Who was Sir Charles Morice Pole?
Our story starts in a small town outside the sailing and naval port of Plymouth, England. Charles Morice Pole was born on the 18th of January, 1757, to a wealthy family. Charles was the second son of Reginald Pole and Anne Buller and the great-grandson of Sir John Pole of Shute, 3rd Baronet and member of Parliament.
As a result, Charles was educated in only the best schools, like the Plympton Grammar School, established in 1658 and still open today.
At the age of thirteen (13) Charles joined the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth.
Charles took to the naval and seafaring life, becoming a lieutenant by 1777 and a commanding officer by 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. Then appointed to the rank of rear-admiral based on his successes against the Spanish.
Charles' connection to France was his capturing of a French privateer in June 1793 and taking part in the siege of Toulon, months prior to the beginning of the Reign of Terror. Promoted to vice-admiral in 1801 and admiral during the Trafalgar campaign of 1805. He went on to serve as a member of Parliament for Plymouth, Governor of Newfoundland, Commander The Baltic Fleet, Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty during the Napoleonic Wars and finally Governor of the Bank of England. Quite a resume I would say.
More important to our story is his marriage in 1792 to Henrietta Goddard of a wealthy Rotterdam family. The couple had three daughters, including our important personage, Anna Maria Pole.
Charles, looking to spend some of his acquired wealth, purchased an estate and then named it Aldenham Abbey in 1812. Charles settled down in his estate and the life of a country politician and died there in 1830. Before Charles purchased the estate it was owned by George Woodford Tellusson, a merchant, banker and politician. George expanded the manor, giving it the look we see today. On his death in 1811, Charles came in and purchased it from the estate.
To lend an air of realism, Charles built some sham ‘ruins’ with stones from Aldenham Church. Charles died in 1831, shortly after being created Master of the Robes and Admiral of the Fleet by William IV. Charles' widow continued to live at the estate until her own death in 1842, when the estate passed to his eldest daughter, Henrietta, who married a Watford magistrate, William Stuart.
At this point in our story you are probably wondering why we are spending so much time on Charles' history. You are probably asking yourself what this could possibly do with our hero, Laurent Clerc.
Who was Anna Maria Pole?
It is that second daughter, Anna Maria Pole, born in 1808, who appears to carry a torch for Laurent Clerc for over thirty-two (32) years. In a recent batch of Clerc family letters, fourteen (14) letters between Laurent and Anna Maria were saved. By far, Laurent’s largest and longest correspondence with any female, or person for that matter, that we are aware of. If our math is right, it appears that Ms. Pole met Laurent in 1815 in London when she was only seven (7) years old. Most likely at one of the seances that Sicard, Massieu and Laurent gave. Otherwise, they must have met in some social event surrounding their trip there. Note: you may remember that the trio went to England to avoid some entanglements Sicard was having with Napoleon Bonaparte.
We first see a letter from Anna Maria , on February 21, 1835, while she was residing at Aldenham Abbey, near Watford. Anna Maria would now be twenty-seven (27) years old. Anna Maria refers to Laurent as “My Dear Friend” and seemed to have been waiting for Laurent to respond to her letter from July of 1934. We do not have any of Laurent’s letters to her but he appears to have written to Anna Maria that he was planning to travel to Europe in the spring of 1935. She is anxious to know his exact plans. Laurent of course was to travel with his son, Francis Joseph Clerc, to Paris and then Lyon, to enroll Francis in school there. Laurent visited France with his but it does not appear that he visited Anna Maria.
Remember, Anna Maria, being a spinster sister, appears to have come to stay at the abbey from October to February to accompany or help with the care of their aging mother, Dame Henrietta Pole.
Anna Maria comments that she had enjoyed her time there and having had the “society” of her nieces and nephews. Interestingly, Anna Maria mentions that she wished that Laurent was there with her. As spring approached, Anna Maria seemed to be anticipating a move for herself and possibly her mother to Upper Harley Street, Cavendish Square, London. She was hoping that Laurent would write to her there soon.Anna Maria even commented that she wished to send a present or trifles to Eliza and to demonstrate that she had not forgotten Laurent.
Anna Maria seemed to believe that Laurent read the London newspapers when she referred to the death of her uncle, Reginald Pole-Carew, in January 1835. Reginald was a British politician educated at Winchester College, University College and Oxford. He represented Reigate, Lostithiel and Fowey in the Parliament. Later Reginald was Auditor of Public Accounts, and Under-Secretary of State. Reginald left thirteen (13) children to “lament his loss.” Anna Maria appeared to feel his loss very deeply.
