Letter from Elizabeth Taylor to her mother, Mary Ann Wilson Taylor while Elizabeth was in boarding school (in Lee, Massachusetts).
Biography: Elizabeth Taylor was born September 28, 1833 in Wilkes Barre and died October 24, 1896 in Wilkes Barre, PA.
She was the child of Judge Edmund Taylor and Mary Ann Wilson Taylor.
Elizabeth Taylor and Edward Henry Chase were married by Reverend A. A. Hodge on June 18, 1863 in Wilkes Barre, PA. They had 3 daughters and 2 sons.
Mary Ann Wilson Taylor was born August 11, 1804 in Kingston, Luzerne County, PA and died on May 2, 1883 in Wilkes Barre, PA. She was the daughter of Elnathan Wilson and Elizabeth Baker.
Edmund and Mary Ann were married on December 28, 1828 by Reverend Samuel Carver in Wilkes Barre, PA. They had six children (Mary Ann Taylor, John Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Ellen Taylor (died at 1 year of age), Thomas Taylor and Edmund Taylor Jr.)
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Approximate date of Letter --- Spring 1850 ??
Saturday Afternoon, Lee
My Dear Mother,
Mary has written so constantly to you and told you of everything worth mentioning that I have found it impossible to write enough to fill a sheet until now. Mary has commenced playing truant already. she is now in South Lee spending the sabbath and intends attending church in Stockbridge. Tomorrow I dare say she will inform you of all the particulars of the visit as soon as she returns. Minnie Dobson and myself escorted her and Mary Hurlbut (the young girl she is visiting) to the depot. Saw Mr. Peck. asked us to run off and take a ride if Mrs. Barlow refused. but we did not give her a chance to make any objections. as we did not ask her. While on our way home, we met Harvey Bradley, the handsomest and finest fellow in Lee. the one I picked for Mary. he has been up here. I got an introduction to her and appears to fancy her very much. Mrs. Pattison says he is just the one for Mary and she for him. and Clara says she intends telling him so. Mary is very fearful that he will think she is of the same opinion and does not wish them to speak of her to him. but I am wandering from my subject and intended to tell you what he said. I met him and he stopped me and asked where I had been. I told him to see M… (Mary) off as I was tired of her and had sent her home. He opened his eyes and exclaimed Why, she has not gone home! No says I, only to South Lee. Then, he wished to know when she was coming back. I told him (that was last night).
And this afternoon Mrs. Phillips and myself were out shopping and to see Mrs. Yale, we saw Harve and he asked us in the store. We went in and while Mrs. Phillips was talking to Mr. Frank Taylor, Harve asked me if Mary was in South Lee yet. I told him Yes. he then asked me if I would not take a ride down there tomorrow night if Mrs. B would let me. I told him yes.
I suppose he intends bringing Mary back with him. She will be very much surprised to see him. I intend to teaze her about it when I see her.
Bill Bartlett has taken quite a fancy to her, but she does not return it. I guess Mary is very well satisfied with Lee and all the Leevites with her or so I should judge from appearances (not much like W). People here think we look so much a like that they can hardly tell us apart. What do you think of it?
Mrs. Barlow’s house and grounds look perfectly delightful. you could not imagine any thing more perfectly lovely. I was standing with Mrs. Pattison yesterday looking and admiring it and I told her I did wish you and father were only here just then. I know you could hardly leave as I should love to have you come on this summer or fall. do so want you to see it.
Mrs. P says she should not much wonder if Mrs. B sold it very soon as there is a man who has charge of the quarry that wishes to buy it. if so, she says we shall all have to leave (I hope not now).
Tell Sam and Ned they must not forget me and give love to (Jim), Mary and all the rest of the girls esc bye
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OBITUARY -- October 1896
Mrs. Edward H. Chase’s Death
Passed Away Quite Suddenly on Saturday - Came of a Well Known Ancestry - A Noble, Christian Woman
Mrs. Edward H. Chase died at her home on South River Street before day-light on Saturday morning, her demise being sudden and unexpected, though Mrs. Chase had not been in good health and her breaking down probably dates back to an injury which she sustained just six months ago. She been out calling one evening and upon entering the house she slipped on the stairs and sustained a painful sprain from which she did not recover for several weeks.
However, during the summer she was able and about, and apparently not much the worse for her mishap. But a few weeks ago she began to fail in strength and had to have a nurse, though improving again and giving promise of permanent recovery. The promise was not to be verified. It became evident during the last day or two that her condition was critical, though a fatal termination of the illness was not anticipated. There was a condition of cardiac weakness which became more and more aggravated until heart was no longer able to perform its functions and Mrs. Chase sank painlessly away.
The entire community will sorrow with the bereaved family. Mrs. Chase was a devoted wife and mother and a good neighbor. She was a life long member of First Presbyterian Church and was always ready to do her part in any work of benevolence or charity that came her way. Home was her sphere and she made her home so bright and attractive that the members of her household counted it the best place of all. Mrs. Chase was a charming entertainer as all who have ever partaken of her hospitality can testify. In her death the community sustains a genuine loss.
Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Chase was born in Wilkes-Barre sixty three years ago, where now stands the Harvey block on Franklin Street, and spend her entire life there. Her father was Edmund Taylor, the veteran saddler of this city, who in 1850 was appointed an associate Judge of of Luzerne County and died in 1881 at the age of 77. Mrs. Chase is survived by two brothers -- Thomas Taylor of this city, Edmund Taylor of New York, and a sister, Mrs. Samuel White, who resides in Lawrence, Mass. The late John Taylor, general traffic manager of the Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. was her brother. Mrs. Chase is survived by her husband, Edward H. Chase, Esq., and by two sons, Harold T. Chase , editor of the Topeka (Kas.) Capital-Commonwealth and Samuel C. Chase, and two daughters Ethel H. and Frances B.
The shock to her son Harold, now on his way here, was a crushing one. He had supposed his mother was getting well and on receiving a telegram announcing her serious illness hastened East. Unless intercepted by later news he will not hear of his mother’s death till his arrival this afternoon.
The funeral is set for to-morrow at 2 pm.
On her mother’s side, Mrs. Chase came from pioneer stock. She was the granddaughter of Elnathan Wilson, a revolutionary soldier, who came from New London, Conn. to Wyoming Valley at an early day. He located in Forty Fort and was married there in 1798 by Rev. Anning Owen, to Betsey Baker, the daughter of a Connecticut pioneer. Betsey Baker’s mother was a sister of the celebrated American traveler, John Ledyard, who was with Capt. Cook when the latter was killed by the Sandwich Island savages. Elnathan Wilson’s hospitable home in Kingston was a favorite resort for the itinerant Methodist preachers. An interesting account of the pioneer experiences of the Wilson and Baker families can be found in the Historical Record, vol. 4, Page. 109.
