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”.