Elenora Kent
“Two of them arrived safely the other one was drowned while landing from the ship” Elenora Kent 1894
[History of the Hart Family The following is taken from several hand written pages that I found in an envelope that says: History of the Hart Family belonging to Mrs. Elenna Van Anglen and descendants.]
History of the Hart family my Mothers ancestors written from memory by my cousin Mrs. Ann Roberts On the reading of the Edict of Nanse there were living in Paris three brothers, David, James and John Latourette. They left Paris with there (sic) wives for the new world where they could enjoy without fear there Protestant faith.
Two of them arrived safely the other one was drowned while landing from the ship – The two brothers bought a large tract of land on the south shore of Staten Island – The eldest, David was your Mothers great grandfather – he was a member of the first Colonial Congress and also judge of the district. He had three daughters and one son – His youngest daughter was Catherine and she was your Mothers grandmother and the most talented of the sisters and her fathers favorite.
There was an English War Ship anchored opposite the old judges farm, held there by stress of weather – the beauty and neatness of the place attracted the eye of the young English Captain – He had his sailors row him to the shore; he then called on the judge introduced himself and was most courteously received and invited to stay to tea which he did. He was there introduced to his wife and daughters – When he saw the youngest the sweet and beautifull (sic) Catherine, he fell in love, a case of love at first sight with both parties – He continued his visits until the ship was ready to sail to old England but before going he asked the father for the hand of his daughter which he could only obtain by resigning his commission in the English Navy and becoming an American citizen which he did and returned and married his promised bride the lovely Catherine Latourette.
She was the most delicate of the three sisters and her husband after the marriage thought a southern climate would be best for her- He then went to Virginia and purchased a large tract of land (I think in Princess Ann County) for the manufacturing of pine shingles – The county was sparsely settled they had preaching about once a month in a school house. The young wife on every Sabbath would call together all the neighbors both white and black, and hold religious services.
Her first child was David, your Grandfather the second was Nancy and then James at his birth she died then the three motherless children were sent north to there Grandfather Latourette to be cared for – Your Grandfather when old enough was apprenticed to learn the carpenters trade – After his marriage to Effie Cloyd, he built a house on what was called sandy ground. As a child my Mother often took me with her when she visited your grandparents and I think your mother was born in that house – All this information I received from Aunt Nancy who always delighted in telling about the family history – If that old Bible had Bible not been taken away it would have been most valuable as all the letters of your great grandmother to her sister while she lived South were in that Bible – I have read some of them, they were all very remarkable. All can see by this that your Mother sprang from an honorable and godly family or ancestry – I hope the statement may be a little satisfactory to you from the last one of an honored generation of which your Mother was a member.
The name of the young English Captain that married Catherine Latourette was Captain James Harte your Mothers Grandfather and that grand old man, my Father was James the second, my only brother James the third, and your Mothers youngest brother James the fourth – The old Judge owned the first covered carriage and the first Sunday it drove the family to St. Andrews Episcopal Church all the colored people young and old were sitting on the fence to see the wonderful turn out.
Copied this twenty ninth day of May Eighteen Hundred and ninety four – by Elenora Van Anglen nee Kent one of the descendants of the above family
Submitter: Kurt Van Anglen The writer, Elenora Kent b. Jan.25, 1846; m. Peter Stelle Van Anglen, Nov. 16, 1865; d. of Phineas Kent and Catherine Hart. Catherin Hart was the daughter of David Hart and Effie Cloyd. David was the son of James Hart and Catherine Latourette (Catherine and James, the subjects of the letter)