Amherst Female Seminary

It is unusual for a town the size of Amherst to have such an advanced school for young women in the 1850’s but Amherst was full of   industrialists who wanted their daughters to be prepared for an elite role.  Although Charles E. Ratchford (1810-1889) receives the credit for the school in early documents it was in fact his wife Carolyn Ratchford (1813- 1889) and her sister Katherine Yates who developed and ran the school.  The sisters hailed from Albany New York and were graduates of the famous Emma Willard School for Girls in Troy, New York.  Charles, being the savvy political animal that he was, acquired funding from the provincial legislature in the early years of the Amherst Female Seminary to establish and run the school.  In the seminary’s first year, probably 1850, nine young women qualified at the Seminary to become teachers and six were already teaching in rural districts. 

Charles had married Carolyn in New York and brought her back to Parrsboro to meet his very successful merchant family.  At one time the Ratchford importing business brought goods from 163 ports to Partridge Island affording the family a large home, servants, schooners, and hotel. But by the time the Charles Ratchfords began a family, the merchant business was dwindling and Charles, being a barrister, moved to Amherst, briefly opening a store on Ratchford Street and  solicited for public service contracts from local politicians. So Carolyn’s family was young when she began the Seminary; Julia A born in 1837, Mary Alida in 1840 and C. Edward in 1845. Carolyn’s partner and sister Katherine never married.

Carolyn and Kate advertised in the British Colonist as well as the Islander.  They provided” board and washing” with instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, grammar and composition, philosophy, astronomy, botany, and of course embroidery. For an extra fee one could also learn piano or Spanish guitar, singing, drawing and French.  Each of two terms was five months.  The Ratchfords advertised exercise and if requested, riding, and promoted Amherst as a healthy part of the country within walking distance of public worship.  Carolyn also boasted of some impressive references such as Thomas DeWolf and Rev. Charles Tupper.  The school employed 6 women instructors including a French teacher.  One of their teachers, Madame Carritt(e), wife of Dr. Thomas Carritte of Great Amherst Mystery fame, decided to branch out on her own, leaving the Seminary and offering a “Female Boarding School” also in Amherst.  Boasting of being one of the principal teachers of the Amherst Female Seminary, Madame Carritt developed a service in competition with same. One wonders how the sisters felt about that.

Before the establishment of Female Seminaries in Nova Scotia, daughters had to leave the province to seek higher learning.  Although today we accept women teachers as a majority in their profession, in fact in early Nova Scotian teaching, men were considered the more appropriate teacher. 

In many parts of Nova Scotia, it was the Scottish tradition of parish schools that prevailed where men only were required to teach, partly because women were not allowed a leading role in public religious tasks, a requirement of teachers of the day. It was the Baptist and Methodists who more readily embraced the role of women in secondary education, albeit to make young women better mothers.

While the employment of women in the public school system was not readily adopted in the rural areas of Nova Scotia, women as educators in the private realm seemed to be more acceptable, particularly if their charges were only girls.  For example, the provincial Normal School, opening in 1854, did not allow its many female students to take examination for first class licenses until 1869; first class licenses being for the teaching of lower grades only. By 1870 however, Nova Scotians generally accepted the role of women as educators and understood the importance of good teacher training for women in the profession.

The success of Charles Edward Ratchford’s request to the Nova Scotia legislature for funding  (on behalf of his wife) to support the Amherst Female Seminary, indicates provincial acceptance of women as educators and of the higher education of women.

During the mid 1800’s Female Seminaries could be found at Acadia (Grand Pre Seminary), Berwick, Bridgetown and at Mount Allison University.

Ratchford’s success with the Amherst Female Seminary is a testament to the hopes and expectations for economic growth of Amherst’s industrial elite.

Young students of Amherst Female Seminary

Childhood Reminiscence of a Baby Boomer

I sometimes wonder if I am the last generation

who played baseball in a field without adults,

who spent the day making tree houses in the woods,

who spent a penny on a whole bag of candy,

who was not permitted to answer the phone during mealtime,

who followed the ice cream truck,

who ran through the mosquito spray up the street,

who skated on the marsh until dark,

who learned to dance to the most famous band in the world (Twist and Shout),

who embroidered peace signs on their jeans,

who wore hats to church,

and who could get a job just by knowing how to type. 



Amherst Kindergarden class c. 1957



Times of changed.  In an effort to create a “vintage” experience for children, I discovered a generation who could not grasp the game of hop-scotch; could not see the point in being able to bounce a rubber ball under one leg; and became quickly bored with skip rope.  Am I being a pessimist or worse, lumping a whole generation under one generalization?

Socrates is attributed as saying "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

I wonder how this generation, in their adulthood, will rail against youth.

Walter Hubbell, Ghost Buster or Gullible Believer.

