established the Litchfield Female Academy, which became one of the most
celebrated institutions in the country. She remained connected with it
until 1832—though for a few years, previous, her nephew, John P. Brace,
Esq., was the Principal. More than 2500 young ladies and misses were
members of the Academy. It was incorporated in 1827. The successors of
Miss Pierce have been Misses Swift, Jones, Heyden and other.
OBITUARY.[80]
In Litchfield Conn. on the 19th of January. Miss Sarah Pierce, at the
advanced age of 84.
Miss Pierce was the founder of the Litchfield Academy in 1792, and for
forty years an instructor of her sex. She was emphatically the pioneer
in the cause of female education in our country, and lived to see the
effects of her efforts in the increased attention paid to that important
cause, and to witness the advancement & progress of the useful plans she
had formed, and the foundation she had laid. The instruction was
eminently practical. She strove to make her pupils useful in the
stations in which Providence might place them. Among the two thousand
pupils, whose mind & character she has aided in forming, there are many
who are ready to rise up and call her blessed.
[Illustration:
PL. LXII.—MISS SARAH PIERCE
From a silhouette
]
She taught religion as she did science, practically; and openly placed
before the young mind, the fear of God as a better motive than the
shrine of applause, the love of Christ a stronger impulse, than the
flatteries of the world. Her own was noted more for its practical fruit,
than enthusiastic impulse. She was humble, submissive, resigned, Her
religion was that of the life, not of the imagination. She was more
ready to pursue the calls of duty, than to follow the impulse of
feeling. Hence her religious character was remarkably uniform. In times
of declension, her lamp was always trimmed & burning. In times of
revival she was prepared to check the impulses of enthusiasm. Her
religious instruction to her pupils, her calls upon them for repentance,
faith and a holy life were as numerous, as pungent, and as practical,
when all around her was religiously cold, as when under the excitement
of a powerful revival.
The same characteristics that marked her life accompanied her through
old age and sickness. There was the same humble trust in Christ, the
same resignation, the same quiet patience and calm composure under all
the trials of daily increasing weakness, and daily decay of the bodily
powers.
In her last sickness and near her end when asked what should be the
particular petition of the prayer to be offered for her in her
suffering, her reply was, “That I may feel the goodness of God.” These
were the last connected words she uttered. After lingering under a
slight paralysis for several days, she departed to her rest, leaving the
bright example of a consistent Christian life to console and animate her
friends.
SKETCH OF MISS SARAH PIERCE. BY MRS. ASA GRAY.
Miss Sarah Pierce was a small woman, slender, & fragile. The sisters
seem mostly to have been small. Ann Pierce (Nancy) who was the elder
sister in the opening of the school, must have been very petite judging
from a sleeve of a dress still in existence.[81] Mrs. Ruth Croswell &
Mrs. Susan Brace were small women, and Mary Pierce, though differing
from her sisters in being plump, was below middle height—
Sarah had a fair complexion & blue eyes, a face expressive of resolution
& character; which showed in her manner which was decided & firm. Rather
awe inspiring to the young who had to learn the true kindness of her
heart. She had a great dislike of affectation, and held up a high
standard in every thing—
She was unable to use her eyes much in later years, but enjoyed reading
aloud by her young friends—One has a vivid memory of her daily habit of
reading to herself, continued to the last, in her big bible, & she was
always glad to turn the conversation to religious matters.
Her health was delicate in her old age, and she followed a strict
regimen, eating carefully, exercising faithfully indoors, walking about
sunset across her room so many times, until she had done certain
proportions of a mile, and enjoying at the same time the beautiful
western view towards Prospect Mt. of which she never wearied.
She was very fond of her garden, her charge was the flowers, Mary had
especially the fruit, & James the brother, whose last years were spent
in Litchfield, took the vegetables—Miss Sarah, when she had been away
for a visit, always brought home with her some new flower, planted &
cherished it—She worked all the summer mornings so much time, in her
garden, wearing an old fashioned calash to screen her weak eyes,
carrying a bit of old carpet and a little stool for weeding.
She was cheerful and took a lively interest in everything, social,
political, literary, and heartily enjoyed a good laugh. A good and
fluent talker, and liked to meet good talkers and intelligent people.
