Rebecca Gratz to Anna Maria Boswell Shelby Gratz - April 29, [1846]

Mary Boswell, Ben Gratz's warden, tells Rebecca of her vacation in Cape May and updates her on family news. Rebecca's niece, Sara Moses, adds a few lines greetings.

Rebecca writes to her sister-in-law Maria, anxiously inquiring about her family's health during the Cholera epidemic. Her brother Joseph adds a note, informing their brother Ben of financial matters.

Rebecca writes to her sister-in-law Maria about her nieces and nephews receiving the Smallpox vaccine and reflects on mortality and her grief over the loss of multiple family members in the past.

After learning her sister-in-law Maria is about to give birth, Rebecca reflects on family, life, death and mourning. / expresses her understanding that the family is cancelling their trip to Philadelphia and updates her on family and friends.

Rebecca updates her sister-in-law Ann on her son Jo Shelby's education and shares how much she revels in the company of Lizzie Blair, Mary Riggs, and her niece Sara Joseph. She also comments on developments in the Mexican-American War and the signing of the Oregon Treaty to settle a longstanding territorial dispute.