July 1, 1776: "I have passed through the Small Pox"

Letter 48    To my Sister*   Boston   July 1st 1776

You will, my dearest Girl, account for my silence, when you are informed that I have been extremely ill, and that, with a disorder which rendered it presumptuous to address any of my friends — After this you will not need to be told, that I have passed through the Small Pox — 

Yes, my dear, I have submitted to inoculation, and have, not withstanding, suffered severely — No less than one hundred pustules in my face, so that you will judge what a fright I am — But, no matter, I am now qualified to render any service in my power, to those friends who may in future suffer in this way.  

My Physician assures me that I should not run the least risk, in returning home this day, I have taken every precaution that the most scrupulous timidity could suggest — yet the fear of alarming my connexions, will keep me here another week, or ten days when I may surely return — 

Say, my Love, may I not safely meet you at that period? I believe I shall venture — I am impatient to see you once more — it seems a little age since I left Gloucester, and although I have been cruelly treated in that place, yet recollection is constantly reminding me that in Gloucester, my dearest connexions still inhale the vital air — 

Fancy often presents you in my sleeping moments, and I dream myself once more among you — yet this fleeting vision is too soon dissolved, and waking I exclaim — Beloved and most precious Circle, do you indeed exist, or are you only ideas floating, athwart the disk of imagination, which, however I may heretofore have realized, I shall not again be permitted to embody? — 

See my sweet Girl, how you have erred, I have not figured splendidly in the Beau monde, but I have been constantly confined by illness, although had your conjectures been correct, you have yet to learn the heart of your sister, if you suppose she would prefer any enjoyment, which the round of dissipation can bestow, to the pleasures which result from friendship.  

Often, and often, since I left home, hath my bosom sighed for the kind soothings of an amiable sister, for the dear presence of an affectionate Mother — Indeed Home hath ever been to me a world possessing most potent charms, and, I dare believe, its fascination ... to the whole of my existence. 

To Mr Stevens my plan, and its nature, was fully known — It was known and sanctioned — my letters to him are sufficiently explanatory — Remember me in the most affectionate terms to your husband and to my charming Boy** [—] 

Adieu — May Peace, uninterrupted Peace be with you

*Judith Sargent Stevens to Esther Sargent Ellery, her sister, four years younger; to date, no portrait of Esther has been found

** "my charming boy" is Esther's son, John Stevens Ellery

 

 

 

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)

1775: British ships off the coast of Gloucester

Letter 20   To Mr Murray   Gloucester.  July 28th 1775 

You wish for some particulars relative to our publick affairs, and indeed they have somewhat varied since you left us — Upon the day of your departure, the arrival of a schooner belonging to his Britannick Majesty, threw our people into great alarm — Immediately the drums beat to arms, the [bells] sounded portentously, and the streets were filled with the goods of the terrified inhabitants — [Families] running up and down, throwing abroad their hands, the most heart affecting distress visible in their almost frantic gestures, when to heighten the misery of the scene, the Captain of the schooner dispatched a special messenger to the family of the Sargents, soliciting permission to visit them, and begging that some fresh provision may be sent on board, for which he will make ample payment, and disavowing at the same time all intention of hostility — 

"No, no, no" was the purport of the answer, worded in as strong terms as language could embody.  We continued in a state of distressing suspense, through the whole of friday, saturday and sunday — all our men bearing arms even to their place of worship, but Monday confirmed our direful apprehensions — ... maneuvers on board the schooner, it was believed the war was coming up to the landing, Words are inadequate to describe the panic which took possession of the bosoms of the more timid sex, while our Men bravely prepared for opposition — 

Captain Dawson, however, again dropt Anchor; this in some measure quieted the minds of the people, but toward the close of the day, an event took place which hath alarmed the most judicious among us, Some of our ill advised Townsmen have very indiscreetly fired on the schooner, as she lay in the road, and we have great reason to fear that the Town will fall a sacrifice to their imprudence, indeed it is not improbable, that we may be devoted to destruction — the innocent may too possibly be involved in one common ruin with the Guilty!!

Since writing the above Captain Dawson hath addressed the Town as follows

"Hope Schooner Cape An [sic] Harbour   June 29 — 1775

"To the Committee of Safety in The Town of Gloucester"

"Gentlemen

"The reason of my sending you this, is to inform you that yesterday, after his Majesty's schooner, under my command, anchored in this harbour, in the place where she now lies, she was fired at from the shore, by some armed Men, which you must be sensible might have been attended with the worst consequences, especially, when I heard and saw nothing but what gave the justest reason to believe, that hostile intentions, were intended to his Majesty's schooner, from your Town, or why did the people assemble in arms, which, I saw by my own eyes, and what did the meeting bell ring, and the drums beat for? — I will leave you to judge, and to complete the scene properly, some of your armed Men fired at his Majesty's schooner without the least provocation, or cause for so doing — 

Surely I must conclude that the greatest part of these proceedings must be the [scare] of the Town — I am informed this morning that two of the Men, which fired at the schooner, are put in gaol, and are deserting from his majesty's service and from his majesty's schooner, that I now command, and I do now demand them in his majesty's name of the Town, which I have a right to do, and it is your duty to deliver them up — such proceedings would give the Admiral, and Governour, the most favourable opinion of the Town, you cannot suppose that I have orders to molest any person on shore, or any where else, without I am fired at, or molested in doing my duty!  The Governour's proclamation which I am informed the people here are acquainted with ... indicates the contrary — I am gentlemen your most obedient

                                   humble servant

                                  George Dawson

Captain Dawson's information deceived him, the offenders were never in his majesty's service — Neither were they under confinement.  I believe they are rather [applauded] than otherwise — Captain Dawson's requisition was peremptorily refused, he however revenged himself by capturing no less than 15 vessels, among which was one belonging to my Father, when, to the no small joy of the inhabitants of the place, he took his departure.

*Judith Sargent Stevens to John Murray