Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Tuesday December 17^th 1861 Back kitchen 1 P.M.

Our Dear Children A Delightful day, dinner just over, Henry gone to the store, Mother & I alone here—Mother wishes me to commence this letter & will dictate—Says “In the first place is very glad you got them overshoes, is glad Jennie does not sit so close, that health ought to be attended to, before anything else, we received your good kind brotherly affectionate letter on thursday last; In regard to Anne & her affairs, she had the house rented from Monday until friday before we knew any thing about it, she told me on friday morning that she had rented a house and was going to it the next week, I told her that was a very foolish course to attempt to go before he would get a situation they did not go until the last of the next week. Now as to what they went to house keeping on, I went with her to town & she bought a bedstead @ 8$– she had plenty of Bed and bedding which she brought with her, had carpeting for her stairs and three rooms, most excellent carpet has 50 lbs of new feathers which she does not stand in need of at present that she could turn into money. I lent her your crib bedstead for the children, I lent her a breakfast table, gave her a kitchen table & 3 kitchen chairs—bought her half a dozen new chairs, One Dollars worth of cups, saucers, & plates, 1$ worth of tinware, besides a great many articles too numerous to mention that I could spare out of the house—now John you know this is the 2^nd time we helped to furnish a house for her, this time I did not do it with as good a heart, the reason is I fear we will have to take her home again her & her children for I do not think that man will ever support her, I hope I may be mistaken. The reason she gave me for going to house keeping was, that if the road was open to go to Shelbyville, if they were at housekeeping the inducement to leave would not be so great, but if they were living with us he would have nothing to do but put on his hat and walk off—she had candles, & coffee, & tea, & soap enough to do her until spring I have baked and sent her all the bread they used since they went there. I also gave them as much cooking butter as will do them until spring

Now as to you sending anything to them, I hope you will not attempt such a thing at present, let them now spend the last dollar they have In my opinion it may be the best thing that ever happened both of them for they need an awakening for they were both extravagant. Now John you know I would not allow them to suffer one hour if I knew it and I will watch out that they shall not suffer, I would go beg for that woman & her two children but not one crumb for him—for he is indolent & lazy and his heart is in the South. Now John you may see plainly the less they have the better and the time may come when your assistance will be gratefully received, I know your good kind, generous heart would share the last dollar with her, you may be sure while I live I will apprise you of their circumstances and if they should need your assistance I will not be backward in letting you know Their House rent is 90$ per annum—7 ½$ per month. Your Brother Henry sent them a load of coal to their house before they went there—they have about 200$ in cash we think—Now John you ask How I got the shawl No. but Mr Thompson is to get me one in spring—the one he brought on did not please me in the dress yet untouched, but I am going to get it made very soon. Now John will say yes, ‘that is Mother.’ Now I have another little incident to inform you off; in place of going to church as she has done for the last year, they have rented a pew in Dr Plummers church at Twenty five Dollars per annum, Now I approve of them going together to church but taking their circumstances into consideration, it would be more prudent to remain as they were a little longer, now John you know that if she had a little of the economy that your wife has I would not have so much to fear

Mother has dictated all the above and allowed me to finish the letter

9 oclock Wednesday morning—Mother says, any little thing you have to say to us about that family put it on a slip inside of your letter as Anne may ask to see your letter, and we would not wish her to know any thing there is between you & us in regard to their family

Poor Kate Algeo and her an do not live together, all the women about when out of the subject to speak upon, introduce their affairs. Kate, her mother & child are going to break up house keeping and live with her brother Yani Algeo’s widow on the Bank of the Allegheny near where the George’s live—Audrey never goes near Kate

Rev’d John B. Clarke is gone to Washington to see the soldiers of our congregation along the Potomac—Students will preach for us until he comes back—have no other news or gossip to tell you off that I can think of—Kind remembrance to Jennie—

Hope my country woman Mary is well,

Hope Johnny Bull and Louis Napoleon will not light down upon us

Your affectionate father Henry Warner

P.S. I am still fixing up Zugs affairs at home here

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 17 December 1861. Moore VI:04:25

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday December 11^th 1861—3 ½ P.M. Back kitchen

Our Dear Children

We are all in excellent health & spirits—Mother was away helping Anne to fix her carpet yesterday—I am very busy doing some fixing to the old books of Groff Lindsay & Co—I am doing it at home—I write this is haste—have no news—every thing is just as it was when you were here—Mother says, she thinks you ought to let us know how you got over your cold or have you got over it yet

Hope Jennie & you are in good health & that you use my country woman Mary well—

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 11 December 1861. Moore VI:04:25

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, December 4^th 1861—Back kitchen 3 P.M.

