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Description

Eliza wrote to Susan, addressed to Philadelphia, PA. Eliza relayed her personal struggles and love for her daughter, Marianna Barnwell Gough [later Smith]. Eliza worried that Marianna would inherit her "constitution." She sent Marianna to Charleston and was distressed to learn that Marianna attended 7 balls in 3 weeks. Polly delivered a message that Miss Polly Ronpell is very sick. Eliza's mother is also sick (asthma and cough) and the changes in weather don't help. Mr. Cuthlon [?] moved for the fall season. Eliza described her increased anxiety since she turned 18 years old.

Eliza updated Susan on her former garden in Beaufort: Dr. Stuart left in the winter and there was a gap before Mr. R. Elliott moved into the house. During that time, fierce winds blew down a fence. Cattle entered and ate the garden for 10 days. "Scarcely an herb left and the fruit trees much injured, the flower garden is truly a shrubbery of weeds, thistles, and briers."

Eliza is concerned about Polly and Violet, enslaved women who may have formerly been owned by John Kean. Mrs. Antony keeps a small school and offered to take Polly for 3 years. Eliza wants to know Susan's decision. Eliza says Violet isn't fit for the fields.

Author/Creator

Elizabeth Gough, formerly Elizabeth Barnwell (1753-1817)

Recipient

Susan Kean, formerly Susan Livingston and later Susan Ursin Niemcewicz (1759-1833)

Creation Date

4-15-1791

Document Type

Manuscript

Collection

Liberty Hall Collection, 1711-1847 (bulk 1790-1830)

Inventory Location

Bay 1, Column 1, LHC Series 2

Rights

This collection is open to the public for research use. Copyright remains with Kean University. Credit this material. Personal photographs may be made for research purposes. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to Lynette Zimmerman, Executive Director at the Liberty Hall Academic Center & Exhibition Hall at lzimmerm@kean.edu.

Publishing Repository

Special Collections Research Library and Archive, Kean University

Eliza Gough to Susan Kean, April 15, 1791

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