GARRISON, William Lloyd (1805-1879). American abolitionist, journalist and social reformer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Crosfield, 2 pages 8vo, Manchester, 7 June 1877. Thanking her for a letter and her recent hospitality, talking about his recently deceased wife, and mentioning a letter from a mutual friend and fellow abolitionist, George Thompson.

'Her bodily absence makes a large vacancy in my home, but I feel her spiritual presence very strongly, and doubt not that she is constantly drawn to me and the beloved children she left behind her. It was indeed a most pleasurable evening that I spent with you and your estimable husband at your charming residence - it being a renewal of your joint friendly and courteous attentions when I was in Liverpool ten years ago. ...'

Garrison's wife Helen died in 1876 after a long illness, and he began afterwards to attend Spiritualist circles in the hope of communicating with her. This letter is written during Garrison's last of four visits to England, where he met with George Thompson and other longtime friends from the British abolitionist movement. It is unclear from this letter who her husband was, but the Crosfield family were prominent manufacturers in Lancashire and Liverpool in the 19th century. They had been Quakers since the time of George Fox, and it is possible that her father-in-law was Joseph Crosfield (1792-1844), who was a Radical in politics and the family were likely to be strongly supportive of abolitionist views.
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