Elizabeth Ann Seton

. . . Elizabeth’s father was a devout Episcopalian, but Elizabeth found little comfort in her father’s religion. By age sixteen she became so depressed that she considered suicide. Her father sent her to live with her older sister, Mary, where Elizabeth blossomed into a beautiful and popular young lady. On January 25, 1794, at age nineteen, she married William Magee Seton, who was employed in his father’s shipping business.

For a while the Setons lived a fairy tale existence. They resided on New York’s Wall Street, next door to Alexander Hamilton and his family. They entertained some of the wealthiest and most influential Americans in New York, including George Washington. From 1795 to 1802, Elizabeth gave birth to five children: Anna, William Jr., Richard, Catherine, and Rebecca. She was devoted to her children and to God, but also found time to serve her Episcopal church, and to form—with the help of William’s sister, Rebecca Mary Seton—the Protestant Sisters of Charity, a women’s organization which helped New York City’s poor.

Hard Times. Then the bubble burst. William’s father died in 1798, leaving William in charge of an unprofitable shipping business, as well as his seven brothers and sisters. In an effort to cut expenses, Elizabeth took over the business’ bookkeeping chores. In 1800 the business failed, plunging William and Elizabeth into bankruptcy and poverty.

A year later, Elizabeth’s father died. Then her husband became very ill with tuberculosis. In 1803, on the recommendation of Antonio and Filippo Filicchi, merchants the Setons had met through William’s business, Elizabeth and her eight-year-old daughter, Anna, accompanied William to Italy, hoping that the climate there would help him recover.[1] But upon arrival they were placed in quarantine in Livorno for thirty days due to an epidemic of yellow fever.

Although Elizabeth must have been frustrated by this development, she accepted it as God’s will and tried to make the best of it. She lovingly nursed her husband, and played games with Anna while he slept. And she prayed a lot. During this time, William adopted the Christian faith of his wife. Unfortunately, their cold, damp, month-long confinement eliminated any chance for his recovery. William Seton died in Pisa, Italy, on December 27, 1803, not long after their release. . . .

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[1]. The remaining Seton children were left with William’s sister, Rebecca.