Edgar Allan Poe to William Poe — August 20, 1835 (1903 printed witness) — reading text

Edgar Allan Poe to William Poe — August 20, 1835 (1903 printed witness) The 1903 printing preserves the closing appeal for Maria Clemm and her children, including words absent from the damaged-manuscript electronic reading. Its heading omits the date; August 20, 1835 follows scholarly catalogue RCL-093. The journal text contains historical errors and readings that differ from the manuscript, including the grandmother’s death and John Allan’s estate; these have not been silently corrected. The three printed pages are reproduced complete, with blank scan backs omitted. This is a complete copy of the 1903 printed witness, not a claim of an exact modern reconstruction of the autograph. Source: The Gulf States Historical Magazine, volume 1, January 1903, pages 281–283. The local PDF retains the source page content and embedded images unchanged. Searchable text is repository machine OCR and contains recognition errors; consult the scan for exact wording. [Printed page 281] a $7 NOTES ON THE GENEALOGY OF THE POE FAMILY.* Dear Sir: — I received your very kind and complimentary letter only a few minutes ago, and hasten to reply. I have been long aware that a connection existed between us — without knowing precisely in what manner. Your letter, however, has satisfied me that we are second cousins. I will briefly relate to you what little I have been able to ascertain, or rather to remember, in relation to our families. That I know so little on this head will not appear so singular to you when I relate the circumstances connected with my own particular history. But to return. My paternal grandfather was General David Poe of Baltimore — originally "of Ireland. I know that he had brothers — two I believe. But my knowledge extends only to one, Mr. George Poe. My grandfather married, when very young, a Miss Elizabeth Carnes of Lancaster, Pa., by whom he had five sons, viz : George, who died while an infant ; John, William, David and Samuel ; also two daughters, Maria and Elisa. Of the sons none married with the exception of David. Pie married a Mrs. Elizabeth Hopkins, an English lady, by whom he had three children, Henry, myself and Ro- salie. Henry died about four years ago, and Rosalie and my- self remain. The daughters of General David Poe, Maria and Eliza, both married young. Maria married Mr. William Clem, a gentleman of some standing and some property in Baltimore. He was a widower with five children, and had after his mar- riage with Maria Poe, three others, viz : two girls and one boy, of which a girl, Virginia, and a boy, Henry, are still living. Mr. Clem died about nine years ago without any property whatever, leaving his widow desolate and unprotected, and little likely to receive protection or assistance from the relatives of her husband, most of whom were opposed to the marriage in the first instance, and whose opposition was no doubt aggra- vated by the petty quarrels occurring between Maria's child- ren and Mr. C's children by his former wife. This Maria is the one of whom you speak, and to whom I will allude again presently. .^ . Elisa, the second daughter of the General, married a Mr. Henry Herring of Baltimore, a man of unprincipled character and by whom she had several children. She is now dead, and Mr. Herring having married again, there is no communication ♦The original of this letter is in the possession of William T. Poe, Esq., of Birmingham, a grandson of the addressee, Mr. William Poe, who resided at the time of its receipt in Augusta, Ga. [Printed page 282] 282 The Gulf States Historical Magazine. between the family of his wife's sister. Mrs. Poe, the widow, of General D. Poe, and the mother of Maria, died only about a year ago at the age of 79. She had for the last eight years of her life been confined entirely to bed, never, in any instance, leaving it during that time. She had been paralyzed and suf- fered from many other complaints, her daughter, Maria, at- tending her during her long and tedious illness with a Chris- tian and martyr-like fortitude, and with a constancy of atten- tion and unremitting affection, which must exalt her character in the eyes of all who know her. Maria is now the only sur- vivor of my grandfather's family. In relation to my grandfather's brother, George, I know but little. Jacob Poe of Frederickstown, Maryland, is his son, — also George Poe of Mobile — and I presume your father, Wm. Poe. Jacob Poe has two sons, Neilson and George, also one daughter, Amelia. My father, David, died when I was in the second year of my age, and when my sister, Rosalie, was an infant in arms. Our mother died a few weeks before him. At this period my grandfather's circumstances were at low ebb, he from great wealth having been reduced to poverty. It was, therefore, in his power to do but little for us. My brother, Henry, however, he took under his charge, while myself and Rosalie were adopt- ed by a gentleman in Richmond, where we were at the period of our parents' death. I was adopted by a Mr. John Allan of Richmond, Va., and she by a Mr. Wm. McKenzie of the same place. Rosalie is still living with Mr. McKenzie still unmar- ried, and is treated as one of the family, being a favorite with all. I accompanied Mr. Allan to England in my seventh year and remained there for five years at school, since which I re- sided with Mr. A. until a few years ago. The first Mrs. A. hav- ing died, and Mr. A. having married again, I found my situa- tion not so comfortable as before, and obtained a cadet's ap- pointment at West Point. During my stay there, Mr. A. died suddenly and left me — nothing. No will was found among his papers. I have been accordingly thrown upon my own re- source. Brought up to his profession, and educated in the ex- pectation of an immense fortune, (Mr. A. having been worth $750,000) the blow has been a heavy one and I had nearly suc- cumbed to its influence, and yielded to despair. But by the ex- ertion of much resolution, I am now beginning to look upon the matter in a less serious light, and although struggling still with many embarrassments, am enabled to keep, up my spirit. I have lately obtained the editorship of the Southern Messenger, and may yet do well. Mrs. Thompson, your aunt, is still living in Baltimore. George Poe of Baltimore allows her a small income. [Printed page 283] Notes on the Genealogy of the Poe Family. 283 In conclusion, I beg leave to assure you that whatever aid you may have in your power to bestow upon Mrs. Clem will be given to one who well deserves every kindness and atten- tion. Would to God I could at this moment aid her. She is now, while I write, struggling without friends, without money and without health to support herself and two children. I sincerely pray God that the words which I am now writing may be the means of inducing you to unite with your brothers, and your friends, and send her that, immediate relief, which it is utterly out of my power to give to her just now, and which, unless it reaches her soon, will, I am afraid, reach her too late. Entreating your attention to this subject, I remain, Yours very truly and affectionately, (Signed) EDGAR A. POE. It would give me the greatest pleasure to hear from you in reply. To Mr. Win. Poe,