Aunt Margaret
Aunt Margaret was not someone who would be in our history books, but her relationship with Fanny is worth mentioning. She was an elderly African American woman that lived in Washington. Fanny repeatedly described her neighborly visits to this woman over the years, so they must have been fond of each other. These visits often involved reading out loud and solemn accounts of everyday life. Aunt Margaret’s life was extremely difficult, and one cannot help but see her as a representation of the larger group of people who were in a similar situation. Their relationship also proved Fanny’s ability to empathize and step into possibly controversial social situations.
“Aunt Margaret was here this afternoon. I never saw her so broken down–a few days ago her grandson, a fugitive, after only two weeks of liberty died, aged 21. She has seen eight children scattered from her grasp by the accursed hand of slavery, and has no living relative near her–This blow seemed to utterly cast down this poor patient creature She has often told me that she cared to live no longer, and only waited for God’s call–now life seems a burden heavier then before–I read to her three chapters from new testament–She seemed to listen most earnestly–and said she wished she had some one to read her from the bible–but white folks did not come to see her, and colored folks could not read.” Mar 28, 1862
Possibly the New Testament used to read to Aunt Margaret. Inscribed “Fanny A. Seward June 1855”