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 17th 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 2nd 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