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The Dorr Letters ProjectCatharine R. Williams to Thomas Wilson Dorr: |
Introduction
In this remarkable letter, Catharine Williams relates the names of the Dorrite women who were working towards the cause of free suffrage. Indeed, in no other letter will researchers find such a detailed description of female activism. Williams details that over 80 women met once a week to “discuss the affairs of the state.” Researchers will pick up the clear class elements that were part and parcel of the Dorr Rebellion. She is critical of the “mushroom aristocracy.” Williams was in contact with the Democratic governor of Maine (John Fairfield), an outspoken supporter of the Dorrite cause. She tells Dorr that she expects to meet with New Hampshire Democratic Governor Henry Hubbard. Williams also relates the often repeated rumors that Dorr intended to seize the homes of the wealthy on the East Side of Providence and give them to poor “washerwomen.”
Letter
Keene, Oct 9th, 1842
Dear Sir.
I cannot forbear leaving a few lines for your amusement, while I write
there is a fierce contention going on at the breakfast table, from which I have just risen,
about the Suffrage Matters in RI. a very staid old gentleman argues that “if J Q Adams gives his
opinions as Counsel, he should respect them,” I told our Landlord to tell him “the Counsel was gratu-
itous.” Simonds told me that after giving his opinions on the validity of the Constitution, he said
he “was not afraid to speak his opinion, & if they needed him, he would come to the rescue.”
I recollect I did not answer your questions about the Ladies of our Society. I will now try to
do so. On the West side, Mrs Hidden*I must not forget to tell you, old Mrs Hidden sold enough of Seth Luther’s little book, called the Ladies Garland
to come to ten dollars & sent it to him. Mrs Stiness, Mrs Rice, Mrs Warner, Mrs Ashley, Mrs Parmenter
a very smart woman, Mrs Allen a wife of one of your officers, Miss Ashley &c&c seem to take the lead.
Mrs Hidden has a daughter who is Secretary, & there is a host of others whom I do not know.
Our Branch on the East side numbers Mrs Lord, whom we have made President for a go a head.
(Mrs Parlin Secretary recording) your humble Servant, is Corresponding Sect. Mrs Eli Brown, Mrs
Beckford ‸wife of the Sect’ry of the male Suffrage vice Presidents, & I forget ‸name of the very pretty woman who is first vice pres’t. Then some of our most
efficient Members, are Mrs Hathaway from West side, Mrs Col Wales ‸N M street, Mrs Taber, ‸Miss Mason a sister of Owen Mason,
(Mrs. Throop, Mrs. Temple both from Maine) Mrs. Sisson, ‸Mrs. Potter Bill Potter’s mother, Mrs. Nickerson, Mrs. Hiram
Smith (Mrs. Flagg & Mrs. Richardson from Maine again) Mrs. Flagg is wife to the engraver at Mr.
Allen’s who had to fly the State some weeks. Mrs Bowen, her husband a sadler, works with Steere.
Mrs Disrelly, a very excellent old Lady, South end, Mrs Brown south end & Mrs Bailey. (Mrs J Godfrey, wife
of an Algereene) Mrs Martha Cole her daughter) Mrs Lawrence, (Mrs Pratt, Mrs James Sisson, Mrs
Hawkins, Mrs Capwick, ‸Mrs Doct Allen, Miss Burroughs Mrs W Angel, Mrs Whitely, Mrs Page, Miss Winsor, Mrs Joseph Whipple, (Mrs
Kelley & Waterhouse from Maine again) Mrs Nowell, Mrs. Isaac Davis, &c &c &c all expect to meet with us occasionally, though
as yet, they cannot come steadyly that is english. In making this list, I nessasarily forgot many members
from 80 to 100 Women including both sides, meet every Tuesday evening, to discuss the affairs of the
State. & ☞ Private Gov Fairfield says, he “never knew a Cause fail, that had so many friends among
the Ladies.” Then, there is a Society of quite young Misses, who are getting up the Fair for the
Suffrage Poor, which is to be the 18th of this month. The Ladies of Pawtucket, (who are very
zealous,) & other Towns are to have a table each to themselves, tended by Ladies from their own
town, & the proffits to the Suffrage poor of their own town.
