is a dangerous thing — it ought to hang low.”). It seems daughter Mary was living in Sheldrake, New York (here?) and was already married to Roswell, even though the letter sounds like it’s written to a child.
Letter from Roswell Bates to his daughter Louisa, after she has moved away. Roswell wonders when she’s coming home and hopes she’ll teach near home next summer. But he mostly seems worried about his son Sheridan, who “is not dutiful in not writing more and oftener.”