Letter Dated January 24th, 1847

it is not probable you will hear of my confinement A woman’s confinement was the period during which she remained in bed before, during, and after childbirth.  as it is doubtful you getting my letter by the Henry Clay, The Swallowtail Line’s packet ship Henry Clay had been salvaged and rebuilt after being wrecked in a gale on March 25, 1846, off the New Jersey coast.
Packet Ship Henry Clay wrecked off the New Jersey coast  as they none of them except the Yorkshire sail their day, I am so wretched as I can well be, both in mind and body, I have, and still suffer dreadfully, but I wrote you all that in my other letters, and will not repeat it, every thing annoys me, Charles C’s  
Robert’s cousin Charles C. Griswold (1787-1869) and his wife Elizabeth Griswold Griswold (1800-1888) had built a new home in the section of Lyme called Black Hall in 1842.
W.F. Miller, Charles Chandler Griswold, 1864. Watercolor on paper. Courtesy Griswold Family Archives  act as if they were possessed with the evil one, Mrs Griswold 
Helen refers to Elizabeth Griswold Griswold (1800-1888).
Elizabeth Griswold Griswold, ca. 1880. Courtesy Griswold Family Archives  heard you were talking of moving to New York as I wrote you, and she has taken it upon her to make all sorts of remarks, told Mother 
Helen refers to Robert’s mother Fanny Rogers Griswold (1767-1863).
Unidentified artist, Frances “Fanny” Rogers Griswold (1767–1863), ca. 1840. Courtesy Griswold Family Archives.  and Matthew
Robert’s brother Matthew Griswold (1792-1879) lived in Black Hall.
Matthew Griswold (1792–1879). Courtesy Griswold Family Archives  you could not afford to live there decently &c

all that I do not care about, but Matthew thinks it has all originated in me, and does not like it that I have set such a story afloat, now Robert I know (and told Matthew so,) that you had not the most distant idea of going to New York, but do not see why it need be considered such a dreadful, awful! thing my speaking of it, which I have merely done for talk sake, but then it displeased Mr and Mrs Charles C Griswold and that, (in Black Hall Most of Robert’s family lived in the section of Lyme called Black Hall where the first Matthew Griswold had built a homestead in the 1660s.
Image: Approach to Black Hall, Harper”s New Monthly Magazine, February 1876
people’s estimation) is enough to make it a crime, Mr Griswold has also taken it upon him to add 2 dollars more for your per cent, has taken the liberty to write down your name for 14$, do you not think that free and easyObjecting to the way Charles C. Griswold (1787-1869) managed a family financial arrangement, Helen chided Robert for deferring to his prosperous cousin.  ; or do you consider it an honour! He says you have got to pay it, (I would like to know if you submit to such things! – All are well at Black Hall, Phebe Helen’s sister-in-law Phoebe Ely Griswold (1804-1904) also approached the end of a pregnancy and gave birth on February 6 to a daughter Elizabeth Griswold (1847-1915).
Phoebe Ely Griswold (1804–1904), ca. 1870. Courtesy Griswold Family Archives
 keeps along as I do, and that prevents Mother from coming up, I long to have her, and she is very anxious to come, the Children are very well, both have good appetites,

A dreadful circumstance occurred a few nights since, two of Richard Griswold's Like other prominent residents of Lyme, Robert’s cousin Richard S. Griswold (1809-1849), a partner in the family shipping firm N. L. & G. Griswold, employed Irish immigrants as household servants.
N.L. & G. Griswold Flag
 servants, (both Irish girlsMany of the young women who provided household help in Lyme had crossed the Atlantic to escape famine in Ireland. They traveled steerage class in the crowded and unventilated holds of packet ships like those Robert commanded.
“Emigrant Vessel—Between Decks,” Illustrated London News, May 10, 1851
) took charcoal up into their room when going to bed, there was no fireplace in the room and in the morning were both found dead, it created a great sensation, and made Richard G. almost sick, he says he cannot get over it, although there was not the slightest blame to be attached to any one, — I could not sleep nights for thinking of it, — how I long to know dear Robert how you are, where you are, and what you are doing, do you ever think of your poor, miserable, wife? Or are you too much engaged with gay company Like other packet ship captains, Robert socialized with cabin-class passengers during and after a voyage. Novelist Herman Melville (1819-1891) crossed the Atlantic with Capt. Griswold on the Southampton in 1849 and described the lavish meal they shared in London followed by an “exceedingly diverting” pub visit. “Had a noble dinner of turtle soup, pheasant &c with glorious wine,” Melville wrote in his journal. “At 10 o’clock, left with the Captain & the rest of the company. . .for the ‘Judge & Jury’ Bow Street. Exceedingly diverting but not superlatively moral.”
Cutaway of packet ship ? I am dreaming of you every night, and thinking of you constantly, but then I cannot expect you to think of your Helen as often, you have other things to take your attention, — Mrs Richard Lord Esther Ann Lord (1811–1866) was the wife of Richard L. Lord (1794–1860), owner of a 200-acre farm on the Connecticut River. and Miss Harriet Harriet Lord (1795-1882), the unmarried older sister of Phoebe Griffin (Lord) Noyes (1797-1875), at whose school in Lyme Helen had taught music before her marriage, lived a mile away on the town’s main street.
Richard Sill Griswold, Jr., Phoebe Lord house, ca. 1885. LHSA
, called here yesterday, insisted upon it there was nothing the matter with me, and said, if there was a party I should dress up and go,

I thought if either of them felt as I did, they would think it was no joking matter, Mr DeanThe caretaker who maintained Robert’s 30-acre property may have been Richard Dean, born in 1791, a farmer who lived close to Robert’s relatives in Black Hall. Mr. Dean performed essential tasks like cutting ice, loading coal, harvesting corn, and keeping the barns and carriage in good repair. has been geting his Ice, it is much better than that we had last year and will keep longer, You did not write me any thing about your Freight – or Passengers, but I understood you had a good Freight, do write me how you expect to do home, for I am also [being] questionedCharles Chandler Griswold co-owned several Black X Line ships with John Griswold, Jr. As part owner, he questioned Helen about Robert’s cargo and passengers. so much upon the subject, and all look so surprised that I never know, — how I shall long to see your arrival out and that you have a good passage,

do write me long letters, if I am well I shall not be able to go out before you will be at home and my only comfort will be in hearing from you, dear dear Robert I fear this will be the last letter you will receive from me, but do not forget me, think of me kindly and affectionately, forget my many faults, and remember me ever as your own, Helen –

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Credit: Collection of Robert Lorenz