Letter from America
Mary Anne Wyett to her brother Henry Hull of Cape Town

Introduction

Mary Anne Wyett, sister of Henry Hull in Cape Town, wrote to her brother from Oberlin in Ohio, USA, in 1849. Almost two whole years on, the letter eventually reached its destination, via India, on 7 Mar 1851. For long, we knew nothing further of the Wyett family than is given in this letter, reproduced here in its entirety. More is now known - and additional information is given separately below.

The Wyetts' association with Oberlin College is worthy of note. This was a progressive institution, the first in America to admit women to degree courses (1841), and a pioneer in refusing to debar students on account of race (1835). The preacher Finney, referred to in the letter, was renowned beyond the United States. He also gained notoriety for assisting slaves to escape to Canada: in 1858, 30 Oberlin professors were arrested for rescuing the runaway slave, Littlejohn, from US police custody.

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Oberlin June 26 1849

My dear brother,
More than fifteen years have rolled away since we last met. We were then at Eltham when you and Sophy with some of your children came to pay us a farewell visit, previously to your departure from England to take up your abode in the new and untried scenes of Western Africa. I little thought at that time how soon we should be called upon to leave our pleasant home and be sojourners in a strange land, yet so it was. In little more than six months after you had bade adieu to so many who were dear to you, we were crossing the Atlantic to seek a home in the wilds of America - separated by oceans and continents and holding no communication by letter. We have as it were been dead to each other, as far as all intercourse is concerned, yet have you not ceased to live in the memory and affections of our family, and often have you and yours been the subjects of conversation in our little circle. Our dear sister Maria (who has been my faithful and almost only correspondent in England) has from time to time written me accounts of you all, as she has received news from the Cape, and be assured the information has been read with great interest by all of us here. We have sympathised with you in your trials and rejoiced with you in your prosperity. The last intelligence I received was I thought upon the whole of a more pleasing nature than any previous letter had contained - your having employment under government, that Sophy was successful in obtaining pupils in music and that the girls had schools; it also mentioned Edward's marriage - so that I hoped you were all getting along well (to use a Yankee phrase). Our children grow up around us, and we do not perceive the change, so gradual is it from day to day, but when we hear of those we parted with some years ago as girls and boys, being married it sounds strangely in our ears and we hardly know how to believe they are men and women. Should our children meet now I suppose they would scarcely recognise each other - of course the younger ones would not, and I am by no means sure that their parents would appear more familiar, at least if you and Sophy are nearly as much altered as George and myself are - but I think it is quite likely that you are not because the climate you have lived in is more temperate than this and of course more favorable to health.

I have often wished much to hear from you and have thought of writing, particularly to Kate, but have known exactly how to direct or send my letters, and suppose they would cost a great deal. I write now with the expectation of being able to send this with some friends who are going to Siam, and who will probably stop at the Cape in their way. The party consists of a Dr & Mrs Bradley and their two children and Mr & Mrs Lane and their little girl. Dr Bradley has been a missionary at Siam some years - he came to America some time ago to bring his children to be educated as they had lost their mother - he came to Oberlin and left them with the expectation of their being brought up here, but in a little while the eldest girl died, then the others wanted so sadly to go back with their Papa that he consented to take them - he is now married again to a lady who was a graduate from this institution and [previously] a classmate of our dear Frederick - both he and Margaret were much attached to her and she still corresponds with the latter. Dr Lane and his wife came here after he had taken his medical course but he went through the theological studies at Oberlin. Mrs Lane was here a few weeks since and spoke of the probability there was of their touching at the Cape in their way to Siam. I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity of writing by her as she would try and see you and tell you what she would about us. I hope my letter will reach you in safety.

