Chapter 6 Mary’s Illness / Partnership Problems, 1778

House on Water Street

What was the Mount Holly house like that so pleased Mary?

The house had a story and a half and had a few acres of land.¹

Did Stephen mention his marriage to his brother John?

No. In 1778, John wrote to Stephen. “And now my dear brother, tell me the news with you. They say that you are married. I hope so and that you are sharing the pleasure two married people are in condition to enjoy when they are really well matched.” ²

When did Mary’s mental condition become worse?

She had erratic behavior during 1784 but in early 1785 she grew worse. The mental strain that Girard endured grew worse seeing his wife's affliction. For a time he thought of placing her in the Pennsylvania Hospital, and early in the year he obtained from the two sitting managers the necessary certificate as to her condition. In June, Stephen sent her instead to their house in Mount Holly, in the care of her family. He urged his brother to come to Philadelphia that he might make a voyage, "for I assure you I am very tired of the daily entertainments with which my better half provides me. I must urge you to wind up your affairs so that you can get here by the next voyage of the brig. I can then get away in August and undertake a voyage which, if it turns out a success, will bring us a good deal of business and will thus be very lucrative."

Did Girard agree with the recommendation that Mary be hospitalized?

He resisted this recommendation for some time. He had hoped she could live quietly with her family in Mount Holly, by taking her out for drives in a carriage and giving her a life with as little stress as possible. He even considered a life for her in the West Indies but gave up that idea when her tantrums grew worse.

 How old was Mary when the doctors convinced Stephen that his wife would not ever be cured?

Mary was twenty-six. She and Stephen had been married only eight years. This was a difficult time for Stephen. Mary was ranting day and night. It was only when Dr. John Jones prepared an opium alkaloid did Mary calm down, allowing Stephen to get some rest. ³

When did Stephen decide to take a mistress?

After two years of dealing with his wife’s insanity and being told that she would only get worse, Stephen took a mistress.

How did Stephen meet Sarah Bickham?

Sarah or “Sally” had been a seamstress and had done some mending for him.

Did Girard simply hire her?

Yes. She was hired as a housekeeper and mistress. We must remember that there was no negative connotation to the position of mistress during Stephen’s time. Her responsibilities included the supervision of the cleaning personnel and the services of a bedmate.

What was Girard’s opinion of Sarah’s looks?

He found her very attractive but not beautiful as was Mary. It took him some time to warm up to Sally but she managed to have Stephen fall in love with her.

Did Mary Girard ever recover from her illness?

Stephen Girard provided a good deal of comfort for Mary but she never recovered her sanity.

What accommodations did Stephen provide for his wife at the hospital?

She had a spacious comfortable apartment on the first floor. She was allowed freedom of the hospital grounds and was permitted to have visitors with few restrictions.⁴

When did the hospital notify Girard that Mary was pregnant?

An official of the Pennsylvania Hospital notified Girard five months after she had been admitted that she was pregnant. Girard was asked to take Mary home so that she could have her baby there. Girard refused. He told the hospital official that he had no sexual relations with Mary for a very long time because of her illness and felt no responsibility for the pregnancy. He did however pay all the costs related to the birth.⁵

Do we know who the father was?

There is no record of that. There seems to be some question as to who the father was. The mother named the child Mary Girard but the infant died a few months after she had been baptized. The mother never recovered her sanity. For twenty-five years she lived in the hospital at 8^th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia and died there in 1815. She was buried in the hospital grounds. Girard had been and continued to be a benefactor of the hospital which had sheltered his wife.

Did Girard ever petition The Pennsylvania Legislature for a divorce?

Girard petitioned for divorce twice but was turned down both times. It seems probable that Girard was considering as early as 1807 the plan for the institution which he was to found. Unless a divorce was granted, this plan would be placed in danger if his wife outlived him.  Under the law of Pennsylvania his wife even though insane was entitled to all her rights of dower. Girard's petition for divorce or to have the dower rights of his wife set aside though repeatedly presented was never granted. ⁶

Did Mary ever have moments of clarity of mind?

