Page:Narrative of the life of Mrs. Hamilton (1).pdf/2



WAS born in the city of Frankfort, in Germany, in the 7th year of my age my father came to Charleſton in South Carolina; his name was George Beckhouſe, by profeſſion a Roman Catholic. He lived at Charleston, until I was about 16 years of age, when I was married to Mr. Alexander Hamilton, an eminent merchant, who in the conteſt between Britain and America, was ſhot dead in his own houſe, which was conſumed, with all our property, by fire. In this diſtreſſed ſituation, having no children except an adopted daughter, thus contemplating on my misfortune, my beſt friend with all our ſubſtance ſnatched from me, as it were in an inſtant, created in me new and awful ſenſations, which are beyond my power to relate. I then fled to a rich uncle for an aſylum, who treated me with the greateſt reſpect and attention, and welcomed me to his houſe and ſervants, with all the accomodations that they could yield or afford; he offered to make me his heir, and directed his ſervants to treat me with all the kindneſs and reſpect as though they were really mine. I lived there in the enjoyment