Very scrupulous in attendance on all religious exercises, but ready to
criticise if she thought anything stated wrongly or exaggerated. It was
a day of a certain seriousness & sobriety; a reaction perhaps from times
of too great freedom and levity. She said once that when she was much
younger, dancing & games were considered all right, but as society
increased the “balls”[82] generally held in the top story of the hotel
lost in a measure, their attraction, although occasionally there were
balls there attended by the young ladies of the school and the young men
studying law.
It was the same with cards, gambling had increased to a dangerous
extent, and in the great revival under Lyman Beecher, these originally
harmless amusements, were not considered proper for those who aimed for
the better life.
NOTES COLLECTED FOR MRS. ASA GRAY.[83]
Mrs. N. Child, [Elizabeth C. Prince] writes Mrs. Beach’s [Lucy Sheldon]
memories—She was Miss Pierce’s next door neighbor:—
“Last evening Aunt again talked with me about your family, and I
herewith send what may not be of much use to Mr. B. but may interest the
friends.
“The father Mr. John Pierce was a potter, making the red earthen jars,
pots, milk pans, & so on, used much in the households of those days.
“The family lived in the old red house, and the large elms now standing
were set out by Mr. John Pierce[?] the son.
“Mrs. Beach remembers attending Miss Pierce’s school in 1794. And Mary
Cutler, my Aunt, died there, of scarlet fever, when one of the pupils,
and that was in 1793. [October that year.] This must have been, Aunt
thinks about at the Commencement.
“Col. John Pierce, Miss Pierce’s brother, paymaster-General in the army,
gave his sister the advantages of schooling by sending her to New York,
where she was fitted for a teacher, in the English branches and in
dancing.[84]
“The school was at one time kept in the old Landon house, then in the
old red one. After that a school house was built very nearly on the site
of the later building. The dwelling house which Miss Pierce occupied for
many years was built by herself & her sister Nancy, they borrowing the
money [600] of Julius Deming Esq.
“Miss Nancy looked after the house.[85] She was a very small woman with
a large head & very tiny feet. A fine mind—Miss Pierce was the only
teacher at first. Subsequently Mr. John Brace assisted in the teaching
of arithmetic.
“History was taught by Miss Pierce’s reading aloud; the scholars then
wrote down what they remembered, which was with many of them, kept in
their daily journal.
“Every Saturday, the pupils faults noticed by Miss Pierce during the
week, were pointed out by her in the presence of the whole school, and
credit and debt marks set down accordingly.
“At the close of each month, a ball was given & gentlemen were invited.
“The building was divided by a sort of swinging partition which was shut
back on such occasions.
“In the winter only one room was used for recitations warmed by a fire
of wood in a large fire place, there being one at each end of the room.
“The balls were kept up until twelve o’clock, commencing early in the
evening.
“At the end of six months a stage was erected at one end of the
building, with drawing curtains, and plays were written by Miss Pierce
from Scriptural stories, Ruth, & Naomi, David & Absolom, Jepthah’s
Daughter &c., were performed by the scholars, a few boys who also
attended the school assisting.
“In speaking of the school room Aunt added, the seats were without
backs, with primitive desks in front, & debt marks were given those who
sat crooked!
“Miss Mary Pierce after Miss Nancy’s death taught occasionally in the
school, but she did not like it, and was mostly occupied in the
house.”[86]
Old Mrs. Pierce, [“Aunt Mary’s” mother] lived with her daughter, [adds
Mrs. Gray], leaving Mr. James[?] Brace the red house after her husband’s
death.
The reputation of the school, [it being the only one almost for young
ladies] was in Aunt’s time very high, pupils coming from Canada &
Georgia, & elsewhere.
Mrs. Mary D. Hoppin (wife of Professor Hoppin) writes:
The Geography item was simply this—that at the period of your Aunt’s
success in teaching it, it had not been allowed in other schools, it
was not considered a suitable branch of study for young women. Indeed
Geography as now taught was not known. It was considered a history of
the planet more than of its surface physically. I wish we could see in
some Library a copy of the first Geography used in America. I believe
it was a thick heavy Octavo for students, & had an account of savage
tribes, nations, wars, geology, great men, architecture, &c. &c.
