Birth and Parentage.—Education.—Religious Convictions.—Prayersin the Tomb.—Union with the Church.—Laborsfor the Poor.—Marriage.
MARY S. PEAKE,
The Colored Teacher at Fortress Monroe.
By REV. LEWIS C. LOCKWOOD,
FIRST MISSIONARY TO THE FREEDMEN AT FORTRESS MONROE, 1862.
WITH AN APPENDIX.
PUBLISHED BY THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
28 Cornhill, Boston.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | PAGE |
| Birth and Parentage.—Education.—ReligiousConvictions.—Prayers in the Tomb.—Union with theChurch.—Labors for the Poor.—Marriage. | 5 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Commencement of the Mission at Fortress Monroe.—Flightof the Rebels from Hampton.—Burning of the Town.—The Place reoccupiedby Freedmen. | 16 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Opening of Religious Services and Schools.—Mrs. Peakea Teacher.—Singing in the Schools.—Christmas Festival. | 30 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Failure of Health.—Religious Joy.—FarewellMessages.—Death.—Funeral.—Conclusion. | 39 |
| APPENDIX. | 53 |
MARY S. PEAKE.
CHAPTER I.
The subject of this narrative was bornin Norfolk, Virginia, in 1823. Her maidenname was Mary Smith Kelsey. Her motherwas a free colored woman, very light,and her father a white man—an Englishmanof rank and culture. She was avery lovely child in person and manners,and as she grew up, developed traits ofcharacter which made her a universal favorite.
[Pg 6]When she was six years old, her mothersent her to Alexandria, for the purpose ofattending school. She remained there inschool about ten years, residing with heraunt, Mary Paine. Mrs. Paine occupied ahouse belonging to Mr. Rollins Fowle, andnear his residence. This gentleman andhis family were distinguished for theirkindness to colored people. He frequentlybought slaves who were in danger of beingsold into bad hands, gave them their freedom,and set them up in business. JohnPaine, Mary's uncle, was one whom hefreed in this way. Mary was a great petin Mr. Fowle's family, and was treatedalmost like a daughter.
A scho
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