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yr-obedt-cicero · 1 year

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History Dad!

I'd like to know ALL the Laurens children + their deaths, please?

The things that I do for you kids.

Eleanor and Henry had many children, I think the official estimated number was 14 altogether, but I will only be writing of the ones who had actual significant accounts about them.

Henry Laurens Jr. the first

Henry Laurens Jr. was the firstborn of the Laurens children, and was born sometime in 1753. Apparently, he was close with (John) Laurens at a young age. He then died in August 1758, at age five.

John Laurens (Jack)

Laurens was tutored at home alongside his two younger brothers; Harry and Jemmy. He was a young artist, and began to draw, study, and learn French;

John Laurens by Charles Wilson Peale in 1780

Laurens was born October 28, 1754. He was the eldest of the five children who survived infancy. Because of this, he was his father's greatest hope at a hier, and was put through much pressure, expected from an eldest son of their days.

“Jack improves greatly in the art of the Pencil & he is diligent in all his studies & promises with great care, a capacity for making at least a good farmer.”

(source — Henry Laurens to John Lewis Gervais, [April 18, 1766])

Laurens worryingly was not showing interest in women;

“Master Jack is too closely wedded to his studies to think about any of the Miss Nanny’s I would not have such a sound in his Ear, for a Crown; why drive the poor Dog, to what Nature will irresistably prompt him to be plagued with in all probability much too soon.”

(source — Henry Laurens to James Grant, [October 13, 1767])

In the May of 1770, at age 39 years old, Eleanor Ball - Laurens's mother - died during the birth of her youngest daughter and last child, Mary Eleanor Laurens. The death largely affected Laurens;

“Poor Jack is much to be pitied. He has been almost inconsolable for the Loss of his Mother; and now he sees that another Loss must be sustained in Consequence of the first, the Loss of a year at College in Great Britain. I should have sent him there or have gone with him if this interruption of our Happiness had not prevented it.”

(source —Henry Laurens to Henry Humphreys, [May 19, 1770])

After the death of their mother, Henry took his three sons to England for their education.

In October 1771, Henry then moved with his sons to London, and Laurens was educated in Europe from the ages of 16 years old, to 22 years old. For two years beginning in June 1772, Henry placed Laurens and Harry at the home of Jean-Antoine Chais, a descendant of French Huguenots. Laurens was required to study French, Latin, and Greek and to take instruction in drawing until the end of October. During that time, he would decide whether to remain in Geneva or return to England to enroll at either Oxford, or the Middle Temple in the Inns of Court. Laurens was also now Harry's guardian, and acted as surrogate father for him.

While studying in Geneva, Laurens made a close friend and possible crush, Francis Kinloch. Whom also lived in South Carolina, but there is little that implies they met prior to their studies in Geneva, although their families were close business partners. Kinloch arrived in Geneva two years after Laurens did, in 1774, as Kinloch had recently graduated from Eton College.

Laurens's letters to Kinloch were quite affectionate. And many have compared the similarities to JL's letters with FK to AH, were much of the same emotional language and affection was used.

“It grows so late that I must bid you Adieu. Kiss all the pretty Genevoises for me, and don’t delay to write to your affectionate John Laurens.”

(source — John Laurens to Francis Kinloch, [August 23, 1774])

It seems Laurens had taken interest in becoming a physician or studying medicine, but later he submitted to his father's demand that he becomes a lawyer and study law in August 1774, when Laurens, Harry, and Jemmy would return to London. During November, Laurens began his legal studies at the Middle Temple. Henry returned to Charleston, which left Laurens as guardian to both of his brothers, who were both enrolled in British schools. And Laurens began debating with his father on the topic of emancipation.

On September 5, Laurens was out of the house to send a letter to his father when he heard from William Manning's clerk that Jemmy had been playing and jumped from a high height resulting in a fatal injury to the head. Laurens stayed with his younger brother until he died the next day. This death weighed heavily on Laurens, and he seems to have placed some blame on himself since he was taking care as Jemmy's guardian at the time. And his father seemed to have faulted him as well. Laurens spiraled into a depression, and eventually fell ill during the September-October.

