Mary Emma Jocelyn diary, 1851-1852.

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  • UPenn Ms. Codex 1770
  • Born in New Haven, Connecticut to antebellum abolistionist, clergyman, and engraver Simeon Smith Jocelyn (1799-1879) and Harriet Starr (d. 1877). The Jocelyn family moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1844 where Simeon Smith Jocelyn was installed as the pastor of the First Congregational Church. Mary Emma was the fifth of eight children born to the Jocelyns. Her siblings are Harriette Luceannah (1823-), Simeon Starr (1825-), Albert Higley (1827-), Caroline Eliza (1830-1868), Nathaniel (1835-1852), Cornelius Buell (1838-1864), and Frederick Henry (1841-).
  • This volume contains the diary of Mary Emma Jocelyn spanning ten months from November 1851 to September 1852. The first entry in the diary was recorded on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1851. At the top of the page is written "Journal continued." Jocelyn made daily entries in her diary and recorded her life with her family and friends while living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York. A brief note on the weather begins each entry. Jocelyn described her daily activities including sewing, reading, seeing family and friends, and distributing tracts. She attended church on Sundays chiefly at her father's church, the First Congregational Church, and singing class with her sisters Carrie (Caroline) and Harriet. She was often visiting or receiving friends including Mary Reeve and Hannah Hudson among others. Jocelyn attended lectures and events at the Lyceum in Brooklyn. She also visited her sister in Brooklyn and mentions ferrying over. The Jocelyn family and the Hudson family appeared to be close friends and the Jocelyn siblings spent much time with brothers George and Henry and their sister Hannah. Jocelyn wrote often of Henry Hudson and worried about his crisis of faith. Major events in the family are described throughout the ten-month period, including the joyous wedding of her sister Harriet to Douglas Murphy on June 30, 1852 and the death of her brother Nathaniel (Natty) in August 1852. Thirty pages in the diary were dedicated to Natty's illness and death. This lengthy entry is dated September 27, 1852 and describes the family's anguish and grief over Natty's passing. Other notable entries include her father Simeon's travels, her lengthy description of a dream, helping a young Irish immigrant, her interest in an essay by Edgar Allen Poe, and the celebration of the founding of Williamsburg in January 1852. The diary is in chronological order from November 27, 1851 through April 1, 1852. After April 1 the diary is arranged as follows: July 8 to August 8, 1852; 23 pages dated September 27, 1852; April 29 to June 8, 1852; April 3 to April 28, 1852; June 9 to July 5, 1852. Bound in at the end are seven pages continuing the September 27th entry. Laid in the volume is a printed flier for an exhibition and sale at Montague Hall, Brooklyn for "articles offered for sale at the Anti Slavery Fair" November 30, 1851 with notes on the verso by Mary Emma Jocelyn.

    Pages

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    Monday, December 1st Very cold. Winter's drear reign has commenced Sewed in the morning. In the afternoon I called on Mary Reeve Mary [Robb?] , and the Waterman's. [?] Dickinson called and presented Carrie with a Lyceum ticket and with an offer of his hand which was rejected. She however accepted his company to Lcyeum for the winter on condition that he would accompany her only as a [cousin?]. He said he wished she would be an old maid but though he felt very badly about it they parted pleasantly Mr Murphy and Mr Roy a theological student called in the [ev'ng?].

    Tuesday.. Busy at home all day.. Margaret Culbert called in the afternoon Dr Remmington was here to tea and lectured at our church in the evening. Mrs Hudson and Kate called and accompanied our folks to the lecture. Natty? and I spent the evening alone together in reading.

    Wednesday.. Cold but pleasant. After sewing steadily all day early in the evening I dressed to attend Miss Hamilton's wedding. George Hudson and Kate called for Carrie to attend singing school. They returned about half past eight before we started for the wedding. Joseph Wilde and Hannah came in and [staid?] [till?] we returned. Mother and Father, Mr Murphy with Harriet and I attended the wedding. The rooms were crowded. The bride of course looked very sweetly and the groom Mr [Brinu?] looked well. We met there Stan? and Annie, the Culberts, and quite a number of acquaintances and, we enjoyed it very much. The [Calthumpians?] were serenading before the door when we left. It is the first time I have ever heard them. I should [?] like to have them come to my wedding.

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    Thursday December 4th. Spent the day as usual in sewing. In the [ev'ng?] Natty and I attended Lyceum together. [?] went with [?] Mr Noges? from Brooklyn delivered a very fine lecture on Hungary and Kossuth. The Lyceum was held in the [Babtist?] church which was crowded.

    Friday. Rather warmer than it has been. This morning at one o'clock the illustrious Hungarian hero, Kossuth landed at Staten Island He was received with all the honors Inc to his noble character. His name is on every tongue and one and all unite in praising him. Mary Reeve made a long call in the afternoon. Attended prayer meeting at our church in the evening.

