Date

Undated

Author

Susan Freeman Baker

Subject

Letter; Susie Baker; Susan Freeman Baker; Sarah Percival Baker; Alpheus; Sarah's mother; Mrs. Bodfish; Father; Homes; Children; Servies; Presents; Picture books

Description

A draft of a letter written by Susie Baker - she was Susan Freeman Baker, born in Eastham, on 6 Oct 1835 and was the daughter of Alpheus Baker & Bethiah Knowles Bangs. On 6 Aug 1863, in South Dennis, she married Reuben Ryder Whelden (born in South Dennis, on 8 Nov 1829 and son of Miller Whelden & Anna Ryder. He died in South Dennis, on 9 Mar 1865 of Consumption). On 16 June 1885, in Boston, she married Captain Joshua Harding (born in Chatham and the son of Thomas Harding & Betsey Taylor. He died in Providence, RI, on 2 Oct 1896). She never had children and died in South Dennis, on 15 Oct 1919 of arteriosclerosis. The letter was composed to Susan's sister-in-law, Sarah (Percival) Baker. She was born in Barnstable, on 5 Dec 1837 and died on 28 Nov 1925. She was the daughter of Isaac Percival & Catherine G. Stockwell (who later married a Bodfish). Sarah married Alpheus Baker Jr., brother of Susan F. Baker. They had 5 children. Sarah Percival Baker and Susan Freeman Baker did not get along and this letter demonstrates that. It was probably written early in 1877 (Sarah's son, Charles G. Baker, died on 3 Feb 1876 - so it is probable this is the 1st anniversary of his death). Susan uses a comma (or not) at the end of thoughts, phrases and sentences, so it was difficult to determine where one sentence began and another ended. The transcriber has tried to make it readable by ending sentences where it seemed to make most sense. After the death of Sarah's father, Isaac Percival, her mother (Catherine Stockwell) married a second time to a Bodfish from Barnstable. Catherine Stockwell was born on 28 Nov 1810 and died on 10 Dec 1895. She is buried in West Barnstable Cemetery.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10766/13438