Anna Maria appeared to be a spiritual and religious person, commenting to Laurent that their parish school continued to flourish and teach the students the Holy Scriptures. Anna Maria enjoyed reading her Bible, among other “good books.”
Anna Maria reported to Laurent that his friend and former pupil, Mr. Ambrose Isted had met her in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Mr. Isted, “who had sadly been born deaf and dumb”, was taught British Sign Language as a private pupil of Joseph Watson in London. Mr. Watson was at one time the headmaster of the London Asylum for the Deaf & Dumb. Laurent Clerc visited the school with Abbe Sicard in 1815 and maintained an acquaintance.
Upon his father’s death in 1827, Ambrose inherited his family estate, Ecton Hall, when he was only thirty (30) years old. It would make sense that Anna Maria and Ambrose would be in the same social circles and have met during her own six (6) week stay in Tunbridge Wells. They would likely attend the same parties or perhaps they would go riding together. Anna Maria comments that Mr. Ambrose “enjoys himself in shooting & hunting.” And Mr. Isted was known for a famous sketch of the Tunbridge hound hunting.
Mr. Isted is an interesting character and may have made a special contribution to the history of the British Royal Family. When the future Queen Victoria was only fifteen (15) years old she was staying at Calverley House in Kent, where she met many visitors who came to hunt, socialize and dine with her family. Mr. Isted gave this drawing to the young princess, which is preserved in the British Museum to this day.
The young princess wrote in her journals that one September evening in 1834 she met a deaf and dumb man, Mr. Isted, at dinner. Interestingly, this seems to be the same time that Anna Maria was in Kent and met Mr. Isted. Ambrose sat across from the Princess who wrote that he was a “pleasing, agreeable and intelligent person.” He “talked a great deal with his fingers to Mrs. Hobhouse, who sat next to him.” She wrote that Mr. Isted asked her something with his fingers, which she almost understood and recounted that “only that I was very much frightened to speak myself.” Mr. Isted may have helped the Queen learn fingerspelling which she used with her deaf beneficiary, Elizabeth Groves Tuffield (1840-1874) as depicted in the famous painting, “Royal Condescension”.
When Anna Maria met him that day, Mr. Isted apparently told her that he remembered Laurent and desired that she mention their meeting the next time she wrote to his old teacher.
We have not seen Anna Maria Pole for over fourteen (14) years by the time she writes Laurent in March of 1849. We will assume that she has corresponded before and the letters were not saved or lost by Laurent. Now writing from Upper Harley Street Anna Maria tells Laurent that she is thankful to have received his “kind letter”, brought to her by a Mr. Charles Langevin of Quebec City. Langevin had the unusual distinction to be the first Canadian student to be taught by Laurent in 1828. Charles was born deaf and was seven (7) years old when he entered the American School for the Deaf. Charles, at age nine (9), may have been the impetus for Laurent’s first trip to Canada when in 1830 they made a visit to see Charles' parents. Charles would later attend the first Canadian school for the Deaf in Quebec City, opened by Ronald MacDonald, another student of Laurent Clerc.
Anna Maria appears glad that Charles was able to travel to London with Laurent’s correspondence. She remarked that she “had the pleasure of seeing him as he gave me a very good account of you all “, meaning all his family and life at the Asylum. Anna Maria is not going to take a chance of not connecting with Laurent and took the opportunity of sending this letter with him back to America. She was not so lucky when she sent a letter to Laurent in July 1836 through a friend that was traveling to Canada but she feared they never posted it.
Anna Maria updates Laurent of the health of her sister and mother, being especially worried about the present influenza epidemic in London. Ms. Pole remembers her Governess, a Ms. Wilson, to Laurent. Ms. Wilson must have attended a seance in London or Brighton with Anna Maria, unless Laurent was received into society while there.
And here is a more curious thing. Anna Maria expresses her condolences on the death of Jean Massieu. She of course knows how important Jean was to Laurent as a young boy entering the Institute for the Deaf in Paris. The problem though, is that Jean Massieu died in 1846, after failing from a stroke six (6) years early. It is very perplexing that Mr. Langevin would convey this wholly inaccurate news to Anna Maria. It remains a mystery.
By September of 1837, Anna Maria was back staying with her sister’s family at Aldenham Abbey. She wrote to Laurent that she was thankful to receive his “Reports relating to the Deaf & Dumb”. However, she was disappointed at not having received a letter from him, a more personal response to her March 17, 1837 letter, delivered to him by a visiting friend. Anna Maria finds Laurent’s work interesting and longed to see him at the Asylum in Hartford teaching his students. She wished to become acquainted with Mrs. Clerc and Laurent’s children. Dame Pole is much of an invalid at this point but still able to go out for a carriage ride or sit in the garden.