    Saturday.. A most delightful day. About twelve o'clock A.M. Harriet and I crossed the ferry and went to Albert's rooms in Broadway to witness the triumphal entry of Kossuth into the city. Bells were ringing, guns were firing, business was partly suspended and flags and streamers floated from every thing that could conveinently hold them. The shipping looked very pretty thus ornamented. Broadway presented a magnificent spectacle The gateways of the park were covered with flowers and ribbons while [family?] statues, and flags of every nation ornamented the principal building Albert gave us seats at one of the windows and we waited patiently for about two hours before the gorgeous procession passed. Mr Murphy joined us just before it came. After the military had all gone by Kossuth appeared in a carriage drawn by six horses. He was standing up and bowing as he passed among the deafening shouts of the multitude.

    [Text written on the left margin: [Sad?] and dignified was the sweet smile that played over his beautiful features and he appeared more like an angel than a man. He is the most noble & the most lovely, the most beautiful and the most [intensely?] interesting man I have ever seen

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    Sunday.. Cloudy.. Spent the morning at home in reading. In the afternoon attended Sunday School and Communion. Rain kept me home in the evening.

    Monday.. Pleasant. In the morning received a letter from Sarah Wilde Carrie and I went into Grand ['st?] of an errand, afterwards I called on Mrs Stearns. George Hudson and Kate called in the afternoon. Mr Dias brought us some [music?] books in the evening

    Tuesday.. Pleasant . Tried an experiment in the millinery line. In the afternoon Carrie Mary Reeve and I called on Hannah Wilde, took tea with her and spent the evening. We had a very pleasant time. I enjoyed the society of the sweet little children very much. Little children ! earth's sweetest blossoms! How I love them. Joseph and Nathaniel joined us in the morning. We left about half past two.

    Wednesday.. Sewed busily all day. In the evening we all attended singing school at our church taught by Mr Taylor C. Warner I liked it very much. The Hudsons accompanied us home.

    Thursday..Carrie made a large quantity of fruit cake in the morning Hannah Wilde called in the afternoon and accompanied me to distribute my tracts. Called on Mary Reeve, and then Carrie and I went into Grand ['st?] ]] shopping. Attended Lyceum in the evening escorted by Natty. Dr W. Bettaner? delivered a very interesting lecture on "Java and the Javanise". Begh Dickinson? accompanied Carrie as usual. She also received a call from Mr Talbot in the afternoon.

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    Friday.. Very cold but clear.. Commenced making up my new dress. Miss Mary Warner, Mrs Fitch, and Mary Reeve called, P.M. Wrote to William Gonsalves? in the evening.

    Saturday.. Pleasant. Spent the day busily and pleasantly at home. Ellen Dickinson called in the morning. Mr Murphy unexpectedly arrived from New Haven in the afternoon much to Harriet's surprise and delight.

    Sunday.. Pleasant. Attended our church all day. Father preached in the morning and Mr Picard in the afternoon. Spent the evening in pleasant and I trust profitable reading.

    Monday.. Cloudy. Occupied the morning with my needle. Early in the afternoon I called on Mary Reeve and also on Mrs Tucker, an intimate friend of Mrs Leager She has just received a letter from Mrs Leager, in which one had been inclosed to me by Ellen, but for some reason, not explained, had been taken out. She is a very pleasant and talkative woman, and entertained me with a long account of what Mrs Leager had written. She also offered to enclose a letter from me in her own letters which she sends tomorrow. Kate Hudson made a long call soon after my return. In the evening wrote to Ellen Seager, wrote in my journal, and read the newspapers.

    Tuesday. Clear, but very cold. Sewed all day without interruption. Mrs Beecher called about dusk. Read in the evening Folks say that this is the coldest day we have had in [three?] years.

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    Wednesday December 17th Sewed as usual. Hannah Wilde called in the afternoon . In the evening we received a note from Mr J.C. Warner, stating, that the [in?] consequence of an engagement, he would be unable to attend singing school this evening. Of this we were very glad as the cold which was intense made us dread to go out. We rec'd an invitation from the Hudsons to spend the evening with them, but for [?] some reason declined. Read Kossuth's great speech of the eleventh, and wrote to Sarah Gonsalves? inviting her to spend the holidays with us. Father left us to-day for Montpelier, Vermont on business. He expects to be absent nearly a fortnight.

    Thursday.. Still very cold. Went to the post-office and to Hamilton's in the morning. In the afternoon I called on Kate Hudson. George accompanied me home. In the evening Mother and I attended [Lycenum?]. Mr Saxe, the Green Mountain poet, delivered a very fine poem on New England.

    Friday.. Bright but cold.. Sewed most of the day and evening. Sarah Olmsted, am old friend and schoolmate, whom I have not seen for more than two years, called in this afternoon. We had a rather lengthy and pleasant chat on things long since past, but not forgotten. How pleasant it is occasionally thus to meet, one, who still remembers, and loves to think of the little events, and pleasing remembrances of our school girl days. They were indeed pleasant, and I shall not soon forget them.

    [text on left side of left margin: [?] [?] for the purpose of taking [music?] lessons. Her family lives in the country where she is unable to obtain a [music?] teacher.

    [text on right side of left margin: [?] [?] [?] [?] the Rev Mr Porter [?] Mr Stephen [?] Branch. son of the late Judge Branch of Providence. She has been engaged to him only six weeks. He is reputed to be a gentleman of wealth & respectability The happy (?) couple set out immediately for Washington. They intend visiting Europe in May

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