Tues March 25th [1851]
Emily Jennison
spent a week with me. I enjoyed her visit. We went to the Fund rehearsal & to concert — together with Dr. W.
Tues April 1st 1851
I went to Prov. to see the Cushings baby and out to father’s to see them. Found them very comfortable. I returned to Brookline in just one week — feeling somewhat better about my eyes.
Wednes.
Called at Mrs. Tolman’s/ Found Mary sick.
Thur. Fast Day
Went up to Mr. Blakes in the eve. with Dr.
Frid.
Very cold. I walked up to Miss R. Cushing. I am the old lady. Called at Miss Searle’s.
Sat.
Sewed on a shirt most of then made a call upon Mrs. Candler. Dr. Sen has taken severe cold. The Heaths & Howes gone journey to NY . Catholic Holy week — end of Lent. is over
Sunday April 13th
Rev. Knapp this morn and Dr. Barnett this eve. — Thermom below 30 — some ice.
Last part of April
I paid Mr. Dillon all I owed him 2’88. My mother’s will pronounced void — by Supreme court. E.A. W. went to Newton last day of April. Stayed two nights.
May the First
Raining in the morning, cleared up.
2nd
I made three shirt bosoms for E.A. in two days.
3rd
Cleaned the parlor windows inside & B — went outside
Sund. May 4th
Rev. Knapp preached a beautiful discourse upon the sickness of friends, as being sent for our improvement — “The Marys weeping at the suffering of Jesus on the cross.” — Miss Fanny Searle died last night and old lady Seaver was buried last Sund.
May Wednes. 7th
I went to the sewing circle at Cpt. C. Stearnes'
Wednes 14th of May
I went to Prov. to Mary’s — & went to father’s the next day
Emeline Elizabeth Jennison, (1796-1853), lived in Cambridge. Her death is noted on p16
Abigail (Tucker) Tolman, (c1776-1858), lived in the Tolman House at the corner of Washington and Cypress Streets. Her daughter was Mary Joanna Rhodes Tolman, (1819-1894). It seems likely that she was named for Mary Wild whose name before her 1820 marriage was Mary Johanna Rhodes, but we have not yet established an earlier connection between Mary and Abigail Tolman that would account for this.
The Searle family lived in a pair of houses on Cypress Street near the intersection with Washington Street. (Searle Street, named for the family, is at the location of the family's property.) They included three sisters, Frances, Sarah, and Lucy. Lucy Searle lived in one of the paired houses and ran a school for girls. She was also active in the anti-slavery movement, as reported in the 1899 Historical Society publication "Brookline in the Anti-Slavery Movement":
While the men were thus strengthening the anti-slavery spirit in town, the women and children were not idle. A little sewing society of girls was meeting regularly at Mr. Philbrick's, to make garments for the slaves. To this society Anna Philbrick, the daughter of Dr. Pierce, and the girls of Lucy Searle's boarding-school belonged. While one read the others sewed, and, although small in numbers, the society accomplished much work.
Mary's mother, Mary Throop (Jenckes) Rhodes, (1775-1850), died on April 30, 1850.
Frances Searle, (c1784-1851)
Deborah Seaver, (1770-1851)
This is probably either Charles Stearns, (1770-1864), or his son Charles Stearns, Jr., (1794-1879). Their house stood approximately where the Post Office is in Coolidge Corner today. It was there before Beacon Street was constructed. It was moved slightly to the south when Beacon Street was widened in the 1880s and was torn down after the death of the third Charles Stearns in the 1930s.
