We’ve come across a letter in the Hatfield Historical Museum written in 1862 that sheds some light on the life of older single women in the middle of the 19th century. (You can read its transcription HERE.) It was posted from Manlius, New York, an area opened up after the Revolutionary War, when a minimum of 100 acres was given to all enlisted men as a reward for their service (known as the Military Tract of Central New York). It was developed further by the opening of the Erie Canal. Manlius apparently attracted Hatfield, MA, resident Euroclydon Gerry, who moved there and married a local woman, Paulina Avery.

Writing to her Hatfield sister-in-law Martha Gerry, Paulina speaks of the difficulties of a 60-year old widow trying to keep afloat[sic] of Spiritualism while on earth.” We do not know if Paulina suspected a business pitch in the last remark, but she ends her letter unconverted.

Interestingly enough, the great political affairs of the nation (the Civil War, for example) are not mentioned. What remains is an intimate letter focusing on family matters tempered with some rudimentary speculations on the larger issues of life and death.

Wayne Schlegel, in addition to being a volunteer for the Hatfield Historical Museum, has been a teacher for the last 40 years, both in English and ESL, in the United States as well as in China, Japan, Qatar and Myanmar. He lives with his wife Leslie (also a teacher) in a historic house in Hatfield Center.

The great thing about letters is that they give