Mary Hamilton (1796-1831)

Mary Hamilton, daughter of Judge James and Sarah Hamilton, was born in Carlisle on August 2, 1796. Letters between Mary’s father and his friend John Brown of Philadelphia provide details of her early life. Mary was nine years old in November 1805 when she was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Mackey’s school in Philadelphia to learn to write an elegant hand, to play the piano forte, to study the arts and to be taught the latest dances.¹

For the next eight years Mary was schooled in Philadelphia. Judge Hamilton was devoted to his daughter Mary, and through his correspondence with John Brown of Philadelphia, he could monitor her studies as well as her state of mind. Hamilton wrote to Brown in December 1806:

“It is material to my happiness at home that she (Mary) should enjoy as much company occasionally as may [prevent] any depression of spirits. I flatter myself this is now the case. Her mother has received an impression from her of a lonely and solitary situation which I find it hard to remove. This however must be treated with caution to avoid offending Mr. Mackey. Her improvement in writing, judging from a letter to Miss Veasey, has been considerable.”²

Mr. Brown wrote to Hamilton from Philadelphia on October 22, 1807:

“Mary has been spending time with [my] sister, Mrs. Freeman, and her family...Mary dines there every Sunday and really she is much improved in their society...Her writing is beautiful & she is making handsome progress in Music. I heard her [play the] other day. Her finger and ear are both [ ] & the instrument a very fine one. Health & spirits she has plenty of both. I told Mr. Mackey to let her go with Mrs. Freeman a quarter to dancing which you will approve.”³

In 1808, Mary was 12 years old. Her parents decided not to send her back to Mr. Mackey’s school in the fall but to finish her education elsewhere. In the fall of 1809, Hamilton wrote that Mary met a Mrs. George in Carlisle who “has advanced a school and boarding house…” in Philadelphia, apparently to learn French. Mary would “be sent at the beginning of the year,” but in the mean time she was learning music in Carlisle “under a very excellent master….”⁴

Back in Philadelphia in 1809, Hamilton informed Brown that he would prefer Mary be placed with “a private family not in the habit of taking boarders, or [with] an elderly lady and her daughters...in short, someplace where [there are] no single young gentlemen; and of good reputation and if possible, polite in manners….” Hamilton also suggests that Brown’s wife may “have some female acquaintance who might receive Mary as a boarder. She would be little trouble in a family of females—the plan which I should prefer...The most important object to be obtained, besides [improving] her understanding, is to learn a graceful and becoming carriage and correct the inclination to stoop, which if not restrained immediately, will be incurable.”⁵

By 1813 Mary was 17, and her schooling was finished. Mr. Brown’s nephew, William Parker, was in Carlisle for a visit in September 1813 and reported to his uncle that Mary “has the management of the house since her return.”⁶ Why was Mary managing the house instead of her mother?

Mary’s health was not good, and that may have been why she never married. In June 1816, Isaac Brown Parker wrote to his Uncle John Brown that “Miss Hamilton is still in an uncompromising state of health. Her father has at last consented to permit her and James to travel. They set out in a few days for Sweet Springs.” (Mary had an attack of pleurisy in the spring.)

The few letters that exist, from or about Mary after she returned to Carlisle, add only random details about her life. On August 27, 1823, she wrote the following letter to her unmarried brother James who was on business in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Mary mentions their sister Emmeline who had died unexpectedly three weeks previously.

Dear James, According to your request I write to relieve you from any anxiety you may feel respecting us, although Mama is not quite well yet, there has not been any change for the worse but I think for the better in her. We spent yesterday out at the [ ?] place and she is gone to ride this afternoon. Mr. Gardner appears to be uneasy about the barn lest it should fall down with the grain in it. Mrs. Brackenridge’s vendue is going on today which has amused us a little. Mr. Parker and Aunt are very busy there buying. The McCoskry’s and Savage’s, Mr. Stiles said last night, were going to visit the York Springs today and return this evening.

I endeavored to persuade Mama and Susan to ride over to Chambersburg tomorrow and return the next day but they will not consent. If you find Chambersburg sickly do hasten home.

Let me press upon you my beloved brother the dying request of our sainted sister [Emmeline] whom your happiness in this world and the next seemed to be nearest her heart, that you would endeavor to get that sweet little girl in Chambersburg which if it were your lot I should now consider you among the happiest of men, but of course your own taste and feelings are first to be consulted. The lady in town [alas] like all other attempts at marriage in our family I fear will but end in disappointment. May the all mighty direct you in all things and return you in health and safety to us and give you every spiritual and temporal blessing that is good for you both in this world and the next is the ardent, ardent prayer and petition of my soul for you every day. Mama and Susan send their love. Ever your affectionate sister MH ⁷

Mary and her mother were traveling in 1830, either for, or despite, Mary’s health. She sent the following letter to her brother James and sister Susan from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to report on the trip.

My Dear James & Susan, No doubt you have been anxious to hear from us. We arrived this evening at five o’clock at Lancaster [Pennsylvania] a good deal fatigued as you may see by my writing. I do not know the day of the month, but this is the second day since we left home. The Lord has prospered us so far & blessed be his holy name. We have an elegant & [ ] each & a little [qurious] man to drive who is seated on a very high seat & draws a smile from all we meet. He drives well, is smart and obedient. We propose leaving this [place] tomorrow at 8 o’clock. Mr. Slaymaker has left this tavern and we like it better. Mr. [ ] of Harrisburg charged Ma & I three dollars for one night—almost as high as New York. I was obliged to keep nearly all closed to the road today to poor Mama’s annoyance as she loves fresh air. I hope the weather may continue fair. I have been better of my cough, night sweats. I have born the journey very well to Mama’s surprise. Our carriage is very easy and horses quiet. Ma says take care of yourself, sends her love. As ever your affectionate sister Mary Hamilton⁸

Mary and her mother were travelling again in the Spring of 1831, and Mary’s health was not good. Mary had less than seven months to live when her mother wrote the following letter to her son James from Savannah, Georgia on May 12, 1831:

My Dear James, We received yours dated 2d. I have been very thankful we did not go in the [ship] Francis as we intended as the weather had been unfavorable from your account—it was more so than I could have anticipated. We have taken our births [sic] in the Francis last Monday and to save Mary the trouble of writing I thought I would inform you when we intend leaving this place. We expect Captain Croft in a few days and he seldom stays more than a week. We hope to reach Philadelphia in about three weeks if we have a prosperous voyage which the Lord grant who has favored us hitherto. Please leave word at Mr. Creighton’s where we may take boarding when we arrive. 

Mary is very weak but not more so than when we left Philadelphia. We walked out this afternoon and she appeared fatigued—we are both tired of this place and want a change and shall look with some impatience to our sailing.

I am glad to hear Susan [daughter Mrs. J.V. E. Thorn] has gone to New York. The ride may be of service to her health. I suppose we shall not see her as she may have returned home before we reach Philadelphia. We have on hand more than $400. Mary joins me in love to all our friends. Your affectionate Mother, Sarah Hamilton⁹

Mary died on Saturday, December 17, 1831, and was buried in the family plot in Carlisle’s Old Graveyard. She was 34 years old.