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transcribed
letter to her sister-in-law from 1863...
Oella Louisa (Bigelow) Moulton = 16112.571
I have the original letter in my possession.
Rutland [MA] Jan. 25, 1863
Dear Sister [Philena Moulton; Monson, MA] –
I improve the earliest opportunity to write you a few lines, to let you know that I have received your very welcome epistle nearly a month ago and was rejoiced to hear from you and it done me good to know I have friends to sympathize with me in these times of civil war. School closes next Friday and I have concluded to break up housekeeping and go home to Father’s. He is very willing I should come home and thinks it best for me to do so. I can not stay here it is so lonesome staying alone. It seems rather hard to break up housekeeping, but I think I shall enjoy myself better, than to stay here. I have many sad hours thinking and worrying about his [Menzies Raynor Moulton (1832-1914), Oella’s husband and Philena’s brother] being away in the army and liable to be killed or wounded. I wish he might have been contented to have staid at home, but he thought it was his duty to go. I have heard from him twice since the battles. His last letter was dated Jan. 1st . He wrote he was in the engagement at Whitehall, and escaped without being injured in the least. He had the good fortune to get on board of a boat at Kingston that brought the wounded soldiers at Newbern. He said it was a heartrending and pitiable sight to see them wounded in all manner of places. He writes he has seen enough of war and its effects, and had he known what he now knows he should have done differently. It seems sometimes as though I could not wait for the time to expire, but I know I must. I miss his society very much, but must wait with patience. I think it needs the patience of Job. Things look very dark, but I suppose there is a bright side and all will be for the very best. I need more faith to sustain me in my trials and troubles. Such as I never before witnessed or experienced. I hope his life will be spared to return home again. We have had remarkable weather for this season of the year. Our snows all seem to end in rain. The canker rash prevails to a great extent about here. A number of children have died with it in town. It has not been in this neighborhood and I hope it will not get in here. I never have had it and should not wish to get it. I am so old it would go hard with me I am afraid. I put my plants down cellar to keep them from freezing, and they are all dead I am afraid. Give my love to Father, Mother and Daniel’s folks, and reserve a full share for yourself and write me again.
Your affectionate Sister,
Oella [Louise (Bigelow) Moulton].
[Postmarked “Rutland Jan 27 MS” and addressed to “Miss Philena Moulton; Monson, Mass.”]
[Transcribed Feb. 10, 2002 by John C. Schumacher-Hardy (1967-present); PO Box 1697; So. Lancaster, MA 01561-1697; great-great-great-grandson of Oella L. (Bigelow) Moulton and current owner of the original letter. He received the letter Feb 2002 from his paternal grandmother, Dorice E. (Marean) Gemma, Schumacher (1918-present) who got it from her mother, M. Greta (Moulton) Marean, Bashaw (1895-1973)]
Sources:
Bigelow Society,The Bigelow Family Genealogy, Vol II, pg ;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America;
correspondence between Bigelow Society genealogist and descendants.
Rutland, MA vital records;
Bigelow Society records.
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