In our Society, each Member carries a cent a week, for a little fund, & those who are able
may give as much over as they please.
Among the families driven by the Algereene persecution, to seek their bread in other
States, is one, whom I most sincerely regret, as an individual loss of a sincere friend, & intellect-
ual & highly cultivated woman. I allude to the widow of Daniel Cushing formerly of Prospect
Hill. You may recollect that Lady sold her estate a few years since, & with her seven sons, I
think it was, & one daughter emigrated to the West. About 2 years since, she became
discontented, & wished to return. It is said, she recieved a present of funds, sufficient to bring
her back, from Mr Hall’s Society, of which she was a member. She returned with her 4
youngest Sons & daughter, & was received with open arms, by her Aristocratic acquaintance
there was nothing like her, untill the Suffrage question came up. Her sons who had
been taken into business, were all turned into the street in one day, one was
in John Whipple’s office, I think one was a Clerk for Mr Crawford Allen, however that was
not all, the Widow & her children, were treated with as much scorn as though they had committed
some fellony, & her acquaintance among the Algereene gentry, avoided her house, as though there
was infection there. Fortunately the Widow owned several hundred acres of wild Land on Rock
River, where she had left two Sons, who just at this time informed her they had created a comfort-
able house, & that a Village was commencing just across the river, & back she went, with
the family, & with the firm determination of turning her back forever on RI. Her former
friends were aghast! they rushed to the house in crowds, hung round her neck, & besought her
not to go, she was not to be turned however, & week before last, they embarked again for the
West, except the youngest Son, who was persuaded to remain & accept of a place provided. The
little fellow is sound to the core, talented, & I think will make a good citizen. I forgot to say, the
young men, might have preserved their places, by taking up arms & going against Chepa-
tchet, but such a compromise they positively refused, & we have lost one of the best families
Providence ever produced. Mrs Cushing was a daughter of Doct. Jarvis of Boston.
I wish you had seen her sweet daughter the day the Prisoners were brought in from
Chepatchet, the ‸a great many families as ours, closed up all their shutters when they were para-
ded past, & little Susan stood with the big tears in her clear blue eyes, the picture of woe.
As I fear I may have saddened you, I must now tell something funny english again —
Among other bugbears of the first of July...was the Story that the property in the Cities
was to be divided among your Soldiers followers, & that the loafers & rowdies had all selected
their houses from the habitations of the rich,” whether it was to be before or after, the City
was burned, was not told us, but, it is the truth, that many of the Algereene pretended to
believe it, & the lower classes as they call them, who do not lack for wit, resolved to have some
fun, so they frequently pointed out buildings in the hearing of the owners, saying “I guess I
will have that house.” &c. One Woman, who was in her kitchen, washing day, began to dilate
on the subject, abusing the poor, & classing them “Scullions & washer-women,” untill the woman
thoroughly provoked, turns round & says, “Well do you know I expect to have your house”
& as it wont be long first, I will even leave off washing & be ready.” so saying she quitted the
house, the help was sick that day, & never was such a scene of confusion, finally the husband
was sent for, for advice for some time he could not believe that the Story he had told told
himself, was believed by his simple wife, however after a most immoderate fit of laughter,
he told his wife to keep her tongue still, & taking his hat, went out & brought back the
woman to finish the washing. what inducements he offered her cannot tell, but a neigh-
bours daughter who chanced to step in during the confusion, tells me, the Lady of the house
still persists, that “if Mr Dorr had taken the City, her washerwoman was to have
had that house.” Sunday aft. 4 Oclock.
I had got thus far, when I was taken with sick headache, & for 5 hours have been
severely ill. I thought of good Mrs Buffum & how kind she would have been had I been there. My Landlady never
found it out untill I had been ill some hours, there was not a moment but I thought of you, & in truth, the deep
thought I have been exercised with on the subject of RI affairs, for some days past, I think helped produce it for altho-
ugh I have carried it off with such gaiety & spirit, I must own the present prostrate condition of our cause, has
affected me deeply, & the seeing One, who though surrounded by the kindest hearts, & with every external comfort,
yet so far from the place where he ought to be. But if my prayers are answered as fully as they were at the Harrison
victory “that God would turn the councils of the wicked to confusion” they won’t work long.
