Mary Emma Jocelyn diary, 1851-1852.

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  • UPenn Ms. Codex 1770
  • Born in New Haven, Connecticut to antebellum abolistionist, clergyman, and engraver Simeon Smith Jocelyn (1799-1879) and Harriet Starr (d. 1877). The Jocelyn family moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1844 where Simeon Smith Jocelyn was installed as the pastor of the First Congregational Church. Mary Emma was the fifth of eight children born to the Jocelyns. Her siblings are Harriette Luceannah (1823-), Simeon Starr (1825-), Albert Higley (1827-), Caroline Eliza (1830-1868), Nathaniel (1835-1852), Cornelius Buell (1838-1864), and Frederick Henry (1841-).
  • This volume contains the diary of Mary Emma Jocelyn spanning ten months from November 1851 to September 1852. The first entry in the diary was recorded on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1851. At the top of the page is written "Journal continued." Jocelyn made daily entries in her diary and recorded her life with her family and friends while living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. A brief note on the weather begins each entry. Jocelyn described her daily activities including sewing, reading, seeing family and friends, and distributing tracts. She attended church on Sundays chiefly at her father's church, the First Congregational Church, and singing class with her sisters Carrie (Caroline) and Harriet. She was often visiting or receiving friends including Mary Reeve and Hannah Hudson among others. Jocelyn attended lectures and events at the Lyceum in Brooklyn. She also visited her sister in Brooklyn and mentions ferrying over. The Jocelyn family and the Hudson family appeared to be close friends and the Jocelyn siblings spent much time with brothers George and Henry and their sister Hannah. Jocelyn wrote often of Henry Hudson and worried about his crisis of faith. Major events in the family are described throughout the ten-month period, including the joyous wedding of her sister Harriet to Douglas Murphy on June 30, 1852 and the death of her brother Nathaniel (Natty) in August 1852. Thirty pages in the diary were dedicated to Natty's illness and death. This lengthy entry is dated September 27, 1852 and describes the family's anguish and grief over Natty's passing. Other notable entries include her father Simeon's travels, her lengthy description of a dream, helping a young Irish immigrant, her interest in an essay by Edgar Allen Poe, and the celebration of the founding of Williamsburg in January 1852. The diary is in chronological order from November 27, 1851 through April 1, 1852. After April 1 the diary is arranged as follows: July 8 to August 8, 1852; 23 pages dated September 27, 1852; April 29 to June 8, 1852; April 3 to April 28, 1852; June 9 to July 5, 1852. Bound in at the end are seven pages continuing the September 27th entry. Laid in the volume is a printed flier for an exhibition and sale at Montague Hall, Brooklyn for "articles offered for sale at the Anti Slavery Fair" November 30, 1851 with notes on the verso by Mary Emma Jocelyn.

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    Sunday Janurary 25th Lovely day. Such a contrast to the weather we have had lately! but then of course the snow began to melt, and that made the walking not over nice George Hudson had engaged to accompany Sarah, Carrie and I to church this morning, but for some reasons of h own Carrie was desirous that Sarah should go alone with George. This I opposed for I did not believe George would be pleased with such an arrangement, but Carrie did not seem to think so, and Sarah made no objection to the to the proposal, so I made up my mind to our church as usual. As I had expected George instead of being pleased, was very much hurt, and took no pains to conceal his feelings. I felt sorry but the walk to church was pleasant. Father preached a good sermon, and on the whole the morning was a pleasant one. When I returned, Sarah and George who had attended the Baptist Church were sitting in the [parlor?] with Carrie. It was rather a sober party. George looked very much hurt. Sarah offended, and Carrie embarrassed I on the contrary felt in a very cheerful mood, and [pretended?] not to notice anything peculiar. George soon left. In the afternoon Sarah, Nathaniel, and I attended the Baptist Church and heard an excellent sermon from the Rev. [?] [Haswell?], Missionary to Burmah. The house was crowded In the evening George H-- and Kate called for Carrie and Sarah and I with Nathaniel attended the [Bucher's?] church

