1855 GATHERED FLOWERETS, OR, THE EARLY DEAD-- Pre Civil War Child Mortality

Description: Here is "Gathered Flowerets or, The Early Dead", an 1855 collection of child deathbed accounts from the Old South. Heads up, you genealogists, especially Southern genealogists! I know someone out there could probably find family members among the little histories below. They won't be direct ancestors, because these people died in childhood, but they had parents, siblings, other relatives, friends. Your great-great-great-great grandpa might be mentioned, and there should be quite a few great-great-great-great aunts and uncles here. Who knows? You might conceivably even have one or two associated graves not far from you. I've included all the names, dates and locations I could spot to facilitate your finding anything that might be of interest. In the 19th century the high mortality rates in every age group, mostly due to medical, dietary and hygienic ignorance, ensured that a high percentage of the populace would have to cope with too-early deaths of loved ones, especially children. In his introduction, the editor states that "about one-half the human family die in early childhood"-- that's really a mountain of heartbreak to contemplate. With so much death, the Victorians did what they could to make it beautiful, and the image of sweet little children embracing Eternity reverently and joyously was one of great comfort to the bereaved, and a shining example to other children. It is these images that are presented in the 129 pages of this touching little volume, which also includes two pages of ads for other inspirational or instructive works. Some particulars: "Gathered Flowerets or, The Early Dead", 1855, was edited by Thomas O. Summers, D.D., and published at Nashville, Tennessee by E. Stevenson & F. A. Owen, agents for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This appears to be a first edition. There are no modern reprints. Covers are stained, soiled; pages too, though not heavily and not really foxed. Inside back cover has notes relating to a family named "Cline", inside front cover is inscribed "God is love," with initials "A.B.C. and J.L.C." Some gilt to the spine, which misspells 'Flowerets' as 'Flowrets', and shows that the cover was applied upside down! Overall this is a grubby, 'well-loved' little book, but it's intact, unrestored and very readable, with supple pages and tight binding. It's an octodecimo, measuring 4" by 6 1/8". There are 25 entries (some with more than one death), 26 when including the editor's own small daughter Sally, relating in varying degrees of detail the sweet Christian passing of many beloved children, ranging in age from two to sixteen years. The entries were submitted by various members of Southern Methodist Episcopal congregations for the Sunday-School Visitor, a publication that was under the editorship of Thomas Summers for four years. From the pages of the Visitor were culled the most touching and inspiring of these accounts. Some are vague --perhaps tactful, perhaps baffled-- as to the cause of death: "an illness", "a fell disease", or omit any mention of what carried off the poor young things, while many list the names of dreaded killers: scarlet fever, yellow fever, cholera. Charleston's cholera epidemic of 1854 is well represented. Where the date of birth isn't given, the exact age is sometimes provided with the date of death, so I've subtracted the age to arrive at what should be the correct date of birth. Here are the 'Flowerets': Sarah 'Sally' Havelland Summers, 6: Born January 16, 1845 Tuskaloosa, Alabama, died December 9, 1851 Charleston, South Carolina. Daughter of the editor, almost seven at the time of her death. Cause: "membranous sore throat". 1. Jane Rebecca Keeling, 8 (2 1/2 pages): Born May 7th, 1842, Portsmouth, VA; died November 1850. Cause: scarlet fever. Account by John L. Porter, Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South 2. Ada Erwin (5 pages): Born Clarksville, Tennessee, died there in 1851. Mother died while she was an infant, put in care of grandparents. Father later died while away in New Orleans. Foresaw her own death, gave her savings ($2 or $3) to the Sunday-school Missionary Society. Cause: taken sick. Signed D. B., dated Nov. 11, 1851, Clarksville, Tennessee 3. Sallie Clifton 'Cliffie' Southall, 5 (12 1/2 pages): Born July 7th 1846, died August 14th, 1851. Cause: "she sickened". Her mother wrote from Columbus, Michigan in 1851 to Rev. Dr. N. 4. Willie Cook, 4 (2 pages): Parents Rev. John F. and Caroline A. Cook of Texas. Died at four years old. Cause: "the ruthless hand of death". Contributed by 'B.S.B.' 5. Susanna Lear Clowes, 7 (5 1/2 pages): Born July 13th, 1841 in Williamsburg Virginia, died probably January 1849. Had a brother John at Randolph Macon College, little brother Kenny. Cause: scarlet fever, which she