Maria has I suppose in writing to you occasionally mentioned us, and told you somewhat relating to our family and circumstances but as you have just hitherto heard directly from us you will perhaps like me to go a little into details respecting our history since we parted. The circumstances that gave rise to the necessity for our coming here I shall but slightly touch upon. You were doubtless informed of the particulars at the time and they are of too painful a nature to dwell upon. I can scarcely now think of the scenes I passed through previously to my leaving England and during my voyage to this country without weeping. It was long, very long, after I came to America before I could reconcile my mind to my situation so as to feel happy in it but I now feel that such a repining state was a very sinful one, and that all things were ordered for the best. If I cannot say with St Paul "I have learned whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content", I at least feel that I have abundant cause to be so with my present situation, indeed I have so many mercies to be grateful for that I should be inexcusable were it otherwise. We have passed through many sever trials, but not one more than was needed. On our first coming to this country George took some land in Michigan to farm. We brought along with us a man and his wife. She was to assist me in the home and the man to work on the farm. You know George was always very fond of working in a garden and he thought he should like farming as well. I think he did, but then he was quite inexperienced and there was a great deal to be done, as the land was not even fenced in, trees had to felled and split up for [rails?], a log home put up, a well dug, a barn built, etc etc etc.
People saw that George did not know much about the value of work and they all charged him more than they ought for what they did. He got imposed upon and cheated, lost a mare, had a fine ox die, and raised but few crops. So thus after a time he was obliged to let the farm upon shares. An Englishman with a large family of boys, who as well as himself had been brought up to work, came to live on it. The man understood it well, he raised good crops, which we had a third of, and a large stock of cattle for himself. So he did well, but we had not sufficient to live on, and had it not been for our kind brother John, we must have suffered greatly. For the first two years and half we rented a house in Monroe and George went out every day (with William, the man who came with us) to work on the farm. This was while it was being fenced and before we had any house put up. Provisions were at that time very dear and we had not then raised any. Flour was *** Pounds a fanel**, beef? 2 and a half cts per pound and fish 15 cts per lb. There was a time when we were obliged to live almost entirely upon corn meal. Afterwards when we had a dairy provisions had fallen so low that butter sold for only 8cts per lb. When we first went to Monroe Frederick went to Dr Bonart's store where he stayed for three or four years. Margaret, Ernest, Charles and Anna went out with us to the farm. We were two and a half miles from Monroe, the population round us nearly all French with the exception of a few Irish, all ignorant people. Our nearest neighbour was a mile from us. So you may imagine it was very lonely. Part of the year the road into town was so bad that I very rarely got in to church and seldom saw anyone. There were no advantages for educating the children on account of the distance from Monroe - we could only send them in occasionally when the roads were good. Ernest went in for a time but it was too much for him and we attributed his sickness in a great measure to the long walk. His health of delicate and seemed to fail at one time very much so that during the winter we kept him at home entirely. He so far recovered towards the spring as to go out again and even walked in to church twice. He even went out one day to look for our horse which had strayed away and walked much further than we had expected he would. After this he grew worse very quickly, though we did not imagine him to be in any danger, but he only lived a week after this and went off most suddenly and unexpectedly - so much so that it was long before we could reconcile our minds to his loss. Margaret and I felt it most severely - we thought if only we could only have known of his danger and been aware that we were soon to part with him we should have felt better prepared for it.

Frederick was at this time at Oberlin where he had gone about two years previous, to enter upon a course of study to fit him for the ministry. He invited us shortly afterwards and wished much to induce is to remove to Oberlin. There were many reasons for rendering a removal at that time desirable. We wished much to have the comfort of Frederick's society, as well as for our own sakes as the children's, and also that he might have a home without paying for his board which he had to do.

In the fall of that year therefore we made preparations to leave Michigan, packed up our goods and had them conveyed to the wharf, intending to take a passage by a steamer which would have brought us within 30 miles of this place. But a severe frost suddenly set in and closed up the lake so that we were obliged to abandon the idea of going that way. We afterwards hired waggons and came by land, and although the weather was extremely cold, suffered but little. We arrived here after a journey of five days and we were kindly received into the house of an English family of the name of Hill. He is the Sec and Treas of the Oberlin Collegiate Institution, had only been from England at this time 1 year and a half. He has a very agreeable wife and large family of children and we have found in them very kind friends. Indeed Mr Hill has been like a brother to George, and has assisted him much by employing him in his office.

Oberlin is by no means remarkable for beauty of situation, as it is flat and nearly enclosed by woods. It is however gradually being cleared and much of it has been planted with fruit trees, and laid out in gardens, so that it is at present assuming a more inviting appearance than it bore some years ago. There is a large Institution of Learning and several large College buildings, but none of them handsome. There are Preparatory College and Theological departments, also a separate annex for the ladies but they are at liberty to take a college course if they choose it, and a great many have done so. At present I think there are more who confine themselves in the ladies' annex. Margaret commenced with the former but afterwards went into the latter as I thought upon the whole it would be better for her.

