Reprinted, with permission, from the blog Heirlooms Reunited
Letter dated May 23, 1852 and postmarked May 24, from Joann Mayo Hersey and her mother Constance (Mayo) Hersey at Pembroke, Maine, to Constance's sister Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey at Tremont, Southwest Harbor, Maine.
The letter consists of two pages of interest to family historians of the Hersey, Mayo, Lurvey and Lurchin families of Maine's Washington County and Hancock County.
Also of interest, in this new era of DNA testing of artifacts, is the postage stamp - possibly a brick wall buster!
A transcription of the letter appears at the end of this post. If you notice errors or can fill in any blanks, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
People mentioned in the letter, in alphabetical order.
- Aunt Eliza; possibly the sister of John Henry Hersey
- Livona Ann
- Adelaide Veola Hersey; daughter of Zadoc Lewis Hersey and Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey; Adelaide was born in February 1852 and would marry Alden Bradford Kendrick in 1878.
- Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey (1820-1900); wife of Zadoc Lewis Hersey; they married April 21, 1844
- Constance Young (Mayo) Hersey (1806-1856); letter writer; mother of fellow letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey
- Grandma; has been well this winter but fell on the ice and hurt her arm; possibly Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey, wife of the older Zadoc, though online trees have her death as 1850
- Henry H. Hersey (1848-1902); son of Zadoc Lewis Hersey and Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey; age 5, behind in vocabulary and/or pronunciation
- Joann Mayo Hersey (1835-1912), letter writer and daughter of fellow letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey; future wife of Leonard Shaw Lurchin, whom she married in 1854.
- John Edwin Hersey (1850-1921), "Edwin", son of John Henry Hersey and letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and brother of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey; Edwin would marry Jennie E. Lurvey (1862-1913), daughter of Levi Lurvey and Lydia (Marshall) Lurvey
- John Henry Hersey (1810-1885), husband of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and father of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey
- Reuben F. Hersey, son of Zadoc L. Hersey and brother of Zadoc Lewis Hersey; married Mary L. Crane; was living with his family and father at Galesburg, Illinois at time of 1850 Census.
- Salome Hersey; either the mother Salome (Hersey) Hersey or her daughter of that name; has had a lame leg since a fever the previous fall. The link is for the FindaGrave memorial for the mother, Salome (Hersey) Hersey (1808-1885)
- Zadoc L. Hersey (1779-abt 1854); he was unwell, according to a letter from his son Reuben, with whose family he was living in Galesburg, Illinois but Reuben indicated Zadoc wanted to return home.
- Zadoc Lewis Hersey (1815-1888); clerk at Foster's store, son of Zadoc Hersey and Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey
- "Mother Lurvey"; Abigail (Gilley) Lurvey (1789-1866), mother of Samuel Lurvey
- Jacob; possibly Jacob William Lurvey, brother of Samuel Lurvey, husband of Joanna H. (Mayo) Lurvey, or Jacob Shoppy Mayo, brother of Constance (Mayo) Hersey
- Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey (1815-1907), letter recipient; sister of Constance (Mayo) Hersey
- Samuel Lurvey (1817-1893), husband of letter recipient Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey
- Henry E. Mayo (1825-1905); brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and husband of Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo, whom he married in 1850
- Isaac Pepper Mayo (1773-1866); father of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey
- Jacob; possibly Jacob Shoppy Mayo, brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey - or Jacob William Lurvey, brother of Samuel Lurvey, husband of letter recipient Joanna H. (Mayo) Lurvey
- Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo (1830-1899), wife of Henry Mayo, brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey; Constance wants to know what Father and Mother think of her
- Rosanna (Young) Mayo (1782-1865); mother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey
- Aunt Rebeckah; possibly Rebecca Pepper (Mayo) Robinson (1812-1892), sister of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and wife of Ezra D. Robinson
If you have information on any of the people mentioned above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Loose Transcription
Pembroke, May the 23 1852
Dear Aunt
I now sit down to write a few lines to you to let you know that we are all well at present and hope you are the same. I received a letter from you in January and wrote back to you again but we have got no answer and I thought I would write again. I have no particular news to tell you. Pa [John Henry Hersey] is to work on the vessel now and when he is down there he is going to work on the ship for six months. Zedok [presumably Zadoc Lewis Hersey] is clerk in Foster's store. Catherine [Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey, wife of Zadoc Lewis Hersey] has got a baby born in February. She calls it Aderlade [Adelaide Veola Hersey]. She has three children now. Henry [Henry H. Hersey], is five years old and he can't talk so well as Edwin [John Edwin Hersey, "Edwin", son of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and brother of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey]. He can say but a few words plain. Mr. Hersey [Zadoc L. Hersey (1779-abt 1854, the aforementioned Zadoc's father] has been very sick. They did not expect he would live for some time but he was better the last time Reuben [Reuben F. Hersey, son of the elder Zadoc, then at Galesburg, Illinois] wrote. He [presumably the father Zadoc] wants to see Zedok very much and he talks of moving there this fall.
