Edgar Allan Poe and Washington Irving both had literary ties to Plattsburgh in a surprising way – both reviewed the works of two local teenage sisters, Lucretia and Margaret Davidson.
Lucretia Maria Davidson was born on September 27, 1808, to Dr. Oliver Davidson and his wife, Margaret Miller Davidson. They encouraged four-year-old Lucretia when she suddenly developed a love for writing, by enrolling her at the Plattsburgh Academy. There, she learned her letters but had not yet learned to form words.
Once, when her mother wished to write a letter, she found her desk empty of paper. After searching, she came upon Lucretia, who confessed to taking it all.
Eventually, Mrs. Davidson discovered scores of manuscripts hidden in the linen closet, filled with what could only be described as hieroglyphs.
Intrigued, her mother showed them to Dr. Davidson. It’s said that when Lucretia found out, she burst into tears, accused her mother of betraying her, and promptly burnt every last one of them in the family hearth.
In September of 1814, Mrs. Davidson and her children fled to the town of Peru, in Clinton County, to escape the Battle of Plattsburgh. Although Lucretia was safe from harm, the idea of the battle coming so close to her house, and that of her neighbors, apparently thrilled and terrified her.
By 1824, through the patronage of family friend Moss Kent, Lucretia was in Troy, NY, attending the Troy Female Seminary. Lucretia was torn between her love of knowledge and acute homesickness. Also plagued by ill health (she had contracted tuberculosis) her letters home were filled with longing for Lake Champlain.
But she maintained a brave face at school, even turning out a playful verse – The Week Before Examination” – was long-remembered by students at the Emma Willard School (formerly the Female Seminary):
“One has a headache, one a cold. One has a neck in flannel rolled; Ask the complaint, and you are told, Next week’s Examination.
“One frets and scolds, one laughs and cries, Another hopes, despairs and sighs; Ask but the cause, and each replies, Next week’s Examination.”
Unable to ignore her ill health (to which anorexia may have been a contributing factor), the Davidsons demanded Lucretia return home to Plattsburgh, where she took immense pleasure in playing with and caring for her little sister, Margaret. She authored numerous poems about the toddler, praising her angelic disposition.
Lucretia Maria Davidson passed away at exactly sixteen years and eleven months old, on August 27, 1825. She is buried in Plattsburgh’s Riverside Cemetery. After her death, her mother published The Poetical Remains of Lucretia Davidson a combination biography/literary work that showcased Lucretia’s writings. Edgar Allan Poe reviewed Lucretia’s work, offering faint praise and harsh criticism of her promoters.
Margaret Miller Davidson was born on March 26, 1823. Like Lucretia, she began writing at the age of four. Still reeling from the loss of her older daughter, and aware that little Margaret was also in fragile health, Mrs. Davidson chose to educate her at home.
The family also opted to move frequently, to anywhere that the child could take in “fresher air” – whether it be Boston, Saratoga Springs, or Canada. By the age of eleven, Margaret was also writing about her homesickness for Lake Champlain.
Margaret achieved more fame for her writing early on in life, unlike Lucretia who received most of her praise (and criticism) posthumously. Washington Irving made
Margaret’s acquaintance three times during her life, each time remarking on her fragile appearance.
Margaret developed a love for history and voraciously read anything she could get her hands on about historical events. She also loved the classics and was reading works by Milton and Byron by the age of six. She was an accomplished artist as well, preferring to draw as much as write.
In a cruel twist of fate, Margaret also contracted consumption. There is some speculation that Mrs. Davidson, plagued by ill health throughout her life, also contracted and carried the disease.
Margaret passed away on November 25, 1838, at age 15 of scarlet fever and is buried in the Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs.
Washington Irving wrote Margaret’s biography in 1841, Biography and Poetical Remains of the Late Margaret Miller Davidson.
The Davidson sisters were remarkable young women, each in their own unique way. Like all creative minds that passed away too young, we can wonder what they might have done had they lived longer into adulthood. Or we can look at their bodies of work for what they are and revel in the brilliance, creativity, and heartfelt words of two young sisters.
Lisabeth Guay is a volunteer at the Clinton County Historical Association, and author of Fear of Madness: A Fictional Account of the Life of Lucretia Davidson (2024).
Enjoy Poetry? New York Almanack publishes a poem every Saturday. You can read them all here.
Illustration: The Davidson sisters from Catharine Maria Sedgwick’s Poetical Remains of the late Lucretia Maria Davidson (left), collected and arranged by Her Mother, 1851.
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