September 9, 1863: Henry and Mary Warner to Children

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 September 9^th 1863—4 P.M.

Our Dear Children About three hours ago your mother, and father, saw Aunt Betty, Robert, Anne, and their two children off, on the Rail Road, from this city for Ravenna, they will arrive there by 5 ½ P.M. if no accident happens—Robert will be back tomorrow evening—and will live with us until the family returns—what stay they will make we cannot tell—they had a very pressing invitation to go; Henry told us he was going to see you, and also to purchase a Sword, Sword belt, & sash for him, and forward them to you—the sword we suppose you will have by this time, as Mr. McFadden was to send it by Adams Express, the other things we are waiting for a letter from Henry before we send them, as he stated in his letter it might be next week before he would arrive in Gettysburgh—we hope Jennie & Babe had arrived safe and that they are well—we long to hear how they are

We Remain your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 9 September 1863. Moore VI:05:23