I still donât quite understand what happened to Angelica Hamilton after Philipâs death? Could you explain?
What happened to Angelica Hamilton remains something of a mystery, largely because she lived in the dark ages of mental health treatment. When she was younger, Angelica was a smart, talented, and happy young girl. Allan McLane Hamilton described her as âa very beautiful girlâ and âa charming character.â (Intimate Life, p.219). She took dancing lessons with Nelly Custis, and played the piano well. She also possessed some of her motherâs Schuyler-spunk. In November 1793, Alexander Hamilton wrote a letter to his daughter praising her for beginning to learn French and reminding her to behave herself while sheâs staying with her grandparents:
I was very glad to learn, my dear daughter, that you were going to begin the study of the French language. We hope you will in every respect behave in such a manner as will secure to you the good-will and regard of all those with whom you are. If you happen to displease any of them, be always ready to make a frank apology. But the best way is to act with so much politeness, good manners, and circumspection, as never to have occasion to make any apology. Your mother joins in best love to you. Adieu, my very dear daughter.
On December 15, 1793, Philip Schuyler informed Hamilton, âMy Angelica3 is perfectly happy, And very lively.â Angelica and her father maintained a teasing relationship into 1801, as indicated by a letter Hamilton wrote to Eliza while he was away on business:
Give my love to Angelica4 & assure [her] that I did not leave her pye out of resentment for her having changed its original destination; but because it was impossible to take it with us without abandonning a basket of Crabs which was sent to my care for Mrs. Rensselaer.5 It has always been my creed that a ladyâs pleasure is of more importance than a Gentlemanâs, so the pye gave way to the Crabs. It was a nice question, but after mature reflection I decided in favour of the latter. Perhaps as a Creole I had some sympathy with them.
No source seems to indicate Angelica having any kind of mental health issues up to this point. Allan McLane Hamilton is the only source who appears to pinpoint the cause of Angelicaâs breakdown. Although AMH was rarely writing from first hand experience, his father, Philip, does seem to have maintained a relationship with Angelica, (see, e.g., Eliza Hamilton to Philip Hamilton, 23 May 1837, printed in the Intimate Life, p.221), so itâs very possible AMH met his aunt and knew her story from the rest of his family. Heâs therefore fairly credible as a source (though the family were likely not well informed about what was really wrong). AMH described:
Upon receipt of the news of her brotherâs death in the Eacker duel, she suffered so great a shock that her mind became permanently impaired, and although taken care of by her devoted mother for a long time there was no amelioration in her condition, and she was finally placed under the care Dr. MacDonald of Flushing, and remained in his charge until her death at the age of seventy-three. During her latter life she constantly referred to the dear brother so nearly her own age as if alive. Her music, that her father used to oversee and encourage, stayed by her all these years. To the end she played the same old-fashioned songes and minuets upon the venerable piano that had been bought for her, many years before, in London, by Angelica Church, during her girlhood, and was sent to New York through a friend of her father. (Intimate Life, p. 219).
James Kent visited the Hamilton family early 1804, and described in a letter dated 26 April 1804:
His daughter,18 who is nineteen years old, has a very uncommon simplicity and modesty of deportment, and he appeared in his domestic state the plain, modest, and affectionate father and husband.
With far less delicacy, a later visitor to the Grange recorded only as âMrs. Qâ referred to Angelica simply as âa deranged daughter.â (Mr. Daniels and the Grange, p.117).
Though it was increasingly obvious that something was wrong with Angelica after 1801, she remained loved and cared for her by family and friends. Hamilton, eager to keep his daughter happy, included in his 29 December 1802 letter requesting seeds from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney: âMy daughter2 adds another request, which is for three or four of your peroquets. She is very fond of birds.â Philip Schuyler also remained eager to see his granddaughter. In Schuylerâs 3 August 1803 letter to Hamilton reporting on Alexander Jr. and Jamesâs visit to Albany, he eneded with the plea: âIt would amuse my Dear Angelica16 to take a tour to this place, and be greatly pleasing to me, cannot you find a conveyance for her.â A May 1804 diary entry from Gouverneur Morris indicates Angelica retained some relationships with friends. Morris recorded: ââŚGo between two and three to Genl Hamiltonâs to a Fete given to his Daughterâs Acquaintances and return without being wet though it constantly threatensâŚâ (Mr. Daniels and the Grange, p. 102).
I canât imagine how difficult it was for Hamilton and Eliza to see Angelica having a breakdown in the midst of their grief over Philip. It must have been even more terrifying, because there was no recourse or information to help them navigate through this. They just had to love her and try to keep her as happy and comfortable as possible. On that front, at least, they seem to have succeeded well.
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