Documents associated with: Wyatt, William Edward
Record 1 of 3
System Number: 07088
Date: 1 July [1853[1]]
Author: Eliza Winstanley[2]
Place: Staffordshire
Recipient: Anna Matilda Whistler[3]
Place: [Baltimore[4]]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: Whistler W1077
Document Type: ALS
Stone, Staffordshire
1st of July
My beloved Twin Sister
You have truly been visited by severe affliction since your return to your native land. The awful death, of dear Willie Wyat[5] was a sore trial but God saw it needful, & sent it, and he has given strength to his mourning servants to submit and adore! ever blessed be his holy name, he removed this dear boy to this eternal home, before he was overcome by the temptations of an evil world. He has not been long of following his fond Parents "May they be all one in Jesus Christ[6]"
I was most thankful to you my fond Twin Sister for so soon sending us the glad news of dearest Jimmie's convalescence[7] he had been very nearly gone, but the God who you served has been merciful in sparing him to you, oh! That [he] may never forget the great blessings vouchsafed to Him, and that he may be a constant stay & comfort to you.
[p. 2] It was well, that you had seen dear Willie & found him all you could wish, may it ever be so. I write in haste, to save the post for sending this to Liverpool and I enclose it to Adolph Roded[8] with a few lines to our very dear Nieces[9], I hope dear Eliza may be restored to health & she, & her dear husband[10] may be blessed, in their new home, what a happiness it is that they are to be with the excellent Dr Wyatt[11] the faithful friend of their fond Father[12]. I thank God that he, was removed before his dear boy met with the dreadful accident that caused his death!
Will you send this to our beloved Sister Kate[13], with the best love & sympathy of dear Winstanley[14] & myself[.] I shall rejoice if the good Dr[15] can settle at Springfield with a prospect of doing well [p. 3] you will tell us in yr next. how kind it is of you dear Anna to write so often, dear Alicia[16] wrote to you last week from Edingh [i.e. Edinburgh] dear A. Clunnie[17] paid us a nice visit of three weeks, & has gone from in much better health. she desired much love to you. I begged Alicia to write to dear Mrs Sandland[18], as I did lately - and I cannot write much, since the sad death of dear Isa Woolman[19], tho I do not regret, that she was taken from a load of care & trials, as I believe was the case! & God will provide for her husband & little ones, she often spoke of you singing so sweetly to her Johny. I trust she is with Jesus. she was taken from great tribulation & sore suffering I never saw one have more, nor bear it more patiently. she never gave a sigh or a groan & all seemed peace, at the last!
[p. 4] Mrs Ainsworth[20] is quite well again - God be praised! dear Anne & Sarah[21] came so far, with us yesterday & we are going on, God willing in a week, or so to Leamington for a fortnight[.] Winnys cough is relieved and he is looking very well, he joins me in best love to you & the dear Boys[22], & in all good wishes, remember me to Mary[23] - & to little Topsey[24] too - she left all ours very well - Betty[25] is happy & continues, better & worse, all our relatives & friends at Preston were much as you left them & send love.
I am ever dearest Anna
your fondly attached Twin
Sister
E. I. Winstanley
I leave it to dear Cath Camman[26] to give my kindest love to her dear Mother[27] & self & to forward this to you, as soon as possible. all[28] may read this & send it on -
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Notes:
1. 1853
Dated with reference to William Wyatt McNeill's death (see below).
2. Eliza Winstanley
Eliza Isabella Winstanley (1788-1857), née McNeill, JW's aunt, AMW's half-sister [more].
3. Anna Matilda Whistler
Anna Matilda Whistler (1804-1881), née McNeill, JW's mother [more].
4. Baltimore
AMW was probably at Baltimore, given the recent deaths of her brother William Gibbs McNeill, and his son William Wyatt McNeill (see below).
5. Willie Wyat
William Wyatt McNeill (1833-1853), JW's cousin [more].
6. May they be all one in Jesus Christ
'That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me,' John 17.21.
7. Jimmie's convalescence
James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), artist [more]. In late May 1853, JW suffered from an attack of rheumatism. He was then hospitalized and went on convalescent leave. See Gordon H. Fleming, The Young Whistler 1834-66, London, 1978, p. 99. Also see Robert E. Lee to AMW, 26 May 1853, #12608, and AMW to Robert E. Lee, 3 June 1853, #09553.
8. Adolph Roded
Adolphe Rodewald, Sr (1818-1869), husband of J. C. McNeill [more].
9. Nieces
Mary Isabella Rodewald (1823-1867), née McNeill, Julia (Catherine) Rodewald, née McNeill, and Eliza Flagg (1830-1855), née McNeill; there were JW's cousin.
10. her dear husband
Rev. Edward Octavius Flagg (1824-1911), husband of JW's cousin Eliza McNeill [more]; see AMW to JW, 23 and 24 September 1851, #06401.
11. Dr Wyatt
Dr William Edward Wyatt, clergyman and Professor of Theology in the University of Maryland.
12. their fond Father
William Gibbs McNeill (1800-1853), railway engineer, AMW's brother [more].
13. Sister Kate
Catherine ('Kate') Jane Palmer (ca 1812 - d.1877), née McNeill, AMW's sister [more].
14. Winstanley
John Winstanley (1776-1859), solicitor, JW's uncle [more].
15. the good Dr
Dr George E. Palmer (1803-1868), physician, AMW's brother-in-law [more].
16. Alicia
Alicia Margaret Caroline McNeill (1786-1863), JW's aunt [more].
17. A. Clunnie
Anne Clunie (b. 1793), a Scottish cousin of AMW [more].
18. Mrs Sandland
Betsey Sandland of Liverpool, friend of AMW.
19. Isa Woolman
Isa Woolman (d. 1853), a friend of AMW's half-sister, E. I. Winstanley, her husband and children.
20. Mrs Ainsworth
Mrs Ainsworth, from Staffordshire, an acquaintance of AMW.
21. Anne & Sarah
Anne and Sarah Ainsworth, sisters from Staffordshire.
22. dear Boys
William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900), physician, JW's brother [more], and James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), artist [more].
23. Mary
Mary Brennan (b. 1825), AMW's servant [more].
24. little Topsey
Eliza (d. 1856), a servant of Kate Livermore [more]; see AMW to JW 27 August 1851, #06399, and AMW to JW, 16 September 1851, #06400.
25. Betty
Betty, a servant.
26. Cath Camman
Catherine Julia Cammann, a relation of Dr G. P. Cammann [more].
27. dear Mother
Maria Margaretta Cammann ('Grandma C') (1774-1862), mother-in-law of William Gibbs McNeill [more].
28. all
'all ... on' continues in the left margin of p. 1.