While writing this, I feel in hopes you may ride down with the letters yourself. Gov Hubbard is
expected here this evening, & I am told has exprest a wish to see me, If possible, I will present him one specimen
of the RI rabble. One of your dear Mother’s speetches of “how you could associate with such low people &c”
I shall take the liberty, as a Christian Sister, to answer myself: by asking “who her Savior associated with?
while here on earth.” I don’t wonder that English Travelers ridicule our pretentions so much, the fact
is they never see any of the rational men & women of this Country. Seized by the button, as soon as they land
on our shores, they are dragged into the drawing-rooms, of our Mushroom Aristocracy, who to other absurdities
add the superlative of aping English manners & English notions of rank &c. Now I really can conceive
that we must, judging from such specimens appear very ridiculous to them. But there is another class, not to be
found in such places, that would were they known, give very different impressions, respecting National character.
Fearless independence united to Republican simplicity I know will command respect any where. I recollect they
told me at Sir John Harvey’s, that “among all the American’s they had ever conversed with, they had never met with
a real republican before.” I presume Lord Ashburton, thinks the same of us they did. It argues shocking degeneracy
when people are ashamed of their creed. Of course I mean nothing personal in my remarks, am only speaking of
this as a general thing.
I forgot to state that in a Note to Mrs Dorr, I mentioned “she could herself judge of the
falsehoods that were told, by one I would mention, vis that Mr D on his action from Chepatchet, had said you
told him, all you cared for, was revenge upon the City of Providence.” She begged the messenger to assure me, she had
just asked told Mr Dorr, who said that was a positive falsehood, he never heard or named, such a sentiment from
your “Caps.” & asked one to take pains to contradict it.” I did, you may be sure, & in doing so, had to give the lie
direct almost, to several who pretended to know it was so. A cause upheld by lying & abuse, I trust in God
cannot long prosper, & I pray I may live to see the downfall of it. I trust the day is coming when the
“proud shall burn as an oven,” & the “lying lips be put to shame.” If you could only hear the aspersions of female
character, since the Clam-bake’s you would believe we had our full share. If sowing to the wind, will
reap the whirlwind, they will get enough of it. To rest me, I just opened a book here, & here is the stanza
that met my eye, it is from a Poem of Mrs Heman’s Entitled “the Last Constantine.”
it does not however comport
with your stern notions of honesty
I really do think our Constitution-
al Gov, is the most stubbornly strait
-forward person I ever met with.
there is no policy about him & he
seems actually made for some purer
world than this one where the
exposure of the naked heart cannot
injure.
Please not fail to come to the Clam-bake, if you should
fail, it would disappoint many friends & enemies might
say you feared to. please excuse me. I mean well.
Cowell has returned, & I suspect scared half to death, I called on him the other day with a
dollar to get a dog of his pamphlets, containing his letter; & he durst not sell me any. told me not to
tell of it though, & this I only tell to you, to let you know how I can keep a secret. He wrote a
finished argument on the subject, but to purchase his safety now by suppressing it, I think
is contemptable, he had 50 in the house, & I promised not to tell; where they came from, could not
do any thing with him. I then went home, saying I would take my copy & have it republished
& if he was afraid, do it in my own name, Well, when I returned my copy was gone, I went to
Simonds, his was gone, & I cannot find one in town, think there is witchcraft in it.
I asked if he thought, it would compromise his safety? he said perhaps so, yet he appears a
friend to the cause, & I think it a bad plan, to suspect any who profess friendship, if we judge
them wrong, we loose their regard, if rightly it only embitters their hatred, or excites them to
revenge, & if they are wavering it will certainly drive them from us. I am not sure but make-
ing the best use of people we can, & leaving the rest, is after all the best way — Cat Wm
Questions
Why was Williams in Keene, New Hampshire?
Is there evidence that Williams knew Dorr’s mother Lydia? If so, how would you characterize their relationship?