American Songs & Ballads- Tragic Themes
E. Tragic Themes Contents
65. Loss of the Albion 153
66. Sarah Maria Cornell 155
E. Tragic Themes
A murder, a shipwreck, a fire, or any catastrophe that occurred before the time of the Civil War was almost sure to be
celebrated in a ballad. Such a ballad would be published in a newspaper or hawked as a broadside or slip sheet for a cent or
two. The Loss of the Albion in 1822, sometimes sung to the tune of "Caroline of Edinburgh Town," was perhaps the most
popular of shipwreck songs; certainly it got into oral tradition and remained there until the twentieth century. The editor of
this manuscript first heard the ballad sung by Blind Sam Taylor,
an ancient mariner. Sarah Maria Cornell, murdered in New
England in 1832, was celebrated in the sort of verse — 12 stanzas
in the manuscript — which resembles the product of a newspaper
muse. Why a crime committed so far from western New York
should have continued to interest the Stevens family is explained
by the fact that the unfortunate Sarah was thought to have
been seduced and killed by a clergyman who had been tried and
whose guilt was often debated.
65. Loss of the Albion
According to Eckstorm, the Albion, Williams, master, was wrecked on the Irish coast, probably near Kinsale, at 4 a.m. on
April 22, 1822. Among those lost was Professor Alexander Fisher of
Yale, who was engaged to Miss Catherine Beecher, elder sister of
Harriet Beecher Stowe. Thompson prints a similar version, also
from New York, which was a favorite of Blind Sam.
Loss of the Albion
1. Come all you joly sailors bold and listen unto me
A dreadful story I will tell that happened on the sea
The loss of the Albion ship my boys upon the Irish coast
And most of the passengers and crew wre completely lost
2. It was on the first of April from New York we set sail
Kind Neptune did protect us with a sweet and pleasant gale
Until about the twentieth a storm there did arise
The raging billows loud did roar and dismal were the skies
3. It was on Sunday afternoon the land we did espy
At two o'clock we made Cape Clear the sea ran mountains high
The southward wind began to blow and heavy squalls came on
Which made our passengers to weep and sailors for to moan
4. All prudent sail we carried to keep us clear from land
Expecting every moment our vessel she would strand
Our f oretopsail was split my boys and foreyard took away
Our mainmast by the deck was broke and mizen swept away
5. Our captain was wash'd overboard into the boundless deep
Which caused all that were on board for to lament and weep
Unto the pumps we lash'd our selves most dreadful for to know
And many a gallant soul my boys they overboard did go
6. We had a lady fair on board Aiiss Powell was her name
Whose name deserves to be engraved upon the list of fame
She wished to take her turn at pump her precious life to save
No sooner was her wish denied she met a watery grave
7. All night in this condition we were tossing to and fro
At three o'clock in the morning we were in the midst of wo
Full twenty seven men on deck with each a broken [heart]
The Albion struck against a rock and mid ships she did part
8. Our passengers were twenty nine when from New York she
came
With twenty five bold sailor lads as ever crossed the main
Full fifty four we had on board when first we did set sail
And only nine escaped the wreck to tell the dreadful tale
9. So now that noble vessel the Albion she is lost
Through the tempestuous ocean she so often time crossed
American Songs and Ballads 155
Our noble captain he is lost a man a sailor bold
And many a gallant life is lost and many a heart made cold
66. Sarah Maria Cornell
On December 21, 1832, Miss Sarah Maria Cornell was found
dead at Tiverton in the county of Newport, Rhode Island. A verdict
of suicide was first rendered, but public feeling demanded fur-
ther investigation. At a court of inquiry the Reverend Ephraim
K. Avery was cleared of the charges of seduction and murder.
Following his release there was a popular outcry. In fact, a com-
mittee was appointed by the citizens of Fall River, Massachusetts,
Miss Cornell's home at one time, to help in the apprehension of the
Reverend Mr. Avery, who was found in Rindge, New Hampshire,
having left his home in Bristol from fear of mob violence. He
was tried by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and declared not
guilty. Soon afterward a report was made by a committee of the
New England Annual Conference of the A4ethodist Episcopal
Church, reiterating his innocence, recommending his continuance in
his ministerial position, and even requesting the bishop to give him
an appointment favorable to his health. Feeling was still so intense,
however, that both attacks and defenses were published in 1833 and
1834. The following verses are plainly written by one of Miss Cor-
nell's sympathizers, probably for newspaper publication; at least one
other poetic memorial to her was published, in the Fall River Moni-
tor. A copy of these verses appears in an edition of The Forget-Me-
Not Songster owned by Professor Henry Belden. The only notice-
able variation in wording is in the last line of the first stanza, where
"end" replaces the Douglass "fate."
For further information consult the following: The Trial at
Large of the Rev. Ephraim K. Avery for the Wilful Murder of
Sarah Maria Cornell at Tiverton in the county of Newport, R. I. on
the evening of 20th Decern. 1832 (New York, 1833); Strictures on
the case of Ephraim K. Avery, originally published in the Repub-
lican Herald, Providence, R. I., with corrections, revisions, and
additions by Aristides (Providence, 1833); A Vindication of the re-
sult of the trial of Rev. Ephraim K. Avery (Boston, 1834); Re-
port of a committee of the New England Annual conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church on the case of Rev. Ephraim K. Avery,
156 A Pioneer Songster
member of the said conference (Boston, 1833); an ^ Catherine R.
Williams, Fall River, An Authentic Narrative (Boston, 1833).
Sarah Maria Cornell
1. Kind christians all I pray attend
To these few lines that I have penn'd
While I relate the murderd fate
That did awaite poor Cornell's fate
2. Miss Sarah Cornell was her name
Whose base deceit has brought to shame
Your hearts in sympathy must bleed
When shepherds murder their lambs indeed
3 . A Rev Mr Avery sure
A teacher of the Gospel pure
Stands charged with murder to the test
Seduction too in part confessed
4. First inquest he was set at large
From circumstances there's further charge
Soon after that deed was done
He run away the law to shun
5. But blood for blood aloud doth cry
All murderer's too must surely die
Three hundred dollars of reward
To bring this Avery to the charge
6. He soon was taken and with speed
Must answer for the fatal deed
Now in Rhode Island bound is he
In May to wait his destiny
7. Me thought I heard her spirit say
Remember Cornells end I pray
And let no one reflection make
Upon my friends for my poor sake
8. Let womans weakness plead my cause
When cruel men break natures laws
Oft man by man is much deceiv'd
What tongue would not my weakness plead
American Songs and Ballads 157
9. "Knew you but half the artful way
My base betrayer led me astray
The best may slip the cautious fall
He's more than man ne'er erred at all
10. Ye maidens all both old and young
Trust not to men's false flattering tongue
To know a man pray know his life
How few there are deserve a wife
1 1 . Tho' doom'd I am to an awfull end
I crave the prayers of every friend
That my poor spirit may be blest
And with my God in heaven rest
12. Yet to conclude this mournful song
These lines I pray remember long
Adieu my friends pray don't repine
Examples yours experience mine