Difference between revisions of ".OTY.MTA1"
(Created page with "<p>Dr. Thomas Ewell, the subject of this short sketch, was the descendant of</p><br /><p>an old and respectable Virginia family. His paternal ancestors, having</p><br /><p>j...") |
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− | + | <p>Dr. Thomas Ewell, the subject of this short sketch, was the descendant of</p> | |
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>an old and respectable Virginia family. His paternal ancestors, having</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>just received a large grant of land, emigrated, from the small town</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>that bear their name in England to Virginia during the joint reign of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>William & Mary. On the maternal side, he was the descendant</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of a French Huguenot family driven to this country by the revocation</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the edict of Charter during the latter part of the reign of Louis IV</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in France. His family first settled in one of the lower counties of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Virginia. The old mansion house built by the first settler of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>name, in Lancaster County, although fiercely bombarded during</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the past civil war, is yet standing and is in possession of one of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the lineal descendants of the family, bearing the family name</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and the name of the bay which it overlooks, (Ewell’s bay) still indicating</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the haven where the earliest settlers of the family first found rest</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>after their passage across the Atlantic. The family did not clus- </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ter around this comparatively tranquil spot. Dr. Ewell’s immediate</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>progenitor removed to Prince William County at a time when it</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was supposed that the now decaying town of Dumfries, would be one</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the commercial marts of the state. Unhappily, local [?] prevents</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>these hopes from ever being realized, and thus a severe blow was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>inflicted on the fortunes of his branch of the family. <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">We bo</span></p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>These oppressions of fortune, should not however present the exhi-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>bition of certain forcible and distinctive traits of character which</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>have been displayed (for good or for evil) in the Ewell family from generation to generation.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Under [?] so quiet, as almost to subject them to the charge of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>supreme indolence, they have, with few exceptions, concealed a face</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of courage and recklessness that carried them on in a manner</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>resembling the course of a whirlwind in whatever path they</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>might choose to follow. Dr. Ewell himself illustrated too for-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>cibly in his life this distinctive trait his short career [em ?] a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>hurricane of proportionate and mental activity out into the most [incredible?]</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>fulfillment, but this observation is perhaps too great a description</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>from one, at present, more immediate subject Dr. Ewell’s</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ancestors. His grandfather, a member of the house of Burgesses</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>during Colonial times was compelled to wear while occupying</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his seat in the house, a halter of rope around his neck</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>this signifying that, for sympathy with his loyal subjects,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he deserved the punishment of the halter and was repress-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ed only by the exercise of the royal clemency. The family have</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>been represented in every war that occurred after their arrival</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>on this continent. [Heirs?] of the name were in the war of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Revolution, There was not one of this crowd who did not distin-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>guish himself in whatever way he was called upon to act and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>family tradition is still [busy?] with the names and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>deeds of those who fought and suffered in our [past?]</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>In the earliest county records of Fauquier we trace them as being only</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of some of the most valuable land in the Piedmont Country</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was for independence. Dr. Ewell displayed the same energetic fire</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>that characterized his family in the field, in the more peaceful</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>[ ? } that was chosen for him. At an early age, he was placed by</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his father (Col. Ewell of Bel Air), with his companion Dr. Weems..one</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the physicians of the highest standing of those times, and residing</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in Georgetown at{the?} Town and beautifully initiated on the banks</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> of the Potomac in the District of Columbia. Dr. Ewell remained with Dr. Weems,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>until he was sufficiently advanced in his medical studies..to attend</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the lectures in Philadelphia of the Medical University of Pennsylvania.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>In this school, he completed his medical education, and graduated</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>with distinction before he had attained his twenty first year, after</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>correspondence with the distinguished professors of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>University, he, announcing to them his suggestion and ideas on</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the practice of medicine, and the nature of disease, and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>these being generally received with commendation by</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his former instructors in the healing art. Dr. Ewell returned to the Dis-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>trict of Columbia after the completion of his medical educa-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>tion, he then married Miss Stoddert, the oldest daughter of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>first Secretary of the Navy of the United States. After Dr. Ewell’s</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>marriage, he went to reside at the Navy Yard near Washington DC hop- <br /> ing ro a commission of Surgeon in the Navy. This commission was given</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to him by Thomas Jefferson, as a proof of the estimation in which he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>held the character and {?} of Dr. Ewell, and also as a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>testimony to the long enduring friendship that subsisted be-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>tween Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Ewell’s father, a friendship</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>which began when they were classmates at the then, proudly stand-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ing College of William and Mary, and which continued through</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the life of Col. Ewell. One proof of this affectionate attachment</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>subsisting between the two men, one, coveting privacy and retirement,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the other, one, whose life was always before the public, was that</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Mr. Jefferson in traveling from his home in Albemarle to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Washington, always deviated from his course, so as to enable him</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to spend a night with his old friend. The friendship so truly felt</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>for the father; was extended to the son. During the life of Mr. Jefferson</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he never failed to manifest his interest in Dr. Ewell. No application that</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Dr. Ewell ever made to him for consultation service was neglected. At</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>a severe crisis in Dr. Ewells affairs – the first and only person</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>that he thought of applying to was Thomas Jefferson and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>with an almost paternal feeling did he look toward him</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>for mental support and for commendation. Until the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>destruction of the family records by the {?} way Mr. Jefferson</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>letters to Dr. Ewell, full of {?} suggestions, how in diffi-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>cult positions of affairs to {act?} , full of the most dedicated</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>worded warnings were among the most highly prized </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the family records. Dr. Ewell held his commission </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>surgeon for but a few years, few incidents of {?} his life have {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?} he in one instance substantially befriended one of his subordinates</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>who afterwards was to {?} in his profession, on another the occasion</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he was very nearly made the victim of a mob, incited to action</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>by the widow of a man who had died with some unknown</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>disease of the brain, and whose head Dr. Ewell was in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>process of disposition when he found that this life would</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>be imperiled if he continued the physical investigation.