In this letter, written by Betsey Elmer-Johnson Wood (1812-1889), Emily Johnson Dwight’s sister, Betsey tries to count how many grandchildren her siblings have. When she refers to her brother Wellington Johnson, she only counts one. Wellington was married twice. With his first wife, Elizabeth Wallace (1817-1854), they had six children, but only one lived into adulthood. She also mentions Festa Johnson (1803-1828) who only had one child. Festa died a few weeks after the child was born and Festa’s husband Samuel Ware (1800-1832), died when the child was only four. In all the letters, there has not been a mention of who raised Festa’s child. The last sentence in this letter was somewhat troubling with Betsey describing Julius’s injuries. There is no record that we could find that indicated Julius was a soldier during the Civil War, but in the1870 census, his occupation is listed as ‘cripple.’ By the 1880 census, Julius has evidently gotten beyond his disability and is employed as an ‘agent in medicine.’ This letter will be the last time we hear from Betsey.
My Sister Emily – Emily Johnson Dwight (1808-1886) Betsey’s sister.
My Mother’s room – Betsey Elmer Johnson (1785-1870), Betsey and Emily’s mother who passed away a year ago.
Brother Proctor – Daniel Proctor (1810-1869), deceased brother-in-law married to Betsey and Emily’s sister Ellen.
Maria, Mother Maria – Ellen Maria Johnson Proctor (1826-1889), Betsey and Emily’s sister who was married to Daniel Proctor.
Flora – Flora Proctor (1849-1892), Betsey and Emily’s niece and Ellen Maria’s daughter.
Julius and wife and two children – Julius Brittan (1835-1915), his wife Irene Elizabeth Munn (1835-1915), and their two children, Francis Brittan (1860-1929) and Theodore Brittan (1861-1949). As mentioned in previous letters, Julius was the son of Betsey and Emily’s sister Juliette Johnson (1813-1835) who died shortly after Julius was born. Betsey then raised Julius.
Wellington – Wellington Johnson (1815-1888), Betsey and Emily’s brother.
Austria – Austria Johnson (1849-??), Wellington’s daughter
Hooker – Hooker Taylor (1811-1884), Betsey and Emily’s brother-in-law who was married to their sister Clarissa.
Clanesy? – Clarissa Johnson Taylor (1818-1885), Betsey and Emily’s sister who was married to Hooker Taylor
Julia – Julia Proctor (1850-1903), Betsey and Emily’s niece whose mother was Ellen Maria Johnson, Betsey, and Emily’s sister.
Elmer – Gad Elmer Johnson (1819-1901), Betsey and Emily’s brother
Elizabeth – Elizabeth Elmer Dwight (1838-1906), Emily’s daughter
Josiah – Josiah J. Dwight (1833-1902), Emily’s son
Sylvia – Sylvia Johnson Buell (1810-1857), Betsey and Emily’s sister
Carlos – Carlos Hawley Johnson (1802-1855), Betsey and Emily’s brother
Festa – Festa Johnson Ware (1803-1828), Betsey and Emily’s sister
Theodosius – Theodosius Wood (1801-1884), Betsey’s husband
March 1, 1871
My Sister Emily Dear
I would say – want too but can & with this long neglect – since 1868 I received a letter a Hicks catalogue of flowers- to-day memory or remembrances is to me (from searching) is none hardly to say it is – I was in my mothers room then in brother Proctors house wish I was to-day eve writing to [oxxxse] correctly for Maria or Flora have been sick were better now I do not know how I live in Macedonia Julius and wife and two children live in our house a pleasant place and a good farm of seventy nine acres so near the railroad and in sight I wonder everybody don’t come here our friends specially but there is none to call I think they’ve forgot what have done nothing since 1868 Emily did I write or did I not and ’tis you for so long time delayed I am living near Wellington they are well were last week Austria is teaching school Hooker and all is well as usual was lately [Clanesy?] is in poor health I knew but Mother Maria and the girls Julia and Flora their sickness is considerable I feel for them but cannot go to see them We have no horse and the muddy three or four mile road is impassible if I was able but am not My health is poor indeed you would not know me I think, I don’t know myself in the looking glass have looked on this thirty years or more the fault cannot be in the glass I am destroyed undone do not know much wish I was on the rocky hills in the forest in the wilderness anywhere everywhere I could breathe freely and feel that I have a right too but when I can’t breathe freely I think I have no right to reproach my maker perhaps this is why I forget – when the breath goeth forth the thoughts perish – I guess [nature?] – the lights are wronged I would tell all about my health but I like it not My time for three years is almost gone to waste worse than waste sitting with no pleasant exercise walking and working Freedom is gone how am I affected the course of it I cannot tell “deliver me from my persecutions for they are stronger than I” “bring my soul out of prison – that I may praise thy name” Quicken me O Lord for thy name’s sake for thy righteousness sake – – bring my soul out of trouble The enemy hath persecuted my soul he hath smitten my life down to the ground he hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been bond dead Elmer is suffering and sickly I hope he will be well again Emily I had not forgotten you but the letter the writing no I cannot forget you looked so sickly afflicted and suffering and I can’t forget why I did not realize it more till you were gone where I could not see you Can you realize what it is to be alone to feel it to be a stranger in your own house Job thought his wife was an alien to him You may think I am no better than Job was We are taught in the bible the servant is not above his master – I’m nothing no how Christ is all and in all I wish he was in me and sin out then I shall be better willing to do and be done right – your grandchildren If I could see them it is so long I see none with babies in their arms I want to go to Mass will go if can once more Elizabeth and Josiah your two children now have grandchildren Elmer has three Maria four Clorasy three Wellington one Sylvia two Carlos four Festa one me and [xxx] none – the grave takes all that is dear when wrong triumphs over right – Mother has suffered a great deal in Northfield – Maria has had the house plastered and Emma is missed [xere?] is living in Ravenna I love Marias children More and more the more I see them the more I like them I did not think it would be so hard to part from them when my farm was sold I lived alone so long – but I have been touched with the simple music of their voices and the mulli[xxd] sincere freedom of their childhood and youth – it seemed some like the days when we were all together I wished many times ( and felt it too) that my home was not sold since I could not go out of Northfield I sold – ’twas sold on account of my failing health which is far worse than it was before and my precious home dear to me sacrificed for nought – “home dear home” – to me once- now I have none – it does not seem like home to me I’ve every respect for farming schools meetings here is better than these and society We are in a desirable location and on excellent land I think what avails to me Emily if you and your children had this land with health money would not tempt you to part with it neither would it me nor the land I let be sold – I was so sorry I am destroyed and it has been worse for me than to stayed there-I no not where I shall go unless I sell again and leave Northfield according to me first intention – I could go alone but alas for freedom or with Theodosius but he is about as dead to my interest as I was to mine when I thought to better myself [xx] he objected none to the selling I’m here can any tell why the land we owned was bought in 1835 it was almost native to me but undone and I outdone I may to be reconciled to my fate for I have good and evil and Jacob had that I wish a better one to you I don’t smoke nor do nothing these days
Your sister Betsey Wood
I know I love you by your and your children Do write again to me – Babe – now you know me and is mistake if Buckland don’t. Would you see Julius – tears would come one arm cut off and one finger and thumb on the other.
Our next letter will be from Gad Elmer Johnson (1819-1901). He writes to Emily’s daughter’s husband about schools in Massachusetts for his daughter Belle who has graduated from High School.
