Calendar of the Letters of Mary Doddridge, Philip Doddridge's Cousin
27 Letters and 2 Misc. Documents from Mary Doddridge to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge,
1751-1781, Doddridge Family Correspondence, Crew MS 50,
Trinity College Library, Cambridge
2. Mary Doddridge (cousin) & Miss Mercy Doddridge in Northampton to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, at the Waughs, the Turks-Head, Lombard Street, London, 25 and 26 December 1751. [f. 20]
3. Mary Doddridge, Salop, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, [Northampton], 24 February 1755. [f. 22]
4. Rent Receipts for Mercy Doddridge, collected by Mary Doddridge (cousin), 24 February 1755. [f. 70]
[There is a gap in time in these letters by Mary Doddridge as in the correspondence in Part I, in which Mary Doddridge, the daughter, writes to her mother in 1756, followed by an 11-year gap before the closing set of letters by Celia to her mother in 1767 and 1768, the same time in which the following set of letters by Mary Doddridge to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge occurs during her stay at the Rev. Thomas's at Henley, in Warwickshire from August 1767 through March 1768.]
5. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, 17 September 1766. [f. 71]
She is glad for her last letter and the news that Mrs. Humphreys and children are now better. Has not heard in some time from her cousin Mercy (the daughter of Mrs. Doddridge). Hopes for a letter soon if Mrs. Doddridge's eyes will permit her to write. All her old friends, Mary tells her, desire to be remembered to her and her children.
6. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, at the Rev. Thomas’s, Henley, Arden, Warwickshire, 2 October 1766. [f. 5]
Glad her letter and parcel arrived safe. Some discussion of the materials she had put into the parcel, cleaning, and of bills paid to several people who are named in the letter, apparently all in Northampton. When Mercy is away, Mary appears to watch over the house, so it seems she lives with the Doddridges. It may be that Mercy and her two unmarried daughters have not yet moved to Tewkesbury.
7. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, at the Rev. Thomas’s, Henley, Arden, Warwickshire, 17 August 1767. [ f. 6]
She mentions a Mrs. [Hamps] is doing better and also mentions the sister of a Mr. Wilkinson. She has left cleaning the kitchen and pantry for last but they will be done before Mrs. Doddridge returns home to Northampton.
8. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., [apparently at Tewkesbury but not yet living there permanently], 25 October 1767. [f. 55]
Mr. Clark, Jr., has recently been in Northampton; thankful for her letter and glad Mrs. Humphreys is better. Mentions Mrs. Bliss who is doing better. All ask when Mercy will return home, so she has not yet removed to Tewkesbury. She has completed her tasks as given her by Mercy. Mentions a Mr. Brown.
[Around this time, it appears that Mercy begins to make her move to Tewkesbury and leaves Mary Doddridge, her cousin, in charge of the Northampton home, which it appears continues to retain furnishings belonging to Mercy Doddridge, of which Mary has now become the caretaker and continues in that capacity for many years.]
9. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., [no location given, but clearly at Tewkesbury], 7 February 1771. [f. 41]
She is thankful for Mercy's last letter to her and news of Mrs. Isted and that she has prepared something that she wishes Mercy to give to Mrs. Abney at Stoke Newington. Sends her best regards to Mrs. Humphreys and family.
10. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 8 July 1771. [f. 51]
News of some of their mutual friends who have been ill recently and suffering much affliction and "grate Tribulation."
11. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 3 February 1773. [f. 67]
This letter does not appear to be complete. She is answering a New Year's letter from Mercy. She believes God has been very gracious to her over the years, "from my Birth & from that time to the present moment Goodness and Mercy" has followed her "all along the wilderness" of this life. Mr. Remington has died "in peace" leaving Mrs. Remington on her own now. Miss Remington sends her regards.
12. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 16 February 1773. [f. 42]
Still concerned for Mrs. Isted and news of Mrs Abney at Stoke Newington; also about the pickles she sent. All her friends "rich & poor" desire to be kindly remembered to Mrs. Doddridge.
13. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., Tewkesbury, 6 May 1773. [f. 39]
She has sent some more personal items to Mercy in Tewkesbury from the home in Northampton. Is concerned about news of Mercy's poor state of health and that of Mary Humphreys, which she has learned from her friend, a Miss Knott. Mentions the death of a 14-year old.
14. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 11 May 1773. [f. 21]
She is thankful for God's providence in watching over her and Mrs. Doddridge, despite her recent bout of ill health. She and sends her best wishes to Mary Humphreys and her children and is glad Mercy does not have to keep house any more and is finding boarding with her daughter not unpleasant. Mentions some news of Mercy's old friends in Northampton.
15. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 17 June 1773. [f. 56]
Miss Knott has written to Mary that she is going to Bath for her health. She thanks Mercy for sending some money for her account. Provides news on many of their Northampton friends, including a Mrs. Buxton, Mrs. Drake, and others. Asks about Mrs. Humphreys and Philip Doddridge, the son.
16. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., [no location given, but clearly at Tewkesbury], 26 October 1773. [f. 32]
She is glad that Mercy's last letter to her has informed her that the things she had sent had arrived safely and unbroken, which is apparently items from the Northampton home for her use now in Tewkesbury. She hopes Mercy will remember her kindly in her thoughts and is thankful for the money provided her, which appears to be for her role in maintaining the property in Northampton. She mentions that some one they know has recently set out on October 8 for Philadelphia to "secure his fortune." She mentions something about losing her hearing for a time and some discord in the church.
17. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 10 December 1773. [f.45]
Sends her best to Mrs. Humphreys. Mentions that Mrs. Churchill and her brother are in good health at the present time and were pleased to hear of the good accounts from Tewkesbury. In her postscript she mentions has sent her one set of the Family Expositor and still has the other three sets left in her keeping by Mercy and can send them as well if she wishes. She wishes well to Dr. and Mrs. Stonhouse (the former Sarah Ekins) and their family.
18. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., Tewkesbury, 13 April 1774. [f. 34]
Thankful for her recent letter from Mercy and sends her love and respects to Mary Humphreys and some news of the business prospects of Philip Doddridge, Jr. Much talk of illnesses and issues with the eyes and God's providence and goodness to her and Mercy.
19. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., fragment, undated (c. 1774). [f. 61]
Concerns news of Rev. Hextall and the Northampton congregation and the purchase of ground in Kingshead for a new chapel. Mr. Prentice is also mentioned.
20. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., Tewkesbury, 22 October 1774. [f. 33]
[Note on address page says, "Returned to Mrs. Mary Rowlinson at Northampton for a better Direction," suggesting that Mary Doddridge may have moved from the former Doddridge home which by this date had more than likely been sold. Mary's "Direction" on the address page misspells Tewkesbury and her location so badly that it was probably not readable or understandable to the postal delivery person].
She has been ill but her Northampton friends have been very gracious to her and continue to help her with the upkeep of the house there.
21. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 21 January 1775. [f. 50]
Thanks her for her kind and affectionate letter. Mentions that her health and infirmities have grown worse, but her hearing is better after 15 months, she says, noting that in Heaven there will be no sickness or infirmities. Sends best to Mrs. Humphreys and news about their mutual friends, including Mrs. Churchill.
22. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 27 April 1775. [f. 63]
Informs Mercy of the state of Mrs. Isted, whom she visited recently. She is grateful for some monies that she has recently received from Mercy and another cousin. She expresses thanks that Mrs. Humphreys and children are well.
23. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 20 May 1775. [f. 43]
Her letter has arrived safely and has been very comforting to her. She hopes her hearing and eyes are doing better. Sends her best wishes to Mrs. Humphreys and all her cousins in Tewkesbury.
24. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to her cousins (Mercy and her daughters still living at home, Mercy and Celia), 18 August 1775. [f. 39]
She hopes to meet with Mercy once again and see her in her new habitation at Tewkesbury, which is a house of her own close to the sisters (her daughters) and the Congregational meeting house. She mentions the death of Dr. Caleb Ashworth, Principal of the Daventry Academy and former student of Doddridge at Northampton.
25. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 4 February 1776. [f. 73]
Another fragment of a letter.
26. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., 27 September 1777. [f. 64]
Glad to receive her letter but displeased that the pickles she had sent arrived in a damaged state. Glad the children and grandchildren are doing well. Mr. Buxton has sold his house, and a Mrs. More sends her regards to Mercy and her other cousins along with some books. Mary says she is glad to hear that Dr. and Mrs. Stonhouse and family are well and "good Mr Orton." Sends her compliments to Mrs. Humphreys and children.
27. Mary Doddridge, [no location given], to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., [no location given], 31 April 1778. [f. 31]
Thankful to divine protection and mercies to her in the midst of her afflictions. She bows to the divine will in all events in her life. Rev. Hextall has died (4 November 1777) and is now at peace and she hopes a new pastor will come soon. Mr. Robins of Daventry will assist the church in looking for a new minister from the students at the Academy at Daventry. Glad Mrs. Humphreys is better. She is disappointed she could not send Mercy some riband by means of Mr. Warburton and will now seek out some "private hand." Mentions her cousin Harriet and Mrs. Phill Isted, who has just recently died, and Miss Churchill. 27. Mary Doddridge, Northampton, to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, Sr., undated.
28. Mary Doddridge, fragment of a letter to Mrs. Mercy Doddridge, undated [surviving page of the letter is badly damaged and torn] [c. 1774-75]. [f. 62].
Mentions Rev. Hextall is well, as is Mrs. Churchill, and seems to have an issue with Mrs. Plumpton and her daughter. Tells Mercy she is sorry for the bad news.
29. Receipt of 20 May 1781 (f. 46).