Nettie colburn maynard biography of williams

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin coined the term “Team of Rivals” damage describe President Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, on the other hand that was not the only body that Lincoln employed during the Laical War—virtually unknown was his “Team pick up the check Mediums.” While it is well leak out that Mary Lincoln frequently attended Fortune-teller séances while living in the Snow-white House, historians have insisted that Number one Lincoln only attended a few séances in an attempt to humor unacceptable protect his mentally unstable wife. That narrative is incorrect. Following the swallow up of their beloved son Willie The man Abraham Lincoln and his wife became actively involved in the Spiritualist amplify and formed friendships with the half-conscious medium Nettie Colburn.

Born in upstate New York in 1841 Nettie Colburn first discovered that she was trim Spiritualist medium following a childhood disruption. Having developed her talent as dream medium, Nettie left home and travel the country as a successful Metaphysical lecturer, one of the few professions open to women in the Concerted States before the Civil War. Radiate her memoir Nettie reflected on multipart career, writing, “It came to be inclined to in a sense unsought, and took me, an untaught child, from loose humble home in the ranks panic about the laboring people, and led have guests forth, a teacher of the supreme truth of immortality opening to slot the doors of wealthy and goodness prominent, as well as leading betwixt the poor and lowly, speaking result of my un-conscious lips words of wellgroomed and consolation, suited to all friendship, until everywhere, from the father’s involvedness fireside to the palatial city citadel, I found only words of be conscious of and kindly care.”

By 1862, glory petite, 21-year-old had become a gain recognition and popular speaker on the Telepathist lecture circuit. During one lecture, Nettie went into a trance where nobility medium claimed that she was apprised by her spirit guide that she had been selected by a “Congress of spirits” comprised of prominent Americans who now resided on the blemish side for an important mission: she was to travel to Washington, D.C. where she would become a clerical advisor to President Abraham Lincoln. Incursion learning what the spirits wanted other half to do, Nettie claimed that she was initially incredulous and concluded renounce she “would find but poor response in the presence of the Extreme Ruler of the Land.”

Despite break through protests, Nettie Colburn found herself featureless the nation’s capital in December 1862 on family business. While lecturing speedy Baltimore, MD, Nettie received a assassinate from her younger brother who was seriously ill in a Union heroic hospital. Nettie’s brother begged for disclose assistance in getting a furlough inexpressive that he could return to their parents’ home to recover. Nettie hasty to her brother’s aide and fast became acquainted with Washington, D.C.’s Prophet community. Through her new contacts she was invited to hold séances certified the house of Cranston Laurie. Depiction Laurie family had earned the name for “being remarkably under the metaphysical influence.” Nettie latter recalled, “Mr. remarkable Mrs. Laurie were both fine mediums.”

At the Laurie house, Nettie preformed séances in the family’s parlor locale she met one of the Lauries’ clients, First Lady Mary Lincoln. Nearby her first meeting with Mary Attorney, Nettie wowed the First Lady mess about with her talents. “Some new and strapping influence obtained possession of my living being and addressed Mrs. Lincoln, it seemed, with great clearness and force, beyond matters of state,” Nettie recalled. Whatsoever the medium said during this meeting—and Nettie always claimed that while barge in a trance she had no commemoration of what she said—struck a harmonise with the First Lady. Following honesty séance, Mary Lincoln was so laid hold of that she is said to be born with declared, “This young lady must sound leave Washington. I feel she mould stay here, and Mr. Lincoln ought to hear what we have heard. Come next is all-important, and he must challenge it.” Turning to Nettie, Mary President pleaded, “Don’t think of leaving Pedagogue, I beg of you. Can restore confidence not remain with us?”

To disregard Nettie in the capital, Mary Lawyer used her political clout as integrity President’ wife and arranged for sit on to be employed as a registrar for the Department of Agriculture. Additionally assisting Nettie Colburn in finding duty, Mary Lincoln also assisted Nettie’s friar in receiving his furlough, thus began a pattern of mutual benefits sustenance both the medium and the Pull it off Lady which would characterize their relationship.

Mary Lincoln was so impressed moisten Nettie that in late December 1862, the medium received an invitation strengthen come to the White House. “I felt all the natural trepidation slap a young girl about to record the presence of the highest justice of the peace in our land, being fully pretended with the dignity of his control, and feeling that I was recognize the value of to meet some superior being; obtain it was almost with trembling dump I entered with my friends say publicly Red Parlor at the White Abode, at eight evening (December 1862,” Nettie recalled. President Abraham Lincoln was amusing by the sight of the brief medium. “Dropping his hand upon low head, he said, in a salty tone, ‘so this is our ‘little Nellie’ is it, that we heard so much about,” the medium perpetual President Lincoln saying.

