A Child of Misfortunes - Part Three - Letters Two and Three

By TRB

Rebecca Codwise is not happy as the result of her oldest son's stint in the U.S. Navy and his absence from St. Croix. George attended medical school at Columbia University in New York City and is now a ship's surgeon on board a U.S. Navy frigate tied up at the government pier in Brooklyn. Although her letters to him seem melodramatic, the reader has to imagine what it is like for her attending to so many family responsibilities ignored by her husband James. Most letters from this time period are more melodramatic than one would expect anyway, because communicating by letter was the only way one could express oneself. You could not call up on the telephone and scream out your frustrations to the person on the other end of the line. You had only the written word to express all of your emotions to your loved ones. Also, one must remember that Rebecca, like many women of her place and time was probably a frequent user of a form of opium called laudanum. In fact she admits to using it in one of her letters. It is hard to imagine what daily life must have been like for her. But one gets the impression that Rebecca spent most of her time working so her family could survive.

These letters have not been edited, except to correct misspellings that totally obscured the meaning

of the intended word. At times you will see editor's notes {in brackets}.

The words in the brackets are meant to explain something happening in the letter.

These are extremely rare letters because very few men and women (even less women)

wrote at that time. Rebecca's letters published for the first time are among the larger

collections of letters by a woman of those times.

These letters will run chronologically two at a time. - TRB

Doctor G. W. Codwise Brooklyn Navy Yard New York

St. Croix July the 6 1827

My Dearest George

What I have felt you alone can tell and judge at parting with you the Beloved of my heart may the Almighty help you and prosper you in all your undertakings. I have sent you a few words unblemished of my feelings.

I have one request of you to make that is if you have any thing that has been given to you by that woman you must destroy it if you value my love as you are too good to keep any thing that has been in her possession as she is not worthy of your friendship.

[The woman to whom she refers lived on St. Croix, and was someone with whom George had an affair before he left for New York.]

Keep this as a last specimen of my writing. Adieu my beloved child once more adieu the girls join in love to you I Remain your fond and affectionate Mother.

R. Codwise

[This short letter was separate from, but sent with the above letter.]:

I am very much afraid my Dearest George that you will never again see your Fond Mother as I find myself sinking fast to the grave.

Oh how I wish I had the means of paying your expenses out so that I might once again behold you but in case I should not may the Almighty shower down his blessings on your Youthful head is my poor prayer. Perhaps before this gets to you I may be past distant. Once more adieu my Dearest Son.

from your affectionate Mother

R. Codwise

Doct. Geo. W. Codwise

Naval Hospital Brooklyn New York

(in the Matawon)

St. Croix 9th July 1827

Can it be possible my Beloved Child that we are once again separated by the Atlantic and perhaps forever as I feel a deep melancholy taking place like that of a melancholy madness, for It appears to me and all the family that there has been a death in the house instead of a parting.

I shall try and keep up for your dear sake and the rest of the family. Your dear Father feels your absence as severely as I do, he seems to feel my situation more and more for he told me the morning after you left that if I died he would soon follow me. I hope that may never be the case as the whole burden of the family would fall on your shoulders.

I have one request to make that is for you not to go to sea until you know if we are coming on or not for I should be very much disappointed if you was not there to receive me and once more partake of your tender embrace. Although I know I have been a great deal of trouble to you but the love that I have for you is beyond description.

Oh my Dearest George I hope that the Almighty may bless you and keep me alive till I see you again. My blessing is on your head and if I should die without seeing you bear in mind all that I have ever said to you either awake or sleeping.

Let me know if you got the note that I wrote you when I sent the vases.

I gave it to Caroline [a sister] to seal and she did not. Your father brought back the vases in a mistake.

Do write me by every opportunity. Keep nothing a secret from me relative to yourself as it is all that can be interesting to me and all that will keep me alive.

Let me know if you have seen the little boys and if they are improving also if John's health is better. When shall I ever again have you to kiss me? I feel never my Beloved.

You must excuse the feelings of a distracted Mother. Your little pet Rebecca [his younger sister] is continually speaking of you and wanting you to come back and play with her and kiss and fondle her.

The family unite in love to yourself and Brothers. I must conclude my letter as I feel myself incapable to write any longer for my ideas are wandering. Remember me to Sister Betsy, Miss Thompson, Mrs Atterbury's family, Mrs Strong.

Once more adieu my Darling George and may God in his infinite mercies protect and prosper you and return you ten fold what you have expended in my services.

I remain your fond and distracted Mother

R. Codwise

[The following text appears at the bottom of the above letter.]:

I could not write this myself but I got Cornelia [another sister] to write it. Send me a bottle of Gumanasone Rach.

[This was probably a brand of cologne or perfume.] My Blessed and Beloved George enclosed I send you a prayer that your Dear Father has offered up for you. Grant that all our prayers may be heard.

As to Rebecca she had a crying spell for you this morning she said that she wants to see you.

I remain your fond and distracted Mother. Poor Caroline tries all in her power to console me.

She is always at my side and begs to be remembered to you. My health still continues very bad and I am afraid it will be my ending.

Planting Season on the Sugar Plantation, on linen