Walter Hubbell (1851-1932)

Born to a family of lawyers, Walter Hubbell must have felt a bit of an enigma.  Walter was the second of six children of William Wheeler Hubbell and Elizabeth Catherine Remley (or Ramillie). An actor by profession, Walter never married.  He was not the only bachelor in his family, brothers Lawrence and Paul were both single late into adulthood and both worked in New York.  Walter was the family historian and wrote several books including "The History of the Hubbell Family".

Walter’s grandfather Trueman Mallory Hubbell was a well known Pennsylvania settler. Truman was unrivaled as an expert shot with the rifle, pistol and shot-gun in hunting for deer, bear, wolves and panthers. He was personally acquainted with James Fenimore Cooper, the celebrated novelist. He was the original "Deerslayer" in Cooper's novel of that name and became the owner of the rifle "Killdeer" mentioned in the Deerslayer. In 1811 Truman rented a saw mill in Chester, Pennsylvania, and married the owner's daughter in 1817. He continued in the lumber business and established a lumber yard in Philadelphia in 1818. He took a prominent role in establishing public schools and was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1834-5. He also had an adventure in Georgia of defending a stage coach carrying two million dollars against an armed robbery attempt. Late in life, he and his wife went to Philadelphia to live with their son William Wheeler Hubbell (Walter’s Father) until his wife's death in 1876, then living with another son until his death in 1878 at the age of 90.

I think that Walter inherited his grandfather’s taste for celebrity. According to Walter, he was first on the professional stage in 1872 at the age of 21.  Walter travelled North America, working as an actor while based in New York. He lived on Madison Avenue, in Yonkers and later in Queens.  In one of his books, Hubbell provides the following view of his acting career,  “He has been on the stage since boyhood, and has played every line of parts in the classic and standard drama with, among others of renown, Charlotte Cushman, Adelaide Neilson, Edwin Booth, John McCullough, Charles Fechter and Barry Sullivan. In 1890 he first appeared as a star in Western provincial towns, as Macbeth, Hamlet and in other tragic parts, appearing in Chicago in 1891, at the Windsor Theatre, under Benjamin Leavitt's management, as Hamlet, Othello and Richard III, meeting with instant success, not only as a Shakespearean scholar, but as a tragedian of the very highest class.”  Hubbell often played the role of Aguila, in “A Royal Slave”, a performance that brought him to Amherst, Nova Scotia.  By the age of 68, he was still performing, playing the voice of the ghost in Hamlet in San Jose, California in 1919.

But Hubbell is most noted for his relationship with Esther Cox.  Hubbell wrote “The Great Amherst Mystery” a book which has kept the story of Esther Cox’s experience alive for well over 100 years.  Professed to be a debunker of all things mysterious, in fact if we look at Hubbell we seem to see  a gullible man who cannot separate himself from spiritualist encounters.  Not only did he immerse himself in Esther’s story, exaggerating her experiences; he also had a habit of involving himself in other similar events.  He became a member of a small inner circle of admirers of Washington Irving Bishop a noted mentalist who died supposedly by being autopsied during a trance.  Hubbell was fascinated by John Wilkes Booth (assassin to President Lincoln) and followed reports of Booth’s whereabouts through acquaintances with family members.  Hubbell sought attention on the stage of Reverend F. A. Wiggin, a pastor of the Spiritual Temple in New York and supposedly was controlled by the spirit of John McCullough, a fellow actor.  During that stage event, Walter wrote on a piece of paper a supposed quote by the former actor and placed it on a table on stage requesting that the medium identify his unseen quote, which of course Wiggin did.

The most revealing hoax was when Hubbell reported that a friend and neighbour, Edward Serviss, had been kidnapped in broad daylight, only to be told that Serviss was picked up by police being one of the most notorious swindlers of western America.

Hubbell's home courtesy of Kathy Hufnel

Other books that Hubbell published included “The Curse of Marriage” in 1888 and “Marcus Brutus, and Other Verses in 1886”.  Upon retirement he lived with his sister Eleanor.

Laurene's style

My mother had great style in her younger years.  I want to carry that style myself but its hard in this casual dress world.  I can remember sitting on the edge of her bed as a child watching her put the finishing touches on her ensemble before my parents went off for a Christmas party.  She always wore these wonderful red dresses, some made of silk velvet.  My father would buy her beautiful cashmere sweater sets for Christmas gifts and have my older sister wrap them up for him.  We got to look them over and touch them to our face before wrapping.  Mom wore a wonderful grey dress and matching coat even before Jackie Kennedy made it popular.  I think Mom’s sense of style was what made me come to love vintage textiles so much.    I have my grandmother’s 20’s flapper embossed velvet dress, the only outfit that she kept and my mother’s leather purse that my father made her.  I have an old chenille jacket of my own in my trunk that I just cannot give up, even though it is not very stylish or unique. 

