Jan. 1776: At "Little Village" / Peace still possible?

Letter 28th   To my Mother*   Little Village   January — 1776

My Dearest Mother

 

It was, you will not doubt, a very considerable disappointment to me, to find, upon my arrival here, both yourself, and my sister — absent — I am, however, pleased you could command health sufficient for the little excursion, which I hope will be attended with much pleasure.  

 

My Father advises us, by all means, to take the house belonging to Mr G–  — we have been to look at it, and if Mr W– will relinquish a promise, which he hath obtained of one of the apartments, we shall place our furniture there as we are under an absolute necessity of removing it — Mr G– engages to render his house tenantable and we rather conclude to deposit our goods there, indifferent as the place appears, as we indulge a hope that we shall not be under the necessity of yielding our present residence —

 

An opinion has now become generally prevalent, that it is far from the design of the british to spread unnecessary devastation, that still regarding American Property as their own, they can have no inducement to lay our Sea Ports in Ashes — 

By tarrying in Town, I can be of more consequence to my Father, his business will often carry him thither and he has it in contemplation to shut up the mansion, from which you have flown, and to reside with us during those intervals which he is necessitated to be absent from this Village —

 

Alas!  my Dear Mother what days of sorrow have arisen upon us — Gloomy is the morning of my Life, and I am ready to wish the warrant for my release, had already past the great seal of heaven —

*Judith Saunders Sargent, Judith's mother

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Notes:

"Little Village" is JSM's name for Chebacco Parish, Ipswich, later, Essex. 

“Father” is Winthrop Sargent (1727–93). His “business” was serving on Gloucester’s Committee of Safety and later, by 1776, as the Massachusetts government's agent in Gloucester during the war.

 “Our Sea Port” refers to Gloucester.

July 4, 1790 in Philadelphia

Letter 768  To my Father and Mother*  Philadelphia  Arch Street  July 10 1790 — Saturday

 ...On Monday every restraint being taken off, the ebullations of hilarity obtained their utmost latitude — 

The bells were clamorous, the colors displayed, and the Cannon discharged — The military of every description was concluded by a display of fire works from the State House, and a superb illumination of Schuylkill gardens — 

The Proprietor of that Elysium, had advertised a variety of additional exhibitions, such as an artificial Island, a [Tavern] house, garden etc  to be represented in the evening, upon the River, splendidly illuminated — a number of heathen Deities rendered luminous, and distinguished by their insignia — Bridge dressed in shrubbery, and appropriate Colours for every state in the Union — The Arms of America and France entwined by Liberty — a rich display of Fire works, exhibited from the Lawn, in front of the Federal temple — 

Thirteen Boys, and an equal number of Girls, issuing from the Grove, habited as shepherds, and shepherdesses, and proceeding to the Federal Temple, chanting responsively, an Ode to Liberty, with a number of songs, Odes, and Choruses, in honour of the auspicious event, which the day commemorated.  

An advertisement of this kind, originated the highest expectations — It produced in the gardens a vast concourse of people, upwards of six thousand persons, Candidates for the pleasure of the scene — In an assembly so multifarious, characters of every description, you will not doubt, were collected — Urged by curiosity, my husband, supposing it would be unpleasant crossing the floating Bridge, took me in his Carriage to the middle of the ferry — never did I behold a scene more truly enchanting than Nature then presented, upon the Banks of the Schuylkill — 

The river was divinely serene, and the margin was ornamented by romantic, and beautifully variegated imagery — But crossing the stream we approached the scene of riot — Never did my Fancy in its most tumultuous, and capricious combinations, sketch a view so replete with wild disorder, and confused uproar — With much difficulty we obtained tickets of admission, and when we reached the grounds, the unlicensed Mirth, the prevalent anarchy, boisterous manifestations of unbridled joy, and rude elbowing of the promiscuous throng, was really distressing — 

In vain, in the midst of those sweetly rural, and enchanting recesses, where we had recently enjoyed so much, we sought the honeysuckle arbour, or embowering shade — upon every seat, and in every embosomed haunt, noisy frolick, with rude unmannered stare had taken its stand, and it was well if the thronged croud allowed us to keep our feet — All ranks of people were grouped together — 

The Orchestra, that beautiful seat of harmony, was taken by the Mob, and from the correct mind, every idea of enjoyment was of necessity banished — so great was the croud that to obtain the smallest refreshment, was out of the question, and our only remaining wish, was to gain a passage out of the gardens — To effect this was, however, impossible [—] 

Thick and lawless ranks lined the gates — all our addresses, and perseverance, proved abortive and I was nearly sinking upon the spot, when a friend taking compassion upon our sufferings, led us through a flight of rooms, into a subteraneous passage through which, winding our way, we once more found ourselves safely conducted into a spacious street — when instantly mounting our Carriage, and crossing the floating bridge at the risk of our lives, from the pressing horses, chaises, Coaches, and throngs of people, we very cheerfully left behind us illuminations, fire works, heathen Gods, and Goddesses etc etc most sincerely felicitating ourselves, upon our happy escape — 

By the depredations of the Mob, we are told the Paradise recently so beautiful, is greatly injured but time I hope will restore it to accustomed Order and neatness...

