Mark Couvillon Unveils the Untold Story: Patrick Henry's First Marriage and Sarah Shelton's Struggles

When Patrick Henry recommends a book on himself, you read it.

If you've read my first review a Mark Couvillon book, you know I grabbed it on the recommendation of Colonial Williamsburg's (CW's) Patrick Henry, Richard Schumann. And this one- well he lent it to me. So I was thrilled to dive in!

Getting this out of the way right at the start: I recommend you read it. The rest of this post shares my "why" in the style of a book review.

Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.

In Sickness and in Health- book cover

Get the rest of the story from Mark Couvillon.

Did Patrick Henry love Sarah Shelton?

I'm sure of it. And after reading this book, you will come away with a deeper understanding of her illness and his reaction to it, as well as his support of her, than you may have prior to reading it.

If you've read my review of Patrick Henry's Virginia, you may remember that Mr. Couvillon worked in CW for years and is a super-historian. He's traveled across Virginia to dive deep into the writings, records, and genealogy of Patrick Henry.

So there's one thing I'm certain of: the legacy brought to us by Paul Harvey missed the "rest of the story" on Sarah Shelton Henry's illness and tragic end. You can scroll on this site to 'Patrick Henry' and hear the imaginative story he recorded. What was his source?

Uncertain. It's difficult to listen to Mr. Harvey and it's certainly not what you'll get when you read Mr. Couvillon's book, with citations.

Breaking down the book.

From start to finish, any history buff will be pulled in. Whether you're interested in Patrick Henry's story, life during the Revolutionary era, or understanding how mental illness has been treated, viewed, and addressed over the years, this book delivers.

Beginning at the beginning, Mr. Couvillon provides the family histories of both the Henrys and the Sheltons (Sarah's family). He develops the story of their marriage through an understanding of their early life and extended family.

And of course, the previously mentioned citations Mr. Couvillon is so diligent about offering his readers.

Scotchtown, Patrick and Sarah's home, where she passed away.

The impact of Mark Couvillon's In Sickness and In Health

How the book will impact this What American History Is About blog.

New topics.

I've already started digging into the "straight-dress" given to the Henrys by Sarah's doctor. It took me to the CW mantua-maker, who created a version based on medical book descriptions. The request came from the CW apothecary shop- so I headed that way to learn more.

While it's not currently on display, Margaret Perry, who is studying 18th and 19th century mental health towards an advanced degree, shared photos with me. She also shared insight into private care of family members suffering mental illness.

The site where Margaret and I had the discussion is a reconstruction of the Pasteur and Galt Apothecary. And in the records of Dr. Galt: Patrick Henry's purchases of ingredients that look to be for Sarah to ease her pain and address her illness.

RELATED: Read Margaret's article about mental health in the 18th and 19th centuries.

So yes, topics surrounding the treatment and care of those suffering as Sarah Shelton Henry suffered will be a deeper dive for me, and - hopefully- this blog.

More topics inspired by the book:

• property ownership including headrights in Colonial America and the impact of dower rights on the sale of property
• clothing created for both medical and military use
• the impact of personal situations on Patrick Henry and other early American leaders
• books used at home for purposes of everything from health remedies to cookery
• specific places already bookmarked in my copy of Patrick Henry's Virginia including Rural Plains, Fork Church, and another visit to Scotchtown

New people.

Always... more people to meet and learn from. People in history and their daily lives, not just life-altering moments, fascinate me.

Some of the people I may dive deeper into learning more about after reading Mr. Couvillon's In Sickness And In Health:

• Sarah Shelton - I hope to find out more!
• Madame Elizabeth Russell, Patrick Henry's sister
• Mary Galt, Dr. Galt's wife who wrote about providing strait-jackets for the Eastern State Hospital
• A Mr. Bullard, who Patrick Henry represented for murder, quite possibly using the first-ever "emotional insanity" defense in the Colonies
• William Buchan, author of Domestic Medicine - significant to understanding the 18th century approach to health in the household
• William Wirt, biographer, who contacted contemporaries of Henry including Thomas Jefferson and St. George Tucker for background on his book: Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry
• Nelly Preston, great grand-daughter to Madame Russell's great grand-daughter and author of Paths of Glory, cited in this article's closing words

And whoever these people lead me to.

Margaret Hunter shop, CW

A recommendation and a request.

Recommendation: get the book. (click here) Dig deeper. Share the story of Patrick Henry's first wife, Sarah Shelton with anyone who loves history!

Request: share your finds. If you have something you'd like to share related to any of the topics above- please do!

Closing Words from history.

Memories of Scotchtown as shared by Nelly C. Preston in her book "Paths of glory : a simple tale of a far-faring bride, Elizabeth, sister of Patrick Henry
Russell" Elizabeth Henry Campbell, 1749-1825.; C. 1961.

Nelly was the grand-daughter of Elizabeth's grand-daughter.

Excerpt from pages 101-102, Chapter X, titled Ghosts of Scotchtown

"Bought with the fond hope of improving poor Sarah's waning health, it failed of it's hope, and Sarah succumbed to a grievous malady.

Two or three years before this Christmas season of which I write, Sarah had developed a strange antipathy to Patrick and her children. This sad situation grew more humiliating and increasingly heart-breaking. None of the doctors at Hanover or in Williamsburg, could quiet her mental disturbance. Many of his friends begged Patrick to commit her to the newly established asylum at the capital - the first hospital in all the colonies devoted exclusively to the treatment of mental disorders, but we all had deemed it best that she be confined in one of the airy, sunny rooms in the half-basement. Here she was in her own home with her own loyal and faithful servants giving her every tender loving care."

There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post unless otherwise credided! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.

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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.