We women have one item tucked away in a closet or trunk that we just can’t let go; clothing has such an emotional connection for us.

Dr. Thomas W. Carritte (1830-1885) Amherst Doctor

I suspect that Esther Cox was Dr. Carritte’s most memorable case.  However, Carritte grew up in Amherst and knew it well.   His father John and mother Martha Brown were married in Amherst and Carritte senior was also a physician whose family were Yorkshire settlers. From early records it is suggested that Dr. Carritte Sr.’s home was on Victoria Street where the Bank of Nova Scotia now stands. Carritte senior’s sister Ellen was married to William Botsford Chandler and his wife Martha married the son of King Amos Seaman of Minudie following John's death, indicating how well connected the family was.  Carritte Jr. likely received his medical education in New Brunswick and did practice for a short time in Shediac as one of his sons was born there.   Carritte married Louisa Givaudan who was born in Switzerland and living in New York at the time of their marriage in Amherst in May 19, 1855.  One wonders how he met her.

There is an interesting ad in "Livingston's Guide book to St. John c. 1869" which advertises a boarding and day school for young ladies by a Madame Carritte, formerly Mlle, Givaudan, Principal. "For circulars apply at Dr. Carritte's office."  Below it is an ad for Dr. T. W. Carritte, Wellington Row, Saint John, NB. An early Lovell directory of 1871 also lists Thomas W. Carritt at the corner of Wellington and Union in St. John, NB.  Wouldn't it be interesting if Louisa taught at Amherst Female Seminary when she was in Amherst, but I suppose she had too many children to do so.

Dr. Carritte and his wife Louisa had at least the following children:  Elise, Deblaviera, Clarence, Douglas, Henrietta or Honoriette, John P., Thomas and Mary.

The Chignecto Post of 1883 lists mentions that "Dr Carritte lost his youngest child, a very interesting little boy, from diphtheria.”

Elise and Deblaviera were married in Amherst but both moved to Saint John.  Several of the children were born in N B.  Thomas and Louise were not in Cumberland County in 1871 but were in Amherst by 1878 the time of Esther’s infamy. Thomas’ daughter Elise married a John Reid of St. John.  Thomas listed his religion as Church of England and his daughter was married at Christ Church. His son Deblaviera was married to a St. John girl as well, the son’s residence being listed as Amherst and birthplace being St. John. 

The Carritte's left Amherst following Thomas's death in 1885 at the young age of 53. (Or what seems young to me now.)  In 1900 Louise is living in Brooklyn New York and several of her children married and moved to various parts of the United States.  I wonder if his descendants know of his role in the “Great Amherst Mystery”.

Robert Alden Temple McNeill - ghost or berkus

Robert Alden Temple McNeill (1855-1919) is probably the most interesting person, next to Esther Cox, in the Great Amherst Mystery saga.  Born in Malagash, Robert McNeill was the son of a farmer and grandson of a shoemaker.  His grandfather Neil MacNeill was one of twelve brothers emigrating to North America from Scotland in 1800.  Most settled in Pictou County while Neil came to Malagash about 1801. As Robert’s grandson attests, “Old Neill MacNeill - I figure he was a genuine number one reprobate. He was called “Fisty”.  He had one hand and he lived to be 102 years old.”

 Neil had a son, Samuel (1823-1873), by his first wife who was Robert’s father.  Samuel married Susan Simpson (1828-1904) who bore him five sons and five daughters.  Isobella, Eliza. Arthur and Alma all died young.  William, Robert, Thomas, Samuel, Mary, Floretta, were remaining.  At the age of 14, Bob was chasing pigs and tripped on a rut, twisting his knee.  He walked with a crutch from that day forward.   Because his older brothers moved away, Robert returned to the family farm, caring for his mother.  To help look after his mother, Bob hired a young girl, Louisa Ann Ralph who later became his wife and bore him one son, Robert Nelson. 

Robert’s grandsons talk about farming in Malagash during their father’s life. At one time,  most farmers had a few milk cows whose product they sold to the Tatamagouche Creamery. They would sell a bit of beef, chicken and raise a few pigs each year.  Malagash was once full of working farms.  The cream from the dairy herd was sold and the milk fed to calves being raised for beef.  Some people even kept a few sheep.

Bob had a reputation in Malagash for being outspoken, and creating havoc with his neighbours.  He was known for having little tolerance for hypocrisy.  He was named after the well known and well loved Methodist minister Robert Alden Temple.

In “The Great Amherst Mystery” Hubbell relates that Esther tells of McNeill accosting her during an evening buggy ride and left the next day, never to be heard from. Only weeks later her troubles began.   In fact, we know that Robert returned to Malagash to assist with the family farm.  Is it possible that he took Esther for a ride to tell her of his leaving which caused her anger and distress over lost hopes?  Perhaps, like so much of her story, we will never know.