    Last edit about 2 years ago by longlostlegacies
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    Monday Mild and pleasant Mary Willet made a long call soon after dinner Hannah Wilder also called and invited us to spend the evening at her house I did not care much about going for I would have preferred to attend Mr T.A. Warner's Concert to-night so the secretary Mr B. Rush Rees had politely sent us tickets: but Carrie and Sarah gay thoughtless an good-natured have every thing their own way and as they accepted Hannah's invitation I could not do less than accept it too After Hannah left I called at Mary R's but did not find her at home She was out sleighriding with her cousin Mr Scranton I returned and with Sarah called on Kate Hudson Made a rather long call and a pleasant one too George came in as we were leaving and accompanied us home I invited him to accompany us to the Wilde's to-night He hesitated a little but consented Accordingly after ea he called for us He acknowledged that it was with some reluctance he went and told me that he did not believe that I wanted to go there any more than he did He was not far from the truth though I am on good terms with all the family excepting one and he is far away George talked to me about Sall the way -How foolishly he has acted ! and now it seems strange to me how I could have born as I did but I did not know all and I pitied him too We spent a pleasant evening and returned about eleven o'clock

    Last edit about 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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    Tuesday. Pleasant. Annie passed the day with us. She was evidently depressed though she tried at times to put on an appearance of cheerfulness, -- and indeed she has cause for sadness. To think of her sweet litter sister sacrifieced to such a villian as Mr Branch is enough to sadden any one.

    Maggie has left him, and is concealed from him by her friends. He begged to see her but she has refused, and [told?] him in a note that she would not be his wife another hour. He seemed to be very much attached to her and intended to take her to Europe in two weeks; probably that for fear that any reports of his former life might reach her. A fortnight more and it would have been all too late, and she completely in his power, but she was saved in time. At the dinner table Annie told us how she felt when her brother came to her with an account of his true character, and of her immediate flight. It was quite affecting, and we all shed tears. Maggie always appeared to us very much like a child, and her decision and [energy?] which she now displays seems quite surprising. She has born his disappointment well thus far but is now quite ill.

    Hannah W-- called in the afternoon. Mary Willet? took with us and spent the evening. Starr also joined us at [tea?] -time. Elisabeth Maggie? & Annie Coulbert? with Alexander Mr Hutchings and George Hudson and Kate? spent the eve with us very pleasantly. They left about twelve, o'clock.

    Last edit about 2 years ago by AprilDuclos
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    Needs Review

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    Wednesday Jan 28th Pleasant. I sat alone with Annie in the parlor quite a long time in the morning talking about Maggie. Sarah and I also practiced our music lesson Annie left us quite early in the afternoon. Sarah wrote a letter to her mother, and I wrote to Ellen Leajer?. In the evening George Hudson called for us and accompanied us to singing-school. We stopped to snow-ball each other on the way. Mary Reeves? came in with Natty soon after. Mr I. A. Warner behaved very impolitely indeed, and closed the exercises very abruptly. I think I can divine the motive of his conduct. George Hudson stepped up and told him his mind pretty plainly. We had a pleasant time returning -- more snowballing. All stopped at our house awhile. George remained some time after the others had left.

    [side] Mary Reeves? called. P.M.

    Thursday .. Bright over-head. Sarah made up her mind today to visit her friends in New York and accordingly Carrie and I accompanied her over. Sarah stopped to bid Kate Hudson Good Bye. we found the walking very bad there was also much in the river but we crossed without difficulty. We called on Annie, left Sarah at her uncle's and returned. Reached house in time for tea. and attended Lyceum in the evening. Prof. Anderson lectured on the Celtic Race. It was very interesting but I was almost too tired to enjoy it.

    Last edit about 2 years ago by AprilDuclos
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    Friday.. Jan 30th Warm and pleasant. Wrote again to Ellen Lea

    Saturday. Unpleasant. Wrote to Sarah Wilde. Mr Murphy came over in the afternoon and remained all night. George H? called . Evening in reading .

    Sunday. Clear in the morning but snowed in the afternoon. The rain of yesterday had frozen, and glazed the snow making the walking quite slippery. George Hudson called in the morning and accompanied Carrie to church. I walked with Natty. We were both obliged to take the gentlemen's arms. Joseph Wilde supplied Natty's place when returning. Attended Sunday School and church in the afternoon. Evening in reading.

    Monday. Quite cold. In this afternoon Carrie went over to take tea, and spent this evening at Mrs Gensusey's By agreement George Hudson brought a carriage for Sarah, who was at Mrs Wright's in Morton st, at 7 o'clock and took her to Mrs Geresney's. Sarah returned to our house with Carrie and George. For certain reasons I did not choose to accompany them. I went out in the afternoon and made one or two calls.

    Tuesday. Rose early. Found Carrie and Sarah in their rooms talking and laughing very busily. They had a long account to give me which stopping to hear made me late at the breakfast tables. George Hudson called quite early. He did not like it because I staid at home last evening. I did not give him

    Last edit about 2 years ago by hoskinml
    Displaying pages 36 - 40 of 182 in total