Mary Catherine Brisbane Hickox 1832 - 1913 wrote a memoir of her childhood, as she explained it "thinking that after I am gone my children may want to know some thing about their relations when there is no one to tell them".   She had two children, but only one grand child and this grand daughter, Zillah Keese Hickox 1892 - 1975, would herself die unmarried.   Mary Catherine's memoir lives on, however, and includes many delightful reminiscences of her kinsfolk including the one below.   Thanks are due to Zillah Keese Hickox who ensured the preservation of the text and to Tom Tucker who brought it to the compiler's attention.

Aunt Elizabeth [Elizabeth Brisbane 1807 – 1867]  , born in 1807 was very unlike her sister Maria, being much more amiable and genial and very fond and appreciative of her own family.   She was extremely tall, with black hair and eyes, like all of the Brisbanes and she was one of the few people who had false teeth.   She was very affectionate and kind to us children and either called us by some nickname or simply “my daughter”.   She was not unlike Uncle Abbott in disposition and we were all very fond of her.   She had been engaged to a Mr Furman, who while travelling was stricken down and died of fever.   She was ill for some months after this shock, and in fact never entirely recovered her health and dressed in deep mourning all the rest of her days.   I remember often seeing the locket, with her lover’s hair in it, and a few trinkets he had given her which she always wore around her neck, but concealed in her dress.   Poor dear Aunt Elizabeth, what a devoted wife she would have made and what a faithful daughter she was and how religious and good.   She must have been very pretty and attractive when young.