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Document 257181 FRANKLIN PIERCE and JANE A. PIERCE Future First Lady to her mother re: the illness of her son, who later died. Her husband illegally franks the letter. Rare ALS: "Jane", 3½p, 8x9¾, front and verso. Concord, N.H., Sabbath Eveg, 1840 August 23. Addressed by Mrs. Pierce to her mother: "Mrs. Appleton/Care of John Aiken Esq/Lowell/Mass", illegally free franked by her husband, then a U.S. Senator: "Free Frank Pierce". Postmarked "FREE" and "Concord N.H. Aug 26". Pierce had free use of the mails for letters he penned on official business, not for letters written by his wife to his mother-in-law. In part: "Dear little Frank still continues ill, and our unceasing and varied efforts seem to have little effect in arresting the disorder-which has reduced him to extreme thinness-far more than when in Lowell-and I fear he will be worn down by his sufferings even should the difficulty not assume another appearance. We are almost discouraged and should he not be better in two or three days and should he be able to bear it, I think we may go to the beach with him. I hardly know how to do it and Mr. P will only be able to go and leave us there, if we go. I think it will not be before Thursday as Mr. P is obliged to go to Hillsboro on Tuesday and will try to return on Wednesday night. Our time is entirely occupied and of course I have the care of dear Franky in the day time a great deal..." Mrs. Pierce continues the letter two days later: "Monday PM-I hope the cool air invigorates my dear Mother today and that she with the rest are compatable (sic). I rode with Frank this morning notwithstanding that Mr. P says he might to work any moment, yet he will find time to side with the poor little fellow to whom this man seems the only enjoyment. It seems to me that we have done all we could for him and if possible I shall try to go to the Beach on Thursday. This disorder is most obstinate and discouraging and he is far more reduced than he has heard...He keeps us both confined to him in one way or another and his Father tends him often when he is at home. I am literally well but am kept down a good deal by this and other causes. The future is like midnight-but pray, dear Mother that 'the day spring from a high' may visit my soul. I trust I shall see you before many weeks and that dear Mary will gain strength as summer wanes away and her family be continued in health...I wonder how Mrs Larabees' little girl is now-she was as ill as Franky had been-with the same difficulty when I left L. I find time for few stiches (sic) during the day and as for reading, Sunday is almost the only time and then not nearly as much as I could wish...Mr. P goes early in the morning on his road business which I regret as he has so much of the trouble in his side...." JANE MEANS APPLETON was the third of six children of Reverend Jesse Appleton and ELIZABETH MEANS APPLETON. Her sister MARY, mentioned by Jane, married John Aiken and lived in Lowell, Massachusetts. Their mother was staying at the Aikens' home at the time this letter was written. On November 10, 1834, 29-year-old Franklin Pierce had married 28-year-old Jane in Amherst, Massachusetts. Their first son, Franklin Pierce, died in Hillsboro, N.H., on February 5, 1836, three days after his birth. Their second son, FRANK ROBERT PIERCE, was born in Concord on August 27, 1829 and celebrated his first birthday a day after this letter was mailed. He died of typhus on November 14, 1843 at the age of four. On April 13, 1841, seven and a half months after she wrote this letter to her mother, Jane Pierce gave birth to a third son, Benjamin Pierce. Her husband, Franklin, resigned from the Senate at his wife's urging 18 months after this letter. He had vowed then never to return to public life, but that was not to be. On January 6, 1853, the family boarded a train to attend the funeral of their friend, merchant and philanthropist Amos Lawrence, who had died in Boston on December 31, 1852. When the train derailed near Andover, Massachusetts, the only passenger to be killed was Bennie, who was crushed before his parents' eyes three months before his 12th birthday. Two months later, Pierce was sworn in as 14th President of the United States. First Lady Jane Pierce believed that Bennie's death was God's way of punishing them for leaving home and going to Washington. She also felt that God did not want her husband to have his son in the White House to distract him from his official duties. While First Lady, she always dressed in black and spent most of her time in her bedroom writing letters to Bennie. She was known as the "Shadow in the White House". A revealing personal letter showing Mrs. Pierce's devotion to her son and her desire for her husband to stay home. Folds, lightly creased. Light yellow shading on address leaf (not at signature). Fine condition. SEE IF DOCUMENT 257181 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!
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