I think Morse’s Geography was not written till long after your Aunt’s
day, I presume she used maps with her own instruction added.
Miss E. W. Davenport writes:
NEW HAVEN, Feb. 16th, 1880.
MY DEAR MRS. GRAY
In accordance with my promise I have written to my Aunt for some
reminiscences of her school day at Litchfield under Miss Pierce’s
tuition and having secured a reply, I hasten to communicate it to you.
[Illustration:
PL. LXIII.—MARY PIERCE
_b._ August 3, 1780. _d._ June 22, 1863
From crayon portrait by Rouse
]
She says “she can not tell what gave the school such a reputation and
success, unless it was in part from the rarity of such schools at that
period in our country. When she was one of Miss P.’s pupils the school
numbered from 50 to 60 girls. Miss Pierce attended to all the classes
herself except, when occasionally assisted by her nephew, Mr. J.
Brace. The studies were the common English branches including History,
the text book for which was compiled by Miss Pierce herself, and she
does not remember that any other ones were taught than those in use in
other schools at that time.”
But she adds, “Miss Pierce was an earnest christian woman, a perfect
lady, mingling with her pupils pleasantly and familiarly, but with
dignity. She always sat with them and often talked to them
collectively of deportment, manners, and habits.” And here I doubt not
lay the secret of her success and celebrity, her personal influence
and example, forming their principles, and their manners, and making
the memory of their school days so pleasant.
In addition to the common branches of education Drawing, Painting as
Water-color, and Embroidery were taught.
I am aware that this is but a meager and unsatisfactory account, but
as my Aunt was but 13 years old when under Miss Pierce’s care it is
not to be wondered at that she cannot give more particulars of the
methods of instruction then employed. I trust however that what I have
written will not be without interest, although it may not be new to
you; but it will certainly be an added proof of Miss Pierce’s high
toned character and singular usefulness to her generation that an old
lady of Eighty has been able to recall so much.
SKETCH OF MISS MARY PIERCE. BY MRS. ASA GRAY.
Mary Pierce was a woman of uncommon force of character, and yet with a
boundless sympathy for all, which lasted all her life. Her grand nieces
would laugh at her after she was eighty, saying they had quite outgrown
her in her sympathy for young people and their romantic sentiment, to
which she was always ready to listen, to understand, to help. For she
was very wise in her counsel, and had more confidences than falls to the
share of most people. Many a faltering step she strengthened, many a
lofty aim she gave, many a kind deed of thoughtfulness she suggested,
the receiver never suspecting its origin.
She was a most agreeable companion, with all her kindness she had a keen
gift of criticism, and a charming originality and force of expression,
which showed especially in her letters, with their comments on the
times, domestic and public, her descriptions of events and scenery; and
which she preserved to the end of her life. She never grew _old_ as we
generally mean old, but kept also her bodily activity and energy—
She was most essentially practical, active and energetic in all the
duties of daily life,—never were cake and jelly that quite equalled
hers, nobody could arrange the white dimity draperies as she could, and
the house was always a dainty picture of comfort and elegance—
She was always called upon in sickness and trouble, nurse, friend,
comforter, and her influence upon the young men in the Law School, was
as great as upon the girls who came under her care.
She had dark eyes and hair, and was said to have been a very handsome
young woman. Her face as the years lengthened, was very sober in repose,
but lighted as she spoke, with animation and interest, so that no
daguerrotype gives any idea of her.
FROM MRS. GRAY’S DIARY.
April 28, 1859.
Aunt Croswell,[87] came to dine, 94 on Feb. 22, 1859. Walked over and
back alone.
Told how when in New York she heard Washington take the oath as
President.
Took tea with Mrs. Washington, the President sick so did not see him.
Dr. Bard with whom she was staying his Physician.
Mrs. Washington, short and stout. One of your real old fashioned women,
who always carried her knitting wherever she went, to the offense of
some. And nobody ever staid in her house after nine o’clock, all
visitors must go home.