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>He left the Navy Yard and went to reside on the Capitol Hill in Washing-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ton , here he entered into various and successful speculations. He</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>resided here for a short time and then went to live in George</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Town occupying the house built by Mr. Stoddert, one owned</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>by him at that time…here he remained until sometime</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>after the death of that Mr. Stoddert. During all the period he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was still carrying on multi {?} and profitable speculations</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and participating in the gay society of the period. Some of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the old people in George Town can recollect the festivity that</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>formerly took place in his hospitable mansion, and the hospitality he showed to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>all who visited him.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Dr. Ewell disliked the practice of medicine, unless the case was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>an exciting one, such as to call out his powers of analysis in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the symptoms and {?} of disease, and the discovery of new</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and better mode of treatment for diseases, than the good established</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>methods. He was undoubtedly the first physician in the country who</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>employed in, as a means of curing violent dysentery. In that</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> tedious complaint, the {?} disease his mode of creative</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>treatment was eminently successful. Here he carried out his own</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ideas and in at least one instance we know that he certainly</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>confirmed lasting benefit on a patient who but for his case and hu-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>manity would have miserably perished. There are doubtless numerous</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>other instances of Dr. Ewell’s humanity and skill, that might be</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>used in his treatment and cure of diseases, but they are lost to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his friends except of vague recollections. He boasted little of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his skills was not addicted to talking of his own exploits, and was con-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>tent if the means he used for the recovery of a patient was enough</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>without perhaps sufficiently appreciating the originality of his</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>own mind and the new and successful paths that he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>occasionally struck out in medical science. The fact</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of his being the first physician who employed ice as internal</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and external remedy for the relief of dysentery was only</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>made known to his friends in consequence of another </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>physician taking the credit to himself for the discovery of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>remedy..and this fact being more known to a third person</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>who took {?} trouble to indicate Dr. Ewell’s practice of med-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>icine than he thought it worthwhile to take for himself</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>It was such a small chance that his skill in curing the painful</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Disease of the hip joint was discovered to his friends</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?.....} {words?} ,for</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the manufacture of powder, near B Castleberry? This way</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>were greatly in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants of what</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>quiet the borough, who found the dangers they might</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>have to word{?} from the explosion, that were to be effect-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ted at these mills…particularly under the supposed</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>reckless management of Dr. Ewell. There was but one</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>explosion while he owned them. They passed out of his</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>hands to parties who bought, {word?} by some quiet w{word?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>retained them without ever making the smallest</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>payment upon them, and in whose hands they</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{word?} so seriously as to cause far greater damage than</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ever had been done by their first owner. Dr. Ewell displayed</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his usual {word?} making every research into the {word?} &</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>best method of {word?} and doubtless left</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>many hints on this subject which have proved valuable</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to those who have since engaged in the manufacture of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>powder. From his various speculations and his financial</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ability he succeeded in making a large fortune, in spite</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the heavy {word?} copy he sustained through the {word?} of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his various {word?} but the wheel turned after a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>while, and before his death he lost much of what</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he had amassed in the early part of his career.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>After this period of his life, he determined to recommend</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the practice of medicine, and for that purpose went again to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Philadelphia to attend a third course of {?} for the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>purpose of renewing his medical knowledge,-this done, after</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>another short residence in the district of Columbia he returned</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to his native state, here after a few years of {?} life</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{…………..}his days in the flower of his age, having</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{………………..}more during his short life, than the generality</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{…………….}do in one indefinitely prolonged</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>as to his authorship. He early manifested an irreparable</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>inclination for authorship. Before he was of age he wrote</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>a work on Chemistry. This work was encouraged by Mr. Jefferson</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>after this, he wrote several works, principally on the diseases,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of women and children. His last entire medical work</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was “The Family Physician”? This appeared before the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>public at a great disadvantage, he having lost the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>original copy, and being then compelled through</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>previous arrangements made with his publisher to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>write hurriedly and from memory, the sheets as they</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>were wanted by the publisher.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Previous to this he wrote pamphlets on medical and other</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> subjects, that are now lost-the writer of this sketch has been</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>informed by one of Dr. Ewell’s other medical friends-that all these,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>whether the subject was entirely on medicine in its various branches</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>introductions were brilliant in an uncommon degree and that in the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>pamphlets written by him {?} that were confined to medical</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>subjects , both the practice of medicine was treated by him</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in a masterly manner</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Those that he wrote on the various theories of medicine</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and its {concom } sciences displayed the profound</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>utmost scientific conceptions and difficult of belief as it may</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Seem – that these{concretionary ?} originated with him before</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the same ideas were promoted after by the medical</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>School of Paris-as new and important discoveries</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in the science of medicine. Dr. Ewell published</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Hughes {Epays?} for which he received the public</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>censure of the Catholic Church in George Town</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and the {? ?} criticism of one of the bishops in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the Episcopal Church of the United States his ex-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>cuse for publishing them in reprinting along with the same reasons</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was that he placed the anti-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>dote by the side of the person, moreover he was a believer</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in the truth of Christianity_and he gave the public credit for</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the same amount of intellect he had himself. He</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>could read these works—extract what was valuable</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>from them without being affected by (word?} contained</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in them. At a closer perusal of them however, unfortunately, after they were published</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he regretted having done so. In addition to his</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>scientific researches, Dr. Ewell prepared a large find of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>literary and historical knowledge. There never lived a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>person who could better appreciate a noble sentiment or</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>an appreciation that called forth the finer and more tender</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>feelings of our nature. With all the best English poets he was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> familiar-and the {? {?] he received from them were forever</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in his mind and on his lips, these intellectual achievements {??