Unfortunately later on, Kinloch and Laurens would come to have major disputes and political disagreements as their correspondence grew, since the American Revolution was beginning to brew and the conversation of republicanism and monrachy were more discussed than ever. Laurens was an avid patriot, but Kinloch was a loyalist. The two would engage in a series of debates over loyalty to the king and a democracy government, through April and September of 1776. The clashing viewpoints would soon be the downfall to their long-term relationship, and the friendship was cut off.

On October 26, 1776, Laurens married Martha Manning. The two were friends, as Manning came from a family that also conducted business with the Laurens'. Yet, the marriage was loveless and seems to have only been a cover-up to protect Manning's honor from what was likely a drunk one night stand, as Manning was pregnant with their only child;

“I should inform you of an important change in my circumstances. Pity has obliged me to marry but a consideration of the duty which I owe to my country made me choose a clandestine celebration, lest the father should insist upon my stay in this country as a condition of the marriage the matter has proceeded too far to be longer concealed, and I have this morning disclosed the affair to Mr. Manning in plain terms reserving to myself the right of fulfilling the more important engagements to my country. It may be convenient on some accounts that the matter should be kept secret till you hear next from me, & you will oblige me by keeping it so.”

(source — John Laurens to James Laurens, [October 25, 1776])

Marriage record for John Laurens and Martha Manning

Laurens was still itching to leave England and was determined to join the Continental Army and fight for the American cause. So, rather than to complete law school in England and raise a family there. Against his father's wishes, Laurens packed his things and took a ship for Charleston in the December of 1776, leaving his pregnant wife behind in London with her family. Frances Eleanor Laurens, the only child of Manning and Laurens, was born sometime in the January of 1777. Laurens arrived at Charleston in April, during the summer he accompanied his father from Charleston to Philadelphia. Where his father was to serve in the Continental Congress. Henry, having given up on preventing Laurens from enlisting, used his influence to obtain a position of honor for his son. Then George Washington invited Laurens to join his staff in early August, as a volunteer aide-de-camp;

“I mean to delay the actual Appointment of my fourth Aide de Camp a while longer; but if you will do me the honour to become a member of my Family, you will make me very happy, by your Company and assistance in that Line as an Extra Aid and I shall be glad to receive you in that capacity whenever it is convenient to you.”

(source — George Washington to John Laurens, [August 5, 1777])

Upon joining the army, Laurens became close friends with many of his fellow aide-de-camps. But was particularly close with Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette. Laurens also then quickly became known for his reckless conduct, and passionate courage. As his first display of battle on September 11, 1777, at the Battle of Brandywine during the Philadelphia campaign. Lafayette claimed; “It was not his [John Laurens's] fault that he was not killed or wounded at Brandywine, he did everything that was necessary to procure one or t'other,”

This rash pattern of gallantry continued as Laurens was wounded at the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777;

“Washington's forces surprise-attacked the British north of Philadelphia. At one point, the Americans were stymied by a large stone mansion occupied by the enemy. After several attempts to take the building failed, Laurens and a French volunteer, the chevalier Duplessis-Mauduit, came up with their own daring plan. They gathered some straw to set on fire and place at the front door of the house. According to another officer's account of Laurens's actions that day, ‘He rushed up to the door of Chew's House, which he forced partly open, and fighting with his sword with one hand, with the other he applied the wood work a flaming brand, and what is very remarkable, retired from under the tremendous fire of the house, with but a very slight wound.’ Laurens was struck by a musket ball that went through part of his right shoulder, and he made a sling for his arm from his uniform sash.”

(source — Valley Forge)

Laurens also would begin the fondest relationship of his with Hamilton. They exchanged many flowery letters during the several years when different assignments. While emotional language was not uncommon in romantic friendships among those of the same gender in this historical period, Hamilton biographer, James Thomas Flexner, stated that the intensely expressive language contained in the Hamilton-Laurens letters “raises questions concerning homosexuality” that “cannot be categorically answered”.

“Cold in my professions, warm in ⟨my⟩ friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it m⟨ight⟩ be in my power, by action rather than words, ⟨to⟩ convince you that I love you.”

(source — Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [April 1779])

Laurens's bravery must have been promising, as just two days after the Battle of Germantown, on the 6th, Laurens was given his official appointment as one of General Washington's aides-de-camp, and was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Between November-December, Washington and several aides, including Laurens, were quartered at the Emlen House, north of Philadelphia in Camp Hill, which served as Washington's headquarters through the Battle of White Marsh.

