Grout, Aldin

Getting along at her “factory school.” News of acquaintances and family.

Relief is well and the school (Ipswich Female Seminary) in every way pleasant, “though we don’t have quite as much time for hard study as we should like.” Boarding situation.

Ipswich Female Seminary: Miss [Zilpah] Grant is the lecturer for about 100 girls.

Account of ocean crossing and arrival in South Africa. Has landed in Cape Town because Natal is in turmoil, with Dingane attacking the corrupt white men there; trouble further south with the Kaffirs [i.e. Xhosas] and Boers. Using the time to prepare for mission work, learn the language. Information from other missionaries: “Dingian… is a more important man than we had supposed. He is the most powerful chief of all the tribes in South A. and his tribe doubtless the largest.” Warm reception by people ion Cape Town; life and conditions in South Africa.

Ordered to remain in Cape Town; learning Zulu language to prepare for Dingane. Advice for preparing for a long sea voyage: take care of your wife and suggestions for food to bring with (including cranberry sauce, fruit), clothing, and other goods. “And now my dear brother, perhaps you would like to know something of my own feelings since I left America respecting missions. I have not half enough of the spirit, but the work does not seem less desirable by any means. When I look out on the multitudes of mostly beings in Cape Town who know nothing , & have no one to teach them, I see no hope of their being saved unless the subject of missions takes a deeper hold on their hearts & efforts than heretofore…”

Advice to young sister to follow the “straightforward path of duty, even though the natural feelings of the heart be crucified again & again… should you be called to labor for the perishing destitute beyond the limits of our native land don’t say at once, others can do better than you, & excuse yourself on that ground. If others can do better, let them do so, if they will. They are needed & so are you. If you could just look upon the miserable beings which fill the streets of this most favored spot in Africa, I am sure you would feel that there is much work to be done…”

Suggestions for what goods and clothing to bring as a missionary. Uncertainty over how the missionaries will be received by Dingane; Dr. Graham has gone to investigate.

Recent trip to Graham’s Town “to make inquiries in reference to our object.” Preparing for the journey by making ox yokes and learning Kaffir [i.e. Xhosa]. “From various hunts we find that the community as well as students are beginning to look with interest upon Africa as a field of missionary labour, which we are glad to see… But you know that H. and I feel for particular reasons a particular wish that you, and other good men and /women/, that you may bring with you should join us in our work.”

Have learned of an opportunity to go to Natal by water. “The intelligence says that Dingaan up on Capt. G.’ second visit to him consented that he should remain with his people and teach them, That Dingann is now ready to receive more missionaries, and that Capt. G. has left for England that he may bring out six missionaries of the Church Society to labour with him. Capt. G says Dingaan has ceeded to him a large extent of territory inhabited by many thousand Zoolas, That Dingaan has given his word that he will not receive missionaries or traders other than such as he, Capt. G., shall bring.” Despite cautions not to upset what Graham has prepared, Grout plans to go ahead.

Have arrived in Natal; birth of child Relief Oriana on Dec. 9. Hannah’s post-partum illness. Sailed with Brothers Champion and Adams to Port Natal, leaving wives at Bethelsdorp: “Notwithstanding all that has been said of the wickedness of the white people at Natal, or what may actually be true, they received us with open arms… We however should not expect the same treatment from them after we had preached to them the gospel, and reproved them for some of their bold acts of transgression, as drunkenness and polygamy.” Landscape and climate of Natal; travel in Natal interior. Dingane’s kraal; reception by Dingane, who “received and treated us with the utmost kindness and attention, supplying us each day with both sweet and sour milk. During our five days stay with him, he gave us a goat, and two cows for slaughter, and when we left he gave us five oxen for slaughter…” Capt. Gardner advises Grout and company not to leave before his return from England “lest “we should undo by then going all the good he had done.” Dingane and chiefs consent to accept missionaries, though chiefs express fear what had been predicted to Shaka, “that one white man after another would come into the country and ask to build a house and live till at last an army would come and take their country from them.” Allow the missionaries to base themselves at Natal while they build a school to teach the Zulus how to read and write. Plan to build station in Natal to teach Xhosa and other tribes destroyed by Shaka and Dingane. Hardships of return trip; return to Bethelsdorp. “Whether or not Dingaan shall want missionaries and teachers for all his kingdom, seems to depend upon the question whether his people can learn to read and write, the affirmative of which we think we can in a short time demonstrate and then we believe that Dingaan would rejoice to see an hundred missionaries come among his people at once…”

Reporting the death of Hannah Grout to her parents: “She died without a groan, a sigh, a struggle, or even a motion of her muscles.” Lengthy and close accounting of the last days and hours of Hannah’s life. Brief mention of visit to Dingane’s kraal.

