My great times 6 grandmother, Ann Sylvester Bowers' sister, Patience, was about 4-5 years older than Ann, and according to this story, was considered good looking. Their older sister, Grissell married James Lloyd (the Mrs. Lloyd referred to in the story below.)
I'm quoting from an entry called a "story" over on Ancestry, which can be anything you want to say about that ancestor...but this is fun in all the people being quoted. First Mrs. Cornelia L'Hommedius. Then Mrs. Martha Lamb. But it's reproduced by Rev. Mallman, in 1899! Southold is on Long Island, NY.
I'm quoting from an entry called a "story" over on Ancestry, which can be anything you want to say about that ancestor...but this is fun in all the people being quoted. First Mrs. Cornelia L'Hommedius. Then Mrs. Martha Lamb. But it's reproduced by Rev. Mallman, in 1899! Southold is on Long Island, NY.
From Mrs. Cornelia L'Hommedieu, Nantucket, Mass.
The meeting of Benjamin and Patience is thus told by Mrs. Martha Lamb in her article entitled "The Manor of Shelter Island" and reproduced on page 53 of Rev. Jacob E. Mallman's "Historical Papers on Shelter Island and its
Presbyterian Church," published by the author, the pastor of the church, in
1899.
"The Marriage of Patience Sylvester, the sister of Mrs. Lloyd was an exceptionally romantic affair. Among the exiled Huguenots of the period was Benjamin L'Hommedieu, who settled at Southold.
One pleasant Sunday morning soon after his arrival, L'Hommedieu was attracted by an extremely novel object moving over the sparkling waters of the bay. As it came nearer he observed two remarkably handsome young women in a barge with a canopy over it, and six Negro slaves rowing it. The vision haunted him. He went to church that morning, and, despite Puritanical customs, permitted his eyes to remain open during prayer.
The story is like every other story that it is hardly necessary to say that the French heart was hopelessly lost before the preacher had reached "Amen" in his benediction. The sequel was a beautiful wedding; Miss Patience Sylvester was
henceforth Mrs. L'Hommedieu.
Reference:
Southold and Its People in the Revolutionary Days by Wayland Jefferson
The meeting of Benjamin and Patience is thus told by Mrs. Martha Lamb in her article entitled "The Manor of Shelter Island" and reproduced on page 53 of Rev. Jacob E. Mallman's "Historical Papers on Shelter Island and its
Presbyterian Church," published by the author, the pastor of the church, in
1899.
"The Marriage of Patience Sylvester, the sister of Mrs. Lloyd was an exceptionally romantic affair. Among the exiled Huguenots of the period was Benjamin L'Hommedieu, who settled at Southold.
One pleasant Sunday morning soon after his arrival, L'Hommedieu was attracted by an extremely novel object moving over the sparkling waters of the bay. As it came nearer he observed two remarkably handsome young women in a barge with a canopy over it, and six Negro slaves rowing it. The vision haunted him. He went to church that morning, and, despite Puritanical customs, permitted his eyes to remain open during prayer.
The story is like every other story that it is hardly necessary to say that the French heart was hopelessly lost before the preacher had reached "Amen" in his benediction. The sequel was a beautiful wedding; Miss Patience Sylvester was
henceforth Mrs. L'Hommedieu.
Reference:
Southold and Its People in the Revolutionary Days by Wayland Jefferson
Patience and Benjamin Constant L'Hommedieu married in 1694, when she was about 30, according to the dates currently available on Ancestry. They then had 8 children.
Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI believe my grandmother on my mother's side, Cornelia L'hommedieu Griffin, is the daughter of Cornelia L'hommedieu of Nantucket mentioned here. I was not aware of our Sylvester connection until very recently.
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