Madness of Mary Lincoln

[Susan Higginbotham]

I don't know what influence Mary Harlan had, but Robert very bluntly told his aunt in a letter of August 7, 1875, that if his mother came to live with him, it would mean a separation from his wife and children. And Mary Harlan was pregnant with her third child during the insanity trial and the subsequent events (she gave birth in November 1875), so her condition was doubtless a concern of Robert's during this time.

Tonight I was flipping through Jason Emerson's "Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case," which includes letters from and to Robert to his family and friends during this period. It makes for sad reading. I don't think anyone who reads it with an open mind could come away with the impression that Robert lightly or callously made the decision to have his mother declared insane and confined. He felt that his mother had reached the point where something had to be done, and made his decision after he consulted with people he respected and trusted. Certainly he didn't gain any peace of mind from his decision.