On the death of Hannah Grout. Have a station well commenced at Port Natal; a second conversation with Dingane is as encouraging as the first. “It was thought important that a white female be at each station and we therefore concluded that Dr. A. stop at Port natal, and br. Champion go to Dingaan’s country, and be either at one or the other place as circumstances should dictate. Urges Davis to come out as a missionary and suggests how he and his wife should outfit themselves.

Traveling to meet Aldin Grout in Southampton. “We are quite elevated here with the people above many other towns that pretend to much more knowledge and refinement as we as fame in others respects. We even look down upon Mt. Tom and Holyoke.” Spent time in Aldin’s absence with Austin Grout and mother Grout. Description of Montgomery; boarding situation in town; ladies mostly braid whips for the Westfield Whip Factory.

Religious life in Montgomery.

Printed copy of letter and full transcription, from Eels, wife of Reverand Cushing Eells. Information on their journey west across the mountains, including perils such as fatigue, hunger, difficult passage, and “unfriendly Indians.” Mission conditions and Native American customs are mentioned.

Courtesy of The Caroline F. Schimmel Collection of Women in the American Wilderness.

Ocean voyage to South Africa. “Dingaan’s power is, we hear, very much broken, and we hear has been driven from his country, and that the Boers have issued a proclaimation, taking in to the territory they call their own, about half the country occupied by the Zulus including both Dingans residence and Givani the station occupied by by. Champion & myself…” Sickness spreading in Natal, brought in by slaves from a captured slave ship from the east coast.

As yet at Umlosi; visit to Umpandi over country he had not yet traveled; camping in a poor tent. Killed a nine foot snake with poison fangs a quarter of an inch long. Attacks by lions on cattle; elephant. “Lions are apparently much thicker here than before the Dutch came, we think perhaps their shooting so many so many the other side of the mountain frightened them off over here.” Charlotte is now speaking Zulu with the natives and helping in school and is taking words for a Zulu-English lexicon.

Have moved to Inkanyezi, living in a hut supplied by the natives. Has commenced planting; am in good country though surrounded by wild beasts: elephants, buffaloes, hippos, lions, tigers, hyenas. People are friendly and show “a commendable disposition to attend meeting upon the Sabbath… We see nothing to fear from the people but much to be thankful for.” Eating mostly Indian corn for bread along with hippopotamus flesh.

Hard to believe they have now planted and harvested hay and grain and are now eating apples. House in Umlosi is quite comfortable for Natal. Studying Zulu with Brother Champion and Charlotte. Has ploughed a new garden with untrained oxen; the Dutch laugh that the plough is too small. Was intending to go to Umpandi [Mpande kaSenzangakhona], brother of Dingane, but he is quarreling leaving them as yet without a permanent home.

Fitting a house for Charlotte. News of family illness and death since last contact a year ago; predictions that Grout would die within two years have proven incorrect, though then wife of the man predicting has died. “The change became such among the Zulus that we did not feel justified in stopping among them…. and what the Lord will now do with us, or the poor Zulus, is yet to be seen.” Expects to remain in Natal and is fixing an old Boer’s house on Natal Bay “where are a thick population of natives.” Preached to nearly 700. “Umpandi [Mpande] is getting worse than Dingan was in putting his people to death. Two white men that were lately in his country he ordered out…” Has been called twice to preach to the Zulus and has done so: “I preached the gospel plainly to Dingan and his people, and have preached it as plainly to Umpandes people as I could, and offered to preach to Umpande, but he would not hear me. And now I have shaken all the dust against them.”

Has just heard that James has entered college and will write him about the temptations of college life an the need to keep after “cultivation of his religious feelings.” Have just learned of a plot by Umpande to put the missionaries to death, though the rumors may be false. “The Utugela River is now just getting full, and I hear that Umpande has threatened that he will give the flesh of all that were friendly to me, as well as all who have in any way disobeyed him to the vultures and hienas as soon as the river is full so that none can escape to Natal.”

