A Collection of Townsend Family Letters - Volume 1 in Two Parts

 A Collection of Townsend Family Letters Volume 1 Second Edition, in two parts, containing 42 letters written by eight members of the Townsend family between 1810 and 1858, covers a variety of topics. Some of these subjects illuminate a past era dramatically different from the one we experience today. A few examples are:

• "Travel" including a description by Mary Townsend of a carriage ride in a coach drawn by “four prancing horses;” as well as letters from John Kirk Townsend describing his 1840 trip from Little Rock to Hot Springs, Arkansas; and his ill-fated journey from Washington, D. C., to visit relatives in Sandy Spring, Maryland, on Christmas Day 1841;

• "Life at boarding school" a letter written by young Mary Townsend shows the emphasis placed on manners and respect toward elders and others;

• "Fashion" in an undated letter from Mary, probably still a young girl, to her sister Hannah, she tells about having her hair “put up in papers. ” The result was six ringlets to which her mother objected as “too fanciful;”

• Preparations for a bridal party;

• Preparing a deceased person for burial.

Other topics illustrate the timelessness of the human condition and of personal relationships. Examples include:

• Brotherly advice of John Kirk Townsend to his younger sister, Hannah;

• Advice on fashion by Priscilla to one of her daughters;

• Priscilla admonishing her daughters for lack of correspondence and for not better managing their time;

• Words of counsel from Priscilla to her daughter, Elizabeth, about handling grief - (three of Elizabeth’s siblings - John, Hannah, and Mary - all died within the same year - 1851);

• Close relationships between siblings. One of many examples is Mary’s comment in a letter to Hannah that she is glad to hear Hannah “cannot get along even cheerfully without me;”

• Concerns about the suffering and the wellbeing of family members;

• Comments about physical ailments such as stomach upset, headache, trouble sleeping, and fatigue;

• Concerns about domestic matters, domestic duties, and domestic help;

• Concerns about human rights issues and about aiding people in need;

• Comments about the weather.

Additional Topics

• In addition, the letters contain a number of literary references to Ovid, Byron, Moore, and others.
• The beauty of nature is of special importance.
• Often mentioned is attendance at Quaker Meetings - weekly meetings, quarterly meetings and yearly meetings - the latter requiring travel to other cities.
• Death was a constant presence during this period, lurking in the shadows or looming large in the light of day.

     Our era, with its longer life expectancy, modern conveniences, and relaxed religious traditions, has shaped our thinking and our lives in multitudinous ways that are in dramatic contrast to the outlook and the lives of those in the early nineteenth century. Although people of the Townsend era led simple, uncluttered lives in contrast to ours, their lives were rich in meaningful ways. They were in touch with the basics of life “ with one another, with nature, and with spiritual nourishment.

     This collection reveals the sustaining faith of the Townsend family members, their deeply felt humility, and their frequently expressed gratitude and appreciation for their blessings. The letters also reveal aspects of each writer’s personality, interests, and priorities.

     The early Quaker movement repudiated the excesses and extravagant indulgences of the English court and gentry. For this reason, (as well as Biblical scriptures such as Mark 10:21 that advise selling possessions, giving to the poor, and following Jesus, and Mathew 6:19-20 that advocates laying up treasures in heaven rather than here on earth), the Quakers emphasized simplicity in all aspects of their lives, and in their spiritual lives focused on the “light within” that indiscernible spiritual power within every human creature. For each of us living in the twenty-first century, there are thought-provoking lessons to be learned from the Quakers and from the Townsend family.

Dana Dunbar Howe
Richmond, Virginia