“…More scarce and nearly as dear:” The Schuyler-Hamilton Family, Illness, and Food Shortages

Alexander Hamilton painted
by James Sharples; 1796.

By Jessie Serfilippi

Today we’re facing so many challenges at once: fear and worry for the health of loved ones and ourselves, shortages of food and supplies, and an uncertain economic future. Our fears today were once the fears of the Schuylers, Hamiltons, and everyone else in their 18th century world. This letter from Alexander Hamilton to his wife, Elizabeth, serves as a glimpse into some of their fears and worries in 1796.

On October 26, 1796, Hamilton wrote a letter to Elizabeth from her father’s home in Albany. He wrote: “I was consoled to hear that you & our darling little ones were well—though I shall be anxious till I rejoin you lest there should be a relapse or some new attack.”

Hamilton may have been referring to an unspecified illness Eliza and their children had recovered from, or to the dreaded Yellow Fever, which hit New York City once again in 1796. In either case, the resurgence of this deadly illness must have weighed heavily upon the family’s minds since the Hamiltons had so narrowly survived the 1793 epidemic in Philadelphia. 

While Hamilton worried for his family’s health, his father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, was dealing with his own chronic health issues. Schuyler seems to have suffered another round of ulcers and sores on his legs, but Hamilton informed Eliza her father was “really better and as I hope in no present danger.” He continued with more good news. Schuyler’s “breaking out” did not appear to be “mortification,” which in the 18th century referred to gangrene. 

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
painted by James Sharples; 1796.

Following the good news of her father’s health, Hamilton broke a bit of bad news to Eliza. While her sister Peggy had beef ready to go down the Hudson to her, Hamilton stated “Eggs are more scarce & nearly as dear as at New York. I shall see what can be done as to butter.” 

This shortage does not appear to have been related to Yellow Fever, but rather to what is now known as the Panic of 1796-1797, during which the United States and Great Britain took economic hits. The ramifications of the downward economic spiral really hurt shop owners and artisans, and caused widespread shortages, likely including the shortage on eggs Hamilton mentioned.

It is unknown if Hamilton was able to find the eggs and butter Eliza needed to make many basic and necessary foods. They, like so many other New Yorkers, may have had to do completely without such foods or with a depleted supply for some time. 

1796 was a tense and turbulent year for the Hamiltons and Schuylers. While they were separated during this time of uncertainty, they relied on the one form of long-distance social communication available to them: letters. Just like phone calls and video chats allow us to connect with loved ones right now, letters offered the Schuylers and Hamiltons the same comfort and reassurance when they couldn’t physically be together.  

For more on the Schuylers, Hamiltons, and Yellow Fever click here.

“Devoid of any facet of interest or spectacle”: Rensselaer Schuyler’s Unrealized Masquerade Emporium

***The article that follows was written as Schuyler Mansion's annual April Fools post. Unfortunately, Rensselaer Schuyler never planned to open a store called "Fancy Masks" (that we know of!). Thank you to everyone who played along!***

In August of 1792, Angelica Schuyler Church sent her brother Rensselaer a letter from London, where she was living at the time with her husband and children. She included the usual news of friends and family abroad, updates on conflict with France, and inquiries as to the health of her loved ones in America. However, despite being separated by an entire ocean and an age-gap of 17 years, the primary content of the letter indicates a deep familiarity on Angelica’s part with young Rensselaer’s most pressing concerns at that time- business and romance:

Though I am certain that Papa has been applying you heed the Advise [sic] of our brother Hamilton in matters of Finance, my heart beats maloncholy [sic] that he has not told you who it is who Advises him[.] For if he had, she expects she should have had a Letter from you some time ago, entreating her (that is, myself), to relate unto you all that she (that is, I) have to tell of the State of Finance in London, a matter on which I am very much Informed and Most Happy to share with my dear Brother…

As to that Other Matter, touching the Heart and all the Exhortions [sic] of Venus, you should not think it Amiss to say Amas*, nor to apply to your loving sister for Advise [sic] on this matter either. To this I will say only that you must take to a Ball the object of your Affections, the effection [sic] of which will be made most agreeable should you escort her to a Masquerade. It is a gathering of the most fashionable and amusing sort[;] at it all the couples wear Mascks [sic] and all of the most fantastical sort, with feathers and silks and all manner of Bazaar [sic] creatures, tigresses and Devils and other such phantasms. Such a gathering was had at the Prince [of Wales]’s apartments Several nights past, and tho [sic] I spent the whole night in good company there, several couples spent less time with the ensemble...