contracted 'in December', the illness running 27 days. Contributed by J. Bayley from Richmond, Virginia 1852 6. George Ellen Beall, 10 (a girl) (3 pages): Born probably La Grange, Georgia February 16th, 1842 (if my figures are accurate), died August 6th, 1852, aged ten years, five months and eighteen days. A good child who "never received a reproof"; for three years had attended the La Grange Female College in the Primary department. Parents Col. James M. and Martha Beall. Cause: "a most painful illness of 10 weeks". Note: I Googled little George and found her mentioned at Ancestry.com and Ancestry.co.uk, which shows a message board with Bealls who are seeking accounts of their family in Troup County, Georgia. A quote: "I live in Troup County, Georgia. there is a James M. Beall that was here in the early 1800's. He was married to Martha Heard Beall , Their children were George Ellen Beall, who died young and Martha "Pack" Beall, who married a doctor here. She was one of the Nancy Hart's who held the Union Army at bay in 1864. James M. died 10/02/1886. He is buried in Hillview Cemetery in LaGrange." 7. Julia Rebecca Croft, 9 (5 pages): Born Georgetown, South Carolina December 15th, 1842, died September 1st, 1852. Sunday-school teacher 'Sister Stacy', schoolmates 'sister Helen', 'brother Albert', 'brother Lucius'. Cause: 'putrid sore throat'. Contributed by her father. 8. Sarah Jane Amanda Shi, 10 (3 1/2 pages): Born June 20th, 1843 (if my figures are accurate), died Morgan County, Georgia September 12th, 1853, aged 10 years, 2 months, 22 days after "five days of extreme suffering". Cause: a 'fell disease'. Contributed by A.C. Mixon 9. Lucie Ella Humphreys, 7 (4 pages): Born circa April 27th, 1845, died November 27th, 1852 at Athens, Tennessee, aged 7 years, 7 months "after a day and night of severe suffering". Parents H. and L. Humphreys. Loved birds and flowers. Cause: lockjaw (tetanus) resulting from a splinter in the foot. 10. Martha A. M. Duncan, 16 (5 pages): Born 1836, died December 1st, 1852 "in the 16th year of her age" at home in Linden, Alabama. Buried at Dayton, tribute composed by Rev. J. T. Heard. Father was Rev. Daniel Duncan. Cause: "a protracted and painful illness of 21 days". 11. George M. Seignious, 9 years (5 1/2 pages): Born circa November 23rd, 1843, died December 23rd, 1852 in Charleston South Carolina, "aged nine years and one month." Went to Trinity Sunday-school, great artistic talent. Perhaps some of his work survives! As related in the pages shown, "The little girls sent him their albums, in which he painted or drew landscapes of great variety and beauty of scenery." Cause: an illness of 50 hours. Contributed by his uncle, the Rev. J.T. Wightman. Note: I Googled 'George M. Seignious' and brought up what must be a descendant of little George's family by the exact same name. This is Lieutenant General George Marion Seignious, U.S. Army, 1921-2005, who was a distinguished military leader, diplomat and college president. He was a South Carolina native, and died in Charleston. I hope his family will take note of this connection. 12. Ann Eliza Ragin, 13 years (5 pages): Died at "scarcely thirteen". "As the moment drew near when she was to walk through the dark valley, her hope and confidence grew brighter, her eyes seemed to kindle with the radiance of heaven..." Cause: a "disease... long and violent". 13. Mary Evelyn 'Pet Lamb' Ellis, 6 years (5 1/2 pages): Born January 6th, 1847 (if my figures are accurate), died in New Orleans June 13th, 1853, "aged six years, five months, and seven days." Parents R.M. & Mary Ellis, members of Felicity Street Church. Cause: scarlet fever. Contributed by 'H.N.M.' from New Orleans, June 15th, 1853 14. Mary Ann Dixon, 10 years (3 1/2 pages): Born November 3rd, 1842 (if my figures are accurate), died August 2nd, 1853 at Brooksville, Noxubee, Mississippi, aged ten years, nine months, and twenty-nine days. Her brother died the day before. Parents T.H. and M.A. Dixon. 15. Mary Jane Rich, 14 years (7 pages): Born circa 1829, died 5/26/43. Had father and stepmother; also younger brothers, the eldest of whom was named William. Also a little sister called Nancy and others. Cause: a three-week illness. 16. Julia Carter, 6 years (2 pages): Born circa 1847, died October 11th, 1853 at Mount Enon, Richmond county, GA. Parents Dr. Edward and Mrs. A. Carter. Brother John at school in Georgetown, D.C. Cause: a short illness. 17. Eloise Eugenia Johnson, 10 years (6 pages): Born circa 1843, possibly in Greensboro, Ala. Father Thomas M. Johnson. "...piously trained from her earliest infancy". Cause: a sudden violent illness, onset "the first of December last", dying upon the 10th, which is given as a Sunday. December 10th, 1853 was a Saturday, in '52 it was a Friday. Poetic license? Contributed by "J.J.H." of Greensboro, dated December 1853. 