}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>without assistance from others separate from his family. At an early age</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he was thrown entirely on his own {?} of pursuits and of (?} {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>he was still a young man but even then, his powers, were thoughts</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and was principally for those of the highest intellectual nature</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Sufficient to this being placed in the medical {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to that winter in the University of Pennsylvania by the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>death of Dr. Dorsey. So high was the appreciation of his talents</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>however, by the original brilliant production that he was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in the constant habit of reading before the Medical Society.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>There established, but unfortunately his mind although capable</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of profound research on difficult subjects had</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>never been trained to the habits of self-control and self-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>constraint. His death in the flower of his age with all the fine qualities</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of head and heart {word?} give pleasure to himself in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>this experience, and benefit others by their influence upon</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the well being of society were although not entirely lost, much observed by the defects</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of his early training. Perhaps it is as well to close this</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>short account of Dr. Ewell by saying that although he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was a firm Federalist in politics, even teaching these to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>each of his children as were old enough to understand the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>subject, he was nevertheless {?} true to his own State</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of Virginia and would perhaps not have disapproved</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the course taken in our last Civil War by his sons,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>one of whom, was said in a New York Herald of April</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of the year 65 after the past career of his life, to be content</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to be a Col. in the Rebel Army and aide to Gen. Johnston.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>General Ewell another son of Dr. Ewell is too</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>well known as one of the active generals in the past {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to mention here more about him than his {word?} from</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Dr. Ewell. Dr. Ewell lost a son in the war with malaria at the battle of {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?} This youth called</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>after his father, inherited perhaps more than</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>any of his children his brilliant talents of his son</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>but his couse was like that of his father, destined to be</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>a short one. With every promise of brilliant {save?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>up in what ever path of life he might choose to</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>follow, at the moment when history principally</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in consequence of his expectations had declared itself</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>on the side for which he was contending with the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>praises and lamentations of the chief of command</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?} in his years. He died in the morning of life</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> and on the battle field.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 6 Spinners? Ct.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Leesington ?St. Balti</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> May 17th ‘67</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Gen’ Benj. S. Ewell</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Pres of Wm & Mary College</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Williamsburg, VA</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> My dear Sir</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Some</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>time before the War I rec’d an agree-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>able letter from you in reply to some</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>questions I had propounded upon the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>matter of our common ancestry. The let-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ter, with other valuable (?), was left</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in my office in {alas?} & destroyed by the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>vandals! But, if my memory serves me,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>it won’t imperfectly realized my copies</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{ ? } , in that it failed to go into</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>particulars. I am devoting my</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>leisure to the compiling of a family</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>history in {Vas?} which is already</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the most perfect of the kind in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>this country..containing nearly one</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>hundred & fifty pages of notes..but</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I aim to make it a valuable reference</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in all time hereafter, and shall not</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>be satisfied until it is complete in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>all its parts.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Let me tell you what I</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>know about our family that you may then</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>more readily supply what I don’t know</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of couse I speak now of the Ewells &</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Bertrands of whom I know very little.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> As you are aware – my great, great-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>grandfather Dr. James {Crank?} married</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>a dau. of Bertrand Ewell. Now I</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>find that this gentleman married Fran-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>cis..but what her last name was does</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>not transpire. Then I know that Mrs.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Crank had a brother Jesse Ewell, father</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> of Dr. James Ewell: and that there was a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Thos. {Winder?} Ewell {?} contemporary with</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>him, but further about the family</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of Ewell & their inter marriages I am en-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>tirely ignorant except that Bertrand Ew-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ells’ father Chas. Ewell m. Charlotte</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>dau. of Jean Bertrand, a minister of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Church of England and a Huguenot re-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>fuge. I know, too, that a dau. of {this?} Jno</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Bertrand was Mary Ann m. a Ball</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>there was a Wm. Bertrand {?} in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>St. Mary’s Parrish Lancaster Co. somewhere be-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>tween 1737 & 1756. I know too that Jean</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Bertrand m. (1686) Charlotte Jolly, said to be</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>dau. of a French Nobleman(!) and I recall</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>that the Griffins & Wrights are descended from</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Wm. Betrand son of Rev. Jno. B. I know too that Paul Bertrand</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>bro. of Jno. married & had { ? }, Paul who married and died without</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>issue about 1755 and this is all I know of the Bertrands & their</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>intermarriages. I suppose you can tell me little more but of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Ewell you have undoubtedly much more information than I have.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> I have a note, too of our connection through my ancestor {Gov?]</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{Tasker?} whos dau. Elizabeth m. Christopher {Loudes?} Esq. and their dau.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>m. {Levi?} {Grant?} of {Evaden?} P. George Co. and had {?} Christopher {Loudes?} {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>m {?} Major Benj. Stoddart. Antoher dau. of Christopher Laundes & Eliza-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>beth {Tasker?} m. Major Benj Stoddart (Secretary of Navy) and their dau. m.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?} father I believe.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Pray let me have all you know about</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the Ewells from the beginning. I have an elaborate history of the Bla-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{dens?} & {Taskers?}, which is at your service if you feel interested in such</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>inquiries. I am an enthusiast on the subject and find no sym-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>pathy in any quarter. Even my dear Mother, who loves me most ten-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>derly takes very little interest in my researches.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Another request &</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I am done. May I beg you to get someone whose time is not so value-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ble as your own to examine the records at Williamsburg..the wills</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>for the names Forrest & West. My {?} ancestor Thomas Forrest</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>came to Jamestown in 1609 and brought his son with him. His will is</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>probably on file in your clerk’s office & The Wests are doubtfully there.