Martha Waldo Browne Greene to Frederick Douglass, November 8, 1861
MARTHA WALDO BROWN GREENE1Martha Waldo Brown Greene (1820-1902) was the daughter of John and Mary Hodges Brown. She married William Arnold Greene (1822-73) on 9 May 1842. Her husband was engaged in the mercantile business in New York City in 1842-43, when Martha Greene was an officer of the American Anti-Slavery Society. The couple then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where they had six children. Martha and Douglass were close friends and remained so after the Civil War. The contents of the letters often addressed private matters such as his relationship with Ottilie Assing. Greene helped Douglass recover from depression after his first wife died in 1882. Martha died in Melrose, Massachusetts, which was the residence of her daughter Martha Greene Sherman. Martha W. Greene to Frederick Douglass, 7 July 1864, 2 August 1865, 22 July 1871 in General Correspondence File, DLC, reel 2, frames 40-42, 138-39, 604-05, FD Papers, DLC; David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass’ Civil War: Keeping Faith in Jubilee (Baton Rouge, 1989), 167; Diedrich, Love across Color Lines, 306, 368; McFeely, Frederick Douglass, 313. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Worcester[, Mass.] 8 Nov[ember] 1861[.]
DEAR FRIEND
I see you are to be in Boston Dec’ 3.2Douglass delivered his lyceum lecture “Pictures and Progress” on that day as part of the Fraternity Course at Boston’s Tremont Temple. Douglass Papers, ser. 1, 3:452-73. Will you not make it in your way
to stop in Worcester either on your way thence, or on your return? Per-
haps you know that Mary and Sarah3In this letter, “Mary” probably refers to the Greene’s daughter Martha G. Greene Sherman, since she is listed as “Mary” in the 1865 Massachusetts State Census. Sarah remains unidentified. are living in Worcester, and we all
anticipate very much pleasure in seeing you in our midst after so long
time gone—Our house is 8 Oxford st, where we shall be most happy to
welcome you—
Your “Monthly” is at hand, and I can’t refrain from telling you how
earnestly I sympathize in the many things you say, especially in your
article on Freemont4In October 1861, Douglass’ Monthly ran two editorials on John C. Frémont. The first, “The Real Peril of the Republic,” supported Frémont’s proclamation freeing the slaves in Missouri. The second, “General Fremont’s Proclamation to the Rebels of Missouri,” provided a news summary of the same event. DM, 4:529-31 (October 1861). &c, and not less with that touching our relations to
England. Your’s is the 1st paper i have seen that has embodied my idea
of justice and good policy in the case and I shall circulate it widely. How
insignificant and mean, must we seem to a third party, and so full of hag
& bully!5Probably an expression shortened from “haggle and bully.” Its meaning is to force a certain point of view, most notably in politics or business deals. Chillicothe (Ohio) Scioto Gazette, 14 February 1839. But I hope to see you “face to face” ere long, when it will be
much easier to talk, than it is to write, especially as I have at this moment
our 2 years old Baby, jostling my arm every other minute, with “Mama
Mama Geene”—
William6Martha Greene could be referring to either her husband or her son. Originally from Rhode Island, William Arnold Greene (1822-73) was a teacher turned merchant when he married Martha Waldo. Greene engaged in business in Boston and New York City. After relocating the family to Worcester, Massachusetts, he first engaged in business and then taught modern language and elocution at the Oread Collegiate Institute and the Highland Military Academy. In 1862 their eldest son, William F. Greene (c. 1844-70), enlisted in the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at the age of eighteen. He served about three years before contracting a disease, which ultimately led to his early death. Martha Burt Wright ed., History of the Oread Collegiate Institute, Worcester, Mass, 1849-1881, With Biographical Sketches (New Haven, Conn., 1905), 160-61, 204. would desire to be remembered, were he in—Accept from
us both
Very much regard—
MARTHA W. GREENE
ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 1, frames 689-90, FD Papers, DLC.