The French Physician's Boy: A Story of Philadelphia's 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic

By Ellen Norman Stern

Sixteen-year-old Matthew is not at all happy to start the long ship voyage to North America from his native Dutch-ruled colony of Surinam, but he is not free to control his fate. Either he leaves for Philadelphia with his master or he will be sold at slave auction.

Matts owner, Dr. David de Cohen Nassy, a Jewish planter and unofficial physician, bankrupt and depressed, seeks a new start in North America. When he travels there in 1792 he also takes his Negro slave who was born on the now-lost Nassy coffee plantation and knows no family but that of his master. Gradually Matt comes to believe that life in the new world could hold great promise for him, too.

Once in Philadelphia, Matts master rises to social and professional success and becomes a naturalized American citizen. Matt, too adapts rapidly to his new life in the city. He meets and befriends Jed, another young slave, who inspires Matt to hope for freedom. Best of all, Matt persuades his master to allow him to learn how to read and write.

When the first American hot-air balloon flight is launched from Philadelphia Matt is a proud spectator as he watches his master participate in the event.

When Matt overhears his master speaking to a friend about the prevailing anti-slavery movement greatly favored in Philadelphia he believes Dr. Nassy is thinking of liberating him. He is terribly disappointed when this does not happen.

Within a year a major yellow fever epidemic breaks out in Philadelphia. The city is in panic and distress. Five thousand people die, one out of every four citizens. Matt becomes a great help his master and his steady companion. He carries the doctors black bag on his medical visits, observes how his master medicates the sick and secretly dreams he too, might become a healer one day.

Dr.Nassys West Indian experience with tropical diseases saves the lives of his patients. But the same skill that aids the survival of the sick incurs the enmity of Philadelphias medical establishment whose patients die in droves. In his way Matt tries to support his master and protects him from verbal attacks by the servants of some leading city physicians.

Matt visits Bush Hill, the local pest house, with Dr. Nassy. There a fellow West Indian colleague is the chief physician. In the presence of Dr. Nassy he performs several autopsies that confirm to Matts master his medical treatment methods are justified.

After the epidemic Matt again hopes that he will finally be emancipated, but his owners financial problems prevent it. The doctor opens an apothecary shop in Philadelphia and needs Matt to help him run it.

His masters health is not compatible with the Philadelphia climate. As soon as the French Revolution establishes cherished civil rights in Europe and European colonies, Dr. Nassy decides to return to Surinam and his home in the Jooden Savanna, the Jewish settlement. Before he leaves Philadelphia he takes Matt to the Abolition Society and in a formal ceremony signs the document which will eventually free Matt.

En route home, Matt is a proud witness as the Danish government honors Dr. Nassy with an official doctorate for his successful Yellow Fever work in Philadelphia. Although social conditions in eighteen-century Surinam are not sufficiently advanced to allow either a Jew or a black man to attend medical school, Matt manages to practice healing among his own people once he becomes a free man.

His descendants include a number of physicians who carr ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 7, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462827015

Ellen Norman Stern

ELLEN NORMAN STERN is the author of four books for young adult readers. She has published historical and biographical material in newspapers and magazines and has discovered that with each new book or story a whole new world opens for her. She loves writing about her “heroes” - people whose lives point out lessons the past tries to teach, people who have helped to overcome injustice, people who hoped to better living conditions for others -. She feels that learning about each new subject has provided an added dimension to her own life and has become a bonus of her writing career. The author grew up in Kentucky, and was graduated from the University of Louisville. She worked in music and film at a Louisville television station, before joining the production staff of a major TV network in New York. She and her husband live in a suburb of Philadelphia.

Book preview

1 Chapter One

Not an ordinary day

April 1792

On a day so blistering hot that even the trade winds could not stir the heavy silence of the tropical morning my master, Doctor David Nassy, called for me.

This was unusual: I was rarely allowed inside the house.

I have some news, Matthew, he said as I stood before the desk in his narrow book-lined room. It will affect your future.

I dared not take my eyes off his face, fearing his next words.

This is the moment he will tell me there is no more money and he must sell me.

I was sure Master David was planning to sell me.

He will say how sorry he is that things have come to this, but. . .

I clenched my fists at my sides to hide my rage. How could he dispose of me as just another possession?

I was big and strong and looked older than my fifteen years. The attentive glances of the servant girls in town confirmed I was not bad-looking. They seemed to like the way my dark hair curled tightly around my smiling plump face the color of light brown sugar. For my strength and my youth I might even bring Master David Nassy a good price.

But at this particular moment my large body trembled. I understood how helpless and dependent on the whims of my owner I was. How, I wondered, could I keep him from putting me into a slave sale?

Until this moment I had believed I had a kind master. As long as it suited his purpose Master David treated me well.

How could he have the heart to do this..to sell me? I was born on Tulpenburg, his plantation. His family was my family. He had owned my mother and my grandmother before me. Now both of them were dead, leaving me, alone. I have worked for him faithfully, I always obeyed him. I have never given him trouble.

Doctor Nassy finally put down his quill, his expression as somber and distressed as it had been for many long months.

I glanced down at the floor, afraid that in my fright a drop of sweat had trickled onto Master David’s delicate French rug. And then I smiled.

