June 8, 1864: This letter is from Julia (Chatfield) Thomas, Oxford, CT to her brother and sister-in-law, Enos Beecher and Mary Elizabeth (Seymour) CHATFIELD, Dubuque or Wilton, Iowa. In this letter you will find extensive details about the death of Roxa (Sperry) Chatfield.
WARNING: THIS LETTER CONTAINS MEDICAL CONTENT THAT IS CONSIDERED "GROSS" .
Oxford June 8, 1864
Dear Brother & Sister
I have often thought but until this late day have neglected to write you the sad and painful intelligence of Mother's Death.
For the past three years she has been gradually fading in strength. Last fall and winter she had a severe cough that weakened her fast. (She then thought herself consumptive.) In February she was taken with the lung fever, and something of the typhoid. She was confined to her room near two months, and then seemed to gain very fast, and was soon around the kitchen quite-smart for her two or three weeks. She then commenced bloating very fast.
We sent again for Dr. Johnson and he then called it dropsy, and a very difficult case. It was Monday morn when Dr. came, and the next Saturday night we sent for him again, and in so short a time she was pressed so full with water, that he was obliged to draw it off by means of two incisions made in her bowels. Dr. drew only about three quarts, then it would not run, it seemed thick and clogged the tube, and he was obliged to give up and left the incisions (which were about the size of a small nail head) open. Some three quarts drained through each day for ten days, then it ceased discharging and she filled again but would not have another operation performed. If she had, it would done no good, only to as she said, "lengthen her suffering a few days longer".
It was just two weeks from the Saturday night she was tapped until she died, which was May 21st. For the last two weeks she was not conscious of much that was passing, we were obliged to give stupefying things for she suffered great pain. One of her limbs for a week before her last, burst and over one or two cups of water a day. That limb was mortified three or four days before she died.
She died very easy without a struggle for the last twelve hours she lay asleep. It was impossible for us to rouse her enough to speak or notice anything and in that way she breathed her last.
The funeral was Monday after, she was carried in the church and sermon preached but the coffin could not be open there was quite a disappointment to many who wanted to see her. (She had purged badly).
Five only of the nine of her children were near to follow her remains to their resting place. Many times she expressed a wish that she might see all her children that were far away once more but that was not to be.
We have her ambro type from which we are going to have some photographs taken to send to the absent ones. I think they will be done so I can send one in my next to you.
Two weeks before the death of mother, Emily, was called back to New Haven to the death bed of Della. One week before she left her at her Father Sperry's, to all appearances well as usual. Two days after she was taken with diphtheria, was sick only four days. Emily has had a double affliction, she is to stay with us this summer, and expects Lucius in the fall, her little boy is seven months and is a great deal of company for her and us both.
We will send you a register with the two deaths in. I presume you have not seen one in quite a while, Heber is not home, works for Hat's, (maybe a reference to Harriet's) husband this year in the butchering business.
Wales helps father on the farm. There now is only four of our own family, something unusual for us.
I shall expect to hear from you soon.
Family sends love.
Yours in affection and sympathy
Julie
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USA Census, 1920
Name: Julia C Thomas
Event Place: New Haven Ward 10, New Haven, Connecticut
Gender: Female
Age: 74
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Own or Rent: Own
Birth Year (Estimated): 1846
Birthplace: Connecticut
Father's Birthplace: Connecticut
Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Julia C Thomas Head F 74 Connecticut
Carrie E Bauman Boarder F 74 Connecticut
District: 378 , Sheet Number and Letter: 3B , Household ID: 76 , Line Number: 96 , GS Film number: 1820193 , Digital Folder Number: 004295761 , Image Number: 00520
Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID I3585:
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