No. She sometimes would remain more tranquil but then she would slip lower. When she died, Girard made another donation to the hospital and continued to be its benefactor. She was buried on the hospital grounds. In America’s First Hospital, author William H. Williams wrote: “Girard was by far the largest individual benefactor of the Pennsylvania Hospital.”

What was Stephen’s reaction to his wife’s burial?

William Wagner, a clerk in Girard’s employ wrote: “I shall never forget the last and closing scene. Mr. Girard stepped forward and kissed his wife and his tears moistened her cheek.”

How was Mary’s burial conducted?

The burial was conducted in accordance with the customs of the “Friends” who managed the Hospital where Mary had been a patient for so many years.⁷ 

Where was Mary buried?

A beautiful site was selected for Mary’s grave at the north end of the hospital. Henry Ingram described it in this way: “A lovelier spot could hardly be found within the city, the smooth lawns, broken with occasional flower beds, shaded by tall sycamores and kept with Quaker-like simplicity and neatness.”

Can the grave be seen today?

No. The actual site is now covered by the Clinic Building, erected in 1868.⁸

How did Stephen’s brother John interpret Mary’s madness?

He thought Mary had gone mad because she had failed to provide Stephen with children.

Did Stephen ever remarry?

Stephen never remarried; however; he did have mistresses for the remainder of his life. Polly Kenton expected after nineteen years of love and to become the next Mrs. Girard but Stephen decided not to be married again. It wasn’t until 1843 that Polly Kenton entered a lawsuit against Girard’s executors for wages due her. She was awarded $1500 for wages over six years.

John always wanted to live near and work with his brother. What was the beginning of their partnership?

In a letter to John, Stephen wrote that he always thought about the purchase of a brig to trade between Philadelphia and the Cap and proposed that John take half interest in the operation. ⁹

How did the partnership develop in terms of a contracted length of time?

The firm was named S&J Girard Frères. All expenses and profits were to be shared equally for a period of five years.

What was in the first cargo that the firm sent to Le Cap?

The first voyage to Le Cap would carry wooden boards, hewn lumber, shingles, apples, onions and eight hundred barrels of fine sugar.¹⁰

Was it Stephen’s responsibility to deal with the customs office in Pennsylvania?

Stephen who was very shrewd in these matters was able to escape the scrutiny of the customs office and paid no fees or taxes. Girard understood that the Federal Constitution did not then exist. The Articles of Confederation were still in force and under them Congress had no power to lay taxes, duties, imposts or excises.

In moments of controversy between the brothers, how did Stephen complain of their father’s attitude toward him?

Stephen often blamed his father of neglect. Girard wrote: “While my brothers were in school, I was the only one whose education was neglected…I paid for my support and for my few months of schooling out of my own pocket.” ¹¹

What were some of the differences in personality between the two brothers that caused some friction in the partnership?

Stephen was daring; John was more conservative. Stephen would often cut corners in his dealings; John was true as an arrow. Stephen always wanted to push ahead; John wanted to buy a farm and live more simply.

What was John’s interest in selling his business in San Domingo and moving to Philadelphia?

Aside from his devotion, even idolatry of his brother, he became infatuated with his pretty sister-in-law, Mary whom he had never seen. In letter after letter, he sent her increasingly warm assurances of his love and showered her with small gifts. ¹²

How did this long-distance flirtation influence Mary’s health?

Mary’s physician Dr. Say noted an improvement but quickly took credit for it. He said it was because of the massages he had been giving her. Perhaps it was John’s attention that brought an improvement in Mary’s condition.

What was Girard’s philosophy on not sharing his intimate thoughts and feelings with others?

