By Heather Rockwood, Communications Associate
Summer trips have a long tradition. Several motives inspire them including weather, health, visiting family, or travel to see the world. Collected here are some quotes from summer letters and diaries kept in the archives of the MHS.
Let’s begin with the oldest quote. In it, Thomas Mott asks John Winthrop his advice in crossing the Atlantic during the summer:
I humbly thancke you that you were so mindfull of my busines. and I would desier you to send me word whether or not there goe noe more shipps over into New England this summer, and if they doe at what time they doe goe, and whether if a man should goe over this summer, if the winds lye so that a man may returne next summer with the wind, and goe over againe the same summer conveniently. As yet my mind stands inclinable though I heare of great rubbs in the way, but if god hath ordained it for my good I hope the Lord will make the rough wayes smooth.
Thomas Mott to John Winthrop, 13 June 1629
In this quote, Elizabeth Seccombe writes to Robert and Sophie Valentine some news about her relationship and where she has been all summer.
I have just returned from England where I have been for the last two months to try & get rested & strong again I should have written before I went but I was too sick & sad to do so & have kept putting off the evil day when I have to tell you two dear people that I have left Amy we have not seen or written to each other for three months & there seems no chance for our ever meeting again she does not wish it so that ends it.
Elizabeth Seccombe to Robert and Sophie Valentine, 17 September 1907
The following quote is from Charles Francis Adams’s diary regarding the invitation from his father, John Quincy Adams, to visit for the entire summer.
Received an urgent letter from my father inviting my Wife and myself to spend the Summer with them. I suppose I must accede to it. If it was not for the inconvenience that it puts us to I should like it very much.
Diary of Charles Francis Adams, Volume 4, Friday, 13 April 1832.
Some summer trip information is added to the end of letters as well wishes such as in this 30 June 1946 letter from Leverett Saltonstall to Eleanor Brooks Saltonstall.
Have a good trip to No. H. & a good summer.
And some are about summer plans ruined by the weather.
I pleasd myself for some time past, I should have paid her a Visit at her habitation, but the excessive heat of the season forbids our journeying.
Hannah Winthrop to Mercy Otis Warren, 29 August 1778
If you would like to read more about trips, check out these Beehive blog posts.
The White Mountains in Summer: Maria G. Webber’s Travel Diary, 1837