1829 Letter from grandson , John W. Stebbins to grandfather, Samuel Stebbins
Title
1829 Letter from grandson , John W. Stebbins to grandfather, Samuel Stebbins
Subject
Subject -- New York City NY
Description
Autograph letter
Creator
John Wilson Stebbins 1807 – 1837
Date
1829
Contributor
Samuel Stebbins 1762-1836
Rights
CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Language
En-US
Type
Text
Text
This letter was written in 1829, when Emma Stebbins was 14 years old - decades before she completed her iconic statue, “Angel of the Waters.” at Bethesda Fountain.
The letter, written by the brother of Emma Stebbins to their grandfather about an intervention for their father who had resigned from his job and unable to care for their large family.
He proposed the best treatment for their father, who suffered from an undisclosed illness, was to leave New York City and return to live with his parents, their grandparents, Samuel Stebbins and Ruth Wilson Stebbins in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
In 1829, Samuel Stebbins was 67 years old. He and his wife, Ruth Wilson Stebbins had raised nine children in the legendary Old Stebbins Place, site of 1777 Battle of Ridgefield.
John Stebbins, subject of the letter, was their oldest child. He and his wife, Mary, both 46 years old lived in New York City with their family of seven children- three sons and four daughters. Their oldest, John W. (writer of the letter), was 22 years old. His brother, Charles was 20 and Henry G. 18. Their younger sisters ages ranged from 16 to 5 years old. Emma, as mentioned, was 14.
——————
New York May 3, 1829
Dear Grandfather,
Since the event of my father‘s resignation from office and the circumstances growing out of it I have been desirous of communicating with you for the aspect of our affairs and the course to be adopted in future in regards to them but a multiplicity of business has until now prevented me.
You have already I suppose become acquainted with the different steps we have taken for the provision of the family and the establishment of fathers health and mind. As to the former I have no fears but what for a year or two we shall do well. Economy is to be our ruling principle and my own rising prospects together with the increasing fortunes of Charles and Henry hold out to us if no extraordinary adversity intervenes ample means for living in a much more comfortable condition than what we have here to for enjoyed. It is time there are some in the family who will have to combat with many unruly feelings and desires but as poverty is the only alternative to their gratification which present is impossible. I make doubt out at we will all succeed in walking the correct line. In case however it will prove impracticable to keep the family together without incurring debt which nothing so long as I have breath shall tempt me to do why the course to be adopted and the one which under such circumstances is invariably followed will be to provide a home in some part of the country and board them there until by the favors of fortune my brothers and myself are enabled to support them. I would have preferred this plan as it is and seriously advised its adoption but found that the major part of the family was much opposed to it.
The great desideration though is the reestablishment of my father‘s health and reputation- The best step for that purpose as you are aware I imagined to be in fixing his residence for a period at your house- I thought that with your sympathy encouragement and advice but particularly by his absence from the sphere of former associates and temptations he might be led to a determined change and resolution to recover his original standing in society. This is a hope which I have deeply cherished and however confirmed his his peculiar habits have become and not withstanding the general opinion that such a propensity is insurable I am decidedly satisfied that there is no man but can if he desire it entirely eradicate the seeds of the disease. I see before me instances of it daily - are the bitter enemies of the habit the most important remedy and aid of this desirable reformation you will agree with me is the reflection in his own mind of his eventual restoration to his former standing of this it would be true and wise to inculcate that these can be no doubt may from all that I hear around me. Pa may rely upon a deeper and more extended friendship and support among his acquaintances. To overcome so formidable and enemy as that with which he has had to contend will be a triumph which cannot but command a greater interest than ever. — Opportunities for business - honor wealth will open all around him - a man with Pa’s innumerable acquaintances and long experience must get along — he cannot help it— If however he concludes to abandon the idea of once more occupying his former station- If he disappoints the reasonable hopes of his family and friends it would be horrible to dwell on the prospect which will from henceforward appear to us - beside his all worldly degradation and death in a eternal fall - the troubles of his friends and relations by the cause will be endless and for my own past almost all my hopes and prospects will be annihilated — this to be sure is to be considered a secondary matter but as I have been laboring for years toward one object I have embraced every energy of my mind for one purpose - sacrificing all present pleasures and consuming every moment of time for one great possession - it is natural for me to express solicitude at the apparent downfall of my hopes and to plead an earnest desire that if possible my father will be influenced in some degree by this fact to make an enticing effort and to take once more upon himself his original character.
It is my intention to remunerate you for all trouble and expense incidental to my father’s stay with you which I hope will be as long as will be necessary to recover him - with my love to Grandmother and my aunt I remain affectionately,
Your grandchild -
John W Stebbins
——————-
Sadly their father, John Stebbins died five years later.
John W. the brother who had written this letter to try and save their father died a few years after their father. Brother, Charles died the same year.
This left one son, Henry G. Stebbins, the youngest of John Stebbins’ three sons.
Henry G. Stebbins went on to be very successful and continued to support the family his entire life.
