Marie Bailly Letters

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2024-007

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Marie Bailly Letters (circa 1800) contains approximately 140 pages of handwritten text mostly from or relating to Marie Bailly (nee Chauvet) regarding her personal and financial challenges during a post-revolutionary period of war. These letters state that Marie's former military husband died of yellow fever in Saint Domingue, a former French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is now modern-day Haiti; and discuss her attempt to seek allowances or arrangements and educational interests for her son Adolphe as documented in her letters to M. Gazeau in Angers. Other family members of Marie include a sister, two brothers- one living in Spain; the other a priest; and a daughter, Fany. Marie sails to Mauritius to pursue plantation interests after falling into debt even after selling French properties inherited from her father. During these travels she encounters difficulties regarding her identity and marriage status due to lack of documents. Marie also discusses the ship she traveled on, La Flore, as well as her return voyage involving her capture by the English near Cap Vert. Initially taken to Liverpool for 12 days and imprisoned in Bristol Bailly is set free and is able to travel to France, even after losing all her valuables to English and French customs agents.

Dates

circa 1800

Creator

Bailly, Marie (Person)

Language of Materials

This entire collection is in French.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.