This letter was written by Betsey Johnson Wood (1812-1889) to her sister Emily Johnson Dwight. This is one of the letters where Betsey talks about other members of the family. It was interesting while researching this letter to discover that Betsey’s nephew Julius’s wife, Elizabeth Munn was the great granddaughter of Jeremiah Cranmer (1762-1830). Jeremiah was the second settler in all of Northfield, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and the first person buried in what is now Northfield Macedonia Cemetery.
My Dear Sister – Emily Johnson Dwight (1808-1886), Betsey’s sister
Clarissa – Clarissa Johnson Taylor (1818-1885), Betsey and Emily’s sister
Mother – Betsey Elmer Johnson (1785-1870), Betsey and Emily’s mother
Julius – Julius P. Brittan (1835-1912), Betsey and Emily’s nephew. He was the son of Juliette Johnson Brittan (1813-1835), who died after giving birth to Julius. He was raised by Betsey and her husband.
His wife – Irene Elizabeth (Libby) Munn (1835-1915).
Two children – Francis Brittan (1858-1929), and Theodore Brittan (1861-1949)), Julius’s sons
Elizabeth (Lizzie) – Elizabeth Elmer Dwight (1838-1906), Emily’s daughter
Her husband – Geoge Ames (1839-1918), Elizabeth’s husband who served in the 37th Massachusetts Infantry from 1862-1865.
Josiah – Josiah J. Dwight (1833-1902), Emily’s son.
Aunt Nabby – Nabby Howes (1783-1869), related to Betsey by Nabby’s marriage to Edwin Johnson
Northfield March 19, 1865
My Dear Sister Spring has come the birds again Have returned to greet his closing reign Again I hear thy written words like the long absent summer birds I am reminded that I have not written by reading your letter to Clarissa but am not answering it We are all well as usual with plenty and do not have to
toil more than I need to for my health Our relations are well. Mother was here last week is faded and wrinkled in her age and not very healthful Julius is in Macedonia his wife and two children are well and I think perhaps as much of them as you do of yours but cannot have the care and anxiety you have by living with them Yours and Elizabeth’s trial must be great her husband in the army to do his enlisted duty to preserve and restore the liberty of our United divided rebellious States
When will the wished for peace return The reign of peace for which we yearn And every foeman in his pride Lay by his sword nor right divide And every hill-top vale and plain greet the Messiah’s peaceful reign And with United strength again close our States One and one remain Till governments no more by
war led are Nor by death fearlessly striking with his dread Till North and South with one prolonged strain Shout halleluila Love is come to reign Each to each unite and at God’s feet Lay down their arms truly peace love mercy kindly meet No more oppressions wasted form and tearful eye with grief soul stricken
surge with an uplifted cry but justice like the twice returning Dove Return from God who giveth it with
Love and great promise with its token sure fix our Republic for his mercies still endure And he whose kingdom we desire to come Not of this the world find [ xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] [ xxxxxxxxxx] us watching [ xxxxxx] in our home And hand in hand United blest one more Science and religion spread from shore to shore Our Saviour King our freedom’s strength One given[?] right from God at length By blessings each from blessings given Bless God our Father in the Heavens United one Republic be Under the banner of liberty And may we ever fear God’s name And with the promise his Flag obtain Ps.604. And when we seek its [folds, xed out] to display May truth claim peace and mercy sway Love with its staid and sober gait Pleading for right no longer [will not, xed out] suffering wait But with its many coloured coat
all buttoned up before Like [the,xed out] Auld Lang Sine with righteousness be greeted [bright true right, xed out] evermore I can hardly tell what I have done but I started to make the many coloured coat prepared my yarn but did not weave it I hope however to yet wish I could go and see you A can hardly realize your patient suffering and toil Now I forget how Lizzie and Josiah look It seems a long time since I have seen you I have grown old and hair grey near fifty three Sometimes it seems as if a whole lifetime is crowded into a brief time and sealed with suffering and trouble and from which we cannot arise with vigour and trust to pursue onward in our duties as formerly which makes so noticeable a change that friends can hardly realize us the same and too [one apt too, xed out] how apt when thus to fell ’tis not the same with others Give our-my love to Josiah and Lizzie and the little ones Tell them they have an Aunty and I hope to see them – to Aunt Nabby and family too I hope you’ll write to me I feel I have been neglectful yet without excuse for I have time
Yours truly Betsey Wood
(written upside down at top);
I wish to send you a gift of one dollar and inclose it in this letter A United States Greenback
(23134)B Figures and letter on bill
I received the present you sent me a precious gift I too well know how your patient tired self must have wrought it a little bead at a time to make such a caller as I received by Clarissa from you
The next letter is again from Betsey. However, there has been a six-year gap between Betsey’s last letter. Unlike previous letters from Betsey, she talks quite a bit about the family.