She was within one year of completing her course when she had a severe and protracted sickness which prevented her finishing. She was at that time not living at home but boarding in the Young Ladies' Hall where she was teaching two or three classes and had at the same time as many studies and recitation of her own to attend to, besides a great deal of care and responsibility thrown upon her. Altogether it was too much for her to endure and she came home with a fever which confined her for a long time, and from the effects of which I think she has never perfectly recovered. It is nearly two years since, but she has not been able to do much either in the way of study or teaching up to the present time.

But I have got a little out of the order of events, and I will now go back to speak of our dear Frederick. When we came to Oberlin he was in the Sophomore Class, the hardest year in college according to general opinion. During the long vacation he had been teaching school and in term time working a good deal in order to pay for his board. His health however at that time appeared good but as the summer came on he complained of feeling great weakness and often on coming in from recitations was obliged to throw himself on the bed. He went on, however, that summer and the next winter went out to teach. In the spring he returned with a bad cough and appeared quite unwell. I nursed him for some time but finally it was thought desirable for him to try a change of air, and sea voyage was particularly recommended. Through the kindness of many friends, in addition to his own earnings, he was enabled to go to England and visit our friends - he stayed with his Grandmother and enjoyed himself very much. For some time he appeared to derive great benefit from his native air, and wrote us word that he was getting quite well, but as the winter came on his cough returned and spring found him far advanced in consumption. He now prepared to return to his family with the impression that he had not long to live. So indeed it was - when we met again, his feeble step and emaciated form told to plainly that he was only a short time for this world. He lived eleven weeks after his return. I cannot tell you what comfort it was to minister to his wants, to wait upon him, to watch around his sick bed, to hear all his sweet words and to treasure up every look and sentence in our hearts never to be forgotten whilst life shall last. You did not know Frederick in the last years of his life and therefore you cannot realise what a trial it was to lose such a son. He has left a bright example of every virtue to all who know him and blessed shall be those who tread in his steps.

Margaret and Anna are both kind and good girls and a great comfort to us. Charles has occasioned me some uneasiness - it has been difficult to get him to settle to anything. He has never been fond of study and has therefore never applied himself to it though he has excellent abilities and might have done well if he had. He has grown up a fine young man and is taller than either of the others. It is singular how many traits in his character resemble his Uncle Edward's - one might think him enough like him to be his own son. He is just as particular about his dress and person and wants everything he has to be the very best of its kind. He is at present out of employment which makes it very hard upon George with his small income.

Perhaps you have heard from Maria that our dear Anna is deaf - she has only been so for a few years. It is a great affliction to her but she bears it very patiently. We have had a good deal of advice and tried several remedies, without success, and I fear she will never get better of it.

Margaret is engaged to a very excellent young man of the name of Penfield. He is a student and expects to graduate from Theology a year from next August, when they will probably be married. He is a tutor in College and much esteemed for his good conduct and literary attainments. We are much attached to him and think him well suited to Margaret.
George has for the last five years had the situation of book keeper in the office for the publication of the Oberlin Evangelist. It brings him an income not quite equal to 100 Pounds a year but in this country one can live upon much less than in England. Provisions are cheaper and, in this place, house rent is, and wood for fuel. In the large cities this is not the case.

The society here is good. There are generally from 5 to 700 students, male and female, all residents at the College, and from six to eight professors and other teachers, a principal to the ladies' department, with assistants under her.

