Untitled

Letter - Autograph Letter Signed, written in English to her son, Simon Gratz in Philadelphia. Miriam Gratz writes to her children in Philadelphia; the letter is addressed to Simon, the eldest surviving child, but refers to him as she does the others, in the third person. The letter was meant to be read by all her children.This is a rare persona format in which Miriam writes to her children Two pages, with integral blank attached, verso with autograph address panel. Taped along folds. 4to. Baltimore, 22nd June 1797. Miriam writes from Baltimore, where she and her husband are staying with their daughter Fanny and her husband Reuben Etting. It is evident that Miriam’s husband Michael Gratz is convalescing. She updates the children on their father’s health: “His appetite is increasing, he is drinking frequently, which is a relief in the heat.” She is looking forward to their planned return to Philadelphia the next week and hopes that the heat will not increase too much so that it will be a pleasant trip. Although signing “My blessed son from your Ever Loving and affectionate mother Miriam Gratz, ” Miriam subsequently added what amounts to a second letter. Here she acknowledges receipt of letters from “my lovely Hyman, Becky & Rachel” - referring to her other children; Becky is Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869) who would go on to a lifetime of leadership and service to the American Jewish community. Miriam hopes that “my dear Becky’s finger is Better.” Ever the loving mother, Miriam tells her children that “it appears an age since I left home.” This time she signs “Children May Every happiness attend you” and signed Miriam Gratz. MIRIAM GRATZ (1749-1808) was the matriarch of a great American Jewish family. She was married to Michael Gratz, and birthed 12 children, including REBECCA GRATZ. Her father was JOSEPH SIMON (1712-1804), Michael Gratz’s business partner, in whose Lancaster, PA home a religious Minyan was established as early as 1747. The Port-Folio, a Philadelphia magazine, contains these words about Miriam Gratz in its February 1809 number: “Departed this life on Monday the 12th September last, after a short, but very severe illness, which she sustained with pious resignation, Mrs. Miriam Gratz, wife of Mr. Michael Gratz of this City. By the death of this exemplary lady her afflicted husband has lost a faithful and attentive partner, her family are bereaved of a tender and affectionate parent, and society of one of its most useful members. Her life exhibited the practice of every virtue. In adversity she was patient and cheerful, in prosperity she was humble and charitable; and always obedient to the will of heaven, she saw the approach of death with serenity and meekness, and met its cold embrace without a struggle. In contemplating the steadfast virtue which supported her at that awful moment we may all find reason to exclaim: ‘Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end be like hers.’”

Associated People/Businesses

• No associated people or businesses listed.

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

No subjects available.

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 20, Folder 9