Grandma [possibly Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey, wife of the older Zadoc, though online trees have her death as 1850] is well and has been well this winter. She fell down on the ice and hurt her arm and this winter Salome Hersey [presumably mother Salome (Hersey) Hersey (1808-1885) or her daughter of that name] has had a lame leg since a fever the previous fall. Aunt Eliza [possibly sister of John Henry Hersey] is not very well this summer. Mother has not weaned Edwin yet. I want you to write as soon as you conveniently can and tell us the news and if you have not any I want you to write. We had a letter from Aunt Rebeckah [presumably Rebeckah Pepper (Mayo) Robinson] in January and the folks was all well there then. When you write, tell me if Livona Ann is married and where she is. I have no more to write now I believe. This is from your niece. Joann M. [Joann Mayo Hersey]
Dear sister [Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey]
It is some time since I heard from you and we want to know how do so we write you again, hoping you will answer this soon. Through the Blessing of God we are all in good health and you are the same. I do wish you could come and see me. I want you to Come and all the ___ rest. Tell Jacob [possibly either Jacob Shoppy Mayo or Jacob Lurvey] if he Comes to Calis [Calais] or Eastport to Call and see us, Three minutes if no more. Tell all the folks to write to us and we will answer them. Give my love to father and Mother [Isaac Pepper Mayo and Rosanna (Young) Mayo]. Tell them I want to see them and hope I shall once more. Our Children send their love to you and Granpa, Granma and all their uncles and Aunts. I want you to tell me how father and Mother likes Henry's wife [Henry Mayo and Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo] and how Henry's health is now and how all the folks do and what they will do this summer. Joann, don't forget me and not answer my questions. If you can't, tell your husband [Samuel Lurvey] to write. If he won't get some of the rest to. I do not know how to hear from you if you will not answer my letter. Tell me about Rebeckah [presumably Rebecca Pepper (Mayo) Robinson]and her family and all you can think of. Give my love to all enquiring friends & Your Mother Lurvey [Abigail (Gilley) Lurvey]. I want to see her so. I remain your affectionate Sister Constance Hersey [Constance Young (Mayo) Hersey]. Do write to me soon and not fail.
Dear Aunt
I now sit down to write a few lines to you to let you know that we are all well at present and hope you are the same. I received a letter from you in January and wrote back to you again but we have got no answer and I thought I would write again. I have no particular news to tell you. Pa [John Henry Hersey] is to work on the vessel now and when he is down there he is going to work on the ship for six months. Zedok [presumably Zadoc Lewis Hersey] is clerk in Foster's store. Catherine [Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey, wife of Zadoc Lewis Hersey] has got a baby born in February. She calls it Aderlade [Adelaide Veola Hersey]. She has three children now. Henry [Henry H. Hersey], is five years old and he can't talk so well as Edwin [John Edwin Hersey, "Edwin", son of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and brother of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey]. He can say but a few words plain. Mr. Hersey [Zadoc L. Hersey (1779-abt 1854, the aforementioned Zadoc's father] has been very sick. They did not expect he would live for some time but he was better the last time Reuben [Reuben F. Hersey, son of the elder Zadoc, then at Galesburg, Illinois] wrote. He [presumably the father Zadoc] wants to see Zedok very much and he talks of moving there this fall.
Grandma [possibly Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey, wife of the older Zadoc, though online trees have her death as 1850] is well and has been well this winter. She fell down on the ice and hurt her arm and this winter Salome Hersey [presumably mother Salome (Hersey) Hersey (1808-1885) or her daughter of that name] has had a lame leg since a fever the previous fall. Aunt Eliza [possibly sister of John Henry Hersey] is not very well this summer. Mother has not weaned Edwin yet. I want you to write as soon as you conveniently can and tell us the news and if you have not any I want you to write. We had a letter from Aunt Rebeckah [presumably Rebeckah Pepper (Mayo) Robinson] in January and the folks was all well there then. When you write, tell me if Livona Ann is married and where she is. I have no more to write now I believe. This is from your niece. Joann M. [Joann Mayo Hersey]
Dear sister [Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey]
It is some time since I heard from you and we want to know how do so we write you again, hoping you will answer this soon. Through the Blessing of God we are all in good health and you are the same. I do wish you could come and see me. I want you to Come and all the ___ rest. Tell Jacob [possibly either Jacob Shoppy Mayo or Jacob Lurvey] if he Comes to Calis [Calais] or Eastport to Call and see us, Three minutes if no more. Tell all the folks to write to us and we will answer them. Give my love to father and Mother [Isaac Pepper Mayo and Rosanna (Young) Mayo]. Tell them I want to see them and hope I shall once more. Our Children send their love to you and Granpa, Granma and all their uncles and Aunts. I want you to tell me how father and Mother likes Henry's wife [Henry Mayo and Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo] and how Henry's health is now and how all the folks do and what they will do this summer. Joann, don't forget me and not answer my questions. If you can't, tell your husband [Samuel Lurvey] to write. If he won't get some of the rest to. I do not know how to hear from you if you will not answer my letter. Tell me about Rebeckah [presumably Rebecca Pepper (Mayo) Robinson]and her family and all you can think of. Give my love to all enquiring friends & Your Mother Lurvey [Abigail (Gilley) Lurvey]. I want to see her so. I remain your affectionate Sister Constance Hersey [Constance Young (Mayo) Hersey]. Do write to me soon and not fail.
Again, if you have information to share, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
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