Staying in an old house abandoned by a Boer as unfit for habitation. Grout’s hair is turning white; Charlotte is not yet graying. Has planted a little garden with vegetables. “The English are now in authority in this country. They have not yet determined whether the natives shall stop near where they now are or be put upon some place a little one side. It will probably be some months yet before the question will be finally settled. Then missionaries may look for permanent locations…”

Their mission has been recalled; people has raised funds for their support until a time when they hear whether the Board will allow them to continue. “I suppose the Millerites will by this time begin to ask where is the promise of his coming, and I am afraid that many will become infidels, and others that otherwise would have been comfortable, having waisted their substance will spend the rest of their days in want.”

Grout and Charlotte are doing well. Has received a temporary appointment from the Cape government as missionary to the natives of Natal; hopes to leave for Natal.

Birth of a son: “Charlotte’s sickness was rather severe, of about fifteen hours continuance, but terminated favorably and as yet both mother and child are doing well. She has yet no milk and the little fellow apparently does not like to engage in anything that is to produce no important result, and therefore persists in a determination to get his living in an easier way than by a dull drawing of the breast.” Appointed as Government Missionary to the Zulus at Natal along with Adams; has accepted and hopes to resume his work.

Charlotte is doing well; her illness was diagnosed as a prolapsed uterus. Baby Aldin is moving about and beginning to talk. People are collecting about a give “good attention to preaching upon the Sabbath.” Remains under the employ of the British government.

Making their wagons ready: “We have yet no established government here and do not know for certain either how the land or natives will be disposed of…” Charlotte suffers some from having left Cape Town before she was ready; the baby does well. Living without a wife, with a native girl doing household work for him and living rough. Starting for Umvoti, a distance of about one hundred miles, “a lonely road with only a native for my company.”

Charlotte has suffered another attack of dysentery, but is better again. The house at Umvoti is nearly ready for occupancy.

Has been doing well, but warm weather makes him feel his age. Thanks for the package for goods from home: “We frequently now have an apple pie, as you do in yankee town… Sometimes stued fruit with sweet cream on it.”

Locusts have descended on his oats and corn, despite precautions. The country “is amazingly fruitful under favorable circumstances, but there is many a step twixt the cup and the lip. Insects, draught and hail, and floods are always to be feared here.” Though uncertain about continuance by the government, they have set up a school and a one of the boys is now set up to teach and “gets beyond our expectations… Ubangu, the teacher, can read tolerably well in his own language and some in English. He can write some, can count, add, subtract, and multiply a little… He is perhaps sixteen years old. An old New England school teacher perhaps would thinking Ubangu rather a meagre school master, and so he would be there, and here too if we had better ones, but he can get the children on a little and at the same time be making advance himself. In fact untaught as he is, being a native, and knowing all the feelings, habits, &c of his people, & see that he has some important advantage over a white man from our country who knows nothing of natives. The customs of the people make if difficult getting their children to attend school regularly…”

Another son [Humphrey] was born to Grout and with on Dec. 27. Aldin is getting large and sometimes troublesome.

Charlotte writes that she is busy preparing for the Sabbath, instructing the women in what to do: “For the two last Sab. I have spoken to them without an interpreter but I talk so badly I fear I shall disgust them. I think however they understand me. I am obliged to speak in very short sentences… I think I make a little progress in the language but it is very little. I have recently completed a vocabulary consisting of Eng. words and Zulu definitions, which I find very useful.” Aldin implores James to make a profession of Christianity.

Charlotte is gaining strength after exerting herself due to no help from the natives. Baby is doing well; Aldin is regularly in mischief and “aside from his restless, mischievous disposition is a pleasant child…” People are gathering about them and a boy and girl are living with them most of the time, working on oxen, wagon, and plough and in domestic work, respectively.

The last year has been the busiest of his missionary career. Has built a house for himself of unburned brick with native boys to help. Many of the boys now read Zulu and are learning English and arithmetic: “In this branch they advance very slowly, indeed, yet perhaps as fast as white boys would under the same circumstances for they have no printed book in this department and instead of sitting several years in the schoolroom when little boys hearing much about the subject they were all that time herding cattle in the field from morning to night.” Boys and girls are “quite under our controll and our great object has been to teach them religion which has been kept steadily in mind…” One boy is already employed as a teacher at the station and others hope to join him; some of them provide half their monthly wages for their own upkeep. Eleven has been admitted to church fellowship; some remarkable conversions. Asks prayers for a man, Unoahuela, who resists conversion; and his daughter, Unozintuba, whom he has refused to allow to attend.