18. Emily Robinson, 11 years (3 pages): Born circa 1843, died March 26th, 1854. Became rapturous seven hours before her death. Had a brother and little sister. Cause: was taken sick. Submitted by David Ayers of Galveston, Texas, dated March 31st, 1854. 19. Elizabeth Jane 'Sis' Thompson, 10 years (5 pages): Born October 23rd, 1843, died May 17th, 1854. Had been sickly --"afflicted"-- from age three. Parents: John S. and Nancy L. Thompson. Cause: her last illness, severe. Contributed by J. A. Clement of Spring Hill Circuit, Alabama Conference, dated May, 1854. 20. Mary Albina Wallace, 5 years (3 pages): Born May 2nd, 1848, (if my figures are accurate), probably at Independence, Missouri, died the morning of January 12th, 1854 at Independence, aged five years, eight months, and ten days. She was an only child. Parents B. F. and Virginia Wallace. "She never told her mother a lie". Superintendent of her Sunday-school Mr. McCurdy. Cause: "nipped by the blasts of disease". Dated June, 1854, Independence, MO. 21. Richard Moxley & Thomas Hardcastle, (2 pages): Richard Moxley was born circa 1843, died June 28th, 1854, aged 11. Thomas Hardcastle was born circa 1840, died July 1st, 1854, aged 14. They belonged to the Elysian Grove Sunday-school in Nashville, Tenn. Cause for both: "died in a few hours" of cholera. The two are included in one entry, signed 'Alphonzo'. 22. Lydia C. 'Citty' Stevenson, 11 years (2 pages): Born January 7th, 1843, died June 20th, 1854, possibly at Shelbyville, Tenn. Lydia Catherine was known as 'Citty' (Kitty). Parents Willis McKendree Stevenson (1818-1900) and Eliza Abernathy Stevenson (1809-1904). Had a brother Baxter (probably James Baxter) and previously deceased little brother Richard (possibly not recorded). Cause: "the hand of death" Signed 'J. B. S.', dated July 3rd, 1854 at Shelbyville, Tenn. A Google search brought up an Ancestry.com page that gives Lydia's birth year as 1842 instead of 1843 (at Giles, Tennessee) and gives no date of death. There were ten children: Annie E. Coleman James Baxter Lou Francis Mary Ellen Lydia C. John B., born 1844 Jesse J., born 1846 Louisa F., born 1849 Elam 1856-1896 23. John Preston Setzler, 15 years (2 pages): Born circa 1839, died July 7th, 1854 "at the residence of his father". Cause: presumably illness. Contributed by A. D. L. Moser, Hope Station, Newberry District, S. C. 24. Cornelius Parker Riggs, 5 years (1 1/2 pages): Born circa 1849, died August 22nd, 1854; also his younger brother John Sidney, 2: Born circa 1852, and died August 18th, 1854 at Charleston, South Carolina. Father J. S. Riggs. Cornelius was a member of the Cumberland Street Sabbath-school. Cause: 'illness'. (one can infer cholera or yellow fever) 25. Matilda Wightman Williams, 8 years (9 1/2 pages): Born August 3rd, 1846 at Augusta GA, died September 19th, 1854 in Charleston, S. C. Parents: (from a Google search) George Walton Williams (1820-1903) & Louisa A Wightman (1822-1855) . Matilda and her siblings: Mary Mitilda Williams 1844-1846 Matilda Wightman Williams 1846-1854 Edward Hand Williams 1847-1849 Augusta Georgia Williams 1849-1854 William Pemberton Williams 1851-1857 Frances Robertson Williams 1852-1855 George Williams 1854-1854. The poor people! Not one of their children survived even to adolescence. "Flowerets" mentions 5-year-old sister Augusta, an uncle Walker, cousin Mary Louisa, grandfather William Wightman. On her deathbed called for her friend, probably a servant, Betsey, "a little black girl about her own age. Betsey was called from sleep, and came weeping to the bedside of the dying child. 'Good-bye, Betsey,' said she: 'tell all the black people, Good-bye.' " Matilda gives her hymn-book to 'Josephine', her silver cup to Augusta, "her pet bird, lately given to her, to her father, who was too sick in another room to see his dying child." She gives her clothes to Betsey and her missionary box (containing $3.12 for the betterment of heathens) to cousin John (the Rev. J. T. Wightman). Little sister Augusta claimed the silver cup, but followed Matilda in death after two days. Cause: yellow fever. Signed H. A. C. Walker. The account is followed by some touching verse composed by the girls' grandfather, William Wightman. I wonder how the rest of the household made out... hope Betsey didn't catch it. The father survived the subsequent deaths of his wife and all but one child, then remarried in 1856 to Martha Fort Porter. His last child by Louisa died the following year. They had better luck with their own children, only losing two of the six in infancy. So there you have it-- pre Civil War lives cut short, and perhaps enough information to make a connection with your own family history. Comes from a non-smoking home. Local pickup gladly accommod

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End Time: 2025-01-09T04:39:38.000Z

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