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Asenath C. Benedict to Walt Whitman, 4 January 1892

About This Item

  • Title: Asenath C. Benedict to Walt Whitman, 4 January 1892
  • Date: January 4, 1892
  • Creator(s): Asenath C. Benedict
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.01103
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Cristin Noonan Amanda J. Axley Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Benedict, Asenath C.. "Asenath C. Benedict to Walt Whitman, 4 January 1892." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 18 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.01103.xml (TEI)
 loc.01103.003_large.jpg Mrs. Newton Benedict.1 1633 Q St. N.W. My dear old friend Mr. Whitman

So many years have passed since we last saw each other. I cannot help wondering whether you have forgotton me or no—I cannot—help feeling that you remember me, and the old home on M.Street—and the dear old "Cherry Tree"" where you and my dear husband2 used to sit and have such pleasant visits.3 Mr. Sevellon Brown,4 Sackett5 my son were there also. We so often used to talk of you and the happy times that are gon by, I love to dwell upon those pleasant days—I can never forget them, or you, and  loc.01103.004_large.jpg oh how I would love to take your warm hand again which was always given with so much warmth and true expression. In taking up the paper tonight I saw that you were ill—how sorry I am. I hope you will get better again. All your friends wish this. . .

Although many years have passed since you lived at my house and many changes have come to us, still, I remember you and your good heart and love to think of you and always shall with a great deal of love and pleasure—I hope this may reach you, it would give me a great deal of pleasure to know that you remember me and my home where you  loc.01103.005_large.jpg lived for four years of your life in Washington.

With a great deal of sympathy and affection I remain your sincere friend A.C. Benedict6— 1633 "Q" Street N.W. Washington D.C. Jany. 4 | 1892.  loc.01103.006_large.jpg  loc.01103.001_large.jpg  loc.01103.002_large.jpg  loc.01103.009_large.jpg  loc.01103.010_large.jpg

Correspondent:
Asenath (Cenia) Robinson Chapin Benedict (1831–1900) was the daughter of Orange Chapin (1788–1867), a farmer, and his wife Fanny Green Chapin (1794–1876). Asenath was born and grew up in Cayuga, New York, and by the age of eighteen, she was married to Newton Benedict (ca. 1824–1888). The Benedicts moved to Washington, D.C., and by 1870, both Asenath and her husband were employed as clerks; they also opened their home to boarders, who were similarly employed. The Benedicts were Whitman's landlords at 472 M North, having replaced Juliet Grayson after her death in 1867. Whitman lived at the Benedicts' home while he worked as a clerk in the office of the U.S. Attorney General, remaining with the family until 1871.

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Mr. Walt Whitman | Camden. | N.J. It is postmarked: WASHINGTON, D. C. | JAN 6 | 11 AM | 1892; CAMDEN, N.J. | JAN [illegible] | 6 [illegible] | 92 | REC'D. [back]
  • 2. Newton Benedict (ca. 1824–1888) worked as a teacher and a Daguerrean Artist in New York prior to the American Civil War. Benedict enlisted in 1863, and then he and his wife Asenath moved to Washington, D.C., where Newton worked as a clerk in the State Department. The Benedicts opened their home to boarders who were similarly employed. The Benedicts were Whitman's landlords at 472 M North, having replaced Juliet Grayson after her death in 1867. Whitman lived at the Benedicts' home while he worked as a clerk, remaining with the family until 1871. [back]
  • 3. Newton Benedict died in 1888, and Asenath had been a widow for approximately four years by the time she wrote this letter to Whitman. [back]
  • 4. Sevellon Brown (ca. 1843–1895), a native of New York, was the son of David Brown (1813–1889), a shoemaker, and Charlotte Powers Brown (1814–1901). Brown worked as a clerk for the State Department in Washington D.C., and, according to the 1870 U.S. Census, was a boarder at the home of Newton and Asenath Benedict, along with Whitman. Brown married Sally Maynadier Brown (ca. 1855–1916), and the couple continued to board with the Benedicts at least through 1880. [back]
  • 5. James Sackett Benedict (ca. 1857–1936) was the son of Newton Benedict (ca. 1824–1888) and Asenath Robinson Chapin Benedict (1831–1900). Educated in Washington, D.C., James later worked as an American Consulate in New York, spending forty-six years in government service. James married Cora Blanche Chase in 1879, and the couple had at least one daughter, Mary. The Benedicts spent at least seventeen years in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, and in 1924, James retired and moved to Toronto to live with his daughter. For more information, see James Benedict's obituary: "Dies in Toronto," The Windsor Star (November 9, 1936), 15. [back]
  • 6. Asenath C. Benedict included a calling card as an enclosure with this letter. Her name and address were printed on the card as follows: "Mrs. Newton Benedict" and the address "1633 Q St. N. W." [back]
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