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|The correspondence of Ralph Izard was published a few years since
by his daughter, Anne Izard Deas, at the desire of her mother, whose
anxiety to do justice to the memory of her husband proves her worthy of
sharing in his fame. Moving in her youth in the gayest circles of New
York society, her amiable qualities, and the discretion and modesty
joined to her singular personal attractions, won the admiration and
regard of all her acquaintances, and gave promise of those virtues which
shone amid the trials of after life.
She was the daughter of Peter De Lancey, of Westchester, and niece to
James De Lancey, Lieutenant Governor of the province of New York. It
is remarkable how many women of this distinguished family have married
eminent men. Susan, the daughter of Colonel Stephen De Lancey, whose
first husband was Lieutenant Colonel William Johnson, became the wife
of Lieutenant General Sir Hudson Lowe, and was the beautiful Lady Lowe
praised by Bonaparte. Charlotte De Lancey, who married Sir David Dundas,
did not escape her share of trials during the war. When their house at
Bloomingdale was burned, her mother hid herself in a kennel, and
not being able on account of her deafness to discover when the enemy
departed, narrowly escaped death. On a visit afterwards from a party
of soldiers, the young girl was put into a bin for concealment by the
servants, and covered with oats, into which the soldiers, who were
in search of a prisoner they might hold as a hostage, plunged their
bayonets repeatedly, but luckily did not touch her. A Miss De Lancey
was the wife of Sir William Draper. In later years one of this family
married a distinguished American, whose genius is the pride of his
country. *
* J. Fenimore Cooper.
Alice was married in 1767, to Ralph Izard; and after some years
accompanied him to Europe. After the breaking out of the war, her
anxious desire was to return with him to this country; but not being
able to do so, she remained in France during his absence, devoting
herself to the care and improvement of her children.
On their arrival at home, after the establishment of peace, their estate
was found in a state of lamentable dilapidation; but the energy and good
management of Mrs. Izard soon restored a degree of order, and rendered
"the Elms"--the old family residence--the seat of domestic comfort and
liberal hospitality. During her husband's illness, which lasted seven
years, she was his devoted nurse, while the management of his large
estate, embarrassed by losses sustained during the war, devolved upon
her. She wrote all his letters of business, besides attending to the
affairs of her family, then augmented by the addition of two orphan
grandchildren; yet found time to read to him several hours of every
day. The charge of two other families of grandchildren was afterwards
undertaken by her. Notwithstanding these multiplied cares, each day was
marked by some deed of unostentatious charity. Her piety, though deep
and sincere, was cheerful, for a humble faith directed her steps, and
taught resignation in trials the most severe--the loss of many children.
In the faithful performance, from day to day, of the duties before her,
and the promotion of the good of others, her useful life was closed in
1832, in the eighty-seventh year of her age.
An interesting anecdote is related of another Mrs. Ralph Izard, a
relative of the patriot, who resided near Dorchester, within the range
of excursions made by the British, at that time in the neighborhood of
Charleston. When the enemy ventured beyond their lines, the inhabitants
of the country were frequently subjected to depredations. The plantation
of Mr. Izard, who at that time acted as aid-de-camp to the commanding
officer of the Light Troops, was often visited, but had been preserved
from destruction by the prudent deportment of his wife. She invariably
received the officers with polite attention, and by the suavity and
gentle dignity of her manners, disarmed their hostility, and induced
them to retire without disturbance. On one occasion her courage was put
to a severe trial. Her husband was at home, when the alarm was suddenly
given by the appearance of a party of British soldiers, from whom there
was no way of escape, the house being surrounded. Mr. Izard hastily
concealed himself in a clothes-press, while his wife awaited the
entrance of his enemies, who had been informed of the visit of the
master of the house, and were determined on his capture. A search was
instituted, which proving unsuccessful, the soldiers threatened to
fire the house, unless he surrendered himself. In their rage and
disappointment, they proceeded to outrages they had never before
ventured upon; Mr. Izard's wardrobe was robbed, and several of the
marauders arrayed themselves in his best coats; valuable articles were
seized in the presence of the mistress of the mansion, and an attempt
was even made to force her rings from her fingers. Through all this
trying scene, Mrs. Izard preserved, in a wonderful manner, her firmness
and composure; her bearing, on which she knew her husband's safety
depended, was marked with her accustomed courtesy and urbanity, and she
betrayed no apprehension, notwithstanding the indignities offered. So
calm, so dignified was her deportment, that the plunderers, doubting the
correctness of the information they had received, and perhaps ashamed of
their insolence, withdrew. No sooner were they gone, than Mr. Izard
made his escape, and quickly crossing the Ashley, gave notice to the
Americans on the other side of the river of the proximity of the enemy.
Meanwhile, the British soldiers, returning to the house, again entered
Mrs. Izard's apartment, and burst open the press, which they had before
forgotten to examine. Finding no one there, they retired; but were
speedily intercepted by a body of cavalry that had pushed across
Bacon's bridge, and so completely routed, that but a few of their number
returned within their lines to relate the disaster. The property taken
from Mr. Izard's house was recovered, and restored by the conquerors to
the owner, with a compliment to the matron whose strength of spirit had
proved the means of their obtaining the victory.