Person:Elizabeth Markoe (3)

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My Grandfather found himself, upon the death of his wife, the sole caretaker of three young children, a girl and two boys. He, no doubt, did the best he could for them but he was an aged and very infirm man and to restrain and keep them in seems to have been all the education he know of. My mother had been sent, at an early age, to an excellent boarding school where she learnt French, music and dancing in addition to the ordinary branches of education.Mrs. Bordeaus' was considered the first school in the country and my mother was more highly educated than most girls of the period. My grandmothers family being strongly tainted with consumption my grandfather feared his daughter would inherit the tendency, and, as he considered a sedentary life and sewing would foster it, he was never willing that she should sit long or use her needle as women generally do. She was young and attractive and as the reputation of my grandfather was great for wealth, she had many to desire her acquaintance, but he always frowned upon "the fellows" as he called them and whenever she went to an entertainment would always send Polly, the housekeeper, to bring her home in his carriage. She often made us laugh by telling us of some beau calling for her one afternoon to take a walk. Her father allowed her to go but said, "Take Polly with you". The gentlemen laughed and said. "I think we will dispense with Miss Polly's company". Yet when my father came forward as a suitor to her, he made no objection and became much attached to her husband. She used to come up after her marriage and read the paper to him every afternoon as his sight was much impaired. He lived until her 3rd child was born and although he could not see her he put his hand upon her head and called her Elizabeth Markoe after his wife. - Reminiscences of Mary Hazlehurst Ashhurst (1806-1890)