Lucy Burwell Berkeley: Difference between revisions
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At the age of 16, Burwell was "high born and beautiful".<ref name="Kukla" /> She received her first love letter from 44-year-old Governor [[Francis Nicholson]], written on the night before Valentine's Day.<ref name="Downey">{{Cite journal |last=Downey |first=Fairfax |date=1947 |title=The Governor Goes A-Wooing: The Swashbuckling Courtship of Nicholson of Virginia 1699-1705 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4245453 |journal=The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=6–19 |issn=0042-6636 |via=Jstor}}</ref> He began courting her, during which he visited her and sent her more love letters.<ref name="Brown" /> He sent her a "flood of poems, missives (tender and otherwise), memoranda, menaces, and memorials."<ref name="Kukla" /> He fell madly in love with Burwell, who was known for her charm as well as her beauty.<ref name="Kukla" /> It was also important to him that she was deeply devoted to the [[Church of England]] and he offered her guidance about her readings and when to take [[Eucharist|communion]]. He wrote to her that as her friend and lover, he "most cordially and earnestly recommend to you to receive the most holy Sacrament Godwilling next Easter (pray be pleased to read the 3 books I herewith presume to send you, in one of them there is a prayer about marrying."{{sfn|Bond|2004|p=70}}{{efn|Francis Nicholson to Lucy Burwell, ca. 1701, Francis Nicholson Papers, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.{{sfn|Bond|2004|p=70}}}} He called her "fair Angel" and "dear Saint".<ref name="Kukla" /> |
At the age of 16, Burwell was "high born and beautiful".<ref name="Kukla" /> She received her first love letter from 44-year-old Governor [[Francis Nicholson]], written on the night before Valentine's Day.<ref name="Downey">{{Cite journal |last=Downey |first=Fairfax |date=1947 |title=The Governor Goes A-Wooing: The Swashbuckling Courtship of Nicholson of Virginia 1699-1705 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4245453 |journal=The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=6–19 |issn=0042-6636 |via=Jstor}}</ref> He began courting her, during which he visited her and sent her more love letters.<ref name="Brown" /> He sent her a "flood of poems, missives (tender and otherwise), memoranda, menaces, and memorials."<ref name="Kukla" /> He fell madly in love with Burwell, who was known for her charm as well as her beauty.<ref name="Kukla" /> It was also important to him that she was deeply devoted to the [[Church of England]] and he offered her guidance about her readings and when to take [[Eucharist|communion]]. He wrote to her that as her friend and lover, he "most cordially and earnestly recommend to you to receive the most holy Sacrament Godwilling next Easter (pray be pleased to read the 3 books I herewith presume to send you, in one of them there is a prayer about marrying."{{sfn|Bond|2004|p=70}}{{efn|Francis Nicholson to Lucy Burwell, ca. 1701, Francis Nicholson Papers, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.{{sfn|Bond|2004|p=70}}}} He called her "fair Angel" and "dear Saint".<ref name="Kukla" /> |
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He also wrote letters to her parents, asking for their help with the relationship. In the summer of 1700, Nicholson nominated Lewis Burwell to the [[Virginia Governor's Council|Governor's Council]], which was an honor. Lewis Burwell refused the position. Her father publicly stated that his daughter was free to marry whomever she chose.<ref name="Brown" /> |
He also wrote letters to her parents, sometimes daily,<ref name="Feeley" /> asking for their help with the relationship. In the summer of 1700, Nicholson nominated Lewis Burwell to the [[Virginia Governor's Council|Governor's Council]], which was an honor. Lewis Burwell refused the position. Her father publicly stated that his daughter was free to marry whomever she chose.<ref name="Brown" /> |