The photo below is of Robert, his wife and young son, courtesy of

Penny Lane

.

Carolyn Yates Ratchford and the Amherst Female Seminary

Maritimers have had a long term familial relationship with the New England states.  Almost everyone of my grandmother’s generation had a cousin or knew someone in Boston or New York.  Which is why Boston came to help when the Halifax explosion occurred and partly why hardly a shot was fired on the NB/US border during the War of 1812.  Carolyn Yates (1813-1889) of Albany New York had those same connections.  She probably met her future husband Charles Edward Ratchford of Parrsboro through her sister Alida who married Rev. William B. King of Windsor later a Parrsboro minister; and that marriage was probably prompted by a distant Parrsboro, New York family connection.  It’s a mystery that I have yet to discover.

Carolyn grew up in Albany with two sisters and one brother.  She can boast of a long lineage in New York to what looks like a prosperous family.  Descendants have wonderful painted miniatures of her and she was quite beautiful.  Carolyn and her sister Katherine were educated at the famous Emma Willard School for Girls in Troy.   It is her education that probably led she and her sister Kate to open the Amherst Female Seminary in Amherst Nova Scotia.  The school was run at a time when education had to be paid for and the elite of Amherst society sent their girls to Carolyn Ratchford for a well rounded education  Carolyn’s husband also ran a mercantile store on

Ratchford Street

in Amherst and was diligent in acquiring government appointments to supplement his income. Katherine herself was accomplished, publishing a book titled “A Course of Map and Terrestrial Globe Lessons with a Scripture Geography” printed in 1852.  I would love to find a copy of this book. 

Although Carolyn was an important figure in Amherst history, as was her husband’s family in Parrsboro history, it is her father that can boast of notoriety.  His claim to fame was a second marriage to the famous U S female educator Emma Hart Willard and subsequent scandalous divorce. Dr. Christoffer Yates (1799-1848) had four children with Anna Miller.  His only son Winfield (Carolyn’s brother) died of consumption at the young age of 18 and was deeply mourned by the family.  Considered a prodigy, Winfield is said to have studied Shakespeare at the age of 8 and at the age of 12 had compositions published in the local paper.

Carolyn and Edward Ratchford had three children, Julia Anne, Mary Alida and Charles Edward.  Katherine never married and is buried in Parrsboro with her father.

Ross Girls

I am fascinated by two maiden aunts on my fathers side.  I guess because they must have been strong women, to move to Pasadena California from little Oxford Nova Scotia.  Elspeth went first, arriving in California in 1903 at the age of  18 and Elizabeth later in 1909.  My father's mother was a sister to the Ross girls.

Elsie was a stenographer to a Superior Court Judge for Pasadena, G A. Gibbs.  Lizzie got her teaching certificate in California while living with an aunt and then moved in with Elsie and taught at McKinley School.   There are reports of the girls coming home in the summer to see their family in South Victoria at the old homestead.  It was said that the tall elegant aunts had the latest of fashion (being career girls with money to spend).    One summer, they brought with them a friend, Louis E. Sherwood (1879-1938) a Pasadena photographer.  Family suggested that Sherwood was a beau of one of the girls.  Louis never married.  However, I have a wonderful hand tinted photograph of the flax bales in the Ross farm fields by Sherwood.  Both my grandmother Margaret Ross Thompson and her sister Jean travelled to California and spent some time with the sisters.  It must have been exciting travelling on the train across the US to California.  Elsie died on August 7, 1936.  Elizabeth died three years later on June 26, 1939 at the age of 51. 

I must have gotten my height from Elizabeth who was only 5 foot 3; unusual for the tall Ross family of which my father took after.  I will tell you more about the Ross family and their homestead later.

Believed to be Ross girl in Pasadena.

Haunted Girl has arrived!

I helped my dear friend Laurie Glenn Norris publish a book about Amherst's most infamous girl, Esther Cox Shanahan titled Haunted Girl and we are launching the book at Cumberland County Museum and Archives in Amherst on May 12, 2012.  I am very excited.  This has been two years of work and there is so much to tell.  I hope to expand on some of the stories that I discovered about Amherst people here on my blog.  Esther was born in a small village called Eastville, near Stewiack, Nova Scotia, moved to Amherst as a teen where the poldergeist began to haunt her.  She later moved to Springhill Nova Scotia marrying Adam Porter, bearing him one child and later marring Peter Shanahan (Shannahan) and moving with him and his family to Brockton, Massachusettes.  Our book was published by Nimbus Publishing.  More about Esther and the mystery later.  Do you have your own Esther story?  Would love to hear it.