Our Dear Children—Another Wednesday is upon us, & happy to inform you, am I, that we are all in excellent health & Spirits. Robert & Anne on last week came to the conclusion that they would go to house keeping, accordingly they rented a house up near Dr Sproul—next door to Mrs Whitesides a few doors from the school house in the 3^rd Ward; Yesterday Mother went along with Anne & purchased several small articles for the table use in this city—and to day they both went over to town and done the same, Robert & Anne are at this moment busy packing up and tomorrow they will occupy their new home—Robert is not in any business yet—we all tried to prevail on them not to go house keeping for a little time longer, but they seemed anxious to try how it would answer. times are at present very dull but something may soon turn up in favour of giving Robert employment—at present we are all busy lending a hand to the movers—we have no other news to communicate

Hoping that Jennie & you enjoy good health

We remain your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. Mother says ask him has he got his overshoes yet, & tell him that if he has not, she will be very much dissatisfied with him, says, she has been very uneasy all week about his health, for it was an attack of pluerisy you have had.

Mother says, Jennie works from 7 until 10, and that is altogether too long—says, she should not do it—that half of the time would be long enough to sit over a needle—Mother is very much pleased that Jennie is pleased with the callico

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 4 December 1861. Moore VI:04:25

Jennie Craig Warner lived in Gettysburg with her husband Rev. John Riddle Warner. She would be the grandmother of poet Marianne Moore. This portrait is undated, but her hairstyle and bodice suggest a date in the early 1860s. Jennie would die of typhoid in 1863.

Citation: Unknown artist, portrait of Jennie Craig Warner.  n.d. 2006.3007.1

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Back kitchen 10 ½ A.M.

Allegheny City Wednesday October 9^th 1861

Our Dear Children—your Welcome letter we received last Saturday—we are all well satisfied with your arrangement, experience has taught us, that business must be attended before pleasure. We are all in excellent health & spirits, have no news to communicate since this day week. Robert is still with us, kind remembrance to Jennie—expect to see you Tuesday morning bet 15^th if nothing turns up to prevent your welcome arrival—after much rain the weather here to day is cold & clear

Am much pleased with the resolutions passed here last week, and adopted by the U.P. Synod in this city, in reference to Slavery as it exists under the government of The U.S. of America, you will no doubt see it published in U.S. Newspaper

As we expect soon to see you, will conclude and Remain

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 9 October 1861. Moore VI:04:23

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

2 ½ P.M.

Allegheny City Wednesday October 2^nd 1861 Front Bed Room

Our Dear Children. We are all in excellent health & Spirits. Hope by this day week, one or the other of you, will be in the midst of us, perhaps both. On last sabbath, when we came home from meeting in the afternoon, got in by means of my night-key, wondered to see the parlour door half open, I walked in, when lo! I behold! here was Henry squatted in the large armchair, he also had a night key, and by that means gained admittance, Joe & him came down in a Skiff, Henry looks right well—did not get any old, thinks they will not go back, Henry left here this morning to go to John McMasters by Rail Road, will be home this evening;

We are happy to inform you, we escaped the effects of the flood, in Mrs Whites cellar across the street, the water from the canal was up to the cellar door—in Kingons house in rear of us, the water was five feet deep, and notwithstanding all this, our cellar floor which is a good depth was as dry as a bone. Yesterday I mailed a Dispatch for you giving an account of the flood in our three rivers hope you have received it. Robert is still with us, as the war prospect is still more gloomy he will not of course leave—

kind remembrance to Jennie, and as we expect soon to see you, will conclude & remain

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 2 October 1861. Moore VI:04:23

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Front Bedroom 2 ½ P.M.