The colonists consist of many pleasant and agreeable families. Upon the whole I have felt more at home and a great deal happier here than I did at Monroe, though we met with many kind friends there also. The professors lecture to their pupils upon various subjects and everyone is at liberty to attend them who choose and can find time, but there are so many other things to do that I have scarcely availed myself of the privilege. The advantages for obtaining a good education cheaply are very great, the price of tuition is low and many of the students pay for their board by working, as it is a manual labor Institution, and all are expected to do some work. There is only one church in Oberlin. The denomination is Congregational. It is a very large building, capable of holding 3000 persons - it has been built since we came. Before that time they met for worship in the Chapel of the College, where the students attend prayers every evening, but the population is now so large that it is not capable of holding all. I missed the form of the Episcopal Church very much when I first came here, though having been for some time without a minister at Monroe, we had no preaching in our own church and used to attend the Presbyterian, so that we had become in some measured weaned from our long formed habits and opinions, in attending exclusively upon the service of the Church of England. We have a celebrated preacher for our rector, a Mr Finney, known all over the United States for his extraordinary abilities and eloquence. He has however great eccentricities and proved not to be tolerated in many places but notwithstanding all he is a most powerful preacher. His writings are well known both in England and Scotland amongst the dissenters. He has had an invitation to go over to England to preach which I believe he will accept. Nothing struck me as more singular on first coming to this country, than observing in every small village or town we passed, 3 or 4 churches, each perhaps large enough to contain the whole population, but there are so many different denominations, and as each is at liberty to worship God in whatever way they please, they must all have a different place to meet in. There is generally an Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Church in every town, and it is quite peculiar to Oberlin to have but one place of worship. Many customs prevail here which are very different from what we were used to in the old country, and it takes a long time to become habituated to some of them so as to be perfectly reconciled to the change. The times for taking meals generally in all this western country is as follows - breakfast at 6, dinner at noon and supper at 5 or 6. The latter meal varies according to the season of the year. At this place the bell rings at 5, at which hour the students must rise summer and winter, and the colonists mostly do the same. At 6 it rings again for breakfast, every hour through the day for recitations, for evening prayer at 5 or 6 and then at 9 for retiring. I have now become so accustomed to going to bed at that hour that I cannot bear to sit up later and am always ready to rise at 5 or sooner. The manner in which they conduct their funerals is in many respects, I think, very objectionable. The body is always (or with some exceptions) interred the day after death, every one who chooses, friend or stranger, comes in to view the corpse. Sometimes the funeral services are conducted entirely in the house, but if the friends choose they have the coffin taken to the church. It is considered a mark of respect for everyone to attend so that if it is in the house it will be literally crammed full almost to suffocation, and as everyone will put on their best things and since but the relatives put on mourning, it rather has the appearance of a festal than a funeral party. Great pains is taken in laying out and dressing the corpse. If a young person, the hair is beautifully arranged and sometimes adorned with a white rose or myrtle. The dress, made of lace or book muslin laid in folds and nicely fitted - if a lady a sap?? is made of book muslin but with so much taste that the corpse has always a very pleasing appearance. This latter custom I think far more pleasing than the manner in which the dead were attired for the grave in England - but that of burying the corpse so soon was very shocking to me at first, and was a severe trial when I lost Ernest as it was then so new to me.

The advancement of knowledge, and progress of civilization, have affected a wonderful change in this part of the world since we first came here. At that time there was a marked difference between the inhabitants of the western country and those of the eastern states with respect to habits, manners and dress. Steam navigation and rail roads now afford such facilities for travelling that new fashions and customs are speedily introduced and people are beginning now to dress as extravagantly as in the great cities. This is certainly the age of luxury and expense. The love of fashionable dress is universal, and extends to all ranks. The poorest girls will work out till they have earned enough to procure some handsome clothing, and it must be made in the last style of fashion so that it is sure to meet with any one who is not well dressed. While the introduction of luxury and fashion are in many respects to be deplored, much good is at the same time diffused throughout the country by means of the various arts, sciences, manufactures, literature and education which now spread everywhere and afford the opportunity of improvement and means of support to the millions of America.

But I am lengthening my letter most unreasonably and fear you will find it very unconnected and somewhat tedious. If I were not writing to my own brother who has not heard news from us for so many years I should feel called upon to offer some apologies for my prolixity as it is. I trust to his affection to excuse all, and can only say that I should esteem it a great favor to receive as long an epistle in return. George hates letter writing so much that he does not even write to his own father, so you will not think it strange that he should not put in a word to you. I intend my letter equally for you and Sophy and shall be happy to have either of you answer it that feels inclined to do so. I have not written to Kate for I was not sure that she was with you, Maria having mentioned that she had gone to reside with some lady. When you hear or write you will convey my kindest love to her and say I should be very much pleased to hear from her. Margaret I believe has written to Fanny and will have sent her own remembrances. Charles of course has but a faint recollection of any of you but he says he remembers that Aunt Kate used to flush the towels very hard, and also that she once struck him very hard when he was naughty boy and I was away at Windsor. She must not suppose however that be bears her any ill will but wishes to join in kind love and good wishes to all, with George and myself, in which Mary and Edward, as we know must of them are especially included, and beg you to believe me my dear brother and sister,

Your ever affectionate

Mary Anne Wyett.


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