*To Winthrop Sargent and Judith Saunders Sargent, her parents

Jan. 1776: British officers in Judith's home

Letter 24   To the Same*  Gloucester   January 1776

Ever since this day with which I had the happiness to pass so sweetly with you, and during which I experienced such frequent proofs of your maternal goodness — since that period, I say, delighted with the pleasing Retrospect, I have sighed for leisure, to address you, and in such language as my heart told me you desired — Often, dearest and most revered of Women, have I taken up my pen; when overwhelmed by my subject, conviction hath compelled me to subscribe tacitly, by my silence, to the insufficiency of words [—]  Gratitude stamped in characters indelible triumphs in my bosom, where it will flourish coeval with the soil — 

I have experienced, since I had the felicity of seeing you, such embarassing confusion; a constant succession of company consisting, you will conclude altogether of gentlemen — I am not fond of a croud, but I ought to acquiesce in whatever may contribute to the emolument of my husband — Yet, my soul pants for the calm uncrouded rural scene, and it is my ardent wish effectually to say — “Hence busy World with all thy Cares” — 

We have as residents with us, the commanding officers of the captured Brig* — They are literally sea Men but, although rough they are humane, and obliging — What a contrast the present winter, to the preceding — Then, surrounded by sentimental friends, and indulged with frequent opportunities of listening to the glad tidings of peace — which sounded most sweetly in my ears — Need I say how greatly I deplore the change — Remember me to Fitz William — May God forever bless the Dear Boy, and may he be continued, a dutiful, and affectionate prop to the declining years of his affectionate Parents.

__________________________________________

Sir George Collier

*The Cruizer-class brig-sloop Rainbow, captained by Vice-Admiral Sir George Collier. According to Wikipedia: The Cruizer class was the most numerous class of warships built by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, with 110 vessels ordered to this design (including two completed as ship sloops, and another 3 cancelled), and the second most numerous class of sailing warship built to a single design for any navy at any time, after the smaller 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloops.

On January 1, 1776, George Washington had appointed Winthrop Sargent, Judith's father, "to the post of Continental Agent in Gloucester." Among his duties, "he was to board all prizes brought into Cape Ann, send their papers by express to headquarters in Cambridge, inventory their cargos, and take precautions against their embezzlement. Because Gloucester Harbor was not considered safe for laying up prizes for any length of time, he was to have them sailed up to Beverly in care of Agent William Bartlett.

To his agent at Gloucester George Washington ... [ordered] that he was to treat all prisoners for whom he had any responsibility 'with the utmost humanity and tenderness.' In those few words, the tall Commander-in-Chief at Cambridge said much about himself." (Joseph E. Garland, Guns Off Gloucester, pp. 122-23).

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*Judith Sargent Stevens to Judith Saunders Sargent (her mother)

1776: Gloucesterians' refuge in Chebacco Parish, and British intentions

House in Essex where John Murray
stayed and preached in 1776

Letter 28th    To my Mother    Little Village    January — 1776

My Dearest Mother

It was, you will not doubt, a very considerable disappointment to me, to find, upon my arrival here, both yourself, and my sister — absent — I am, however, pleased you could command health sufficient for the little excursion, which I hope will be attended with much pleasure.  My Father advises us, by all means, to take the house belonging to Mr G— — we have been to look at it, and if Mr W— will relinquish a promise, which he hath obtained of one of the apartments, we shall place our furniture there as we are under an absolute necessity of removing it — Mr G— engages to render his house tenantable and we rather conclude to deposit our goods there, indifferent as the place appears, as we indulge a hope that we shall not be under the necessity of yielding our present residence — 

An opinion has now become generally prevalent, that it is far from the design of the british to spread unnecessary devastation, that still regarding American Property as their own, they can have no inducement to lay our Sea Ports in Ashes — By tarrying in Town, I can be of more consequence to my Father, his business will often carry him thither and he has it in contemplation to shut up the mansion, from which you have flown, and to reside with us during those intervals which he is necessitated to be absent from this Village — 

Alas!  my Dear Mother what days of sorrow have arisen upon us — Gloomy is the morning of my Life, and I am ready to wish the warrant for my release, had already past the great seal of heaven —

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Judith Saunders Sargent (her mother)

Notes:
• "Little Village" refers to the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Mass. The Sargents, and other early Universalists (including John Murray) moved there temporarily for their safety while British war ships patrolled the coast of Gloucester.
• JSM's father, Winthrop Sargent, headed Gloucester's Committee of Safety in 1775. He remained a "Government agent" in Gloucester throughout the war; in 1788 he was one of the delegates to the State Convention to ratify the Federal Constitution.

1775: "In the midst of warlike preparations"

Stage Fort Park

Letter 23    To my Mother*    Gloucester    November 11 1775 

My heart was greatly set upon seeing you this day — but it must not be, the roads are so heavy, the weather so precarious, and my health so indifferent. 

My situation is truly unpleasant — in the midst of warlike preparations — Soldiers flocking in from the adjacent Towns — frequent alarms, drums beating, bells ringing, and not a single female associate, to whom I can resort for consolation — To the mind attached to show, military parade may be pleasing, although, even amid its most potent fascination — if the gentler vision pervade the soul — martial appearances in time of war, must be attended with melancholy presagement, and surely, Peace is the kindly soil, from which the social virtues must derive their fairest growth. 

In these days of apprehension, I am happy that my Mother and Sister, with their Fitz William, have obtained a sequestered spot. Thither, in imagination I shall often follow them, for my sincere affections are ever Theirs. 

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Judith Saunders Sargent

Notes:

• JSM's mother is Judith Saunders Sargent of Gloucester (1731-93); she married JSM's father, Winthrop Sargent, in 1750 in Gloucester.

• JSM's sister is Esther Sargent Ellery (1755-1811); she was married to John Stevens Ellery (1748-97).

• Fitz William is JSM's youngest brother, Fitz William Sargent (1768-1822).

• the "sequestered spot" they obtained was in the Chebacco Parish of Ipswich, Mass., away from the coast and British war ships.

• In total, JSM had seven siblings; only three survived to adulthood. JSM was the first born. Of the three surviving siblings, their birth order was: Winthrop Jr. (1753-1820), Esther, and Fitz William. Winthrop Sargent Jr.'s papers are housed at the Mass. Historical Society.