Beginning to feel as if they have a home, having been at Umvoti for six years. Church now has 18 members with more in the wings and a sabbath school with about sixty. “Were out little village in New England it would not appear to advantage to be sure, but after traveling thirty miles in any direction about us looking at all we see, even what white men have done, we can say that none yet surpasses ours…. Just at present there is a mighty rush of emigrants from England to this place…”

Has had daguerreotypes taken by a Norwegian missionary, including of the family; sends them home.

Often thinks the government under which they live inferior to that at home. Religion at a low ebb: “what is perhaps worse among us, when our members become cold hearted they give up to their old sins having no restraints of character to keep them, they turn just like the dog to his vomit, and the washed sow to her wallowing in the mire. We have had a few such cases, though not more than we might have expected…” Story of a man and wife who backslid into polygamy, the wives then attempting to poison one another.

Does not know how James can work so hard: he brought a scythe to Africa and barely work half an hour. Has cattle and horses to tend, doing well: fate of his cattle; horses fare less well in Africa than America: “So you see if it were told at home what I have people would be deceived about it, hence I have not ever said as much to you till now, and if some of your good deacons who think missionaries should sit one a block and eat with their hands with the Kafirs should hear that a missionary owns 60 cattle & two horses, I am afraid the missionary would not get even their sixpence.”

“What kind of condition do you suppose we are in out here in Africa? A word of two on that point. We have a first rate home…;” good food and plenty; good reading materials. “Good society we see by far too little of. We have no white neighbors nearer than five miles and very few within forty five miles that we can improve much by seeing…” Church has 49 members “and I think they give as great an amount of evidence of their conversion as is seen in churches at home. We have a regular day school taught by a native who does as well as we could expect. He has about twenty scholars…” There are no lead mines nearby, but coal is visible and gold has been found in small quantities, but is more abundant further south; copper is rich in Namakwaland: “it is a country where it seldom rains. The ground is dry and about as hard as a brick, and has barely a green thing on it from one end of the year to the other, but the ore is so rich they can afford to transport all the food an water for man and beast a long distance and they are now making what they call a tramway…”

Have just returned from an yearly meeting of missionaries. Children are well. Rode to see a dead elephant, killed by the natives. Have heard of an English lady who wishes to come among them.

Garden; now includes coffee plants. An English woman is now living with the Grouts, helping to care for the children. Aldin learns slowly, “we cannot get him to fix his attention on his books…” Grout’s station, and others, now look more hopeful, the natives seeming more receptive.

An English lady is living with the Grouts, helping to teach the children; the boys are learning well. Communion for about forty. Coffee tree now grows in the garden: “Coffee is grown much in this colony….”

Adams, a missionary, is returning home and his wife will wish to visit missionary friends; the two Lindley daughters also heading to America. Charlotte and family are in good health.

Mrs. Adams and the two Miss Lindleys are coming to America and can relay news of Africa.

“As to the good things of a good world to come I never have a serious doubt. Not however for anything I have done, but only because of Christ’s merit. I have spent a miserable unprofitable life in God’s right, but grace so abounds over it that I expect a government of righteousness notwithstanding.”

Glad to hear she finds Mrs. Adams an agreeable women. Charlotte has been able to return to normal since the recent annual meeting at Umvoti.

Visit with the Lindleys and finds it a treat to see an American. Pleasing package of American notions.

Sorrow upon hearing of the death of his brother; “as to your lost son, I suppose you feel confident that what is your loss is his gain….”

Continuing sadness over death of their brother: he seems to have known his death was coming. Have been absent from home visiting other missionaries; travel by ox cart and horse on roads so bad that Charlotte rode the horse and the children walked. Difficult river crossing. Visit with the Saunders, English settlers. Excitement in the Zulu country: the sons of Umpande (Cetewayo and Mbulazi) having been “uneasy”: exceptional long account of the Zulu Civil War of 1856 and Battle of Tugela River; attempted intervention of a British agent; and aftermath.

Travel west through Albany, Auburn, Buffalo, Cattaraugus, and Cleveland. Preaching in the Third Presbyterian Church and spoke at a Union meeting; plan to speak at Lane Theological Seminary. Travel through New York and Ohio.

Thoughts of mother and home.

Interesting state of religion amongst them: a week of fasting and prayer propounded by missionaries to India: members, male and female, were questioned and “showed a good state of feeling,” and non-church members professed that they wished to join.

Encouraging the Tylers to pursue missionary work; Mrs. Tyler’s brother has been drafted for the war at home. Oriana and Humphrey may wish they were back in Africa, “but we did what seemed to be our duty in sending them, & we must leave the event to God.” Interesting week of meetings and prayer, though facing a setback when Umqiko, one of their first converts and father of seven, has taken a second wife. Charlotte has four native girls working with her in housework or needlework. Aldin suffers from bowel complaints.