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She continued to entertain other men. Edward Berkeley—around 29 years of age, well-educated, and a successful planter from a good family—was one of the men interested in her. Marrying Nicholson could have been a politically expedient decision, but decided the Nicholson was not the right match for her.<ref name="Brown" /><ref name="Kukla" /> When Lucy was about eighteen years of age, she and her father declared that Lucy had no interest in marrying Nicholson, he threatened to kill whomever she intended to marry.{{sfn|Bond|2004|pp=69–70}} He became temperamental and was threatening towards the Burwell family and their allies who were among the colony's elite families.<ref name="Brown" /> |
She continued to entertain other men. Edward Berkeley—around 29 years of age, well-educated, and a successful planter from a good family—was one of the men interested in her. Marrying Nicholson could have been a politically expedient decision, but decided the Nicholson was not the right match for her.<ref name="Brown" /><ref name="Kukla" /> When Lucy was about eighteen years of age, she and her father declared that Lucy had no interest in marrying Nicholson, he threatened to kill whomever she intended to marry.{{sfn|Bond|2004|pp=69–70}} He became temperamental and was threatening towards the Burwell family and their allies who were among the colony's elite families.<ref name="Brown" /> When Nicholson had sent gifts to Lucy, she promptly returned them. Once rejected, he spread gossip that Lucy and her friends had accepted the gifts, which tarnished her reputation. When in public, Lucy was called names and felt threatened by the behavior of others.<ref name="Feeley">{{Cite book |last=Feeley |first=Kathleen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVRvBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT76&dq=%2522Lucy+Burwell%2522+Nicholson+OR+Berkeley&hl=en |title=When Private Talk Goes Public: Gossip in American History |last2=Frost |first2=Jennifer |date=2014-08-06 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-137-44230-7 |language=en |pages=PT76–78}}</ref> |
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His behavior, along with his unpopular policies, drove four Burwell relatives and two others to petition for Nicholson's removal as governor.<ref name="Brown" /> The petition was signed by [[John Blair Sr.|John Blair]], [[Benjamin Harrison]], [[Robert Carter I|Robert Carter]], Matthew Page, [[Philip Ludwell]], and John Lightfoot.<ref name="Feeley" /> It was an embarrassing period during Nicholson's time in Virginia.{{sfn|Bond|2004|p=70}} |
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{{quote|At a time when leading Virginians were searching for a dignified regional identity and attempting to check the power of the governor, Burwell's refusal of Nicholson did much both to legitimize the Virginia elite’s grievances against him and to provide compelling evidence of his despotic and dishonorable tendencies. In exercising her prerogative to choose her own husband, surely the most public and free act of her short life, Lucy Burwell became, in the annals of Virginia folklore, a symbol of regional resistance to the abuse of power.|Biographer Kathleen M. Brown<ref name="Brown" />}} |
{{quote|At a time when leading Virginians were searching for a dignified regional identity and attempting to check the power of the governor, Burwell's refusal of Nicholson did much both to legitimize the Virginia elite’s grievances against him and to provide compelling evidence of his despotic and dishonorable tendencies. In exercising her prerogative to choose her own husband, surely the most public and free act of her short life, Lucy Burwell became, in the annals of Virginia folklore, a symbol of regional resistance to the abuse of power.|Biographer Kathleen M. Brown<ref name="Brown" />}} |
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Revision as of 00:12, 12 October 2021
Lucy Burwell Berkeley (November 21, 1683–1716) was courted by Governor Francis Nicholson when she was 17 years old. When she did not return his affections, the middle-aged Nicholson threatened her family. She married Edward Berkeley from another elite family of Virginia.
