[RooRoobird14]

To American Revolution buffs:

I find Cornwallis's story about his wife even sadder than Gage's. Jemima Cornwallis was a very beautiful British woman;he was madly in love with and faithful to her. Jemima wasted away and died while her husband was at war. He left the army to be with her, but went back in after her death. Of course, he was humiliated in the seige at Yorktown by MY HERO George Washington.

Does anyone know why Jemima Cornwallis died? It seems to be a total mystery.

Thanks for this post. I'm an American Revolution nutcase.....

[ussc1863]

Although noone can pin point exactly the disease Jemima Cornwallis had, the symptoms sound like tuberculosis. The most frequent term used for wasting diseases was "consumption". It could encompass any number of diseases that would have fit her symptoms.

[snippy_about_it]

I don't know how true it is but I did find this:

http://www.shardalow.com/Maud_Milgate/Chapter_18/chapter_18.html

Excerpt:
They had two children, Mary and Charles but before the little boy was 2 years old was broke out with America and Cornwallis was given Command of a Division of the British Army. So upset was his wife at his going that she sought permission of the King to allow Cornwallis to return home. This was granted, but Cornwallis refused to comply. He was a man of strong principles, a soldier from his youth, and it was anathema to him to think of giving up his position. His wife and 2 children saw him off at Portsmouth and returned sorrowfully to Culford. It was spring time and the Park was beautiful but she saw no consolation in it or in her children. Her sadness turned to illness and towards the end ot the year her doctors realized her condition was dangerous and sent for her husband. He arrived home at the end of January 1779, but it was too late to save her and she died on 13th Febuary. She confided to her maid that she was dying of a broken heart and requested that no stone be carver to her memory, but a thorn tree be planted on her grave. The inscription on her coffin read "Jemimer, Countess Cornwallis, died 13th Febuary, 1779 aged 31½ years." A thorn tree still grows near the vault on the north side of the church, significant not only of Lady Jemimer's sorrow but of her husbands anguish in losing her. He never married again. Lord Cornwallis returned to America and commanded his Division until the disastrous defeat at York Town in 1781 when he surrendered with all his men to General Washington.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Jemima wasted away and died while her husband was at war... Does anyone know why Jemima Cornwallis died? It seems to be a total mystery.

She found out that her husband was pursuing Nathanael Greene. :-O