Am skipping this blog post because I am attending the wedding of my oldest grandchild. Be back with more on Esther De Berdt Reed on October 15.

Esther De Berdt Reed kept up her correspondence with her brother in England wishing she could see him either in England or America. As tensions increased between Britain and her American colonies it became less and less likely that Joseph Reed would take a place in England as his law practice was doing quite well in Philadelphia, or that Dennis would obtain a position in America. Though Esther followed political events closely—she applauded the return of Lord Dartmouth as Secretary of State for the Colonies—she was still largely occupied with her children and their needs. She wrote to Dennis on October 20, 1772 with domestic news and new commissions.

We have not yet had the box from on board the vessel: the basket we have opened; the walnuts are very fine indeed. . . . they are a great rarity here. The lamps, if we can manage them, will be of great use in summer, and perhaps will do to write by in the office. . . . The caps for Patty I would not have you purchase of Miss Gabells,—the ones you sent last year were made of such bad materials that they are now of no use. . . . To my other commission, I add a box of ivory letters for Patty, and a hat or cap for my son, fit for a child of a year old. I don’t like hussar caps and feathers; it must be something genteel, like a gentleman’s child, not a butcher’s. The gown I proposed to send for, I find I can have done here, and as it is not worth much, I shan’t take the trouble of sending. I have been confined the week past with my dear children, and the nursery has been almost all my care. . . . You see I have fulfilled your wish of a son. I wish I could stop with that number, but I don’t expect that. . . .
Ever most affectionately,
Yours,
E. Reed.
William B. Reed, Esther De Berdt, afterwards Esther Reed, of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: C. Sherman Printer, 1853), 180-82.

Esther de Berdt Reed, living in Philadelphia with her lawyer husband Joseph Reed, maintained a correspondence with her brother Dennis in England. She continued to miss her homeland and entertain thoughts of returning. When her first child was born in 1771, a daughter who was sickly, she wrote: “If she lives, it will make me more anxious than ever to return to dear England, as the education of girls is very indifferent indeed here. I assure my dear Dennis I find this country and England two different places; however, for the present we must be content.” Esther found the climate in Philadelphia particularly distasteful. “I Should be very glad to change this fine sky for our heavy one. There is so much clear, burning sunshine in the three summer months, that I do not wish for any more all the year. ” Esther had another child the following year and wrote to Dennis:

I can inform you that I have passed through another scene of trial, and am recovered to perfect health and strength. I think I never enjoyed a greater share of health and spirits; nothing is wanting but clearer prospects of returning to dear England; it would indeed rejoice my heart, once more to set my foot on that charming island. America must be allowed to be a fine country, but the conveniences and elegancies of England are unrivalled; they are not to be expected here; but I make myself contented. At present, we are in no small anxiety about our two dear children, as they are both inoculated, and we expect them to sicken every hour. Before this vessel sails, I hope to tell you they are in a fair way of recovery. . . . I hope to send you this fall, some cranberries and some sturgeon, and if possible some venison hams. . . .

Esther once more sent her brother a list of items she would like him to purchase for her.

Send me 4 pr. of Bk. Calma shoes. . . . A dozen of 8 bowed cap wires; a cap for Patty [her daughter], such as a child two years old should wear. If they are what they call quilted caps, send two, as I cannot get any such here; a quartered cap for my boy, a half-dressed handkerchief or tippet*, or whatever is the fashion, for myself, made of thread lace. Also a handsome spring silk, fit for summer, and new fashion. I leave it to your taste to choose it for me. I would not have rich silk. You know I do not like anything very gay, but neat and genteel. Send it to Long’s warehouse to be made up, and trimmed or not, as the present taste requires. If you call there, they will tell you how much it will take. Buy the quantity, but cut off half a yard and send it to me with the gown. . . . I will send you a gown to be dyed any color it will take best. Thus far my commissions run at present.

* a tippet is a garment comparable to a stole or boa. Rather interesting is Esther’s faith in her brother’s fashion sense and knowledge of what was à la mode.

William B. Reed, Esther De Berdt, afterwards Esther Reed, of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: C. Sherman Printer, 1853), 168, 172-73, 176-77.

Clearly Esther DeBerdt Reed was rather homesick when she came here as the bride of Joseph Reed in 1770. She wrote her brother Dennis in December: ” America . . . is a fine country, but to compare it to England in any respect, except the clear weather, is wrong, for it will not bear the most distant comparison: however, with the hope of returning, I can spend some time here without repining, and with the hope of seeing you here, I keep up my spirits.” I was interested in the postscript to this letter which lists items she wanted her brother to purchase for her.

I will just repeat the things I mentioned for you to buy for me:—A fine damask table-cloth, largest size, price £1 1s., and one of the next size; a very neat fan (leather mount, if it is to be had), handsome for the price, if not, paper,—the sticks not very broad, the fan middling size, a guinea, or 25s.; set of dressing-boxes, the largest box in the shape of a fan, not too many in a set. Perhaps I have forgot some things here which I mentioned in my former letter, but if that comes to hand, you will buy all I have sent for, and I add, needles, from No. 5 to No. 11, a paper of each. a hundred in a paper, a packet of short [pins?] and a packet of middling pins—a packet, I believe, has four papers in each.—I think the best may be bought of Price. I would give anything to be in Price’s or Mr. Anybody’s shop in London, even in Thames Street. To my great consolation, here is a street in Philadelphia very like Thames Street, and I rejoice when I can go that way. . . . Pray buy the post-chariot neat, and painted in taste, and it’s very necessary the harness should be neat, as we shall want something to set off the horses.

Esther’s request for large numbers of pins may seem a bit odd until one realizes that pins were used to attach various parts of a gown together: sleeves to a bodice, for example. For more about the use of pins in clothing see this post. As relations between Britain and the colonies worsened resulting in boycotts of British goods, pins became very scarce. The dressing boxes that Esther requests are probably boxes or cases for lotions, powders, jewelry, etc. that could be found on a lady’s vanity. One wonders about the fan-shaped one she specifies. Could it have been for storing fans? Her reference to a set indicates that the boxes were small, not the sort of traveling cases that were becoming popular: fitted out with compartments for jewelry, bottles for lotions, cosmetics, and other items for a lady’s toilette that women took with them when they visited friends or relatives for rather long periods of time.

William B. Reed, Esther De Berdt, afterwards Esther Reed, of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: C. Sherman Printer, 1853), 160, 163-64.