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Abigail Moore was born on March 2, 1813 in New Marlboro, Massachusetts to Ariel Moore and Electa Lyon Moore, Mary Lyon's eldest sister. She graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1838 and taught there until 1846. She also served as associate principal in 1842-1846. In 1846, she married Reverand Ebenezer Burgess. In September of 1846, they left Boston, Massachusetts and sailed for Bombay, India to work as missionaries. The Burgesses were stationed in Ahmadnagar, northern India. Burgess had two daughters, Abbie Lyon and Mary P., both of whom graduated from Mount Holyoke. Abigail Moore Burgess died in Mahabaleshwar, India on April 26, 1853 at the age of forty.
The Abigail Moore Burgess Papers consist of correspondence, a journal, manuscript essays, poems, and stories written by Mount Holyoke Female Seminary students and collected for Burgess, and biographical information. The papers chiefly contain letters written by Burgess to family and friends, including Mary Lyon and Hannah Porter. The letters relate to Burgess' years as a teacher at the Seminary and her subsequent work as a missionary in Ahmadnagar, India, 1847-1849, alongside her husband, Reverend Ebenezer Burgess. Burgess' letters describe her activities and health while in India as well as the Indian people and conflicts in the Punjab region. The journal is a short, yet detailed account of her voyage to India dedicated to her family and Hannah Porter. The volume of manuscript essays and poems includes writings, known as Seminary Literature, by students between 1838-1849. Also includes biographical information containing published letters in response to her death and is supplemented by biographical notes that extend to 1945.
This collection is organized into three series:
The journal of Abby Moore Burgess was written during her voyage on Ship Bertrand to India and was intended for members of her family and for Mrs. Porter. She describes life on a sailing vessel which departed on September 26, 1846 and finally reached Bombay about February 27, 1847. There were two emergencies during the trip, an officer went overboard accidentally, but was rescued, and in a severe storm the mast broke. Abby was very seasick during the first weeks of the voyage (she wrote she was "scarcely alive") but she gradually became accustomed to the motion. Food was remarkably good (they carried live fowl and a goat); when they sighted land in early February food was paddled out and was warmly welcomed. There appear to be about 8 passengers, plus officers and crew, totalling perhaps 20-25 (she wrote that 18 came to a Sabbath service on deck). Abby describes the ship in detail and the accommodations; she and her husband had their own stateroom, but the lack of air was the chief problem. The officers and steward did all they could for their comfort.
There are 12 letters in the collection: one short letter written in December, 1845, from So. Hadley and addressed to Martha Grant, expressing the hope of seeing her before departing for India; the remaining 11 letters date from March 2, 1847 to April 14, 1849 and are addressed to Mrs. Porter, except for one addressed to her mother. During this time Abby and her husband were stationed at Ahmednugger and her letters describe their home situation, their missionary work, the arrival of Mary and her serious illness after the baby's birth. There are frequent references to other missionaries in the area, especially with comments about their health, and an occasional reference to world affairs.
Of special note:
By CR Ludwig
March 1988
Unrestricted
Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:
Abigail M. Burgess Papers, Mount Holyoke College, Archives and Special Collection, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Arranged chronologically.
Unresricted
This series consists of thirteen letters written between 1845-1849. The majority of these letters are addressed to Hannah Porter and are written while Burgess and her husband were doing missionary working Ahmadnagar, India. The letters to Porter describe her arrival in India, her home situation and their missionary work. Burgess makes frequent reference to other missionaries in their area, paying particular attention to their health, while also making an occasional comment on world events. Of particular interest is one letter dated October 7, 1848 and that is addressed to her mother. Burgess dictated the letter to describe her illness after the birth of her daughter, Mary. Also included are two letters written September, 10 1845 and September 22, 1846 to Mary Lyon, while Burgess was still Associate Principal at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. The letters to Lyon The third letter written to Mary is dated April 14, 1849 and was written from Mahabaleshwar, India.
Arranged chronologically.
Unresricted
This series consists of "Original Compositions and Selected Articles" written by students at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, 1838-1840, and a journal written during Burgess' voyage to India, 1846-1847. The journal describes life on the ship including other passengers, Sabbath service on the deck, motion sickness and food. In addition to describing her stateroom accomodations, she also described the ship in detail.
Arranged chronologically.
Unresricted
This series consists of a copy of a letter concerning Burgess' death, published in the issue of the "Missionary Hearald" for 1853. The series is supplemented by additional notes about her life.