Girard wrote: “I have noticed that no advantage results from telling one’s business to others; it creates jealousy of competitors when we are fortunate or gratifies our enemies when otherwise.”¹³

Girard remembered that his difficulties with John dated back to 1772 when he and John ran a brisk business with the Cap. What specific problem arose when Le Cap changed some of its tariff regulations?

Just as soon as their brig was nearing completion and after much of the cargo had been bought John sent his brother some bad news. Le Cap was closed to Americans. The old tariff which excluded all profitable exports for Americans was again in force. No vessels should come from American ports except those flying under a French flag. ¹⁴

Did Stephen take his brother’s advice and not go to San Domingo with a cargo under the American flag?

No. Stephen was sure there would not be a problem but there was. Their brig Les Deux Frères carried merchandise that was forbidden in American vessels. Flour which could no longer be unloaded in the Cap was a major part of the cargo. The flour had become overheated from the lumber on board and had turned bad. John became angry that his brother was never there to solve the problems that Stephen had created. John had to send the brig to the other side of the island telling the inspectors that the brig was destined for Jamaica and not Le Cap, thus avoiding trouble.

Did John manage to sell the cargo without trouble or paying duty?

Yes. At Stephen’s urging, John unloaded the cargo, sold the flour by telling the bakers it was premium flour and lowered the price of the lumber which he knew Stephen would be angry about.

With all the difficulties of this cargo, were the brothers satisfied with their profits?

John was satisfied but Stephen was not and complained to his brother. John replied in writing: “You will always be the same, never content. This last voyage has given us a profit of 55,000 pounds."

Was the return trip of Les Deux Frères uneventful?

On the contrary, the captain and crew had to wait for John to put together another cargo for the return trip. He was counting on a cargo of sugar but the rains had made the sugar hard to get.¹⁵

Did Stephen and John ever work on the same ship together?

Yes, they worked together on the ship Superbe under Captain Jean Petiteau. The captain promoted Stephen from pilotin to second mate for the voyage to the West Indies. This was a special honor for Stephen being only twenty-two years old.¹⁶

Who replaced Stephen in his apprentice (pilotin) position on that voyage?

Girard's brother John was given the post of pilotin. John had recently graduated from Sorèze.

Was this voyage on the Superbe a successful one for the brothers?

Unfortunately it was not a successful trip. The Superbe ran into trouble, probably because Captain Petiteau was caught smuggling illegal goods into a carefully restricted port—Cap-Francais.¹⁷

How was this disaster to affect the two brothers?

The boys separated. John remained in America as colonial correspondent for his father. Stephen returned to France.

What happened to John in the months that followed?

John, the more sensitive of the two brothers, felt sad at not being with Stephen. John was in Louisiana when he fell sick with yellow fever. His illness made him even more in need of Stephen.

What brought about John’s recovery from this illness?

He was nursed back to health by an attractive young slave girl named Hannah

who was to become his mistress and the mother of their mulatto baby girl named Rosette.¹⁸

^{Chapter 6 Notes}

1. Wilson, Stephen Girard, 89.

2. Ingram, Life and Character, 35.

3. Wildes, Lonely Midas, 73.

4. Herrick, Stephen Girard, Founder, 23.

5. Thomas G. Morton, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751-1895,  (New York: Arno Press), 1973, 138.

6. Herrick, Stephen Girard, Founder, 138.

7. Ingram, Life and Character, 85. Ingram was a great-grandson of John Girard, Stephen’s brother. Part of the research for this book on Girard was made up of interviews with William Wagner who worked for Stephen Girard for twenty-one years and three nieces of Stephen Girard who lived with him for many years while they were growing up.  One of the nieces was Ingram’s grandmother.

8. William G. Malin, ex steward, Pennsylvania Hospital.

9. McMaster, Life and Times.49.

10. Ibid., 58.

11. Wildes, Lonely Midas, 13.

12. Ibid., 49.

13. Herrick, Stephen Girard, Founder, 9.

14. McMaster, Life and Times, 53.

15. Ibid., 56.

16. Wildes, Lonely Midas, 13.

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