Elizabeth Denison Ridgway

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. Page 303, 466

From the Surviving Letters Project

The details of Elizabeth's illness and death are recorded through letters from her family between 1824 and 1828.
These letters survive through family descent.

1824

• Transcribed Letter from William Smith (c1796-) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837) on the news of the death of their daughter Elizabeth Denison Avery (1803-1824), written at Farmerville, December 16, 1824 Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER
• Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Barber (1773-1837) on the death of their daughter Elizabeth Denison Avery (1803-1824), written at Columbus Ohio, December 24, 1824. Scan of ORIGINAL LETTER

Transcribed Letter from Joseph Ridgway Jr. (1800-1850) to his father-in-law Elias Avery (1768-1837) and mother-in-law Sarah “Sally” Avery (Barber) (1773-1837), written at Columbus Ohio, December 24, 1824

Postmarked Dec/25 Columbus Ohio

Elias Avery Groton State of Connecticut

Columbus December 24th 1824

Dear Parents

I rec’d your letter of the 6 just yesterday, and lose no time (according to your request) in answering it however painful the subject,- I presume you have heard ere this through our dear friends at Aurora, of the irrepairable loss I have sustained in the death of my dear, and lamented wife. If you have not heard of it, may heaven give you more fortitude, and resignation than I had to bear the shock; and if you have heard of it, I am but recalling a subject that must long be painful for us all to reflect upon. I have this however to console me, that she is, and will be forever happy; although it is not sufficient to calm, and reconcile the feelings, of a fond, and doating husband;- Poor girl, she suffered a long, and tedious illness; and bore it with Christian fortitude, and resignation - she was visited according to her request by the Presbyt Minister, a very pious and worthy man; it afforded her much consolation , and she expressed her willingness to leave this world, as she thought she was fully prepared, and if ever mortal was fitted for immortality, I am sure she was,- she said (but not to me) that if she had any wish to live, it was only for my sake, as she feared I would reflect on myself for having brought here here, (which at times I have been almost ready to do) but human foresight is short, and vain, and little did I think one short year ago, that all my future plans of happiness through life, were to be so soon and so fatally blasted; I then was counting on days, and years, of happiness. I now feel alone, and deserted almost in the world, and bitterly feel that it is to lose a partner who can participate in our joy, and sympathize with us in sorrow – she had among the females of this place many warm friends, who became attached to her, for the goodness of her heart, and amiable disposition; and during her sickness, they were all attention, for which I shall always feel sincerely grateful,- every thing that lie in human power to do,- was done, but to no effect, it only protracted the disease to a longer period. She was first taken in Aug’t with the chill of fever, which we thought but slightly of, she took medicine, which had a good effect, and we supposed she was fast recovering; the disease however (perhaps from some little exposure) returned again more violently; and before it could be checked, took the form of a regular billious fever, which continued to reduce her very much untill about 4 or 5 weeks before her death, when she was prematurely delivered of a son, who survived but 4 days, although it appeared to be healthy and strong when born. There were none who at that time had any hopes of her surviving it. She did however, and appeared to gain very fast for about a week, when she had another relapse, which reduced her again as low as before; we all thought she was gradually gaining until 2 days before death, when an affection of the liver, of which she suffered much untill her death, which was on the evening of November 5 – I was violently attacked with the fever about the 1 Sept’r, and for several days it was somewhat doubtful how it would terminate; the fever gradually lessened however, and I have continued untill this time very gradually recovering. I am still very feeble - just able to walk about town; and it will be by using the utmost caution that I shall gain my former strength by spring. And such is the violence of this most terrible of all diseases, that the health and strength a man loses in ten days will require 6 months of strict nursing to recover again, and I now feel as if my constitution was so much impaired, that I never could be as well as I used to be. The People here however tell me I will recover in about a year (great encouragement.) Uncle was taken about 5 or 6 weeks after me, and is now I think rather better than I am, although he is able only to ride about a little and to business. During our sickness our business was entirely stopped, oweing to a lack of hands, as all that were in our employ were sick, except one, and him we had to nurse us, it was in the time too that stoves were called for, which added to our great expenses, has been a very serious drawback, this part of the country has been extremely sickly, and I feel unwilling to risk myself here another year I shall endeavour to sell myself out and if there none others to buy I expect Uncle will, as he is still willing to try it longer, business is very dull, oweing to the extreme scarcity of money; still we are now preparing 3 or 400 ploughs for spring sales, I think of returning to N. Y. in the spring - do advise me what to do, as I am entirely at a loss and need the council of a friend like you very much Uncle’s Respects to you and believe me your dutiful though afflicted child.

Joseph Ridgway Jr.