The horrid winter at Valley Forge came between 1777–1778, where Laurens met Baron Von Steuben and seemed to have admired him some;

“Baron Steuben is making sensible progress with our soldiers. The officers seem to have a high opinion of him…It would enchant you to see the enlivened scene [of camp at Valley Forge]…If Mr. [Sir William] Howe opens the campaign with his usual deliberation, we shall be infinitely better prepared to meet him than we have ever“

(source — John Laurens to Henry Laurens, [April 1, 1778])

In early 1778, Laurens advised his father to use forty slaves he stood to inherit as part of a brigade. Henry reluctantly granted the request, but with reservations that caused postponement of the project.

Laurens marched with the army to New Jersey with the rest of the Continental Army at the end of June 1778, to face the British at the Battle of Monmouth. Near the start of battle, Laurens had his horse shot out from under him while he did reconnaissance for Baron von Steuben.

The Battle of Monmouth was a messy battle, and one that caused disputes between loyal followers to Washington and others who sided with Charles Lee. After Laurens heard Lee's slander and offensive remarks of Washington's character, a duel was challenged. And on December 23, 1778, Laurens engaged in a duel with General Lee just outside Philadelphia. Lee was wounded in the side by Laurens's first shot and the affair was ended by the men's seconds, Alexander Hamilton and Evan Edwards, before Laurens or Lee could fire a second shot.

“You have seen, and by this time considered, General Lee’s infamous publication. I have collected some hints for an answer; but I do not think, either that I can rely upon my own knowledge of facts and style to answer him fully, or that it would be prudent to undertake it without counsel. An affair of this kind ought to be passed over in total silence, or answered in a masterly manner.”

(source — John Laurens to Alexander Hamilton, [December 5, 1778])

In 1779, when the British threatened Charleston South Carolina; Governor John Rutledge proposed to surrender the city, under the condition that Carolina become a neutral state in the war. Laurens strongly opposed the idea and fought with Continental forces to repel the British. On May 3, 1779, the Battle of Coosawhatchie took place; where Colonel William Moultrie's troops, outnumbered two to one, faced 2,400 British regulars under General Augustine Prévost, who had crossed the Savannah River. Laurens was wounded in the Battle, and his second in command fell back to the main force at the Tullifinny, where Moultrie was compelled to retreat towards Charleston.

And in the fall Laurens fought at Battles of Savannah and Charleston, where he commanded an infantry regiment in General Benjamin Lincoln's failed assault on Savannah, Georgia.

Laurens was soon taken prisoner by the British in May of 1780, after the fall of Charleston. As a POW, he was shipped to Philadelphia, where he was paroled with the condition that he would not leave Pennsylvania, which was generous due to his rank. Laurens became severely depressed during his capture. In Philadelphia, Laurens was able to visit his father. But when Henry would soon take ship for the Netherlands as American ambassador, in search of loans — during the voyage to his post, Henry's ship was seized by the British, resulting in his own imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Laurens was determined to return to South Carolina, and in the expectation of being freed by a prisoner exchange in November 1780, Laurens wrote to Washington and requested a leave of absence from his service as aide-de-camp, to which Washington accepted.

But after such Laurens was unwillingly appointed by Congress in December 1780 as a special minister to France. He wanted to return to the South, as he had originally refused the post and proposed Hamilton as the more suitable candidate. Yet, despite all his efforts; Laurens was ultimately persuaded by both Hamilton and Congress to accept the post.

The following year, in March, Laurens and Thomas Paine arrived in France to assist Benjamin Franklin, who had been serving as the American minister in Paris since 1777. Together, they met with King Louis XVI, among others. Laurens gained French assurances that French ships would support American operations that year; the promised naval support was later to prove invaluable at the Siege of Yorktown.

Laurens returned from France in time to see the French fleet arrive and to join Washington in Virginia at the Siege of Yorktown. He was given command of a battalion of light infantry on the 1st of October, 1781, when the previous commander was killed. Laurens, under the command of Hamilton, led the battalion.

