Cynthia Patience Loomis Merritt 1850

Letter of Cynthia Patience Loomis [Merritt] to Cornelia Grant

[At the time of this letter Cynthia Patience Loomis was a eighteen year old girl.  Cornelia Grant was a woman of about 33 years old.   Cynthia had lived in Medina, and now was living in Clarkson with her Stepfather and Mother, Hiram and Electa Chase Loomis Blake.   Hiram was a mason, they had three boys and a girl.  

Envelope was the letter folded:  addressed to Mrs. Cornelia Grant, Medina, Orleans County, New York    Postmarked Clarkson, NY, Sept 18        written postage: 6  ]

To Mrs. Grant:                                  Clarkson   Sep 17, 1837        

Well, my Dear Mrs. Grant, forgive this neglect, when I assure her it has not been intentional.  Did you but know numerous my many engagements since I left Medina you would not indulge one hard thought.  I think much of you and often wish to see you   The kindness you showed me while I enjoyed your Society endeared you to my heart. I shall ever remember with gratitude. The uniform kindness of my dear Medina friends.  Accept my hearty thanks for your affectionate epistle the perusal of which occasioned many pleasing sensations.  I had long wished for something from your pen but knowing the number of your correspondents, and the multiplicity of your cares with which you are ever surrounded, I hardly expected a letter.  Judge then my surprise & joy when one arrived.  After mother returned from your place I looked and waited patiently for many days for the promised.  But yesterday I was in Brockport saw Mr.Watklns, he said you had not been there and he thought you would not come at present.   This was a disappointment indeed for me for I had anticipated much pleasure with you in visiting with you at “Home”.  But I flatter myself that I…

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not be wholly disappointed in this respect.  Do come this fall if possible. My health is not as good as it was in Medina, yet I have passed my time since very pleasantly.  Now feel the want of

good society and religious privileges in the neighborhood where we live.  A portion of my time is spent in Clarkson Village among old friends, this compensates in a measure for the loss of those in Medina.  I have not been able to form any acquaintance with Miss Bristol. I have seen her at Mr. Smith,  I think I should be pleased with her Society.  By the Bye,  Mr. Watkins seems very much attached to you, if you were a young Lady and I felt anxious to secure his regard for myself  I should think there was great reason for me to fear you would prove a formidable rival.  This is only an imaginary evil.  He says nothing in your praise that I myself do not believe, and I feel confident that your friendship is sufficient for both of us.  He seems like a pleasant young man.  I have never seen him except in the capacity of a clerk.  I was pleased to hear by your letter that all those I love were enjoying all those blessings which fall to the lot of mortals here below

I heard by Olive and Arvilla that some changes had taken place in business matters, such as the Dissolution of our friends Burroughs and Van Dorn.   This was a matter of some surprise to me — perhaps friend Van wishes to retire from business, take him a wife, and enjoy a life of quiet retirement, be it so, nothing would afford me more pleasure than to hear of the continued happiness and prosperity of my friends-----

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 I hope to hear that friend Dibble [sp?] has succeeded in what seems to be his hearts desire.  I think he is a very good young man and Rebecca is an excellent girl.  I was indeed much attached to the Miss Northrups & Miss Wood.  I did not get but little acquaintance with them before I left. They are reckoned among my best friends   I suppose you have had a visit from Miss Burge [sp?] Dear creature has a shadow [?] like to one [?] here & Cousin Julia.  I often fancy myself among you at Mr. Chases eating our favorite dish of Pancakes, every thing smiling & happy around.  You will remember me at such times as this.  I cannot bear to think of losing a place in the remembrance of dear friends--- I could write an hour longer yet I fear I weary your patience.  I have no one but myself to write about    I fear that my letter may not be interesting.  Remember me to Mr. Grant, and Mr. Chases family Olive and Jane Misses Wood and Northrups, Mrs. Brown and girls,  Pl_______., Delia, and all our mutual friends.  I hope to see them all soon, but it is uncertain when I visit Medina. 

Write me a long letter soon everything concerning Medina will be acceptable and interesting -----

Mother & Sister send love to you with grateful remembrance of the past & best wishes for the future.

I remain your friend.     Cynthia P. Loomis

Mrs. C. D. Grant

Medina   

[Mrs. Cornelia D. Grant was married to Lathrop Grant, and they had yet to have a child.  They would have three.   Mr. Grant was a successful merchant and they moved to Oswego, NY by 1860.  He died and she continued to live there until she died in 1888 at the age of 84.  She is buried in the Shelby Cemetery.

Cynthia Patience Loomis returned to Medina to live and work in the old stone Chase house, as a maid. There she met and married a boarder and clerk for Chase and Britt merchants, Levan Merritt.    Mr. Chase was Horace Chase.   He was Cynthia’s first cousin,  Her mother Electa Chase Loomis Blake, and his father, Benjamin Chase, were sister and brother.  The Chase house was a large old stone home at the northwest corner of Pearl and Main, where the tire store is now.  Cynthia and Levan had seven children and she died sixty years later in 1897 in Medina at the Merritt homestead at 406 West Street.  She is buried in Boxwood Cemetery.  Letter courtesy of Medina Historical Society.]