I smiled often for Master David. I knew that he enjoyed happy faces near him. He was not a happy man himself and I sensed he felt very much alone. I changed his mood with my smile. My lot was easier when my owner was happy.

I definitely did not feel like smiling at this moment.

In desperation I touched the little wooden bead I wore on a string around my neck. It had belonged to my mother. She would want you to have it, it will bring you good luck, my grandmother said when she gave it to me. I wondered how a small brown bead could be powerful enough to overcome my current situation.

I saw my master looking at me. Why are you smiling, Matthew?

Try to make Master happy.

The warm drops ran freely down my back. I felt my heart beat in my throat. I shifted nervously from one leg to the other.

It’s because of the book, Master David began, his face so sad that even in my own anguish I felt sorry for him.

I heard a slight rustling sound outside and turned to look through the open window. No one was there, yet I sensed a slight movement in the red leaves of the bougainvillea hedge. It was best to be watchful. Since his book had come out there had been several notes under the door threatening Master.

Doctor Nassy’s history book about our colony was so resented by the burghers of our town that he had become a special target of their hatred.

Doctor Nassy was an Israelite. He felt the Dutch did not want to admit that the colony owed its prosperity to the business skills of its early Israelite settlers. Since then times had changed for Israelites in the colony of Surinam. Instead of being admired and respected business leaders they were now objects of open hostility and distrust. It was even rumored the colonial government was planning to put local Israelites under curfew, closing down the town gates at night to keep them shut in.

Doctor Nassy stood up and walked around the desk. When he faced me I towered over him for my master was a slight, small-boned man.

I have decided that my daughter and I will soon leave Surinam for North America, he said softly.

North America?

Fear parched my mouth. I knew instantly that even my best smile would not save me now.

I tried to rid myself of the horrifying thought, but I saw myself standing on the auction block. I had heard other slaves talk about such things and I shuddered at the images that came to mind: chains and whips, cruel planters buying slaves at auction, and brutal overseers waiting to beat them for not working hard enough in their owner’s fields.

I like working with you . . . Master was saying. He did not finish because suddenly something flew past him and me and crashed noisily into the bookcase behind his desk.

I rushed over to him. To my horror I saw a large stone in the center of a heap of shattered glass. Then I noticed the jagged edge of the bookcase’s glass pane. My throat tightened. Had it landed just a few inches higher that stone would have hit David Nassy’s head.

I looked down at the glass shards and felt my body shaking uncontrollably. only moments before I had feared hearing bad news about my own future. And here I was sighing with relief that my master was not hurt? It was most confusing.

Master David was even paler than usual. A prince of a man, Grandmother Serafina had called him. But now he looked anything but princely. His eyes were filled with pain as he walked slowly toward the open window and pointed to the street.

It’s time to leave this meanness and hatred behind, he said in a quavering voice. If this is what people think of me, perhaps we shouldn’t wait too long.

Had he said we?

He breathed deeply. Soon we will exchange this for a future of freedom in Philadelphia.

Fee-la-dell-fi-a? I liked the way that strange, pleasing sound slid so elegantly from Master’s tongue. Was that beautiful word a portrait of the place where he meant to live?

Suddenly I heard another sound: that of running steps. Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone outside disappear into the morning stillness. With one big leap I threw my body between Doctor Nassy and the window and pushed him deeper into the room. Careful, Master. There may be more stones . . .

What if another rock had crashed through the window . . . or worse?

Doctor Nassy appeared stricken. It took him a few more moments to recover from the shock, then he stepped closer to me and touched my arm.

You may have saved my life just now. I am truly grateful, Matt. You are a smart fellow and I will need someone to help me when we get to Philadelphia. I am taking you with us.

Master’s words hit me like a spike of lightning. I stood staring, wondering whether I had heard right. My look of surprise even prompted a slight smile on his face. That assured me I was not dreaming this scene.

But the change from fright to relief was too sudden. I still shook from the seesawing emotions. This time I did not care that my sweat ran down and into the carpet.

Wait a minute, Matt. You saved my life a few moments ago. How could I sell you?

I was fighting mixed feelings. I did not know what to think.

Not being sold meant I had to leave Surinam, my home. And home meant my future as a healer. How could I cure my people of disease the way my grandmother Serafina had predicted I would if I were far away from them?

I swallowed hard. My insides still quaked. But then, for the briefest time, I saw the frightening vision of the slave auction block again.

I closed my eyes and tried to think calmly.

When my rage had melted I knew with certainty I wanted to follow Master David to his new home. My place was with him.

Yet I still worried how I might fulfil my destiny.

So I guess our future will be in Philadelphia, eh, Matt?

Yes, Master.

Good. There’s not much time. I have already made the arrangements. It’s a long journey and we must travel before winter while the ocean waters are still calm.

Ocean waters? What I knew about water travel I had learned from paddling Master’s skiff when we floated down the Suriname River between Paramaribo and the island of the Jooden Savane where many of the Israelites lived. But didn’t he say it was a very long trip to Philadelphia?

Oh, Matt, Doctor Nassy pointed at the splintered glass near my feet. If you come with us I fear you’ll need some new shoes. He squinted while he looked me over more carefully.

Hm, on second thought, it’s more than shoes you’ll need. You better have some new clothes, too.

I looked down at my rough homespun shirt, at the coarse work breeches frayed at the cuffs, and at the rope-soled sandals. New clothes? It was a very pleasant