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I presume they have an index alphabetically arranged of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>wills , and what I want is .. the recitals of pedigree contained</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in them. It is a labour of several hours and I am almost a-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>shamed to ask you to undergo it even vicariously.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> I am currently</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>engaged in the practice of law or rather I am faithfully ap-</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>plying for business. Thus far..with little encouragement but {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>desperation..as there is a rift in the cloud just now. In my hours</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of leisure I work leisurely upon a novel I have had in hand for</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>some time, a historical romance of the 12th and 14th centuries. It is</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>christened ‘The {Blad ?? } of Upton’ I reckon if it will see the light.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Pray direct me to sources of information in the matter</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>that has formed the burden of this my song and indulge me on this</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>my acknowledged weakness. As the present { ??) {gloomies?} & my fortunes</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>come the pleasure..the consulation I derive from my telescopic retrospect</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{?} and the most uncharitable (those who have the shortest</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>pedigree) can only sympathize my {un ??} researches..as a {“weakling”??}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{? ? ? } their surprising than a man of sense should derive any</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>pleasure from {? ? ? ? } labourer.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Wishing you every</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{/}, & the fulfillment of your hopes. I have the honour {?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Dear Sir {?} great respect</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> your friend & kinsman</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Douglas F. Forrest</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Wicomico House Dec. 15th 1868</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> {Mi? } B. S. Ewell, Georgetown, D. C.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> My Dear Cousin,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> I have received your letter inquiring into</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the pedigree of the Stoddert family of Md.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>James Stoddert was an immigrant from Scotland and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>settled in Maryland about 200 years ago. He was an</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>educated man & brought with him some money. He was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>appointed not long after his arrival, surveyor General of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the Colony. Your Grandfather said to me when speaking</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of him, that he was the wisest and best of his family. His</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>eldest son, my great grandfather was John Stoddert and a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>great acquirer of land & other property. He left an estate</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to each of his five sons & to one of his three daughters.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Married a Miss Susan Greenfield, daughter of {Kenelm?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Chiseltine Esq. a large land holder of St. Mary’s County, and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>granddaughter of Thomas Genard, Lord of Boomley in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Leicestershire, England. From the date of this marriage</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>all my family have had added as a baptismal name. Youman</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>it is said a large property in England was settled by entail</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>to descend in succession to the heirs in {tail}, conditional he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>held the name of Youman. His eldest son was John Youman</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Stoddert, my gd. Father. He was a member of the House of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Burgesses:- Married Lucy {Herberd?} Smallwood, eldest daughter</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 2</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of Major General Wm. Smallwood of the Maryland line</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in the War of independence. He died young, leaving one</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>child, my Father, William Youman Stoddert, who was an</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>x {Burgo?} Major (Major) to his Uncle, and died at the age of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>34 from disease caused by hardships of Camp life. He</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>married Sally Massey, daughter of the Rev. Lee Massey</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of Fairfax County, VA. The friend & neighbor of Washington & George</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Mason, whose sister was the mother of his 34d wife. (Rev. Lee Massey’s 3rd wife)</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I am only son & surviving child of this marriage…So much for</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>my branch of James Stoddert’s descendants. By a second marriage, he</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>had a son who was the father of your Grandfather, the late Major</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Benj. {?} Stoddert, two daughters, one married to Mr. John {Naw?} of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>this county, who afterwards removed to Georgetown & held office as Clerk</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in one of the executive departments. the other sister was married to a</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Mr. {Smoot?}. (probably Sleigh or Slye) Mr. Slye was his sister’s son.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Your gt. grandfather intermarried with the Marshall</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>family of this county: an old & prominent, & wealthy family.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I do not recollect the name of your great grandfather & half brother</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>of my great grandfather. Thomas killed Ft. {Tunalloway?}. He was a Captain Major in the British</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Army when Md. was a Colony & built the Fort bearing his name</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>on the Southern Frontier of British { ? } dividing it from</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Louisiana, then a Spanish Colony. Your Grandfather entered into</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the service of this State as Captain of Cavalry..near about the time</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>my Father left the University of PA at 17 years old, to do his part as</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 3</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>1st Lt. of Infantry. Excuse this crude scrawl & believe</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>me Yours sincerely, J. Y. Stoddert.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>PS Col. Sir John Stoddert (the friend of Sr. Walter Scott) who so</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>distinguishes himself under Gen. Willesby (Sir Arthur Willesby)</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in the E. Indies & was knighted way, I am sure of our family.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Later he adds, “ {?} my Stoddert kin”?</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 2nd Letter</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Baltimore, Jan 7th 1869</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>I gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>grandfather’s likeness. I could not have had a more</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>acceptable testimony of your respect & esteem. His name</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>is historic, & no worthy man knew him who did not</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>venerate & honor him. Few such are now to be found among</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>our public men. Your brothers have supported</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the honor of our House</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Accept my sincere wishes for your health & happiness.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Very truly your kinsman & Friend</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> J. Y. Stoddert</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>These are facts of interest in the above: but the sister of our</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Grandfather, who married Mr. {Nau?} was not the daughter of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>the British officer Captain Thomas Stoddert: This widow</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>married again, and she was positively half sister: another father.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>The Forbes of Charles County of fashion and high position, and wealth</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>were his relations. The 2nd marriage of the widow, { ? } the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>children of the 1st marriage: so said Major Benj. Stoddert.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 4</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> There was sometime in the decade between 1830 & 40, some effort</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>or stir made, I think in “Va to give something like</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>gratuity to the descendants of those who has fallen</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>under Braddock. Aunt Rebecca then in Va wrote out</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>a petition in the name of heirs of Captain Thomas</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Stoddert, a fact of Christian name, as well known by</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Mother and herself, as the name “Christopher”? of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>another Grandfather. They had heard their Father too often</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>mention his Father’s name, to mistake it. {Wm. ??}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>who married Miss Stuart, whose Father lived a few</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>miles from {Stronglonesome?} near Cedar run, South East,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was the agent. I presume only Virginians were to be {remunerated?}</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and he informed her. I think the Va. Legislature originated it</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>As to falsehoods of tradition, a slip of the Republican was shown</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>given to me which professing to be a {?