The correspondence is primarily between Henriette Marie Girard (also called Harriet) and her two husbands, Henri Lallemand and John Yardley Clark. Henriette was born 1802 June 26 to father Jean Girard, who died in 1803, and mother, Eleanor (McMullin) Girard, who died in 1807.

Following the death of her parents, Henriette and her two older sisters, Antoinetta and Caroline were taken in by their uncle, Stephen Girard, a French and naturalized American, philanthropist and banker. He personally saved the U.S. government from financial collapse during the War of 1812. The sisters grew up at 23 North Water Street with two male cousins who had also been taken in by Stephen. Following the Napoleonic wars, Joseph Bonaparte came to the United States in 1815,and became friends with Stephen Girard. Joseph introduced Girard and his nieces to other Napoleonic exiles in the Philadelphia area. Brothers Charles and Henri Lallemand appeared at Philadelphia and were the leaders of the French refugees. Artillery General Henri Lallemand,had escaped France following Napoleon's abdication in 1815. Knowing he would be tried for treason for his military service with Napoleon, he sailed to England under the false name of General Cotting. Following this, the French court sentenced him to death in absentia and Henri Lallemand sailed from Liverpool to Boston, arriving in 1816. Henri was a favorite guest at Stephen Girard's Water Street house, and he and Henriette married in 1817.

Henri Lallemand died in Bordentown, NJ of dysentery on September 15, 1823, a month short of his 46th birthday, whereupon Henriette returned to live with her uncle Stephen Girard on Water Street, Philadelphia. In 1829, she married John Yardley Clark, a prominent Philadelphia physician and a widower with a four-year-old son. They had three children together, Roma who died in infancy, Henry and Florence. For many years they lived in Paris. They returned to America in 1853 and she died in Philadelphia on July 26, 1880. Her obituary in the New York Times read:

"Her home was a centre of attraction to Americans abroad and to the best French people, and many from England and other places. Her brilliant conversational powers and fine education brought her in contact with the nobility, and made her a general favorite not only in Parisian society but in other capitals of Europe. She was also an accomplished linguist, and her extensive travels in Europe gave to her conversation an interest that drew around her a charmed circle of friends."

Physical description

Ca. 100 items.

Provenance

Received and accessioned, 1973 (1973 1780m).

Originals in possession of Mrs. Philip Plowden, Mayfield, Sussex, England.

Early American History Note

This collection contains photocopies of correspondence from and among members of Stephen Girard's family. Much of the correspondence deals with family matters.

• Business Records and Accounts
• Family Correspondence

• Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Social life and customs.

• Clark, John Yardley, 1797-1863
• Girard, Stephen--Estate, 1750-1831
• Lallemand, H. (Henri), 1777-1823

• Marriage and Family Life
• Philadelphia History