Suddenly, Anna Maria gets the urge to talk feminist literature with Laurent. She asks if he has ever read any books by Charlotte Elizabeth (a.k.a. Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna). Mr. Tonna promoted women's rights in England through her novels. Anna Maria, unmarried, may have been contemplating the rights and privileges of women in Victorian England. Ms. Pole urged Laurent to read them and even intended to have them sent to him from her bookseller when she returned to London. Anna Maria seemed to wish that Laurent had a “keepsake” from her. She lamented that she did not know if she would ever meet Laurent again, as twenty-two (22) years had passed since they met.
Beret of things to say, Anna Maria falls back on the weather. The summer of 1837 was apparently hot and “beautiful”. Ms. Pole then reviews the comings and goings of her extended family. Her cousin, Jemima Carew, must have met Laurent as Anna Maria says that Jemina enquiries after him. She also references Francis being at school in France. Anna Maria gives her condolences again on the loss of Jean Maissieu on July 21, 1846, also like she had met him before. She mentions Godat, who may be Jean’s wife?
Putney Health Villa in Surrey appears to be another venue where Anna Maria would spend the summer of August 1838. Ms. Pole thanks Laurent for sending a pamphlet but is kindly asking him to stop. She says that she is always happy to hear from Laurent but appears annoyed that he did not answer her last letter of several months ago. She asks Laurent to write and tell her of all that is going on with him. She inquires about how Francis is doing in school at Lyon. Dame Pole is still an invalid and suffers from paralytic attacks. Mrs. Stuart is on the Isle of Wight helping her son overcome illness. Ms. Wilson is now living with Anna Maria and she often talks of Laurent and his friends in Paris.
Always updating Laurent about the whereabouts and activities of her cousin, Jemima Carew, who is now in Paris visiting her sister the Countess Morel who was married to Alphonse Joseph Marie Morel de Champemont. Anna Maria asks about Mr. Godat, Laurent’s pupil and Mr. Wheaton, an original subscriber of funds to the Hartford Asylum. Experiencing a social consciousness, Ms. Pole comments on the high price of bread and having pity for the poor that rely on it.
Anna Maria was conscious to not let a year go by without reaching out to Laurent. In 1839 she at least wanted to wish him a Happy Christmas and New Year. She was also diplomatic, wishing Laurent good health and the same to his family. Ms. Pole says that she often thinks of Laurent but knows not when they shall ever meet. Dame Pole is better these last twelve (12) months and sister, Charlotte, is enjoying her many children. Anna Maria asks Laurent to clarify how many children he now has.
Having already spoken about the weather, Anna Maria decides to gossip about the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. This photograph is a reenactment as photography had not been invented yet. Ms. Pole feels that he is a handsome man but perhaps too young for her. Anna Maria believes that the Queen is not that pretty and that ”she is so very short and would look much better if she was taller.”
In January 1840, Anna Maria wrote that her cousin, Jemima Carew, was now in Cornwall. It seems that she lives somewhat vicariously through her travels. Jemina had inherited a yearly income from her father and of course she always had a place to stay with Countess Morel. But by July Ms. Pole was feeling more expressive. Laurent had sent her another report from the Asylum and Anna Maria lamented the lack of a personal touch. One way to manage her feelings would be to take several months at the seaside as she had not been out of London for the last nineteen (19) months. Dame Pole is now 74 years old, eats and sleeps well, going out in the carriage whenever the weather permits. Sister Heniretta and her six (6) children are all fine. Anna Maria begins to refer to herself as becoming an “old maid” at thirty-two (32) stating that she doesn't mind if she is happy.
Finally, Laurent writes to her and she receives his letter while she is staying in Brighton for the summer. Mrs. Sigourney, friend of Laurent and Alice Cogswell appears to be in London and Anna Maria has missed her visit there. Dame Pole and she will be spending Christmas at Aldenham Abbey with sister Charlotte and her hoard, returning to London in February. The 24th Annual Report of the Hartford Asylum has graced her doorstep and seems resigned to be pleased with it. She is glad to hear that the Asylum is flourishing. Laurent writes that Eliza has not been well and wishes her a speedy recovery. It is not surprising that Jemima Carew is back in Paris with the Countess. Queen Victoria has a princess, who “will have a prince someday.”
