“Departed this life deservedly lamented”

The year 1773 must have been a hard one for Philip Mortimer of Middletown, Connecticut.

He didn’t suffer business reverses, but he lost members of his family.

First Martha Mortimer, his wife of more than thirty ears, died. The 16 March Connecticut Courant reported:

On Saturday the 27th of February last, departed this life deservedly lamented, the amiable consort of Capt. Philip Mortimer, of Middletown, and on Tuesday following was decently inter’d in Mr. Henshaw’s tomb, attended by a numerous concourse of people of all ranks, from that and the neighbouring towns.

Benjamin Henshaw (1730–1793) was another merchant who had moved from Boston to Middletown. His grave is now marked with an obelisk. It’s possible that in 1773 he owned a tomb, and Martha Mortimer’s body was laid there in the middle of winter before being moved to a grave her husband owned.

That wasn’t the only loss Philip Mortimer suffered, however. The 31 August Connecticut Courant said:

Last Tuesday se’nnight departed this life at Boston, Mr. James Mortimer, aged 69:—

On Saturday following, his Relict, Mrs. Hannah Mortimer, aged 81:—

And on Sunday, under the same roof, their Brother, Mr. Peter Mortimer, aged 58.—

They were the only surviving brothers of Capt. Philip Mortimer, of Middletown, in this Colony.——

These industrious, peaceful, happy Citizens were sober, just, religious. As they had served God faithfully in the small Circle to which Providence had appointed them, and were tenderly united in their lives, he granted them the singular Favour not to be divided in their death.

The Boston newspapers noted the three quick deaths in one household but didn’t mention any epidemic disease or other cause for the public to worry about. 

All three Mortimers had funerals in Trinity Church and were buried in the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. The elaborate gravestone of James and Hannah Mortimer appears above.

TOMORROW: Building a new family.