} of some of the past of Georgetown</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>mentioned the unpretending residence of the 1st { ? ? ? ? }</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>at full length) as on Bridge Street, South side, near Scotch Lane</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and Duck Alley! I corrected it in a long proof of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>residence as it was, and added other corrections, when it was</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>said in { ? } “Mrs. Ewell married Dr. Ewell and went directly to his</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>farm in Va.”? It was all published same paper: my rebuttals.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> Why say that Tory influence carried GrandFather out of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{Rev.?} Army? This would be utterly unworthy a man of his sound</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>calm judgement, and would injure his memory reputation.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 5</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>why not, justly attribute it to the wound so severe</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> whence the ball was never extracted and</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> which, he said, was the cause of at times almost</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>intense pain in his side, which forced him in</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>{Bladensburgh?} (Cousin Ben { ? } told me from his</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Father’s report) to lie in the room on a sofa leaving the table, and guests at</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>their wine around it. Grandmother speaks of this pain</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in her letters from Philphia?, as being better or worse</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>He said the {Tow? }; were weak, but good. Would he be influenced</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>in a point of honor and practice or conduct by them. As to { ? } most gentlemen</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>and ladies were that, in Maryland. They knew too much of the</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Socialization to be otherwise in honor and sentiment; but</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>it did not keep the gentlemen from fighting , {?} to have</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>more liberty and fewer taxes. Who { ? } himself in results a more practical Tory</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>than {Earol?} of Carrolton, or Signer by all his descendants</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>marrying, when they would { ? } of rank. Christopher</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>Loundes?, I think from his business complications in Bladensburgh? ,</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>was not troubled much at the revolt; but as a gentleman of</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>family liked his ancestors. I do not think Grandfather would have</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>staid a day from Military duty from his influence. I think</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>indeed, at would injure him to publish this on surmise. I always</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>when necessary to speak or writhe, gave the above severe wound, the retained</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>ball and the pain which was habitual, thought not constant. I think</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>as the cause of the retreat from active service. He said it would end</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p>his life, he thought, and his sudden death may have been a result.</p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | <p> 6</p> | ||
+ | <p>I copied Major J. Stoddert’s letters because I thought</p> | ||
+ | <p>it would worry you to decipher the first one. I had</p> | ||
+ | <p>great difficulty. He was the beloved friend of Gen. Pierce</p> | ||
+ | <p>who wanted him in his Cabinet, but was overruled by</p> | ||
+ | <p>advisers, because he was too fond of a { ? }. He could do just</p> | ||
+ | <p>what he pleased with Gen. Pierce always: and your case</p> | ||
+ | <p>was sure if he asked for you anything. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">This I know. </span></p> | ||
+ | <p>The genealogy letter I sent once to {M. L. Reown?} grandson, who had</p> | ||
+ | <p>a nice marriage, he wrote in {N. Orleans?} in consequence</p> | ||
+ | <p>but, that was written to me by him in early married life. I do not know how he is now!</p> | ||
+ | <p>Are you not satisfied as to Thomas Stoddert? (As to</p> | ||
+ | <p>getting records, some chief clerk had the impudence ot</p> | ||
+ | <p>tell me “there was no “Ewell”? in revolutionary</p> | ||
+ | <p>military records!”? He did not understand state records and</p> | ||
+ | <p>U. S. records as being a little less difference, one from the others)</p> | ||
+ | <p>Why would “Land Warrants”? have been given to an officer</p> | ||
+ | <p>who left active service, from change of principle? Mr. & Mrs. Adams were remarkably fond of him, so Grand-mother was told in Phila. she writes, and they always gave proofs to him and to her of this regard..He was too clever, sound judging, and modest, to say anything in regard of self, he was not obliged to: and from Mother, so accurate always, and never asserting a doubtful thing as fact. I learned much in our retired Virginia life.</p> |
Revision as of 15:23, 8 August 2017
Dr. Thomas Ewell, the subject of this short sketch, was the descendant of
an old and respectable Virginia family. His paternal ancestors, having
just received a large grant of land, emigrated, from the small town
that bear their name in England to Virginia during the joint reign of
William & Mary. On the maternal side, he was the descendant
of a French Huguenot family driven to this country by the revocation
of the edict of Charter during the latter part of the reign of Louis IV
in France. His family first settled in one of the lower counties of
Virginia. The old mansion house built by the first settler of the
name, in Lancaster County, although fiercely bombarded during
the past civil war, is yet standing and is in possession of one of
the lineal descendants of the family, bearing the family name
and the name of the bay which it overlooks, (Ewell’s bay) still indicating
the haven where the earliest settlers of the family first found rest
after their passage across the Atlantic. The family did not clus-
ter around this comparatively tranquil spot. Dr. Ewell’s immediate
progenitor removed to Prince William County at a time when it
was supposed that the now decaying town of Dumfries, would be one
of the commercial marts of the state. Unhappily, local [?] prevents
these hopes from ever being realized, and thus a severe blow was
inflicted on the fortunes of his branch of the family. We bo
These oppressions of fortune, should not however present the exhi-
bition of certain forcible and distinctive traits of character which
have been displayed (for good or for evil) in the Ewell family from generation to generation.
Under [?] so quiet, as almost to subject them to the charge of
supreme indolence, they have, with few exceptions, concealed a face
of courage and recklessness that carried them on in a manner
resembling the course of a whirlwind in whatever path they
might choose to follow. Dr. Ewell himself illustrated too for-
cibly in his life this distinctive trait his short career [em ?] a
hurricane of proportionate and mental activity out into the most [incredible?]
fulfillment, but this observation is perhaps too great a description
from one, at present, more immediate subject Dr. Ewell’s
ancestors. His grandfather, a member of the house of Burgesses
during Colonial times was compelled to wear while occupying
his seat in the house, a halter of rope around his neck
this signifying that, for sympathy with his loyal subjects,
he deserved the punishment of the halter and was repress-
ed only by the exercise of the royal clemency. The family have
been represented in every war that occurred after their arrival
on this continent. [Heirs?] of the name were in the war of the
Revolution, There was not one of this crowd who did not distin-
guish himself in whatever way he was called upon to act and
family tradition is still [busy?] with the names and
deeds of those who fought and suffered in our [past?]
In the earliest county records of Fauquier we trace them as being only
of some of the most valuable land in the Piedmont Country
was for independence. Dr. Ewell displayed the same energetic fire
that characterized his family in the field, in the more peaceful
[ ? } that was chosen for him. At an early age, he was placed by
his father (Col. Ewell of Bel Air), with his companion Dr. Weems..one
of the physicians of the highest standing of those times, and residing
in Georgetown at{the?} Town and beautifully initiated on the banks
of the Potomac in the District of Columbia. Dr. Ewell remained with Dr. Weems,
until he was sufficiently advanced in his medical studies..to attend
the lectures in Philadelphia of the Medical University of Pennsylvania.
In this school, he completed his medical education, and graduated
with distinction before he had attained his twenty first year, after
correspondence with the distinguished professors of the
University, he, announcing to them his suggestion and ideas on
the practice of medicine, and the nature of disease, and
these being generally received with commendation by
his former instructors in the healing art. Dr. Ewell returned to the Dis-
trict of Columbia after the completion of his medical educa-
tion, he then married Miss Stoddert, the oldest daughter of the
first Secretary of the Navy of the United States. After Dr. Ewell’s
marriage, he went to reside at the Navy Yard near Washington DC hop-
ing ro a commission of Surgeon in the Navy. This commission was given
to him by Thomas Jefferson, as a proof of the estimation in which he
held the character and {?} of Dr. Ewell, and also as a
testimony to the long enduring friendship that subsisted be-
tween Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Ewell’s father, a friendship
which began when they were classmates at the then, proudly stand-
ing College of William and Mary, and which continued through
the life of Col. Ewell. One proof of this affectionate attachment
subsisting between the two men, one, coveting privacy and retirement,
the other, one, whose life was always before the public, was that
Mr. Jefferson in traveling from his home in Albemarle to
Washington, always deviated from his course, so as to enable him
to spend a night with his old friend. The friendship so truly felt
for the father; was extended to the son. During the life of Mr. Jefferson
he never failed to manifest his interest in Dr. Ewell. No application that
Dr. Ewell ever made to him for consultation service was neglected. At
a severe crisis in Dr. Ewells affairs – the first and only person
that he thought of applying to was Thomas Jefferson and
with an almost paternal feeling did he look toward him
for mental support and for commendation. Until the
destruction of the family records by the {?} way Mr. Jefferson
letters to Dr. Ewell, full of {?} suggestions, how in diffi-
cult positions of affairs to {act?} , full of the most dedicated
worded warnings were among the most highly prized
of the family records. Dr. Ewell held his commission
surgeon for but a few years, few incidents of {?} his life have {?}
{?} he in one instance substantially befriended one of his subordinates
who afterwards was to {?} in his profession, on another the occasion
he was very nearly made the victim of a mob, incited to action
by the widow of a man who had died with some unknown
disease of the brain, and whose head Dr. Ewell was in
process of disposition when he found that this life would
be imperiled if he continued the physical investigation.