Allegheny City Wednesday September 25^th 1861

Our Dear Children—Alone in this room, in peace & quietness, while the busy world outside are variously employed, I take pleasure in writing to those I love. I suppose in about two weeks hence, we shall have the pleasure of seeing one of you, if not both, it is hard to say what will transpire in that two weeks, owing to the distracted state of our beloved country. Kenty & Missouri now seem to be the centre of popular attraction, while the troops on each side of the Potomac look at each other, with deadly hatred—Henry is not home yet, we have not heard from him, since the letter sent you, Robert is still with us, has not heard from Archy since he arrived, is afraid to leave for Tene as the prospect of ‘war to the knife’ between us & Shelbyville, seems to be, more & more probable every day—we are all in excellent health & spirits, tomorrow will be our national fast and also, with us, our preparation day for a communion Sabbath. As I have no news that would interest you, must tell of the getting in of our supply of coal for the coming year, on monday (day before yesterday) washday at 9 A.M. 85 Bushel came – in two loads a 40 & a 45 Bushel load—in the afternoon the same complement—amt 170 Bushels on tuesday 3 loads—45, 45, & 40—130/300 Bushels as we saw there would be room in the cellar for 40 more it was brought, that was 340 Bushel I paid the man at 5 ½– $18.70 When that was in, concluded to get 40 more bushels, while the pavement was dirty, sent word to the man, could not see him, so the pavement was scrubbed & washed off completely, when lo! I behold! the other forty bushels came, making 380 Bushels, Mother said ‘dump it down,’ in went the coal, which with about 70 Bushels of the old stock leaves us 450 Bushels on hand 380 @ 5 ½ $20.90/100 putting in sam 1 ½$– 22.40

So today, the pavement is as clean & fine as a fiddle, & no sign of coal any where, only in the cellar, the weather was delightful Monday, Tuesday & today, and we all consider it a good job over—Weather here is quite cool, provisions good & cheap, and general health good, do not hear of any cases of sickness any where about.

Kind remembrance to Jennie

Must close this short & uninteresting missive, for want of something to write about, — your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 25 September 1861. Moore VI:04:22

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Back Bed Room

Allegheny City Wednesday September 11^th 1861, 3 P.M.

Our Dear Children—Another Wednesday has arrived & I find myself writing to the folks at Gettysburgh. Am happy to inform you we are all in good health & spirits. Mother has just laid down to take a rest, Robert Anne & Sis are in room over the kitchen, Jonnie at School & Henry at Titusville—have not heard from him since I wrote you last. As usual have no news to tell you; Tommy Mitchell had a son married about a year go—to a miss Susan Young a niece of Eliza Dickson—of Dr Bruca’s Church—the bridge is dead, consequently Mitchells son is a widower; We have a pretty good harvest of grapes this year, they are a large size & sweet, our markets are very abundant and as for potatoes they are as good as any I have ever seen, one consolation, we are under no apprehension of starvation here plenty to eat, drink, & wear, expect to get in our coal next week—about 300 Bushels at 5 ½¢ amount of $16.50—Taxes all paid for this year—City 9.23, Poor 92, Water 792, School 673.100, County 7.30 & State 218—Total $34.100 28 for the year 1861. We owe no man any thing, and feel that we can get along very comfortable for another 365 days except something adverse should occur that we cannot at present foresee; Your Welcome letter we received in due time, and we suppose by this time it is in Titusville, we feel grateful for it and are glad to know your brother in law is in a fair way of recovery. You never mentioned our old friend Mac, Emma, or Mary; Our old Friend C. Zug, says he will come himself for me when he wants me, there is a good deal of unfinished work of mine there, that we can do nothing with until we can conclude what rents are to be on the Lindsay Estate &c&c; We can say or do very little here any of us until we see some definite prospect, as to the result of this war brought upon us by very bad people, especially as the great battle, seems to be so near at hand.

We are informed here that the rebels are summoning all their forces from the South, Tennessee, & Missouri, to their assistance on the Potomac. We hope our people will be a match for them, should the struggle end in our favour it will give a death blow to them rebellion. The burning of the Supports under the Rail Road in Missouri, was a hellish plot, to destroy the lines of unsuspecting men, women & children.

One thing certain, we can match any people on earth, in this beloved country of ours, for the essence of atrosity—but it is no use to comment on the thousand and one occurrences daily taking place, it would fill volumes—kind remembrance to Jennie.

We are very well satisfied you put off your visit until the beginning of October, our communion will be last Sat of September, we think it will suit all parties better, and it may be, by that time, momentous events to our beloved country, may take place by that time.

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 11 September 1861. Moore VI:04:22