Notable Author Catharine Maria Sedgwick (1789 - 1867)

+6 votes
298 views
A very interesting Notable and author. We need collaboration in determining if she was married or had any children. (Wikipedia mentions she was engaged but never married with no children). A woman of the late 18th and 19th century that has some very good books she authored!

Thank you wikitree family

Note: Needs categorizing and improved sourcing and bio
WikiTree profile: Catharine Sedgwick
in Genealogy Help by Andrew Simpier G2G6 Pilot (669k points)
retagged by Andrew Simpier

It appears she was engaged to a Harmanus Bleecker who married later in life and had no children. He must of still loved  Catherine even long after the proposal was refused. See Harmanus Bleecker on Wikipedia and added to Wikitree see https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bleecker-132

Mother Pamela has her name spelled as “Pamelia” on Catharine’s death record

2 Answers

+7 votes
 
Best answer

Here is a link to a death announcement that refers to her as "Miss Catherine M. Sedgwick,87."

New England Farmer (Boston, Massachusetts), August 10, 1867, p. 3.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/404600573/?terms=Catharine%20Maria%20Sedgwick&match=1

Here is a link to a more complete obituary, albeit from the Muscatine Weekly Journal (likely re-printed from somewhere else).  It calls her Miss and, while it talks about her family, including her brother and sister-in-law, there is no mention of a husband or children.

"Death of Miss Sedgwick," Muscatine Weekly Journal (Muscatine, Iowa) August 9, 1867, p. 1.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/541928082/?terms=Catharine%20Maria%20Sedgwick&match=1

Here's a link to her will dated February 18, 1867, where she refers to herself as single and leaves her estate to nephews and nieces.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9069/images/007703906_00037?pId=393152

by Roger Stong G2G Astronaut (1.3m points)
edited by Roger Stong

Thank you great sources to draw from!laugh

The fathers bio mentions a suicide. Who died of suicide the second wife? Or one of Catharines siblings? Very interesting family!

It looks like the wife Pamela Dwight.  She committed suicide with poison.

See the following link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Sedgwick#Marriages_and_family

I thought it was the wife but it didn’t specify but alluded to it. Thank you
The 3rd wife was a “Spendthrift” and the children were horrified of his quick intent to marry her after their mothers passing. The children’s mother Pamela was obviously maritally neglected and depressed which led her to being institutionalized in 1795 eventually dying in 1807! Her picture doesn’t appear to be that of a woman with “Hypomania” such a sad ending. I agree with his children thus far!
Does Pamela have a death record? She was a beautiful woman. Sad ending but an amazing life and great legacy!

"Sedgwick, Pamela (Mrs), consort of Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, d. in Stockbridge, age 54 (C.C. Oct. 3, 1807)"

It seems to be taken from the Columbian Central.

U.S, Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930.https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/50015/images/40699_1220705043_3551-00368?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=299141

Ah good source. Thank you for the text portion can’t view on the link. She apparently died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts of poisoning. Her death record could reveal what kind of poison etc. yes

Catharine’s death certificate is on her findagrave memorial which shows she died from paralysis. Probably a stroke? Also town of death is West Roxbury which was Norfolk county in 1867 later annexed into Boston. Familysearch has a good link 

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Roxbury,_Norfolk_County,_Massachusetts_Genealogy 

and 

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/West_Roxbury,_Norfolk_County,_Massachusetts_Genealogy

+4 votes

Catharine is also noted for her relationship with Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett) Freeman-7941, who acted as her mother.

Here is a good biography.

Here is a review of a recent book about the Sedgwick family. In My Blood, by John Sedgwick.

Also Sedgwicks in Love, by Timothy Kenslea.

by Joyce Vander Bogart G2G6 Pilot (198k points)
edited by Joyce Vander Bogart

Thanks Joyce very good sources! I’m one of the many distant cousins to her and mother Pamela laugh the 19th century is my favorite era 

You are also related (5 cousin 7 times removed) to Major General John Sedgwick (Sedgwick-181)

I didn’t notice till you mentioned it! Very neatlaugh

I wonder if Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett) Freeman-7941 has a Wikitree profile yet? 

Edited: found her on Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Freeman-7941

Elizabeth Freeman “Mumbet” has an amazing story and life. I read the Wikipedia and her findagrave Memorial. The last part said “Good Mother, Farewell” how heart touching! Amazing the first freed slave in Massachusetts. She is the only non Sedgwick buried in the Sedgwick plot! 

Yes, I took the picture of her grave that is on her profile. She is in the "Sedgwick Pie." If you would like a picture of Catharine's grave, or any other, I can make a trip to Stockbridge for you. (I could not find Norman Rockwell's grave, but it is there, too.) I think there is a dog in The Sedgwick Pie.

Important: she is not the first freed slave. Her case abolished slavery in the state.

That is awesome! I’d like to visit the Sedgwick Pie sometime very historic! I love New England! laugh No she wasn’t the first freed slave. You are correct! Per her bio “She was the first female black slave to file and win a freedom suit in Massachusetts” 

do you know about Agrippa Hull? (Hull-7887). Born free, served in American Revolution. Also worked for Theodore Sedgwick.

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