Dr. Bard prescribed powders, and put them up in little papers. When they
were finished he was going to prepare more and took some paper to tear,
when Mrs. W. said, “oh, here are the other papers saved,” producing
them. Very characteristic, Aunt said of the woman.
EXERCISES IN CHRIST’S CHURCH, CATSKILL, N. Y., JULY 18, 1875.
Extracts from a biographical notice of Mrs. Ruth Croswell an esteemed
and prominent member of Christ’s Church ... Catskill, N. Y.
[Illustration:
PL. LXIV.—RUTH PIERCE (MRS. CROSWELL)
]
DIED—In Catskill, on the 7th inst, 1861 at the residence of Mrs.
Caroline Wey, Mrs. Ruth Croswell, widow of the late Dr. Thomas O’H.
Croswell, aged 96 years, 10 months, and 15 days.
Her long life was passed in a most eventful period of the world’s
history, and especially of that portion of the world in which we are
most deeply interested. She was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, the
22nd of February, 1765. Her life more than spanned the entire era of our
national existence up to the time of her death. Born the year of that
celebrated act which first decisively shaped the popular sentiments that
eventually led to our independence, when the war of the revolution broke
out she was a girl of ten years, and when it ended a young lady of
seventeen.
During this eventful struggle her brother, John Pierce, was the
paymaster-general of our forces, obtaining the appointment through the
personal solicitations of the commander-in-chief himself, who being
assured of both his ability and his integrity put forth special, and to
him unusual efforts to secure his election to this important post. He
held the office throughout the war; discharging its duties so as to meet
the approbation of Washington, and to receive from the representatives
of the people a vote of thanks with the commendation that he had so
fulfilled his trust that “his heart was pure, and his hands were clean.”
His name I believe has no place in our formal histories, but it lives in
the letters of Washington.
The wife of this brother, was a daughter of Dr. Bard, an eminent
physician of New York, and the medical attendant of our
commander-in-chief during his residence in that city. In consequence of
these connections, Mrs. Croswell, then Miss Ruth Pierce and twenty two
years of age, witnessed by invitation the inauguration of Washington as
the first President of the United States. She remembered vividly to her
last days the majestic form of that man on whom so many and such vast
hopes then centered, as he stepped forth upon the balcony of the old
Federal Hall in New York, [which stood where the Custom House now
stands], and after the enthusiastic shouts of the immense crowd that
welcomed him were at last silenced, took the solemn oath to faithfully
administer the constitution and the laws of these United States.
Subsequently, while on a visit to New York, she was invited to take tea
with the family of the President. He was at the time severely, and it
was feared dangerously sick, and she remembered how Dr. Bard came down
from his patient’s room with a grave and anxious face, and while they
were seated at the table, told them what the President had said to him a
few moments before. His disease was the quinsy. Irving, in his Life of
Washington, speaks of the attack and the anxiety it caused, and this the
more because it occurred so near the commencement of the first term of
his administration. Washington, knowing the danger of suffocation,
turned to his physician and said, “Doctor, if I am to die do not
hesitate to tell me. I am quite prepared. If it be the will of God I am
ready to fall asleep, and in this world never wake again.”
In 1791, Ruth Pierce was married to Dr. Thomas O’H. Croswell,[88] and
the next year became a resident of Catskill. Her life was one of quiet
domestic duties and Christian faithfulness. She was among the members
who united with the Presbyterian Church of Catskill at its organization.
Through all her long life she was an interested, earnest, useful
Christian. Unusually conscientious and prayerful she walked with God,
seeking with great sincerity and honesty to know His will, and when it
was clearly ascertained doing it if need were quite independently of the
opinions of others. An instance of this may be seen in her formation of
a Temperance League among the ladies of the village. The custom obtained
at the time of gathering by invitation first at one house and then at
another early in the afternoon, nominally to spend a few hours socially
and “take tea.” But about midway in the visit sweet and intoxicating
cordials were handed round, and by some of the ladies partaken of with
not a little freedom. Mrs. Croswell was convinced that this custom was a
growing danger. She never had heard of a temperance pledge, or society,
but after consulting with a Christian friend, a pledge not to provide
either cordials or wines on these occasions was drawn up, and after
praying God to help her, she went forth to secure the names of all whom
she could induce to sign it. Amidst much ridicule and some reproaches
she patiently continued her efforts, until they were crowned with
unexpected success. The pernicious custom was completely broken up, and
principles of temperance were thus early planted in many influential
minds.