He left the Navy Yard and went to reside on the Capitol Hill in Washing-
ton , here he entered into various and successful speculations. He
resided here for a short time and then went to live in George
Town occupying the house built by Mr. Stoddert, one owned
by him at that time…here he remained until sometime
after the death of that Mr. Stoddert. During all the period he
was still carrying on multi {?} and profitable speculations
and participating in the gay society of the period. Some of
the old people in George Town can recollect the festivity that
formerly took place in his hospitable mansion, and the hospitality he showed to
all who visited him.
Dr. Ewell disliked the practice of medicine, unless the case was
an exciting one, such as to call out his powers of analysis in
the symptoms and {?} of disease, and the discovery of new
and better mode of treatment for diseases, than the good established
methods. He was undoubtedly the first physician in the country who
employed in, as a means of curing violent dysentery. In that
tedious complaint, the {?} disease his mode of creative
treatment was eminently successful. Here he carried out his own
ideas and in at least one instance we know that he certainly
confirmed lasting benefit on a patient who but for his case and hu-
manity would have miserably perished. There are doubtless numerous
other instances of Dr. Ewell’s humanity and skill, that might be
used in his treatment and cure of diseases, but they are lost to
his friends except of vague recollections. He boasted little of
his skills was not addicted to talking of his own exploits, and was con-
tent if the means he used for the recovery of a patient was enough
without perhaps sufficiently appreciating the originality of his
own mind and the new and successful paths that he
occasionally struck out in medical science. The fact
of his being the first physician who employed ice as internal
and external remedy for the relief of dysentery was only
made known to his friends in consequence of another
physician taking the credit to himself for the discovery of the
remedy..and this fact being more known to a third person
who took {?} trouble to indicate Dr. Ewell’s practice of med-
icine than he thought it worthwhile to take for himself
It was such a small chance that his skill in curing the painful
Disease of the hip joint was discovered to his friends
{?.....} {words?} ,for
the manufacture of powder, near B Castleberry? This way
were greatly in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants of what
quiet the borough, who found the dangers they might
have to word{?} from the explosion, that were to be effect-
ted at these mills…particularly under the supposed
reckless management of Dr. Ewell. There was but one
explosion while he owned them. They passed out of his
hands to parties who bought, {word?} by some quiet w{word?}
retained them without ever making the smallest
payment upon them, and in whose hands they
{word?} so seriously as to cause far greater damage than
ever had been done by their first owner. Dr. Ewell displayed
his usual {word?} making every research into the {word?} &
best method of {word?} and doubtless left
many hints on this subject which have proved valuable
to those who have since engaged in the manufacture of
powder. From his various speculations and his financial
ability he succeeded in making a large fortune, in spite
of the heavy {word?} copy he sustained through the {word?} of
his various {word?} but the wheel turned after a
while, and before his death he lost much of what
he had amassed in the early part of his career.
After this period of his life, he determined to recommend
the practice of medicine, and for that purpose went again to
Philadelphia to attend a third course of {?} for the
purpose of renewing his medical knowledge,-this done, after
another short residence in the district of Columbia he returned
to his native state, here after a few years of {?} life
{…………..}his days in the flower of his age, having
{………………..}more during his short life, than the generality
{…………….}do in one indefinitely prolonged
as to his authorship. He early manifested an irreparable
inclination for authorship. Before he was of age he wrote
a work on Chemistry. This work was encouraged by Mr. Jefferson
after this, he wrote several works, principally on the diseases,
of women and children. His last entire medical work
was “The Family Physician”? This appeared before the
public at a great disadvantage, he having lost the
original copy, and being then compelled through
previous arrangements made with his publisher to
write hurriedly and from memory, the sheets as they
were wanted by the publisher.
Previous to this he wrote pamphlets on medical and other
subjects, that are now lost-the writer of this sketch has been
informed by one of Dr. Ewell’s other medical friends-that all these,
whether the subject was entirely on medicine in its various branches
introductions were brilliant in an uncommon degree and that in the
pamphlets written by him {?} that were confined to medical
subjects , both the practice of medicine was treated by him
in a masterly manner
Those that he wrote on the various theories of medicine
and its {concom } sciences displayed the profound
utmost scientific conceptions and difficult of belief as it may
Seem – that these{concretionary ?} originated with him before
the same ideas were promoted after by the medical
School of Paris-as new and important discoveries
in the science of medicine. Dr. Ewell published
Hughes {Epays?} for which he received the public
censure of the Catholic Church in George Town
and the {? ?} criticism of one of the bishops in
the Episcopal Church of the United States his ex-
cuse for publishing them in reprinting along with the same reasons
was that he placed the anti-
dote by the side of the person, moreover he was a believer
in the truth of Christianity_and he gave the public credit for
the same amount of intellect he had himself. He
could read these works—extract what was valuable
from them without being affected by (word?} contained
in them. At a closer perusal of them however, unfortunately, after they were published
he regretted having done so. In addition to his
scientific researches, Dr. Ewell prepared a large find of
literary and historical knowledge. There never lived a
person who could better appreciate a noble sentiment or
an appreciation that called forth the finer and more tender
feelings of our nature. With all the best English poets he was
familiar-and the {? {?] he received from them were forever
in his mind and on his lips, these intellectual achievements {??}
without assistance from others separate from his family. At an early age
he was thrown entirely on his own {?} of pursuits and of (?} {?}
he was still a young man but even then, his powers, were thoughts
and was principally for those of the highest intellectual nature
Sufficient to this being placed in the medical {?}
to that winter in the University of Pennsylvania by the
death of Dr. Dorsey. So high was the appreciation of his talents
however, by the original brilliant production that he was
in the constant habit of reading before the Medical Society.
There established, but unfortunately his mind although capable
of profound research on difficult subjects had
never been trained to the habits of self-control and self-
constraint. His death in the flower of his age with all the fine qualities
of head and heart {word?} give pleasure to himself in
this experience, and benefit others by their influence upon
the well being of society were although not entirely lost, much observed by the defects
of his early training. Perhaps it is as well to close this
short account of Dr. Ewell by saying that although he
was a firm Federalist in politics, even teaching these to
each of his children as were old enough to understand the
subject, he was nevertheless {?} true to his own State
of Virginia and would perhaps not have disapproved
of the course taken in our last Civil War by his sons,
one of whom, was said in a New York Herald of April
of the year 65 after the past career of his life, to be content
to be a Col. in the Rebel Army and aide to Gen. Johnston.
