Letters from Myra Montgomery of Haverhill to Horace Henry Goodman

Myra and Horace
(For background information on Myra Montgomery, please see 27 September 2011 post.)

Although we have only Myra's letters (and some additions from friends and family) on which to assess the dynamics between the couple, their repartee was quite interesting: her quips, and cajoling; her introspective letters, such as those penned during her final illness and the often playful language, reveal numerous aspects of Myra’s ever contracting world.  For example, she comments: “I told her we expected you here to keep thanksgiving with us and that you would then visit Bath.  You see I am still in the habit of making promises for you, but will not be one of very difficult performance”  Haverhill, November 13, 1815

Horace Henry Goodman was from apparently from West Hartford, Connecticut.  He attended Middlebury and as was in of the top in his class.  During the War of 1812, he was enlisted with Captain Mahurin’s Company, which was under the overall command of Brigadier General John Montgomery of the Western Brigade.  The military connection may be how he met Myra (if not earlier) as the General was connected with all his troops—many of whom were  locally based in Haverhill or Grafton County.  Indeed, Horace’s detachment went with General Montgomery to Portsmouth for  the “defense of the seaboard” in October 1814. 

Following the War, it appears that Horace returns to his active life as a merchant and businessman; not surprisingly, he traveled the eastern seacoast extensively and was able to secure from Boston, Hartford, and other ports imported items important to Myra, her family and friends: Maderia wine; dockroot (for her ailments); black Canton crepe for mourning wear; plumes for a friend’s hat and so on.   Myra writes: “ Mr. West informs us that you have taken a store, and I suppose by this time become quite at home in your new residence”  [Nov. 13, 1815]. The store was located on Long Wharf in Boston and Horace resided at a boarding house of Mrs. Gookin.  The Gookin’s were prominent in Haverhill, but given Gookin’s business interest, they may have had a working relationship as well.  For men like Horace and the Gookin’s the post road along the Coos Turnpike was virtually an expressway, traveled on a regular basis. Horace's business partner, West, was married to Myra's oldest sister, Mary.

Through the letters, we keenly sense Myra’s envy of Horace and his travels when she commented: 

It would greatly enhance the gratification which I receive from your letters, if you would learn from my example to practice a little more egotism.  You seem to imagine I shall only be interested in concerns of primary import and to your welfare, and of which I particularly required an account.  But I should like to know your daily employment, what you read, whom you visit, or whether you visit at all, and how you usually pass your long winter evenings, that I may judge what are the grounds of your preference of a town life to the undisturbed calm in which one is allowed to vegetate in the country. 

[Haverhill Jan’y 25^th 1816]

Or again, her sense of isolation while he is traveling after her mother’s death when she notes:

I have had a charming visit from Mrs. West and Nancy (Ann) though I should like to have been more at leisure to enjoy it.  We have an unusually large family this spring and Eliza is keeping school which makes my task more than ordinarily difficult.  Under such circumstances you will not be surprised nor displeased if my letters are few and far between but consider yourself under still greater obligations to relieve as far as in your power the dull routine of my domestic employment, by frequent communications.  
[Haverhill June 23^rd 1816]


To be continued.....


Special thanks to the Haverhill Historical Society 
and Bill and Mary Emig for their generosity.

One of the Montgomery sisters