In her days of greater vigor she visited the poor and the suffering, and
watched and prayed with the sick and dying. Unselfish, sympathizing, and
patient, she endeared herself to all. From no lips were rebukes received
as kindly as from hers. Her quaint direct way of expressing her
disapproval or her doubt never gave offense; and when she commended or
praised anything that had been done the simple straight-forward
heartiness of her words made them very pleasant to hear.
For many years, I think more than a quarter of a century, she gathered
about her the mothers and the pious women of the church, and maintained
a female prayer meeting, imparting to it not a little of its interest by
her own religious fervor. She had “patient continuance in well doing.”
Turning over the leaves of a journal in which she wrote down her
religious views and aspirations during sixty or seventy years, we find
no change except by growth and Christian development. Her hopes became
less tremulous, and her faith more assured; but otherwise the record of
1797 and that of 1861 are substantially the same. They reveal the heart
of a humble, devoted, trustful, single-minded child of God, very
sensible of her imperfections, very penitent, watchful, and prayerful,
resting on Christ alone for acceptance with God, and yearning to be
holy.
She had friends who were very kind to her in her old age. And her
gratitude for their respectful and ready attentions, and all the
unforced proofs of their affection which surrounded her with every
comfort, and relieved, as far as could be, the infirmities of her many
years, is expressed in this journal with such sensibility and tenderness
that one cannot read the sentences without some dimness coming over the
eyes, and feeling that happiness is brought into the soul by a grateful
spirit. When she attempts to thank God for his benefits and for all his
patient love, her language often breaks down under the burden of
gratitude she would put upon it.
Her death was sudden. A few hours of not severest illness, and enough of
pain only to draw to her side in the silent night those whom of all she
most loved and trusted and would have desired to be with her in her last
hour—and then, so peacefully that one sitting watchfully by her bedside
only knew it by the perfected stillness, she ceased to breathe, and
passed to the new life.
The funeral services at the Presbyterian Church, on the afternoon of the
9th inst., were attended by a large number of her relatives and
connections, some of whom had come from a great distance to testify in
this manner their esteem and affection. All the clergymen of the place
were present; and the house was crowded by the concourse of her friends.
During this time and while the funeral procession was passing through
the streets, the places of business were closed, and as the procession
slowly wound its way to the beautiful cemetery on the outskirts of the
village the bells of all the churches were tolled. Such honor has old
age which has been made venerable by a truly Christian character and
life.
Letter written by Miss Mary Pierce to Mrs. William Curtis Noyes, after a
visit made to her in New York City.
MY DEAR MRS. NOYES
You must have heard before this from Mr. Hollister that his child is
well, but that Mrs. Brisbane’s death is an agonizing affliction to her
daughter, quite sudden and unexpected....
Of Mr. Beach’s paralysis you must have heard. is prostrated, one side
useless, but disease does not seem progressing, and does not affect his
head. I carried a box of cake to Mrs. Morse this morning. She seemed
much gratified. I enhanced its value by telling her that was the wedding
cake of Dr. Vanderbourgs grand daughter. Mrs. Morse is as cheerful as
ever....
I do not find stern winter here, the sun shines as brightly as it did in
New York—the grass is quite green, and the flower roots in the garden.
My Myrtle—is beautiful—I seek to find as many pleasant things as I can
to relieve the contrast with the loneliness of my present situation and
the happy kind friends who have made such a bright spot in my life—There
is satisfaction however in feeling that it is voluntary for I found
letters from four different places urging a visit for the winter....
I have given you a dose of a note
My Dear Mrs. Noyes but I am alone this evening and it is pleasant to
think that I am talking to you—
My love to all the dear friends who surround you, Emily in particular
Yours most affectionately
MARY PIERCE
MEMORIES OF LITCHFIELD.
_Correspondence of the Evening Post Litchfield Conn. Oct. 31st._