This collection is made up of correspondence related to the families of David S. Shearman of Poughkeepsie, New York, and his wife, Hepsa Hathaway Howland, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Hepsa Howland Shearman often exchanged letters with her mother, Hepsa Howland, and sister, Eliza Howland, who provided news from New Bedford. Hepsa wrote of her life and family in Poughkeepsie, New York. In several letters from late 1846 and early 1847, she mentioned her son David's failing health. Captain David Shearman received several letters from his cousin Abraham, who discussed finances, real property, and his attendance at Quaker meetings. David Shearman, Jr., corresponded with his parents while working on the ship Sea in the early 1840s. Other letters pertain to education, religion, and family health. One late letter from Mary Eliza Shearman to her sister Alice mentions the implementation of the draft in New Bedford; the night after the draft took place, several soldiers patrolled to prevent rioting (July 25, 1863).
Hepsa Hathaway Howland was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1806, the daughter of Pardon Howland (1777-1821) and Hepsa Hathaway (1777-1856). She had at least six surviving siblings: Pardon (1803-1856), Eliza L. (1808-1837), Benjamin Franklin (1810-1888), Henry Stoddard (1812-1877), Mary Taber (1814-1906), and Hannah 1818-1891). Howland married David Sands Shearman (1802-1852), a seaman, on June 23, 1826, and they had twelve children: David Sands (1827-1847), Anna (1828-1830), Isabella (1830-1832), Anna Russell (1832-1836), Joseph Tucker (1834-1894), Abraham (1836-1862), Mary Eliza (b. 1838), Alice Delano (b. 1840), Henry Franklin (b. 1842), John Delano (b. 1843), Isaac Haviland (1845-1879), and David Sands (1848-1857). Hepsa Howland Shearman died on January 10, 1892.