Sorrow to hear of loss of Mrs. Perry’s son. Visit to the Tylers by ox cart. One person united with the church at communion this month; others were advised to wait: “it seems necessary among this people that they wait longer than among civilized people, so many of them turn back to heathenism.”

Mrs. Lloyd has gone to Pietermaritzburg to get her teeth filled; Eliza has “turned school maam… Aldin is much as usual, cannot take much responsibility, still he helps me in many things, and I am trying to get him to help himself by growing sugar cane, but he has not yet done much.”

Grout is doing well; attended sessions of the meeting and preached to Dartmouth students. Now have some Chinese worshipping at the South Church and the interpreter and his wife will be admitted to membership: “they and their children speak good English, six children. The whole lot of them come in Chinese costume. The old commissioner lives here also and Young Wing who graduated at Yale a few years ago. The Commissioner who is the Boss of the whole is a thorough old heathen Chinee and he is charged to keep all the boys from becoming Christian. You may judge what the prospect is when you know that all the boys live mostly single in our best Christian families…” Noone from Harvard is willing to go on mission, and he fears “the foreign mission spirit is not alive there.”

“I am rather sorry you are to begin life sleeping on straw but that will in this weather be more comfortable than on a mat in a Kafir hut where I have many a time slept.” Has been asked to deliver a course of lectures on African missions at Fisk University.

Advice on missionary work: “Go into those Godless houses and talk directly into the hearts of the inmates follow it with a prayer and it will not be in vain.” Does not like hearing Frank say that the clergy are lazy. The Indian Orchard case has waked up ministers all over New England.

Glad to receive word of the new child. Boys are leading water to the new greenhouse at 235 Pine Street; growing sweet corn, celery. Baldwin has foreclosed on the mortgage for the house and plans to sell in September.

Hear from Natal that there will be a war between the whites and Zulus and that the English have sent a large number of soldiers there. They remain in the house; frosts have killed everything in the garden. Garden.

Regarding stone; poor health.

Have thought a great deal about the stone. Wishes only to do his best to spread the gospel; was called to become a Christian at eight or nine and was living as a Unitarian prior and was glad to be called as a missionary to the Zulus.

The original manuscript is housed at the Yale Divinity School Library Special Collections

The original manuscript is housed at the Yale Divinity School Library Special Collections

Brief (incomplete) draft including biographical notes from the time he “he broke away from a life of manual labor” at 22 through work with the “barbarous tribe of Zulus who had never seen or heard reading and writing, and declared it an impossible thing.”

Thinking about the future, having retired from missionary work: “have looked back on my lifes work & endured hardness as a good souldier and hazzarded my life for the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I indeed find there occasion for rejoicing that called me to that work… I have fought a good fight, & have finished my course; & have kept the faither, and henceforth a crown of life is laid up for me…”

Birthday greetings

Birthday greetings from Amherst College.

Glad to learn that a memoir of the life of Aldin Grout is to be written; reminiscences of brother Grout.

Relaying information from Amherst College records on Aldin Grout.

Circular letter on missionary work among the Zulus with manuscript greetings to Phillips. With manuscript note

Circular letter on missionary work among the Zulus with manuscript greetings to Phillips. With manuscript note

Information on their common great-grandfather.

Information on Grout family; William Ireland, South African missionary (begun in 1849).

Includes transcript of letter from Aldin Grout, dated at Umvoti, 1854-04-22, and included in the Ireland family memorabilia.

Journal of voyage from Boston of South Africa and early days of his life as a missionary. Possibly rewritten at a slightly later date from original.

Elegy on the death of Aldin Grout’s first wife on a mission in South Africa.

Section from memoir on missionary work in South Africa regarding the sickness and death of Hannah Davis Grout. Extract from W.P. Paine’s sermon [on death of Hannah Grout]. Extracts from Hannah Grout’s journal [on leaving Boston for South Africa; her feelings about death].

Photocopy of Aldin Grout’s will.

Genealogy copied in part from “The genealogy of the descendants of Capt. John Grout,” by Abner Morse (1857).

Annual reports on American missionary efforts in South Africa and Natal.

Includes article from Dictionary of South African Biography and materials from Amherst College; genealogy of Grout family.

Includes photocopies from publications on missions in South Africa; letter from Smithsonian regarding the Grout memoir.