Sarah Peter

SARAH PETER

A series of letters written by the newlywed Mary Cumming to her family in County Antrim, Ireland gives a sense of the gentle character of Sarah (Peter) Freeland and of her daughters. The excerpts below are from the entire collection, which is found at “Mary Cumming’s Letters Home to Lisburn from America 1811 – 1815” http://www.lisburn.com/books/letters_home/letters_home.html

November 17, 1812 (to her sister when Mary and her husband had been helplessly sick with a fever that had also killed their infant daughter): I do not know what I should have done during my illness if it had not been for Mrs. Freeland, a lady of my acquaintance who lives very near me. I never experienced so much kindness and attention from a stranger as I have done from her at the time poor William and I were so much distressed that we could do nothing. She came here, ordered everything to be done that was necessary, and indeed appeared more like a kind relation than an acquaintance. She came every day to see me, till she herself was taken ill, but is now almost recovered, she spent Sunday evening with me. Dearest Margaret, how you would love her if you knew her. Mr. Freeman is a Scotchman, they have two fine children, both girls, the eldest (Agnes) is a great favourite of mine, she is fifteen years old, just about the age of my darling Rachel. She is very fond of me and brings her work and sits with me very often. When I get well she is coming to stay sometime with me. Whenever I would say to my dear Mrs. Freeland how much I felt obliged to her for all her kindness I am sure she would reply "You would do the same for me if I were in your country." I can never forget her uncommon attention to me.

January 29, 1813 (to her father): Agnes Freeland stayed some time with me lately, she is a great favourite of mine. I can never forget the attention I received from that family during my illness. I go to see them very often. Agnes Freeland taught me how to make a very neat trimming of white cotton, many a time I have wished I could describe the manner of working it, so that you and Margaret would learn it, but you could not unless you first saw someone work it, however I shall have the pleasure of teaching you when I go home, it amused me very much when I was not able to do any other kind of work.

March 10 1813 (to her sister): I am on the most intimate terms you can imagine with my neighbours, who visit with each other without the least ceremony, when I feel lonely in the morning I take my work and sit with the Freelands, how much I wish my dear Margaret knew that family, I am sure you would like them very much, many a time Sally Freeland says she wishes I was her Sister, she is a lovely little girl about nine years old. I think the Virginian people are more like the Irish in their manners than any I have met with yet, they have all that affability and kindness that is so pleasing to strangers. We had a card party here last week, everything went off very well. I have not been at many parties this Winter, we are engaged to dine at Mr. Robert Colquhoun's on Friday.

November 17, 1813 (to her sister after Mary’s second daughter was stillborn.): As usual, my good and kind friend, Mrs. Freeland, has paid me the greatest attention of late. She was with me when I was confined, and for a week after she stayed day and night, nursed me as if I was her own daughter, my dear Agnes was my housekeeper. Never, never shall I forget what I owe to that family. I see some of them almost every day, my acquaintances in Petersburg are extremely kind and attentive, indeed, I think I am very fortunate in having so many pleasing neighbours.

January 2, 1814 (to her sister): There are a number of very pretty girls in Petersburg, most of the American ladies I have seen are remarkably fair, with scarcely any colour, owing to the warmth of the climate, I suppose. My sweet little Agnes Freeland is an exception, she is as blooming as any Irish girl, she has beautiful hair and dark eyes, I have not seen her here so often of late, owing to her mother's health, which I am sorry to say is very bad. She is now confined to bed, and l am very much afraid her disease will end in a consumption. She has been long threatened with it, and she has met with so many misfortunes lately that I fear it has increased the complaint. Within the last year she lost her husband and an only sister. Mr. Freeland died very suddenly, her sister (who was a charming woman) died a few hour after the birth of her boy. Mrs. Freeland has an uncommonly strong mind, but I fear her health will suffer, I do not know what I would do if I was to lose her, she says she looks on me as if I was her daughter and she has always treated me as if I was really so, but I hope from my heart she will soon get better, I cannot bear to think of losing her.

January 6, 1814 (to her sister) I have the happiness of telling you Mrs. Freeland is much better since I wrote last and I trust will soon be quite well. My acquaintance is now very numerous indeed, my health has been so bad lately that I have not been able to visit any except my most particular friends. There are about eight families with whom I am very intimate, and those are quite enough for me. I do not care for a large circle of acquaintances, a great many of whom I do not care for. Several of my most intimate friends are as elegant accomplished women as I ever met with, so much so that I can find no fault with them …

March 9, 1814 (to her younger sister): Mrs. Freeland is much better than she was when I wrote last, Agnes has been ill of the measles lately, she is now recovered, and I expect to have her here next week to stay some time with me. She is nearly about your age, I am sure you would like her very much.

July 24, 1814 (to her father): William is almost certain we shall have peace soon, I sincerely hope we may, for then we shall return to dear Ireland next summer. Oh, my dear Father, it is impossible to express the heartfelt pleasure I feel at the idea of so soon seeing my beloved friends again. I sometimes think it will be too great happiness for me to see realised, but I shall hope for the best. I shall see the Olivers, as we purpose spending some time in Baltimore with Mr. Brown's family. Agnes Freeland will go as far as Georgetown with us, on a visit to some of her friends who live there, I am sure she would be a great favourite with you, she is so lively and pleasing. I shall feel great regret at parting with her, and many more of my acquaintance, for whom I feel a great regard, but the thoughts of the dear friends I shall meet on the other side of the Atlantic will soon banish sorrow from my heart.

(Mary Cumming died the next year, most likely from consumption, before she could return to Ireland.)

In the will of the Rev. James Henderson, husband of Elizabeth Peter and son-in-law of Walter Peter, that Rev. Henderson signed on August 8, 1818, he wrote the following: "I give to my sister in law Mrs. Sarah Freeland the sum of Three hundred dollars"

In the April 6, 1831 edition of the "Daily National Intelligencer" of Washington, DC is the following death notice: "At Montanverd, the residence of her Son-in Law, Major George Peter, Montgomery county, Md on the 3d inst. after a tedious and painful illness, Mrs. Sarah Freeland, relict of the late James Freeland, Esq. of Petersburg, Va. in the 57th year of her age.

In the records of the Peter family is found the following receipt:

"Dr. Major George Peter In Acct. with Wm. Brewer To amount for Medicine and Attendance for the family from April 21st. 1831 to April 1832 $24.17 Received of Major G. Peter the above Acct. in full at the same time Received the balance of Mrs. Sarah Freelands Acct. Wm. Brewer."