Part of a Series on Vincentian Heritage Places

Pisa

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Death of William Seton, Elizabeth’s husband

When Mr. Thomas Hall, the British chaplain, arrived [one] morning [at the Lazaretto in Livorno, Italy] he was amazed to find Mr. Seton alive… It was only a reprieve, but the weeks which followed were truly “days of grace” for William Magee Seton. From that crisis on, his thoughts turned almost constantly toward heaven. .. he always returned to his wife as his greatest source of inspiration… Elizabeth [had] a fierce protective impulse… [In anger, she wrote]:
“To keep a poor soul who came to your country for his life, thirty days shut up in damp walls, smoke, and wind from all corners blowing even the curtain round his bed, which is only a mattress on boards, and his bones almost through — and now the shadow of death, trembling if he only stands a few minutes. He is to go to Pisa for his health — this day his prospects are very far from Pisa.” (2.7, Journal to Rebecca Seton, 19-20 November 1803, CW, 1:270)

And then, ashamed of her spirit of rebellion, she prayed, “O my Heavenly Father, I know that these contradictory events are permitted and guided by Thy Wisdom, which only is light. We are in darkness, and must be thankful that our knowledge is not wanted to perfect Thy Work.” (2.7, Journal to Rebecca Seton, 19-20 November 1803, CW, 1:271)

William Magee Seton did go to Pisa in the end. For two damp days uncertainty prevailed at the lazaretto while the release of the Setons hung in the balance; but 19 December found the invalid being carried to the waiting coach of the Filicchis. Elizabeth held her breath during the trip downstairs, fearing that this exertion might prove fatal, but once in the carriage her fears were dispelled. The air seemed to revive William Magee and at the end of the fifteen-mile journey his spirits were higher than at any time since the day they first saw Livorno’s shores. The comfort of the lodgings the Setons found waiting was luxury in contrast to the drab lazaretto they had left behind. William Magee Seton felt, mistakenly, that health was returning; he insisted on daily rides in the carriage. Christmas Eve proved his hopes all vain. This time there was no further doubt. The unmistakable last stages of the disease could not be misread… After that he refused to see anyone except his wife… Elizabeth’s heart ached as she heard him, in tones of childlike gratitude, thank God that he was taken first, “he was not wanted for our support,” he need not see his wife and children die. (2.7, Journal to Rebecca Seton, 19-20 November 1803, CW, 1:278)

Once he dreamed he saw little baby Rebecca in Heaven, beckoning to him… At a quarter past seven on the morning of Tuesday, 27 December 1803, he died.

(2.7, Journal to Rebecca Seton, Monday [26 December] entry, CW, 1:274. See 2.8, Elizabeth Seton to Rebecca Seton, Leghorn, 3 January 1804, CW, 1:276-280, contains a full account of Seton’s last hours, See also 2.7, Journal to Rebecca Seton, Monday [26 December 1803], CW, 1:274-276.)

Source: Melville, Annabelle M., “Elizabeth Bayley Seton 1774-1821” (2009), pp. 90-91

Church of Santa Maria della Spina, Pisa. Elizabeth mentioned this nearby church in her Italian journal.

All Vincentian Places in this Series

Red = Vincent de Paul, Blue = Frederic Ozanam, Teal = Elizabeth Seton

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