JANE PIERCE (1806-1863). First Lady of the United States (1853-1857); Married Franklin Pierce in 1834; Their only surviving son, 11 year old Benjamin, died in a train accident 3 months before the Inauguration, sending Jane Pierce into a deep depression, and she spent the first two years of her husband's Presidency in mourning. She died of tuberculosis at age 57.
c. 1855, Autograph Letter Signed, "Jane", datelined "Washington, Thursday", no year, but written during her time as First Lady (1853-1857), 4 pages, measuring 7" x 4.5", to her Sister, Mary Means Appleton Aiken (1801-1883). handwritten on black bordered Mourning stationery, in mourning for her son Benjamin, Choice Extremely Fine. A letter that presents as a rare personal portrait of the saddest First Ladyship in American history, written from inside the White House. This letter reads, in full:

"Dear Sister, --- Your little note lies by me, and was welcomed for its own sake and because I took it as a sort of preface to another to be here in a day or two. It was accompanied by one from dear Abby Means, who seemed with others to have partaken of the satisfaction of your visit to Boston. She also speaks well of the younger Mary, and with much interest. She seems pleasantly enjoying her stay in her old home at her sister Mary's, and gives a pleasant picture of ... Sister, her dear Mother & the young ladies near her. I think her sister Mary a most interesting and admirable woman. I have had much satisfaction in seeing her here, but of course did not see enough - so much was her time occupied and she in the other end of the city. I think they reach Boston today, and hope dear Frances has not only borne the journey well but gained strength on the way. Mr. Smith has not yet returned so that I think they passed one day in New York. I miss the constant strength I had from her, and the feeling that I had one near me who was a true and affectionate friend & ever tender & sympathizing. Dr. Hale (who was here this morning) does not think the difficulty will be eradicated evidently but hopes with all the rest of her friends that she will be much better. ---- Mr. Pierce received a letter from William dated at the Jones', not much more recent than yours dear sister - He seemed well and enjoying his journey. I was glad to hear of Mr. & Mrs. Wilgus by him, but it makes my heart ache. --- Charles Packard is staying with us for a while during Mr. McLelland's absence, who has gone to Michigan. We have pleasant accounts from Mr. Webster, who you know is journeying in the West. My husband I have hardly seen today, which is a most busy one with him - what with the Cabinet meeting and many other things. We have read Dr. Lawrence's Memoir of his father. I have looked at it considerably and find it very interesting and on the whole very judiciously selected from our dear Uncle's excellent letters - how many maxims of truth and virtue he put forth. I hope December cold is giving way before this warm weather. Mr. Sunderland called last evening, but as there were many in the room besides, I did not say much to him, but used up the little time I had pretty effectually among them. I regretted that Aunt L did not see him. --- I see that you have a great deal of company and are much occupied dear Sister. I am glad the Lawrences are near you again. How the same pleasant things come round in the year, and yet the ... and precious not among them. --- My husband has just come in (at three) on his way down to take a little refreshment, looking tired and worn. He sent his love when he found I was writing to you dear M - give mine to dear friends around you. Is your garden doing well? We need ... here very much - the roses and geraniums are perfectly beautiful. --- Yours ever aff., (Signed) Jane ... You will enjoy seeing Aunt M... & Mary"


Dating this letter is virtually certainly 1855, in the White House. Several internal clues lock this down. "Cabinet meeting" and her husband coming in "tired and worn" place it during the presidency (1853-57).

"Mr. McLelland... who has gone to Michigan" is Robert McClelland, Pierce's Secretary of the Interior and a Michigan man. "Mr. Webster, who you know is journeying in the West" is Sidney Webster, Pierce's private secretary (not Daniel, who died in 1852). Most decisively, "Dr. Lawrence's Memoir of his father" refers to Extracts from the Diary and Correspondence of the Late Amos Lawrence, edited by his son Dr. William R. Lawrence and published in 1855.

The "dear Uncle" reference works because the great Boston merchant-philanthropist Amos Lawrence was connected to the Appleton/Means circle by marriage, his second wife was a Means, which is also why Abby Kent Means (the aunt who served as Jane's White House hostess) threads through the letter. The roses and geraniums in bloom suggest late spring or early summer 1855.

"Dear Sister... dear M" is Mary Appleton Aiken, Jane's elder sister (their father was Rev. Jesse Appleton, president of Bowdoin College). "Charles Packard" is a nephew, their sister Frances married Professor Alpheus Spring Packard of Bowdoin, and "dear Frances" whose health worries Jane is likely that sister. "Mr. Sunderland" is Rev. Byron Sunderland, the Washington Presbyterian minister whose church the Pierces attended. "Dr. Hale" was a Washington physician. So this letter is a dense snapshot of the First Lady's actual “inner circle”.

Two passages elevate this letter’s importance well above a routine family note. First, the intimate glimpse of the President: "My husband has just come in (at three)... looking tired and worn" being a first-hand domestic testimony about Franklin Pierce mid-administration, from the person closest to him.

Second, and most poignantly: "How the same pleasant things come round in the year, and yet the... and precious not among them." That is an unmistakable veiled reference to 11 year old Benjamin, a.k.a. “Benny” killed in the January 1853 train wreck, precisely the grief-in-seclusion voice for which Jane Pierce is remembered.

Add her dependence on a departed friend's "constant strength," the parade of Cabinet and staff names, and the White House roses, and you have a letter that presents as a rare personal portrait of the saddest First Ladyship in American history, written from inside the White House.
[Antebellum Period, Franklin Pierce Administration, 19th Century America] [Jane Pierce, First Ladies, Mourning and Memorial Customs] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Autographs]