By 1841, we who wondered about Anna Maria and Laurent’s relationship were getting tired of these annual reports. We agree with her that Laurent should comment on his personal life more. But then we do not have his letters to her. Anna Maria wondered if his time was “so much taken up with teaching and if that is the case I fear I must have patience.” Anna Maria reports that Dame Pole is “surprisingly well” which is a great blessing and she takes her out everyday whenever the weather permits. However she is “weaker in her limbs and mind”.
Anna Maria chats about the weather and whether Laurent hears from his foreign friends. Her cousin, Miss Pole Carew is visiting with her sister, Countess Morel. Then back to the gossip about the “Royals” with her commenting that their first daughter, Alice, was a “very kind child”. Anna Maria had not met the child but felt that Prince Albert was “a very fine looking man and very handsome.”
Anna Maria references “Miss Wilson” again, who appears to have met Laurent as she is said to have talked of him and wishes to see him after all these years, apparently now twenty-six (26) years.
In January of 1842, Anna Maria wrote that it had been ages since she had heard from Laurent. She comments that her mother is doing “tolerably well” healthwise but is more feeble than she has ever been. Of course we know that she dies this year. Anna Maria comments that she has had the satisfaction of helping to get a little Deaf and Dumb boy into the Asylum in London. Ms. Wilson took him there and talked with Mr. Watson, Laurent’s old friend. They apparently chatted about Laurent and Abbe Sicard. Jemina Pole Carew, her cousin, is back from Paris and asked about Laurent. Henrietta Stuart and their hoard are in Bute in Scotland for three (3) months, leaving Anna Maria in the city with their mother. Then Anna Maria laments the distance and time that has passed since they met. She guesses that Laurent is fifty (50) and that she is thirty-eight (38) years old.
Anna Maria writes to Laurent on December 19, 1842 about the death of her mother, Dame Pole, on June 7th of that year. Laurent had sent another annual report. She caught influenza and Anna Maria feels the loss very deeply. She comments that she is visiting with her sister and the Stuart family at their home in Bute, Scotland. The letter is postmarked from Mount Stuart House in Rothesay.
They all went there for the warmer winter weather but will all go to London at the end of next February. Anna Maria had never been to Scotland before and she found the house and gardens to be very pleasurable. She had a chance to go to Glasgow with her sister as well. And, Henrietta wants to be remembered by Laurent in this letter, so they must have met as well.
Anna Maria found herself in Shaftesbury in Dorset when Laurent’s last letter reached her around September 22, 1843. She referred to him as “my dear Laurent Clerc” and was glad to see his handwriting again. She congratulated him on the marriage of his daughter, Elizabeth Beers, we suppose. Anna Maria is on the road visiting with relatives, presently her old aunt. Her niece Mary Pole Stuart just got married to Mr. Rushleigh of Cornwall. Everyone is pleased with the match. Jemima Carew continues to speak of Laurent and is hoping for a visit.
In September of 1844, Anna Maria gets a surprise visit from Mr. Weld of the Hartford Asylum in July. Ms. Wilson had met Mr. Weld and appeared to have arranged for him to visit with Anna Maria. He had been paid by the school to survey any changes in the European methods of teaching the Deaf. He dropped off a letter from Laurent to her. She will send Laurent some of her beloved prints of her father with Mr. Weld. She wants to send Eliza an inkstand and a marriage gift for Elizabeth. Mr. Weld promised to come get them as they have been packed and ready to go. We of course do not know if he returned for them. Anna Maria announces that she has become a great aunt as well.
The last correspondence that we see between Laurent and Anna Maria is on June 10, 1847. Laurent is traveling in France after dropping off his son Charles Michael Clerc in Lyon to study. Anna Maria has received a letter from Laurent, outlining his travel itinerary as he was preparing to travel through London on his way home to America in 1847. She is responding and says that she is waiting for him to arrive in London and she is full of pleasure at the thought of seeing him after a lapse of thirty-two (32) years. We do not know if they met as we have no record as of yet but we know that he was in England before he returned home.
It is interesting that for the last five (5) years of Anna Maria’s life no correspondence was saved by Laurent. Once meeting Laurent again, did she discontinue her letter writing? Did Laurent and his family just change their behavior about saving letters or did Laurent’s situation change that resulted in them being lost.
What we do know is that Anna Marie Pole died in 1852 and was buried in the Aldenham Church close to her childhood estate and in the company of her family.
Anna Maria lost her sister, Charlotte Jemima Pole in 1822, when she was only eighteen (18) years old.
Charles Pole, her father, passed out of this world in 1830. Her mother, Dame Henrietta Pole we know died in June of 1842.
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