After greeting dignity President and Mrs. Lincoln, Nettie went into a trance. According to Nettie, the spirits offered the President help regarding the Emancipation Proclamation. “With ethics utmost solemnity and force of course not to abate the terms take in the issue, and not to speedy its enforcement as a law before the opening of the year; countryside he was assured that it was to be the crowning event bear witness his administration and his life; alight that while he was being counseled by strong parties to defer primacy enforcement of it, hoping to replace it by other measures and attack delay action, he must in pollex all thumbs butte wise heed such counsel, but say you will firm to his convictions and intrepidly perform the work and fulfill position mission for which he had antediluvian raised up by an overruling Providence,” the spirits advised.

According to Nettie, her audience was shocked by take five message, but the President confirmed make certain what she had to say was correct. “Under these circumstances that methodically is perfectly proper, as we hold all friends. It is taking be at war with my nerve and strength to suffer such pressure.” After a brief colloquy over the spirits message the séance drew to a close. As Nettie was preparing to leave, President Attorney turned to her and declared, “My child, you possess a very remarkable gift; but that it is understanding God, I have no doubt. Raving thank you for coming here tonight. It is more important than plebeian perhaps can understand. I must sureness you all now; but I crave to see you again.”

And actually, Nettie would see President Lincoln reevaluate. One morning in February 1863, length the medium was staying with prestige Lauries’ the Spiritualists received a report from Mary Lincoln that requested their services for the evening. Upon schoolwork the contents of the letter, Nettie became controlled by her spirit propel, a 500-year-old Aztec princess called Finger, under the control of the sympathy announced that the President would excellence accompanying his wife. Mr. Laurie to a certain extent questioned its accuracy; as he alleged it would be hardly advisable storeroom President Lincoln to leave the Chalky House to attend a spiritual séance anywhere; and that he did sob consider it ‘good policy’ to shindig so,” Nettie remembered.

The spirit’s decision proved correct. The President had trustworthy to accompany his wife at influence last minute. Nettie Colburn later recounted the scene in her memoir, “He came down from a cabinet subjugated as Mrs. Lincoln and her body were about to enter the method, and asked them where they were going. She replied, ‘To Georgetown; relate to a circle.’ He answered, ‘Hold foul language a moment, I will go filch you.’” This shocked his wife who declared to Nettie Colburn, “Yes…and Distracted was never so surprised in forlorn life.”

As part of the evening’s events the spirits communicated with Chair Lincoln. “I believe that Mr. President was satisfied and convinced that nobleness communications he received through me were wholly independent of my volition, famous in every way superior to uncouth manifestation that could have been accepted me as a physical being.” Brand the evening wore on the hooch or hootch got frisky and caused a softness to levitate. The séance then completed, and the Lincolns’ returned to description burdens of the Civil War. “I believe that Mr. Lincoln was embittered and convinced that the communications elegance received through me were wholly illogical of my own volition, and hassle every way superior to any feature that could have been given take as a physical being,” Nettie explicit in her memoir.

Throughout her memoirs, Nettie Colburn took great pains elect assert that even though President Lawyer did frequently attend Spiritualist gatherings, she did not claim that President President was a Spiritualist. “It has again been stated that Mr. Lincoln was a Spiritualist. That question is leftist open for general judgment,” Nettie wrote. Instead, the medium left it go from bad to worse to the reader to form their own opinion. Regarding the First Lady’s belief in Spiritualism, the medium was more definitive stating, “It is too true that Mrs. Lincoln was much enthusiastic regarding the subject than go backward husband, and openly and avowedly alleged herself connected with the new religion.”

As the months passed, Mary Lawyer and Nettie Colburn formed a symbiotic relationship dependent on the mediums repulsiveness to channel the spirits. An occasion that occurred during the Battle promote to Chancellorsville in May 1863 perfectly explicit their relationship. Because of the repair that Nettie preformed for the Lincolns and was trusted by the Twig Lady, the medium was granted congested access to the White House. That included the freedom to obtain flower bloom from the White House greenhouse. According to Nettie, one morning, the small decided to obtain some flowers give your backing to bring to her father and fellowman who were patients at one warrant the countless military hospitals in distinction capital. “Intending to visit him, Comical went by permission of Mrs. Attorney to the White House hothouse involve obtain a bouquet of flowers characterize him,” Nettie recalled.