General Ewell another son of Dr. Ewell is too
well known as one of the active generals in the past {?}
to mention here more about him than his {word?} from
Dr. Ewell. Dr. Ewell lost a son in the war with malaria at the battle of {?}
{?} This youth called
after his father, inherited perhaps more than
any of his children his brilliant talents of his son
but his couse was like that of his father, destined to be
a short one. With every promise of brilliant {save?}
up in what ever path of life he might choose to
follow, at the moment when history principally
in consequence of his expectations had declared itself
on the side for which he was contending with the
praises and lamentations of the chief of command
{?} in his years. He died in the morning of life
and on the battle field.
6 Spinners? Ct.
Leesington ?St. Balti
May 17th ‘67
Gen’ Benj. S. Ewell
Pres of Wm & Mary College
Williamsburg, VA
My dear Sir
Some
time before the War I rec’d an agree-
able letter from you in reply to some
questions I had propounded upon the
matter of our common ancestry. The let-
ter, with other valuable (?), was left
in my office in {alas?} & destroyed by the
vandals! But, if my memory serves me,
it won’t imperfectly realized my copies
{ ? } , in that it failed to go into
particulars. I am devoting my
leisure to the compiling of a family
history in {Vas?} which is already
the most perfect of the kind in
this country..containing nearly one
hundred & fifty pages of notes..but
I aim to make it a valuable reference
in all time hereafter, and shall not
be satisfied until it is complete in
all its parts.
Let me tell you what I
know about our family that you may then
more readily supply what I don’t know
of couse I speak now of the Ewells &
Bertrands of whom I know very little.
As you are aware – my great, great-
grandfather Dr. James {Crank?} married
a dau. of Bertrand Ewell. Now I
find that this gentleman married Fran-
cis..but what her last name was does
not transpire. Then I know that Mrs.
Crank had a brother Jesse Ewell, father
of Dr. James Ewell: and that there was a
Thos. {Winder?} Ewell {?} contemporary with
him, but further about the family
of Ewell & their inter marriages I am en-
tirely ignorant except that Bertrand Ew-
ells’ father Chas. Ewell m. Charlotte
dau. of Jean Bertrand, a minister of the
Church of England and a Huguenot re-
fuge. I know, too, that a dau. of {this?} Jno
Bertrand was Mary Ann m. a Ball
there was a Wm. Bertrand {?} in
St. Mary’s Parrish Lancaster Co. somewhere be-
tween 1737 & 1756. I know too that Jean
Bertrand m. (1686) Charlotte Jolly, said to be
dau. of a French Nobleman(!) and I recall
that the Griffins & Wrights are descended from
Wm. Betrand son of Rev. Jno. B. I know too that Paul Bertrand
bro. of Jno. married & had { ? }, Paul who married and died without
issue about 1755 and this is all I know of the Bertrands & their
intermarriages. I suppose you can tell me little more but of the
Ewell you have undoubtedly much more information than I have.
I have a note, too of our connection through my ancestor {Gov?]
{Tasker?} whos dau. Elizabeth m. Christopher {Loudes?} Esq. and their dau.
m. {Levi?} {Grant?} of {Evaden?} P. George Co. and had {?} Christopher {Loudes?} {?}
m {?} Major Benj. Stoddart. Antoher dau. of Christopher Laundes & Eliza-
beth {Tasker?} m. Major Benj Stoddart (Secretary of Navy) and their dau. m.
{?} father I believe.
Pray let me have all you know about
the Ewells from the beginning. I have an elaborate history of the Bla-
{dens?} & {Taskers?}, which is at your service if you feel interested in such
inquiries. I am an enthusiast on the subject and find no sym-
pathy in any quarter. Even my dear Mother, who loves me most ten-
derly takes very little interest in my researches.
Another request &
I am done. May I beg you to get someone whose time is not so value-
ble as your own to examine the records at Williamsburg..the wills
for the names Forrest & West. My {?} ancestor Thomas Forrest
came to Jamestown in 1609 and brought his son with him. His will is
probably on file in your clerk’s office & The Wests are doubtfully there.
I presume they have an index alphabetically arranged of
wills , and what I want is .. the recitals of pedigree contained
in them. It is a labour of several hours and I am almost a-
shamed to ask you to undergo it even vicariously.
I am currently
engaged in the practice of law or rather I am faithfully ap-
plying for business. Thus far..with little encouragement but {?}
desperation..as there is a rift in the cloud just now. In my hours
of leisure I work leisurely upon a novel I have had in hand for
some time, a historical romance of the 12th and 14th centuries. It is
christened ‘The {Blad ?? } of Upton’ I reckon if it will see the light.
Pray direct me to sources of information in the matter
that has formed the burden of this my song and indulge me on this
my acknowledged weakness. As the present { ??) {gloomies?} & my fortunes
come the pleasure..the consulation I derive from my telescopic retrospect
{?} and the most uncharitable (those who have the shortest
pedigree) can only sympathize my {un ??} researches..as a {“weakling”??}
{? ? ? } their surprising than a man of sense should derive any
pleasure from {? ? ? ? } labourer.
Wishing you every
{/}, & the fulfillment of your hopes. I have the honour {?}
Dear Sir {?} great respect
your friend & kinsman
Douglas F. Forrest
Wicomico House Dec. 15th 1868
{Mi? } B. S. Ewell, Georgetown, D. C.
My Dear Cousin,
I have received your letter inquiring into
the pedigree of the Stoddert family of Md.
James Stoddert was an immigrant from Scotland and
settled in Maryland about 200 years ago. He was an
educated man & brought with him some money. He was
appointed not long after his arrival, surveyor General of
the Colony. Your Grandfather said to me when speaking
of him, that he was the wisest and best of his family. His
eldest son, my great grandfather was John Stoddert and a
great acquirer of land & other property. He left an estate
to each of his five sons & to one of his three daughters.