In 1868, New York City Park Commissioner, Henry G. Stebbins awarded his sister, Emma Stebbins, the commission for Angel of the Waters making her the first woman to be awarded a major work of art in New York City.
The content of the letter sheds new light on family dynamics during the early life of Emma Stebbins, sculptor of the Angel of the Waters statue in Central Park.
If the letter was interesting to you please, let us know.
Email: haclibrary@gmail.com
He proposed the best treatment for their father, who suffered from an undisclosed illness, was to leave New York City and return to live with his parents, their grandparents, Samuel Stebbins and Ruth Wilson Stebbins in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
In 1829, Samuel Stebbins was 67 years old. He and his wife, Ruth Wilson Stebbins had raised nine children in the legendary Old Stebbins Place, site of 1777 Battle of Ridgefield.
John Stebbins, subject of the letter, was their oldest child. He and his wife, Mary, both 46 years old lived in New York City with their family of seven children- three sons and four daughters. Their oldest, John W. (writer of the letter), was 22 years old. His brother, Charles was 20 and Henry G. 18. Their younger sisters ages ranged from 16 to 5 years old. Emma, as mentioned, was 14.
——————
New York May 3, 1829
Dear Grandfather,
Since the event of my father‘s resignation from office and the circumstances growing out of it I have been desirous of communicating with you for the aspect of our affairs and the course to be adopted in future in regards to them but a multiplicity of business has until now prevented me.
You have already I suppose become acquainted with the different steps we have taken for the provision of the family and the establishment of fathers health and mind. As to the former I have no fears but what for a year or two we shall do well. Economy is to be our ruling principle and my own rising prospects together with the increasing fortunes of Charles and Henry hold out to us if no extraordinary adversity intervenes ample means for living in a much more comfortable condition than what we have here to for enjoyed. It is time there are some in the family who will have to combat with many unruly feelings and desires but as poverty is the only alternative to their gratification which present is impossible. I make doubt out at we will all succeed in walking the correct line. In case however it will prove impracticable to keep the family together without incurring debt which nothing so long as I have breath shall tempt me to do why the course to be adopted and the one which under such circumstances is invariably followed will be to provide a home in some part of the country and board them there until by the favors of fortune my brothers and myself are enabled to support them. I would have preferred this plan as it is and seriously advised its adoption but found that the major part of the family was much opposed to it.
The great desideration though is the reestablishment of my father‘s health and reputation- The best step for that purpose as you are aware I imagined to be in fixing his residence for a period at your house- I thought that with your sympathy encouragement and advice but particularly by his absence from the sphere of former associates and temptations he might be led to a determined change and resolution to recover his original standing in society. This is a hope which I have deeply cherished and however confirmed his his peculiar habits have become and not withstanding the general opinion that such a propensity is insurable I am decidedly satisfied that there is no man but can if he desire it entirely eradicate the seeds of the disease. I see before me instances of it daily - are the bitter enemies of the habit the most important remedy and aid of this desirable reformation you will agree with me is the reflection in his own mind of his eventual restoration to his former standing of this it would be true and wise to inculcate that these can be no doubt may from all that I hear around me. Pa may rely upon a deeper and more extended friendship and support among his acquaintances. To overcome so formidable and enemy as that with which he has had to contend will be a triumph which cannot but command a greater interest than ever. — Opportunities for business - honor wealth will open all around him - a man with Pa’s innumerable acquaintances and long experience must get along — he cannot help it— If however he concludes to abandon the idea of once more occupying his former station- If he disappoints the reasonable hopes of his family and friends it would be horrible to dwell on the prospect which will from henceforward appear to us - beside his all worldly degradation and death in a eternal fall - the troubles of his friends and relations by the cause will be endless and for my own past almost all my hopes and prospects will be annihilated — this to be sure is to be considered a secondary matter but as I have been laboring for years toward one object I have embraced every energy of my mind for one purpose - sacrificing all present pleasures and consuming every moment of time for one great possession - it is natural for me to express solicitude at the apparent downfall of my hopes and to plead an earnest desire that if possible my father will be influenced in some degree by this fact to make an enticing effort and to take once more upon himself his original character.
It is my intention to remunerate you for all trouble and expense incidental to my father’s stay with you which I hope will be as long as will be necessary to recover him - with my love to Grandmother and my aunt I remain affectionately,
Your grandchild -
John W Stebbins
——————-
Sadly their father, John Stebbins died five years later.
John W. the brother who had written this letter to try and save their father died a few years after their father. Brother, Charles died the same year.
This left one son, Henry G. Stebbins, the youngest of John Stebbins’ three sons.
Henry G. Stebbins went on to be very successful and continued to support the family his entire life.
In 1868, New York City Park Commissioner, Henry G. Stebbins awarded his sister, Emma Stebbins, the commission for Angel of the Waters making her the first woman to be awarded a major work of art in New York City.
The content of the letter sheds new light on family dynamics during the early life of Emma Stebbins, sculptor of the Angel of the Waters statue in Central Park.
If the letter was interesting to you please, let us know.
Email: haclibrary@gmail.com
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handwritten note
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