1810

A Gun Dealer in Old Savannah.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:162.00 USD Estimated At:325.00 - 425.00 USD
A Gun Dealer in Old Savannah.
Group of six letters from Cyrus Stedman, the first penned aboard ship departing Boston harbor, "Sat. Night," postmarked Oct. 1, (1836), and five from Savannah, Ga., Dec. 4, 1836 to Jan. 20, 1839. 7 x 9 3/4 to 8 x 10. 9 1/2 pp. in all. To his pregnant wife Mary, in Medfield, Mass., with news of his Savannah business plans and new gun shop, filled with fascinating Southern and human interest content; evidently he found himself in the midst of fellow New Englanders in Georgia. "...Verry cold 'sic] here...I have set down by my furnace to write to you...I have taken a shop 2 doors from Wm. Lovell in the same block & I have enough work to do. William has taken a fellow into Company with him by the name of Stibbs...I went up to Brother Ralph tonight & took tea with him...James Foster arrived here last week & his Brother, he & his Wife are at Loggerheads again. He licked his wife within 48 hours after he landed. She has got a terrible black face. She tried to kill him with the carving knife. Foster brought my hymn book...from Medfield in such a hurry that I never brought my Shaving apparatus nor clothes brush...I have a chance to sell Miss Chenery('s) pistols at 8 dollars. As quick as I get the money I will send it...The Brig Rome sailed...I meant to send on some homany, pee nut & potatoes... Your (letter)...stated that you was quite unwell...I am afraid that you will have a hard time of it...I do want very much to settle my business here so that I shall not have to come back again. I know that the winter season is worse for you to be alone...I will make it all up to you when I see you again...I hope in one month to leave this place...The indian war is said to be over but I have heard since that they have begun again...." Still in Savannah in Apr. 1837, he continues, "I suppose that your time now draws nigh for you to be delivered & I am very sorry that I cannot be there to assist...My intention now is to start from Sav. about the last of this month...If you want anything at all for your comfort you must get it on my Credit. I expect you can get trusted on my account...You must not deprive yourself...." Back in Savannah in Nov. 1838, Stedman pens, "John has got good steady employment and gets $3.50 a pair for making Boots. He works for Brother Meldrum...I am now at work in Foster's shop...Lovell is going to buy back his shop again. He is very sorry that he sold out to Stibbs...Lovell is going to send to Wethersfield for his Wife. He thinks of living in Savannah all together...This is a dull market for Cramberries 'sic]. There is not many that knows anything about them...I want to see my little Joseph & Mary very much. I do not forget them. My Prayer to God is that they may be brought up in the right way...I have not made up my mind yet whether I shall stay here...Tell Mr. Davis this is no place to sell Window sash. They ship it in plenty from N.Y...." In Jan. 1839: "...Going into the country to look about & sell my guns...It is about 200 miles where I am a going...I expect to stop & work 3 or 4 weeks after I get there. I shall carry part of my tools...to get along with my work. I have bought me one horse & wagon now. I expect tomorrow to buy me another horse & wagon for I cannot carry all my guns & tools with one horse. Ephraim will drive one & I the other...I expect to camp out in the woods most every night...I have about 30 guns to carry with me. I bought 5 guns here in Sav...My Dear Wife...you must trust to the Lord...I hope to be home by the first of April...but I cannot possibly come home yet. I want to get rid of my stuff first...." One with red Boston c.d.s., four with red Savannah c.d.s. and manuscript markings. Boston letter with signature curiously removed. Dec. 4, 1836 letter split along vertical fold, neatly repaired with acid-free tape; lacking half of blank integral leaf. Varied wear on others, but generally about very good. It is unclear when the writer did return home to see his wife and new children - though he did: records reveal he had eight in all, three of them born during the span of these letters. A grandson, Joseph Cyrus Stedman, born 1867, was a noted physician. Modern research accompanies. (6 pcs.)