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MARGARET C. HULSEY : 1857 PAIR [2] OF ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN DIARY AND MEMORY BOOKS RECOUNTING THE DEATHS (AND LIVES) OF MANY BELOVED FAMILY MEMBERS, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF QUAKER HYMNS, POEMS AND REMINISCENCES

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer are two books from a Baltimore family in the mid 1800s, professing a life of faith and determination in the wake of tragedy and loss. The two books are written by one Margaret Hulsey of Baltimore, Maryland, a seemingly deeply religious Quaker woman. The first book is very unique collection of hymns, letters, diary entries, and first-hand accounts dealing with the deaths Ms. Hulsey’s family, friends, and loved ones. The book begins with a short passage that lays out what much of the book with deal with: death. “The first link in the family circle was broken many years ago in the removal of a beloved child at the early age of two years. But as this occurred long before the recovery of the younger children, they of course have no recollection of the bereavement - To the ____ parents there was much of consolation in the reflection that their little one was ‘taken from the evil to come,’ before sin had sullied the innocence of childhood. Died Nov. 30th. 1826. John Clapp - Jr. aged 1 year. 11 months. And 4 days.” Following this are pages and pages of Christian hymns, poems, and descriptions of grief and bereavement in the face of death, both of the young child mentioned and also of someone who was presumably Ms. Hulsey’s brother. This is an interesting and unique book, as much of the diary entries are written in the 3rd-person, as if the author is collecting these stories of grief as a family history “An unspeakably heavier bereavement was in store for them in the death of their eldest son at the age of 32 years. Gentle and affectionate in childhood he had endeared himself to the family circle in no common manner and as he grew up to man’s estate his strongly masked character, cultivated mind and clear judgement gave promise of a bright career of usefulness. During the last few years of his life particularly the all pervading influence of Christian principle was most strikingly displayed. When his bright prospect in life were clouded, he weakly bowed to the dispensation and received it as a token of his Heavenly Father’s love....Died in New York on the morning of the 11th of 12th month 1848. Family H. Clapp, aged 32 years. 1 month and 3 days.” The book is filled with long descriptions of family members, friends, and loved ones who met their deaths too early. “About six months after our dear brother’s death, my warmest sympathies were weakened by the decline and removal of a beloved young friend, and connection in Philadelphia - We had spent several weeks together, the preceding summer in a little town...and I had learned to love and advise her gentle Christian character - The following letter, speaking of her illness was from the pen of a sister.” Many of the entries in the book are like this one, letters collected by Ms. Hulsey and then faithfully copied down in this book as a remembrance of someone loved who has passed. Alongside the letter are hymns and poems of a Christian nature, and quotations and aphorisms taken from “The Friend’s Review” that speak to the nature of death and the overcoming of grief through Christian love. The same format is used for the deaths of Margaret Hulsey’s brother, friends, and (longest of all) her mother. Near the end of the book, there are also letters that had been sent specifically to Ms. Hulsey that are copied down, well-wishes and condolences from friends on the event of her mother’s death. This book has roughly 200 pages, of which almost everyone has writing. Margaret Hulsey’s handwriting is neat and very legible, and no smudging is evident. The first few gatherings of the book are detached from the spine, but the whole thing is sewn together, so the pages are not loose. Quarter leather spine with a marbled cover page. The second book is “Some extracts from the letters and diary of our beloved mother” and is also written in the hand of Margaret Hulsey. Beginning in September 1848 and continuing until her death in 1857, the book contains copies of letters sent from to family members (especially Margaret) as well as entries from her personal diary, some short and others extending many pages. The thread throughout the diary entries is the love of Jesus and her worship of him through the Quaker church. “Baltimore - 3rd mo. - First day - ‘attended mtg. After sitting a short time in silence. L. M. Hoag appeared in present supplication - He soon of towards ___ with the words. “Ye are lively stones built up a spiritual house” carrying out the figure by applying it to stones in the quarry, which must first be taken out then hammered and brought into the proper shape afterwards smoothed and polished - He was continuing the application when the mtg. Was disturbed by the sudden indisposition of H. Baldesion. In about ten minutes he resumed his discourse without any apparent confusion and embarrassment and preached an excellent sermon.” About a quarter of the book are entries from 1848-1850, and then the rest of the book is from March 1857, the beginning of the decline and death of Margaret’s mother. The first entry in 1857 concerns Margaret’s mother and father’s decision to leave America for England. Their trip to England is interesting, with Margaret’s mother ruminating on her life on the sea, the friends she has left behind and the future ahead for her. “Rested very well - It seems as if the motion of the boat reduces drowsiness at least this has been the effect on me - We spend much time on deck wishing to cherish all the advantages possible from the sea air. And we go up on the principle of eating at every meal, even if we feel but little appetite. We passed a steamer last night supposed to be the Arctic. It gives a social, gladsome feeling to pass a ship at sea. We have already seen two sails but they were distant we were unable to learn where they were from or whither bound.” When they arrive in London, there are many passages of their new life there, attending new Quaker Friend’s Meetings and making new friendships, as well as trips to other cities to spread the word of Jesus. After 3 months they return “Just 3 months since we left the shores of America - It seems a brief space, now that it is past - Soon went on deck - all things were put in ample order - the floor was scrubbed, the brasser cleaned, the sun was shining brightly - the broad experience of ocean before us with scarcely a ripple on the surface while our noble ship was ploughing through the waters with majestic steadiness...” Soon the diary entries end and Hulsey’s point of view takes over again: “Our dear Mother felt the heat of the water excruciatingly...soon after she accompanied Father to Phila. And Baltimore to visit their children - It was unspeakable pleasure to her to meet them again...She accordingly accompanied the family to Cape May...At the end of ten days she had a strange and alarming attack of dysentery. It yielded to medicine, however, but a relapse a week later placed her in a very critical situation...On First day, Dr. Chesterman was called - he fully agreed with Dr. Rabson and discovered a new feature in the disease which had now assumed the character of bilious diarrhea”. The mother continues to be sick and weakens to a terrible extent. Margaret Hulsey’s description of her mother is heartbreaking and she goes into long details of the last night of her mother’s death and her eventual passing away: “The breath grew shorter and shorter, and the quietly passed away without a struggle - at the same hour of the day as that beloved son, who had only preceded her by about three years.” The last few pages of the book are transcripts and copies of remarks made at her mother’s funeral and an obituary of her mother in the “Friend’s Review”. The book is roughly 170 pages in length, of which 150 or so have writing. It looks almost identical to the first book (both of them having a small sticker on the front inside cover that reads “Sold at Raynor’s Bookstore 76 Bowery NY.”) No pages have detached from the spine. Both books are in very good condition.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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