Death Book: 1797-

This book records the deaths of the Carmelites since their foundation in Port Tobacco. It also includes the notices of the deaths of the first Bishops of Baltimore and their chaplains, this probably because of their close ties with the clergy of Baltimore. First listed in the Death book is Mary Magdalen of St Joseph (Ann Johnson) who died on the 22nd of August 1797, that "being the anniversary of her cloathing day." The citation continues: "She was 25 years of age and professed eleven months wanting eight days. A consumption terminated her happy course. She had all the rites of the church." Several symbols decorate this first page: skulls, and bones, crosses, and the words, "Memento mei..." A brief history of Mother Bernardina, following the death notice of herself and her niece, Sister Eleanora, reveals the significance of her role in the planning of the foundation. The first death of a non-Carmelite to be recorded is that of "Our Most Reverend 1st Superiour, Archbishop Carroll died Dec. 3rd, 1815." This is followed immediately by the notice of the death of his successor, Archbishop Leonard Neale (1817) and then Reverend Charles Neale (1823). Other clergy whose death notices appear are Ambrose Marechal, Enoch Fenwick, F.X. O'Brien, James Whitfield, Francis Neale, Matthew Herard, Roger Brook, Peter Schriber, S.Eccleston, FR.Poirier, CSSR, L.Deluol, FP Kenrick; MJ Spalding, JR Bayley, and Charles Currier, CSSR. Signatures of visitators are part of the 20th century record of deaths. Towards the end of the book, the account of deaths is interrupted by a section on "the devotion of the five thousand five hundred and thirty four Paternosters said in honor of the wounds of our Savior as revealed to Saint Metilda," with a history of the devotion vis a vis the deceased. Listed are all the Sisters and clergy who received those paternosters.