Married a Miss Susan Greenfield, daughter of {Kenelm?}
Chiseltine Esq. a large land holder of St. Mary’s County, and
granddaughter of Thomas Genard, Lord of Boomley in
Leicestershire, England. From the date of this marriage
all my family have had added as a baptismal name. Youman
it is said a large property in England was settled by entail
to descend in succession to the heirs in {tail}, conditional he
held the name of Youman. His eldest son was John Youman
Stoddert, my gd. Father. He was a member of the House of
Burgesses:- Married Lucy {Herberd?} Smallwood, eldest daughter
2
of Major General Wm. Smallwood of the Maryland line
in the War of independence. He died young, leaving one
child, my Father, William Youman Stoddert, who was an
x {Burgo?} Major (Major) to his Uncle, and died at the age of
34 from disease caused by hardships of Camp life. He
married Sally Massey, daughter of the Rev. Lee Massey
of Fairfax County, VA. The friend & neighbor of Washington & George
Mason, whose sister was the mother of his 34d wife. (Rev. Lee Massey’s 3rd wife)
I am only son & surviving child of this marriage…So much for
my branch of James Stoddert’s descendants. By a second marriage, he
had a son who was the father of your Grandfather, the late Major
Benj. {?} Stoddert, two daughters, one married to Mr. John {Naw?} of
this county, who afterwards removed to Georgetown & held office as Clerk
in one of the executive departments. the other sister was married to a
Mr. {Smoot?}. (probably Sleigh or Slye) Mr. Slye was his sister’s son.
Your gt. grandfather intermarried with the Marshall
family of this county: an old & prominent, & wealthy family.
I do not recollect the name of your great grandfather & half brother
of my great grandfather. Thomas killed Ft. {Tunalloway?}. He was a Captain Major in the British
Army when Md. was a Colony & built the Fort bearing his name
on the Southern Frontier of British { ? } dividing it from
Louisiana, then a Spanish Colony. Your Grandfather entered into
the service of this State as Captain of Cavalry..near about the time
my Father left the University of PA at 17 years old, to do his part as
3
1st Lt. of Infantry. Excuse this crude scrawl & believe
me Yours sincerely, J. Y. Stoddert.
PS Col. Sir John Stoddert (the friend of Sr. Walter Scott) who so
distinguishes himself under Gen. Willesby (Sir Arthur Willesby)
in the E. Indies & was knighted way, I am sure of our family.
Later he adds, “ {?} my Stoddert kin”?
2nd Letter
Baltimore, Jan 7th 1869
I gratefully acknowledge the receipt of your
grandfather’s likeness. I could not have had a more
acceptable testimony of your respect & esteem. His name
is historic, & no worthy man knew him who did not
venerate & honor him. Few such are now to be found among
our public men. Your brothers have supported
the honor of our House
Accept my sincere wishes for your health & happiness.
Very truly your kinsman & Friend
J. Y. Stoddert
These are facts of interest in the above: but the sister of our
Grandfather, who married Mr. {Nau?} was not the daughter of
the British officer Captain Thomas Stoddert: This widow
married again, and she was positively half sister: another father.
The Forbes of Charles County of fashion and high position, and wealth
were his relations. The 2nd marriage of the widow, { ? } the
children of the 1st marriage: so said Major Benj. Stoddert.
4
There was sometime in the decade between 1830 & 40, some effort
or stir made, I think in “Va to give something like
gratuity to the descendants of those who has fallen
under Braddock. Aunt Rebecca then in Va wrote out
a petition in the name of heirs of Captain Thomas
Stoddert, a fact of Christian name, as well known by
Mother and herself, as the name “Christopher”? of
another Grandfather. They had heard their Father too often
mention his Father’s name, to mistake it. {Wm. ??}
who married Miss Stuart, whose Father lived a few
miles from {Stronglonesome?} near Cedar run, South East,
was the agent. I presume only Virginians were to be {remunerated?}
and he informed her. I think the Va. Legislature originated it
As to falsehoods of tradition, a slip of the Republican was shown
given to me which professing to be a {?} of some of the past of Georgetown
mentioned the unpretending residence of the 1st { ? ? ? ? }
at full length) as on Bridge Street, South side, near Scotch Lane
and Duck Alley! I corrected it in a long proof of the
residence as it was, and added other corrections, when it was
said in { ? } “Mrs. Ewell married Dr. Ewell and went directly to his
farm in Va.”? It was all published same paper: my rebuttals.
Why say that Tory influence carried GrandFather out of the
{Rev.?} Army? This would be utterly unworthy a man of his sound
calm judgement, and would injure his memory reputation.
5
why not, justly attribute it to the wound so severe
whence the ball was never extracted and
which, he said, was the cause of at times almost
intense pain in his side, which forced him in
{Bladensburgh?} (Cousin Ben { ? } told me from his
Father’s report) to lie in the room on a sofa leaving the table, and guests at
their wine around it. Grandmother speaks of this pain
in her letters from Philphia?, as being better or worse
He said the {Tow? }; were weak, but good. Would he be influenced
in a point of honor and practice or conduct by them. As to { ? } most gentlemen
and ladies were that, in Maryland. They knew too much of the
Socialization to be otherwise in honor and sentiment; but
it did not keep the gentlemen from fighting , {?} to have
more liberty and fewer taxes. Who { ? } himself in results a more practical Tory
than {Earol?} of Carrolton, or Signer by all his descendants
marrying, when they would { ? } of rank. Christopher
Loundes?, I think from his business complications in Bladensburgh? ,
was not troubled much at the revolt; but as a gentleman of
family liked his ancestors. I do not think Grandfather would have
staid a day from Military duty from his influence. I think
indeed, at would injure him to publish this on surmise. I always
when necessary to speak or writhe, gave the above severe wound, the retained
ball and the pain which was habitual, thought not constant. I think
as the cause of the retreat from active service. He said it would end
his life, he thought, and his sudden death may have been a result.
6
I copied Major J. Stoddert’s letters because I thought
it would worry you to decipher the first one. I had
great difficulty. He was the beloved friend of Gen. Pierce
who wanted him in his Cabinet, but was overruled by
advisers, because he was too fond of a { ? }. He could do just
what he pleased with Gen. Pierce always: and your case
was sure if he asked for you anything. This I know.
The genealogy letter I sent once to {M. L. Reown?} grandson, who had
a nice marriage, he wrote in {N. Orleans?} in consequence
but, that was written to me by him in early married life. I do not know how he is now!
Are you not satisfied as to Thomas Stoddert? (As to
getting records, some chief clerk had the impudence ot
tell me “there was no “Ewell”? in revolutionary
military records!”? He did not understand state records and
U. S. records as being a little less difference, one from the others)
Why would “Land Warrants”? have been given to an officer
who left active service, from change of principle? Mr. & Mrs. Adams were remarkably fond of him, so Grand-mother was told in Phila. she writes, and they always gave proofs to him and to her of this regard..He was too clever, sound judging, and modest, to say anything in regard of self, he was not obliged to: and from Mother, so accurate always, and never asserting a doubtful thing as fact. I learned much in our retired Virginia life.