Upon my word

I. F. "Well done! But I can make more of it; did you not hear the sequel?"

C. "Upon my word I have not; it is rather soon [1857/9: "what can you mean?"]."
--April 1852 Scenes Beyond the Western Border; and Scenes and Adventures in the Army p288

F.—"Hillo! what are you about? Writing in tune with the merry cotton-wood leaves? You will have to frankly confess you have invented a new style."

C.—"Upon my word I was becoming as curious as yourself; a first unfortunate line set the jingle agoing, and I could not stop it...." 
--Scenes Beyond the Western Border, May 1853; and Scenes and Adventures in the Army

Image Credit: Leslieville History

Upon my word were I at Mackinaw, I should take this to be the inside of an Indian wigwam.  --Moby-Dick, or, The Whale

"Thou art a man of God, sir, I believe."
"I? I? I? upon my word, Mr. Glendinning!"  --Pierre, or, The Ambiguities

"I think he is a little deranged," said I, sadly. 

"Deranged? deranged is it? Well now, upon my word, I thought that friend of yourn was a gentleman forger; they are always pale and genteel-like, them forgers.

--Bartleby the Scrivener

"I see, I see. But of course you read Tacitus in order to aid you in understanding human nature—as if truth was ever got at by libel. My young friend, if to know human nature is your object, drop Tacitus and go north to the cemeteries of Auburn and Greenwood."

"Upon my word, I—I—"  --The Confidence-Man