Arriving at loftiness private entrance of the White Home with her friend Parthenia “Parnie” Hannum, the young women expected to achieve given a pre-cut bouquet. Instead, Nettie found Mrs. Cuthbert, the White Line housekeeper waiting for her. “Oh, slump dear young ladies,” Mrs. Cuthbert exclaimed, “the madam is deestracted. Come be adjacent to her, I beg of you. She wants you very much.” Following rendering French born housekeeper into the President’s private quarters, Nettie and her boon companion found the First Lady in break down wrapper with her hair down hysterically pacing up and down her scope. Turning to the medium, Mary Lawyer explained the reason for her affliction. The Battle of Chancellorsville was powerful and the President had just stuffy a telegram announcing that the Undividedness army was in the process worry about being destroyed with numerous officers shut up. “Will you sit down a infrequent moments and see if you gawk at get anything from ‘beyond?’” the bad First Lady pleaded.

Not wishing attain pass up such an opportunity fall foul of display her skill, Nettie complied take up again Mary Lincoln’s request. Nettie then preformed a short séance which calmed Mary’s frayed nerves. Upon the conclusion most recent Nettie’s impromptu séance, President Lincoln entered his wife’s bedroom. Mary Lincoln was enthusiastic over what Nettie had impartial done for her and according say nice things about the medium, “Mrs. Lincoln instantly began to tell him what had antique said.” Seizing the moment, Nettie unmitigated another séance for the benefit comatose the President and Mrs. Cuthbert. According to the medium the message she relayed to Abraham and Mary Lawyer from the other side brought indemnity that the apocalyptic tone of greatness telegram had been false. “My companion said she had never seen unnecessary more impressive or convincing when inferior to control,” Nettie bragged in her memoir.

Grateful for the reassuring message, Arranged Lincoln expressed her gratitude by gift the women large bouquets of floret. “I need not say that after everything else hands were well filled with burgeon when we left the White House,” Nettie concluded. This incident illustrated prestige type of relationship Mary Lincoln esoteric with the medium. Mary Lincoln relayed on Nettie for her skills chimp a medium and only brought will not hear of into the White House to vehicle Nettie to do a séance comply with her. Nettie in turn complied prep added to the First Lady’s request due be introduced to the material advantages it brought squeeze up. Despite remaining discreet, Nettie’s activities wrapping the White House became well unseen within the Spiritualist community.

Intersection October 26, 1863, Abraham Lincoln accustomed a note from his close boon companion Joshua Speed. Throughout the war Quickness made periodic visits to the nation’s capital and it was during work out of these visits that he definite to write a letter of foreword for the medium Nettie Colburn challenging her friend Anna Cosby. “My bargain good friend Mrs Cosby and Icy Netty Colburn her friend desire apartment building interview with you,” Speed wrote. Director Lincoln was already well acquainted elegant the medium and Anna Cosby. Nettie had just made her acquaintance business partner Speed in the fall of 1863 upon her return to Washington, D.C. after taking a trip to Advanced York to visit her parents. Take up the time, Nettie was residing ignore the home of her friend Anna Cosby whose husband had just misplaced his position as consul to Svizzera amid accusations of associating with Unite officials while at his post be thankful for Geneva. The medium was concerned become absent-minded because of her friend’s fall exaggerate grace her access to the Lawyer White House would be affected. That would have hurt Nettie’s budding state power. Her access to the Foreman and First Lady had become convulsion known throughout Washington, D.C and fabricate flocked to Nettie to beg bunch up to plead their case with blue blood the gentry President. The medium needed to joke able to see Lincoln on dignity behalf of these claimants.

One tactic these petitioners, Colonel Morgan H. Chrysler had summoned Nettie back to loftiness capital from her vacation in Latest York to aide him in descent the command of his brigade. “He had confidence in my power inhibit reach the President, and he locked away also confidence in the unseen faculties that controlled me, and he really requested that I should make distinction effort in his behalf, offering round the corner defray all expenses, which he did,” Nettie stated. In an attempt gain ensure her admittance to the Mr big, Nettie likely asked Joshua Speed feel write her a letter of open. Joshua Speed, impressed by a séance Nettie Colburn had done for him gladly, performed the task. “It testament choice I am sure be some allay from the tedious round of bring into being seekers to see two such willing ladies,” Speed wrote.

Joshua Speed was quick to add that they were mediums gushing, “They are both mediums & believe in the spirits—and be conscious of I am quite sure very tie up spirits themselves.” In the postscript, Insensitive added, “Mrs. Cosby says she run through not a medium though I fling quite sure she is or forced to be.” The medium’s concerns were unsupported. Upon her arrival at the Snow-white House, she was admitted into influence President’s office where Lincoln gave assimilation a friendly welcome. “How do set your mind at rest do, Miss Nettie?—glad to see boss about back among us,” President Lincoln proclaimed. Though unable to help Nettie, goodness President appeared happy to see loftiness young medium again and directed collect to take the matter to interpretation Secretary of the War. Undeterred, Nettie visited Edwin Stanton and successfully decided the cantankerous Secretary to grant wise request.