Early life
Lucy Burwell, born on November 21, 1683, was the daughter of Abigail Smith and Lewis Burwell. She was probably born in Gloucester County, Virginia at the Fairfield plantation.[1] Abigail was Lewis Burwell's first wife, with whom they had four sons and six daughters. He later married Martha Lear Cole, with whom they had a son and three daughters.[2]
Francis Nicholson
At the age of 16, Burwell was "high born and beautiful".[2] She received her first love letter from 44-year-old Governor Francis Nicholson, written on the night before Valentine's Day.[3] He began courting her, during which he visited her and sent her more love letters.[1] He sent her a "flood of poems, missives (tender and otherwise), memoranda, menaces, and memorials."[2] He fell madly in love with Burwell, who was known for her charm as well as her beauty.[2] It was also important to him that she was deeply devoted to the Church of England and he offered her guidance about her readings and when to take communion. He wrote to her that as her friend and lover, he "most cordially and earnestly recommend to you to receive the most holy Sacrament Godwilling next Easter (pray be pleased to read the 3 books I herewith presume to send you, in one of them there is a prayer about marrying."[4][a] He called her "fair Angel" and "dear Saint".[2]
He also wrote letters to her parents, sometimes daily,[5] asking for their help with the relationship. In the summer of 1700, Nicholson nominated Lewis Burwell to the Governor's Council, which was an honor. Lewis Burwell refused the position. Her father publicly stated that his daughter was free to marry whomever she chose.[1]
She continued to entertain other men. Edward Berkeley—around 29 years of age, well-educated, and a successful planter from a good family—was one of the men interested in her. Marrying Nicholson could have been a politically expedient decision, but decided the Nicholson was not the right match for her.[1][2] When Lucy was about eighteen years of age, she and her father declared that Lucy had no interest in marrying Nicholson, he threatened to kill whomever she intended to marry.[6] He became temperamental and was threatening towards the Burwell family and their allies who were among the colony's elite families.[1] When Nicholson had sent gifts to Lucy, she promptly returned them. Once rejected, he spread gossip that Lucy and her friends had accepted the gifts, which tarnished her reputation. When in public, Lucy was called names and felt threatened by the behavior of others.[5]
His behavior, along with his unpopular policies, drove four Burwell relatives and two others to petition for Nicholson's removal as governor.[1] The petition was signed by John Blair, Benjamin Harrison, Robert Carter, Matthew Page, Philip Ludwell, and John Lightfoot.[5] It was an embarrassing period during Nicholson's time in Virginia.[4]
At a time when leading Virginians were searching for a dignified regional identity and attempting to check the power of the governor, Burwell's refusal of Nicholson did much both to legitimize the Virginia elite’s grievances against him and to provide compelling evidence of his despotic and dishonorable tendencies. In exercising her prerogative to choose her own husband, surely the most public and free act of her short life, Lucy Burwell became, in the annals of Virginia folklore, a symbol of regional resistance to the abuse of power.
— Biographer Kathleen M. Brown[1]
Marriage
Burwell and Edward Berkeley married on December 1, 1703.[1] Lucy and her brothers and sisters married into established families in New Kent, which influenced the politics of Colonial Virginia at that time.[7] It was Edward's second marriage, he was previously married to Mary Mason.[8] He was from Barn Elms plantation in Middlesex County, Virginia.[2]
They had two sons and three daughters.[1]
Death
Burwell Berkeley died on December 16, 1716 and was bured at Barn Elms in Middlesex County. Edward Berkeley added an epitaph to her gravestone about their marriage:
She never in all the time she lived with her Husband gave him so much as once cause to be displeased with Her.[1]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Brown, Kathleen M. "Burwell, Lucy (1683–1716)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kukla, Jon (2009-06-03). Mr. Jefferson's Women. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. PT331. ISBN 978-0-307-53867-3.
- ^ Downey, Fairfax (1947). "The Governor Goes A-Wooing: The Swashbuckling Courtship of Nicholson of Virginia 1699-1705". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 55 (1): 6–19. ISSN 0042-6636 – via Jstor.
- ^ a b c Bond 2004, p. 70.
- ^ a b c Feeley, Kathleen; Frost, Jennifer (2014-08-06). When Private Talk Goes Public: Gossip in American History. Springer. pp. PT76–78. ISBN 978-1-137-44230-7.
- ^ Bond 2004, pp. 69–70.
- ^ Harris, Malcolm Hart (2006). Old New Kent County [Virginia]: Some Account of the Planters, Plantations, and Places Volume II. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 960. ISBN 978-0-8063-5294-7.
- ^ "Probably Lucy Burwell Berkeley (Mrs. Edmund Berkeley, 1683-1716) – Colonial Virginia Portraits". Colonial Virginia Portraits. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
Bibliography
- Bond, Edward L. (2004). Spreading the Gospel in Colonial Virginia: Sermons and Devotional Writings. Lexington Books. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-0-7391-0720-1.
Further reading
- Maddox, Jerry A. (2010). Lucy and the Governor.