In 1856, Mary Frances “Mollie” Dutton [1840-1933] was a girl of 16, writing a letter home to her parents from Springdale School in nearby Goose Creek (now Lincoln), about 10 miles southwest of Waterford. Mollie likely would have begun her studies in one of several small schools in Waterford, such as the small brick schoolhouse adjacent to the Friends’ meeting house on Loyalty Road. Quakers highly valued education, and Mollie’s parents sent her to boarding school at Springdale once she had completed her studies in the local schools. In Mollie’s letter below, excerpted from “To Talk is Treason”, we get a glimpse into the life of a young Quaker woman in the mid-nineteenth century.
Springdale 4th day noon
Dear Mother and Father
It has been some time since I last wrote home and feel as though I could say a great deal to you now about matters & things.
I expect you would like to know how I spend my time visiting and if I got anything good to eat. I went home with Maggie and never had a more pleasant time away from home. Mag lives with her Aunt Phebe Gregg a very feeble old lady. There was no one there but her, and an old housekeeper who was as kind as she could be and gave me everything good she could find.
7th day after dinner we went to Joseph Nichols and staid until after supper and then rode home. The next morning we did not go to meeting but spent the morning reading, talking & eating bell-flower apples. For dinner we had roast chicken and mince pie beside all the appurtenances which everybody has at common & uncommon times.
At 3 we started for old Springdale and it was near suppertime when we reached there. Social meeting did not begin until after supper and I hurried over my lessons for morning & would not have missed them for anything if it could have been helped, for Cousin Henry would have attributed it to us visiting.
I have got along very well so far this week and do hope I shall continue to do so the remainder of it. I received Sister Lidy’s letter on First Day and was very glad to get it. I will answer as soon as I can. I always write when I think I can well spare my time from my books.
What do you think of my character, I am glad to tell you that my hundreds were not lost as I thought, but we were not examined in that study where 100 is omitted. I was so glad to hear it, for I did not think I had ever missed but one and think that was doing fairly well for 9 months. It was more than any of the rest done but Thammy Janney, hers was perfect.
Supper is over, our supper of bread, butter and molasses, and now comes study hour in a few minutes. Do you ever think of me working over my sums–little Sis Anna does, I expect. Never mind, when I come home I will learn her and Lidy how to work problems, and do hard sums.
I think Cousin Lizzie is very much pleased with my drawing. I am getting on better than any of the scholars. Perhaps when I come home I may know sufficient about it to set up a drawing class, then Sister Lizzie would teach school and we could have fine times, Anna should come to me certain, and the way we would cut up would be a caution to good fellows.
Mother, have we had much company lately or does thee trot about so much they cannot come? Now Lewis is gone, Sis is at home more, I expect, and gives thee an opportunity to leave home. I think she might write to me–it has been some time since I heard from her ladyship, tell her. She left her shoes here, and I have been trying to get an opportunity to send them to her but have not yet succeeded. She will have to come for them herself and spend 2 or 3 days. I should be very glad to have her, but she should not spend all 7th day morning in the sitting room chatting with a certain Springdale student, making someone else so uneasy. I have laughed so much over that.
Father, Cousin Henry told me to ask thee if thee needs any of his sympathy now. He also sends his warmest regards to thee and Mother and all enquiring friends. I have not had an answer from Han[nah?] yet; she promised me to write immediately. When do Uncle William and Aunt Louisa [Steer] start south. Give my love to them please and to all my friends if they enquire after me. Some of the girls want me to petition to Cousin Henry for spelling school tonight. The last one we had, Maggy and I chose up sides and had so much fun choosing the boys.
Oh I have so much to tell you but can not say more now. I hope you are all enjoying good health and getting along first rate. Give my love to Brother, Sisters and retain a large portion for yourselves. I remain your affectionate daughter.
Mary F. Dutton
Notes:
Springdale School was established in 1839 by a Goose Creek Quaker, Samuel M. Janney, as a Friends boarding school for girls. Local boys attended as day students.
To avoid using the pagan-derived common names for months and days of the week, Quakers adopted their own nomenclature for dates. Thus January is “First Month” and Sunday, “First Day.”
Find this and other stories from Mollie’s life in To Talk is Treason: Quakers of Waterford, Virginia on Life, Love, Death & Water in the Southern Confederacy, available online here.