A Masquerade of the type described by Angelica Schuyler

Whether or not Rensselaer took his big-sister’s advice on romance to heart, he apparently saw in her letter a chance for a business venture.  While we do not have Rensselaer’s letter to his father, a letter written by Philip Schuyler to his son several weeks after Rensselaer received Angelica’s message sheds light on Rensselaer’s latest inspiration.

My Dear Son, 

Pleased tho [sic] I am to hear that you intend to take an interest in entering the World of Business at last[,] your letter of the 3^rd instnt [sic] has given me cause to offer Trepeditious [sic] counsel. I fear you may have misread your dear sister Angelica’s intent in her advisement, for while she tells me she offered you advice on Both business and matrimony, I fear you have Conflated the Two into One. Your proposed course, that of establishing a Store for the selling of Maskerade fashions and other such frivolities, seems to me ill-advised and a poor use of the education in Maths, science, History, and all other Useful Arts which I have ever endevored [sic] to provide you with and Furthermore can only result in your unhappiness and mine, and the squandering of the fortune you request of me to secure the enterprise. Further, the illustrations of your Intentions, though artistically adept in their accuracy, are poor things, devoid of any facet of interest or spectacle capable of capturing the interest of those who attend such parties. Lastly, the name of the establishment, Fancy Masks, as you propose it, is a ridiculous thing, and beneath you in all ways I advise instead you apply yourself to Farming or Commerce, both of which in perfect harmony suffice to make a man wealthy and respected.

I remain, ever and adieu,

Yr Fthr

Ph: Schuyler

From this letter, it appears that Rensselaer’s plan was to open a store (whether in New York or Albany is not specified), for selling masks and fancy clothing for Masquerade Balls, as described by his sister, Angelica. For years, the only reference to Rensselaer’s designs for his masks was Philip’s description in this letter. However, a recently discovered ledger book from within the Schuyler family contains a loose leaf of paper depicting what appears to be one of Rensselaer’s illustrations of the sorts of masks he intended to sell in his establishment. If this is the case, then it seems that his father’s description is unfortunately accurate.

Rensselaer never got to open Fancy Masks. Instead he set out on a life plagued by debt for many years before finally settling in to the life his father intended for him as a land-lord and developer. Still, one cannot help but wonder what his life would have been like had his creative impulses been better nurtured. Alas, we will never know.


* Latin for, "You love..."- wordplay off of "Amiss".




****************************************************************************

Happy April Fools! So as many have guessed, this article was, as they say, complete hogwash. However, while the overall premise was written as a prank, there is plenty of real historical inspiration. Masquerades were an extremely popular form of high-society entertainment, with an industry of purveyors of masquerade costumes and masks on hand to outfit the spectacular events. The mask depicted, however, was not a masquerade disguise, but actually a depiction of an 18th century fencing mask from Diderot's Encyclopédie.

The family dynamics in the (fabricated) letters are also rooted in historical reality. Angelica's reference to advising Alexander Hamilton on financial matters was inspired by correspondence with her brother-in-law in which she recommended and sent financial treatises to him from Europe. Similarly, Philip Schuyler's tone of disproval in the letter to Rensselaer matches his actual tone in discussing his youngest son's financial difficulties and education recalcitrance. We talk about these topics and more elsewhere on the blog and during tours and programming at Schuyler Mansion, so keep your eyes open for upcoming events and new articles!