Unpublished Lucretia Coffin Mott Letter on Elizabeth Cady Stanton & the Early Woman Suffrage Movement, 1851

Incredible 1851 LUCRETIA COFFIN MOTT letter on ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, SUFFRAGE

Discusses family, abolition and suffrage meetings, work

Offered here is an original handwritten letter by Lucretia Coffin Mott (1793-1880), one of the great heroines of the reform movements of American History. She writes to close friends Thomas and Mary Ann McClintock in intimate detail about family matters, and hints at her own health struggles. The content of the letter is rich and extensive, touching on Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Martha Wright, & Amy Post, Anti-Slavery meetings, logistics for travel and the next major Woman Suffrage gathering, the struggles within their Quaker meetings, slowing down, and passing the torch to a younger generation of reformers.

- This has to be one of the finest Lucretia Mott letters in private hands and is unpublished

- One of the many interesting facets of this letter is that it is addressed to the McClintocks in Waterloo, New York: Waterloo is where, three years earlier, on July 9, 1848, Lucretia Mott, Mary Ann (Wilson) McClintock, Martha (Coffin) Wright, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, met and resolved to hold the first women's rights convention in the United States (Seneca Falls Convention) that summer. The next week, in preparation for the convention, Mary Ann McClintock hosted another planning meeting, this time at the McClintock House. Here, McClintock, with two of her daughters and Cady Stanton, drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, proclaiming that "all men and women are created equal."

Just a few quotes from this letter: "Elizabeth Stanton too I long to meet, and so hoped before this late day, that our talked-of visit to Philada. would come off."

"Indeed it is rather surprising that so many of us still cling to it [membership in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting], after all we have endured, & are constantly enduring."

"[M]y hands were full, in helping make or alter carpets & fix houses [for the moves of many family members]."

"How glad I am that your freedom sits so well on you, after the trial you have had."

"James [Mott] is now at Buffalo, with his f[athe]r Richard - will probably leave there today - stop awhile at Rochester..."

"My sister Martha's love & thanks..."

"We hear that our Edward Hopper is sick with bilious fever, which is rather prevailing now around our City."

"I have had no Public Meeting in this place or neighborhood - for the first time --- An obstinate cough, brought on Dr. Freeman says, by much speak'g, as well as added years, admonish me to lessen these efforts. There are plenty of young & fresh hands." (emphasis added)

"I have been corresponding with Lucy Stone and Amy Post on the subject of the next Woman's Convention - whether it shall be held at Worcester, Syracuse, or Rochester. I shall not be likely to attend at either place. Farewell dear Thos. & Mary Ann. Love to child'n all, L. Mott~"

Four pages in length, complete and in fine condition,

Transcript:

Lucretia Mott to Thomas M'Clintock

Auburn 8 Mo. 6th. 1851

Dear Thomas M'Clintock

I should sooner have replied to thy kind remembrance of me, & invitation to visit you, had not sickness prevented. I have been confined mostly to my bed, for several days past, with a bilious attack, accompanied with sore throat. This is the first effort to hold the pen.

It would give me great pleasure to see you all, and have full & free converse on many subjects of interest. But again this year that gratification is denied me. Elizabeth Stanton too I long ^to^ meet and so hoped before this late day, that long talked of visit to Phila. would come off. Why cant yr. Elizh, before being any more closely bound by matrimonial ties, take the other Elizh. & in independent style travel thither?

And why did not thou, Thomas, when so near us as New York, let us have a share of thy company? We ought before leaving home, to have acknowledged the reception of an interesting letter from thee -- full of faith in your Congregational Movement, and inviting us to be present at yr. last Yearly. But Jas. wishing to attend the Anniversary ^A.S.^ Mg. at Syracuse, and I expecting to come at this time, with my sister E., we could not make it suit to go there. Our several families were moving out to their purchased Farms -- E. M. Davis', & Thos. Motts' to Montgomery County, & Thos. Cavenders' to Burlington Co. N.J. so that my hands were full in helping make ^or alter^ carpets & fix houses. We like our Community experiment much, & wish you could come, and see how well it works.

We heard less of your last Yearly Meeting than of [eith?] of the others. The most entertaining account of it, as well as of S. M. Janney's visit & Meeting, the Truman girls favored us with, in scraps of yr. Mary's letter, I think it was. What arrogance in H. J. Moore, Samuel, & others, to go about endeavoring to proselyte to their narrow way. Samuel has become so conservative that I have lost interest in him.

The Proceedings thou speaks of, we shall be glad to have. A few our way, and I am sorry to say, but a few, watch with interest your progress. Jos. A. Dugdale & Ruth were not able to leave their new home in Chester Co. and many cares attendant on moving to an unfinished place. Jas. & self made a pleasant visit there last spring, & thought they would be comfortably settled after some labor, which they & their son are performing. Their Mother, & sister Sally will join them after awhile. Perhaps they are already there. They all with numbers more around Kennett & Marlborough, will be glad to hear, or read of your doings. There is little chance of Joseph's right of membership being recognised in Phila. Yr. Mg. or its branches. Ruth does not value hers the worth of a straw. Indeed it is rather surprising that so many of us still cling to it, after all we have endured, & are constantly enduring.

How glad I am that your freedom sits so well on you, after the trial you have had.

A letter received from our children yesterday mentioned a call they had had from Wm. L. Fisher, and that "he wished us to bring him whatever there was new from Thomas M'Clintock" -- The Proceedings will hardly reach here in time for us to take, as we expect to leave for home on 6th day. Our br B. H. Yarnall is making his first visit in this Western Country. He is much pleased with this place, as well as with the beautiful travel hither. I wish he could go on west but his time is limited. He arrived yesterdy -- left Thomas Wistar very ill with dysentery -- 88 years old.

Have you seen in the Papers that Lindley Coates' ba[rn?] was lately struck with lightning & destroyed. He enlarged it last year for his son's benefit. Lindley's health is very poor. James is now at Buffalo, with his br Richard -- will probably leave there today -- stop awhile at Rochester & reach here late tonight -- so there is no hope of his seeing you at Waterloo. He would like to very well I know.

The "matrimonial affair" here is not to be consummated during our stay -- nor for some weeks yet. Our daughr Martha will return here from Buffalo where she now is, and be with her cousin on the interesting occasion. We had greatly hoped another affair of the kind would be happily consummated this summer, & much regretted to learn from Cathr Truman that the dear young people must "wait a little longer" -- but hope all will be well yet.

My sister Martha's love, & thanks for your invitation. Her ties here are great just now. We hear that our Edward Hopper is sick with bilious fever, which is rather prevailing now around our City.

I have had no public meeting in this place or neighborhood for the first time -- An obstinate cough, brought on Dr Truman says, by much speakg, as well as added years admonish me to lessen these efforts. There are plenty of young & fresh hands. I have been corresponding with Lucy Stone & Amy Post on the subject of the next Woman's Convention -- whether it shall be held at Worcester, Syracuse, or Rochester. I shall not be likely to attend at either place -- Farewell dear Thos. & Mary Ann Love to childn all.

L. Mott

Env: Thomas M'Clintock

Waterloo, N.Y.