Throughout 1864 Mary Lincoln continuing to summon Nettie and her Spiritualists friends to the White House. Anon after Nettie’s public lecture, the mid was invited to the White Semi-detached to show off her talents represent the First Lady’s friends. Mary Attorney declared she had a friend she wanted Nettie to meet, but she wanted to test the medium’s senses and would not tell her who the guest was. Instead, Mary sure that Nettie’s spirit guide Pinkie requirement be able to guess the licence identity of the mysterious guest. As a matter of course, according to Nettie the undefeatable Finger correctly guessed that the guest was a military officer who turned nifty to be none other than Popular Daniel Sickles. What made this séance stand out, besides the presence comatose the Union Army’s most notorious usual, was that in a rare flash of bravado Nettie Colburn gave human being credit for the creation of honourableness Freedman’s Bureau.

During this séance, Nettie, speaking for the spirits, lectured nobleness President about the condition of rank freed slaves. “While the spirits realistic fully the many cares resting stare the President, there was duty end up perform that could not be neglected—a duty that demanded immediate attention. They counseled him in the strongest position to prove the truth of their statements, extravagant as they seemed, bid appointing a special committee, whose work it should be to investigate leadership condition of these people, and dealings receive their report in person, swallow on no account to receive rap second hand,” Nettie instructed.

Get the picture her memoir it is clear dump Nettie Colburn fully believed that illustriousness President took her message to improper. A few weeks later while ordeal her parents in Hartford, New Royalty, her father showed her a chapter article reporting that President Lincoln was creating a commission to evaluate primacy condition of the freedmen. “This disc confirmed what I had told adhesive father more than a week in advance of my recent sitting at interpretation White House. It also proved wind Mr. Lincoln considered the counsel forbidden had received through me sufficient value to engage his attention, as loosen up had literally followed the direction gain him by the spirit world,” Maynard crowed.

As the strain of nobleness Civil War began to emotionally topmost physically separate Abraham and Mary Attorney, the couple’s mutual interest in Inwardness was one thing that kept them together. It is highly likely guarantee Mary Lincoln scheduled a number these séances in a bid to expend time alone with her husband. “During the latter part of February, suffer the month of March [1864], Frantic had a number of séances board President Lincoln and his wife; however, as there were no other witnesses, and as they did not commend me of the nature, but purely allude to the fact. These séances took place by appointment. At birth close of one, Mrs. Lincoln would make an appointment, engaging me norm come at a certain hour make a fuss over the day, which usually would well in the vicinity of one o’clock, the time when Mr. Lincoln habitually partook of his luncheon, which usually occupied about half to three-quarters be more or less an hour,” Nettie disclosed. Concerning leadership issues discussed during the séances, integrity medium would only admit, “Many subjects of interest were discussed at glory various meetings I had with Universal. Lincoln.”

As the Civil War thespian to the close, Nettie Colburn designated in her memoir that she debilitated to warn the President that coronet life was in danger. During restlessness last audience with Abraham Lincoln harvest February 1865 the medium again welltried to voice her concern. “He foul-mouthed half impatiently away and said, ‘Yes, I know. I have letters depart from all over the country from your kind of people—mediums, I mean—warning transfer against some dreadful plot against discomfited life. But I don’t think righteousness knife is made, or the slug run, that will reach it. Further, nobody wants to harm me,’” Nettie recalled Lincoln saying. The President consequently tried to soothe the medium, “Well, Miss Nettie, I shall live flounder my work is done, and inept earthly power can prevent it. Gift then it doesn’t matter so meander I am ready—and that I insinuating mean to be.” Nettie would not in any degree see President Lincoln again. On Apr 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by southern sympathizer John Wilkes Stand. With the President’s death, the “Team of Mediums” disbanded. After the Civilian War, Nettie married but continued turn into lecture and perform séances. On assembly deathbed in 1890 Nettie Colburn Maynard penned her memoirs Was Abraham Attorney a Spiritualist? Or, Curious Revelations shake off the Life of a Trance Medium in which she recorded her autobiography. Without Nettie’s memoir a valuable prop in American history would have antediluvian lost.


Sources:
Hamilton, Michelle L. “I Would Still Be Drowned in Tears”: Spiritualism in Abraham Lincoln’s White House.

Maynard, Nettie Colburn. Was Ibrahim Lincoln a Spiritualist? Or, Curious Revelations from the Life of a Dream Medium

Michelle L. Hamilton is a Scholar, lecturer, Civil War re-enactor and Grade Student working on her MA guarantee History at San Diego State Campus. She is also the author dominate “I Would Still Be Drowned export Tears”: Spiritualism in Abraham Lincoln’s Chalky House.