Unfortunately, August 27, 1782, at the age of 27 years old; Laurens was fatally shot from his saddle during the Battle of the Combahee River, as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War. Laurens prior had been confined to bed at Wappoo Creek with a raging fever for several days, possibly due to malaria. When he learned that the British were sending a large force out of Charleston to gather supplies.

Eleanor Laurens (Nelly)

Nelly was born in 1755, and died in April 1764.

Martha Laurens (Patsy)

Martha Laurens by John Wollaston in 1767

Martha was born November 3, 1759. As an infant, she almost died of smallpox and was nearly buried actually, but the doctors determined she was alive last minute;

“In the first year of [Martha’s] life she had the small pox so severely that she was supposed to be dead, and as such was actually laid out preparatory to her funeral. This was done under an open window, instead of the close room in which she had been kept, according to the absurd mode of treating the small pox in 1760. Dr. Moultrie, coming in at this crisis, pronounced her to be still alive, probably recalled to life by the fresh air of the open window. Under other circumstances she would shortly have been buried, as was then commonly done, with persons who died of the small pox in that year of extensive mortality. A valuable life was thus providentially saved for future usefulness.”

(source — Memoirs of Eminently Pious Women of Britain and America, Volume 1)

Patsy was eager to learn from a very young age, and could read by age three. She learned basic colonial women education and manners;

“Patsy is forward in her learning, she reads well & begins to write prettily, is not dull in the french Grammar, & plays a little on the Harpsichord, but better than all, she handles her needles in all the useful branches & some of the most refined parts of Womens work & promises me to learn to make minced Pies & to dress a Beef Steak.”

(source — The Papers of Henry Laurens)

After her mother's death in the May of 1770, her older brother, John Laurens, began to teach her, and even helped her dabble in art;

“I feel an irrestible pleasure result from seeing him act the part of a kind & able friend & Brother to a Sister of 11 Years Old who is now advancing fast in French & is as much a Mistress of English Grammar as any Girl of her age through his assistance. Besides this he brings on a little Harry & Jamie in their learning too.”

(source — Henry Laurens to James Grant, [November 24, 1770])

She was very smart and ambitious despite the restrainment of her sex.

But shortly after, Patsy was sent to live with her uncle, James Laurens. In 1775, Martha and her younger sister, Mary Eleanor Laurens, moved to England with their uncle. However, when the politics became overwhelming, they moved to France.

Though due to Patsy being away in Europe, she wrote and experienced little of the American revolution. During the war, her father, Henry became president of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia 1777-1778. Later on, while on a diplomatic mission to Europe, he was captured at sea by the British and imprisoned in The Tower of London. In 1782, after his release, Henry joined Patsy and the rest of the family in France. Martha spent 1783 and 1784 with her father, assisting him with treatment of his gout. And helped console him with depression after the death of John Laurens.

She described his depressive states as;

“I can perceive his heart is bowed down, & he does indeed stand in need of some kind friend to soothe his Sorrows, I wish I were more adequate to the task, but notwithstanding my sincere desire to be his Comforter, my own heart is so heavy, that it is sometimes as much as I can do to appear tolerably cheerful. You know how greatly I was affected by the late melancholy Event in our family. Time, instead of alleviating this Grief, makes me every day more and more feel my loss.”

(source — John Laurens and the American Revolution, by Gregory D. Massey)

David Ramsay by Charles Willson Peale, 1771

In 1784, Patsy sailed back to Charleston, where she met her father's physician, David Ramsay. They were married on January 28, 1787. They had twelve children, with only eight surviving. Patsy was described as being a very patient, affectionate, and educating mother. She taught her children French, and the virtues of Locke and Witherspoon. She was also very religious, and raised her children under strong Christian beliefs and values.

As Ramsay's wife, Martha experienced financial hardship; Ramsay declared insolvency in the late 1790s, and was sued by Martha's brother, Harry, in bankruptcy proceedings. She felt that her faith was being tested, leading her to a sense of religious resignation.

Patsy and her husband adopted her niece, Frances Eleanor Laurens, the daughter of her late brother John Laurens, after his death as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War and his wife's death in Europe.

Martha died around 4pm, June 10, 1811 in Charleston, at the age of 51 years old. She was buried in the churchyard of the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston. Six weeks after her death, her diary and private letters were published by her husband, under the title Memoirs of the Life of Martha Laurens Ramsay.