Sarah Ann Haynsworth Gayle (, Haynsworth or Haynesworth; 1804–1835) was a 19th-century diarist of the

American South The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is census regions United States Census Bureau. It is between the Atlantic Ocean and the ...

, who kept a journal during the period of 1827 to 1835. According to the ''

Encyclopedia of Alabama The ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'' is an online encyclopedia of the state of Alabama's history, culture, Geography of Alabama, geography, and natural environment. It is a statewide collaboration that involves more than forty institutions from across ...

'', "Her journal is unique as the only surviving account of early Alabama life written by a woman." In 2016, she was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Sarah Ann Haynsworth was born January 18, 1804, in Sumter County, South Carolina. Her parents were Richard and Ann (Pringle) Haynsworth, the former born in Sumter District, South Carolina, removed to Mount Vernon, Alabama, later to Claiborne, Alabama, where he lived on his plantation "Sheldon" on the

Alabama River The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa River, Tallapoosa and Coosa River, Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery, near the town of Wetumpka, Alabama, Wetumpka. Over a co ...

in Clarke County, and where he died. She was the granddaughter of Henry and Sarah (Furman) Haynsworth; great-granddaughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Hesse) Haynsworth, the former of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

and English descent, the latter a native of

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

, Switzerland, and of Judge Wood and Rachel (Brodhead) Furman. She was educated at St. Stephens academy.

Career

After her husband became the

Governor of Alabama A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...

, she dispensed the hospitalities of the governor's mansion at

Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal Plain, Gulf Coastal and Piedmont (United States), Piedm ...

with dignity and grace.

Francis Scott Key Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry" which was set to a popular British tune and eventually became t ...

, the author of "

The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort ...

", who was sent by the

president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

as "Special Commissioner" to

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

in 1835, addressed to her a "beautiful poem as a personal compliment to herself, which was published and greatly admired." Garrett says: "She was a general favorite, and admired by all for her many shining virtues and talents which adorned social life."

Personal life

On November 14, 1819, at "Sheldon", she married John Gayle, son of Matthew and Mary Rees Gayle. Their children were: Matthew (b. 1820), Sarah Ann (b. 1825), Amelia Ross (b. 1826) (m. Gen.

Josiah Gorgas Josiah Gorgas (July 1, 1818 – May 15, 1883) was the head of the Confederate States of America Ordance Bureau in the American Civil War, responsible for procuring weapons and ammunition for the Confederate armies; he was a brigadier general at ...

), Mary Rees (b. 1829), Richard Haynsworth (b. 1832), and Anna Maria (b. 1835). Amelia's son,

William C. Gorgas William Crawford Gorgas KCMG (October 3, 1854 – July 3, 1920) was a United States Army physician and 22nd Surgeon General of the U.S. Army (1914–1918). He is best known for his work in Florida, Havana and at the Panama Canal in abating th ...

, became

Surgeon General of the U.S. Army The Surgeon General of the United States Army is the senior-most officer of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD). By policy, the Surgeon General (TSG) serves as Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) as well as head of the ...

Death and legacy

Sarah Ann Haynsworth Gayle died July 30, 1835, in Tuscaloosa, her death occurring as a result of lockjaw, caused by a dental operation. ''The Journal of Sarah Haynsworth Gayle, 1827–1835'' (2013), edited by

Sarah Woolfolk Wiggins Sarah Van Voorhis Woolfolk Wiggins (June 29, 1934 - April 12, 2020) was a history professor at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was the first woman in the university's history department and edited ''The Alabama Review'' for 20 ...

, is held in the W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

Awards and honors

* 2016, Alabama Women's Hall of Fame

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gayle, Sarah Ann Haynsworth 1804 births 1835 deaths 19th-century American diarists American women diarists 19th-century American non-fiction writers 19th-century American women writers People from Sumter County, South Carolina Writers from Alabama Writers of American Southern literature