#4 of 52 The Pleasure of Your Company is Requested

Week Four suggestion for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks was "Invite to Dinner". Which ancestor would we most like to invite to dinner? My choice would be my 2x great Grandmother, Mattie A. Swilling Charles. 

Born on 14 Mar 1844, Martha "Mattie" A Swilling, was the eldest daughter of John and Lucinda Shumate Swilling. She and her siblings grew up in Abbeville and Greenville Counties SC. Both of her parents died by the time she was 16 years old.

On 10 Oct 1865, Mattie married Joel D. Charles of Sterling Grove, Greenville Co. SC. Joel came from a wealthy family as the 1860 U.S. census recorded that Joel's father, Israel Charles had a personal value of over $29,000 and $7,000 in real estate value. She and Joel welcomed their first child, Lucia Permelia on 4 Oct 1866. The on 26 Jan 1869, the young family welcomed another daughter, Martha Caroline "Mattie" Charles, my great Grandmother. 

But just six months later, Mattie was gone. According to a small article in the Greenville Enterprise, dated 30 Jun 1869, "Mrs. Mattie Charles wife of J.D. Charles, of this County committed suicide by cutting her throat with a knife." Mattie, apparently, left the house with her 2 year old daughter, her bible and the knife to the neighborhood spring, which was only about 100 or 200 yards from her house. Reportedly, neighbors and family could see her from the house. When Mattie did not respond to calls from her sister-in-law, she went to check on her only to find a terribly tragic scene. The article stated that "the cause of this most disturbing occurrence, is supposed to have been temporary mental aberration." The article also stated she left note.

Transcription of letter written by Mrs. Joe Charles of Greenville CO., SC, found in her Bible after she committed suicide. Sent to Miriam Green Schralla in 1937 by Julia D. Charles, who obtained a copy from Anthony Augustus Peasrson, son Rev. William Franklin Pearson. Rev Pearson a Presbyterian minister had officiated at the marriage of Mattie Swilling and Joel D. Charles.

Reading this heart wrenching letter, it's clear to me that this poor young woman was suffering from Postpartum Depression. 

How I would love to put my arms around her, comfort her and cry with her.  I would love to assure her that she is a wonderful mother and wife. Motherhood can be overwhelming and I can only imagine that post-Civil War South Carolina didn't make it any easier. Plus, Joel had been a prisoner of war and had been in Union POW camp in Johnson Island, Ohio from 1863 to 1865. Did he suffer from PTSD, which of course would only have added more stress to the young mother and family.

Mattie Swilling Charles died on 24 Jun 1869, she was only 25 years old.