Showing posts with label Wilcox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilcox. Show all posts

Saturday, July 20, 2013

► Maria P. Chamberlain's Kauai Trip

"The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Friday, January 16, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     Like other missionary children, Warren and Evarts, the eldest sons of Maria and Levi Chamberlain, were sent to the East coast at the ages of 5 and 7 for an education.

     Honolulu December 5th, 1846
     "My Dear Son Evarts,
     "It is almost a year since your beloved father left home.  
     "He was just one month on his way to China. He found the climate cold, damp and disagreeable. His health suffered - and he was advised by two physicians - to continue his voyage to the U.S. - he sailed the 1st of April in the ship Lucas, with Capt. & Mrs. Miller for New York.
     "I long to hear of his safe arrival and that you have been permitted to see your father's face again -.

VISITS KAUAI
     "After G(eneral) M(eeting) Mrs. Dibble, the widow of Rev. Sheldon Dibble, withher three little children - came and stayed with us five months - while Mrs. D. was at our house, I had an opportunity to visit Kauai - we sailed in the evening and arrived at Dr. Smith's in the morning (at Koloa).

     "Mr. Pogue, an unmarried gentleman, is the minister at Koloa. He rode with me to Waiole, a station where Messers Jonson and Wilcox reside. We performed a journey of 80 miles in two days. We spent one day and a half visiting our friends. We crossed several deep rivers, some of which we forded and others we had to take a canoe.

     "It was a novel sight to me, to see our horses with their bodies all covered with water, their heads only to be seen, snorting to get their breath.

6 DAY TRIP
     "We had an opportunity soon after my return to take passage home in a whale ship. We were six days going up to Honolulu. The health of the ladies was much improved.

     "We enjoyed much pleasure in our visit of three weeks at Kauai, and felt thankful again to reach our own island Oahu.

     "Mrs. Dibble has recently gone to housekeeping next door to ours. She would go to America - but for fear of being molested by the Mexican privateers. -

     "Your ever affectionate Mother

     "Maria P. Chamberlain."

     NEXT: Molokai Trip

Thursday, July 18, 2013

► 1840 Journal

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Wednesday, January 14, 1959 - "Clarice B. Taylor's Tales about Hawaii"

     The missionaries were great scribblers. They wrote many letters home and they kept daily journals.

     Maria Patton Chamberlain was too busy to keep a journal until 1840, a little more than two years after her marriage, when Levi Chamberlain was forced by his health to take a "sea voyage" to the coast on the vessel Don Quixote.

     Mrs. Chamberlain had two small babies - little Levi and Isabella - and she describes for the benefit of her absent husband the housekeeping difficulties during "General Meeting."

     At General Meeting, the few mission families in Honolulu housed and fed the outside Islands mission families

NOT LONELY
     "Friday, May 9 - Messers. Parker and Jonson and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald arrived in a Whaleship this morning...though alone is this great house I do not feel lonesome or afraid - Yet I would rejoice with all my heart to have your company.

     "Saturday - A busy day... I know not how soon I may be cast on the care of others. (To have her third child.)

     "Monday - got the children to bed, but Mrs. Bingham came in and spent and hour and a half telling me her plan to help Mrs. Diell and her children on to Ewa...

     "Tuesday, May 12 - Mrs. B met me as soon as I came downstairs - She was kanalua (undecided)... had slept but little... the mea kaumaha (chief burden) was that they were belated - and had no fire and no breakfast... so I had the whole family seated at my table.

     "Wednesday, May 13 - Meeting here this eve, the room well filled.

     "Thursday - the natives and I did a great washing and ironing.

IN FOR TEA
     "Wednesday 20th - I had Mr. and Mrs. Condee, Mr. Bishop, Mrs. McDonald and Mr. Tinker to tea.

     "Monday 25th - I have not been in the meeting today. Baked and had Mr. Clark's family and Mr. Bingham to dinner. In the evening had Mr. Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. Dibble to tea.

     "Wednesday, May 27 - the Hawaiian brethren arrived at 4 this p.m. I had Messers. Lyman, Bliss and Wilcox families - I have offered the family the house in the yard... I have now eleven children in my family 16 in all.

     "I am weary and must go to rest. I thought about you until i fell asleep last night. In my sleep enjoyed your presence till morning."

     NEXT: 1846 JOURNAL