Zachariah Mallory

From the files of The Mallory Surname DNA Study

Zachariah Mallory (about 1730-after 12 October 1773) was a Colonial Virginia resident and the first patient in the first public building built in North America for the treatment of the mentally ill.

Early Life

Zachariah Mallory was born about 1730. He was the first of at least five children of Henry Higgason Mallory and Sarah Holderby in King William County. His father was the grandson of the immigrant, Captain Roger Mallory. His siblings included a brother and three sisters. His brother, Joel Mallory was born about 1732. His sister, Jane Mallory was born about 1734. His sister, Elizabeth Mallory was born about 1736. His sister, Sarah Mallory was born about 1738.

Apparently, his family migrated from King William to Hanover County.

As early as 1734, Thomas Partridge operated a retail establishment there offering textiles, ribbon, clothing, household accessories, kitchen wares, food, brimstone, tools, nails, books, stationery, and hunting and fishing gear. Partridge paid his patrons’ taxes, property rents, and even legal fees. Partridge's customers settled accounts generally with tobacco and seldom with cash(1). The exact location of the store is unkown, but it is thought to have been near the old Hanover Courthouse. In 1739, Zachariah Mallory's mother is mentioned on a Partridge General Store account(2). Zachariah Mallory was a frequent patron:

"MR. ZACHARIAH MALLORY. Jan. 1, 3; Feb.5; Mar.31 (pd MR.MILLER); Jun. 2 (pd MR. GILBERT), 12 (2 1/2 yds Broad Cloth 36/3), 14 (pd. JAMES STEPHENS), 25; Aug.7 (1 Saddle 45/), 26; Nov. 27; Dec. 23 (1 Silk Cap 8/6). Credits:[Dec. 2] (by His Mother)."(3)

In 1742, the western part of Hanover became Louisa County. His father died in 1743 when Zachariah Mallory was about 13 years old.

Adulthood and Family Life

Zachariah Mallory was about 23 when his paternal grandfather, Thomas Mallory died in 1753. His paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Higgason Mallory died about a year later.

Zachariah Mallory's name appears on page 67 of "A Guide to the Records of a General Store at Fredericks Hall, Index to Ledger 1756"(4). Also listed in the General Store's ledger in "Mrs. Sarah Mallory", which suggests his mother was living at that time. Others with the surname Mallory appearing in the General Store's ledger include Charles Mallory and Thomas Mallory.

In addition to uncles, aunts and cousins, Zachariah Mallory lived among a growing extended family. When Zachariah Mallory was about 24, his sister Jane Mallory married Griffith Dickinson. The following year, his brother married Mary "unknown". When Zachariah Mallory was about 29, his sister Elizabeth Mallory married Michael Blunt. His youngest sister, Sarah Mallory was unmarried as late as 1760.

By about 1761, Zachariah Mallory married Delisha "unknown" and returned to Hanover County. They had at least two children both of whom were males born in Hanover. His son, Henry Higgason Mallory was born about 1761 and John Mallory was born in 1761.

The Public Hospital at Colonial Williamsburg

Parish vestries and families had long borne the responsibility for the care of the mentally ill, but it was a responsibility sometimes beyond their means. The Colonial Governor, Francis Fauquier spoke to the House of Burgesses in November 1766 of "a poor unhappy set of people who are deprived of their senses and wander about the countryside, terrifying the rest of their fellow creatures." He proposed a hospital for these unfortunates staffed by doctors who would "endeavour to restore to them their lost reason." On June 4, 1770, the legislators adopted an act to "Make Provision for the Support and Maintenance of Ideots, Lunaticks, and other Persons of unsound Minds."

Philadelphia Architect Robert Smith was invited to design the hospital. Benjamin Powell began construction in 1771. The building housed 24 cells, all designed for the security and isolation of their occupants.(5)

Construction was complete and ready for inspection by September 14, 1773, and the Board of Directors began meeting once a week to hear the cases of patients wanting to be admitted.(6)

On October 12, 1773, the first meeting of the court of directors for the reception of patients was held. Two cases were taken into consideration, One from the County of Hanover and the other from the County of New Kent. The court being of the opinion that they were persons of insane and disordered minds, they were received in the hospital.(7) The Hospital's first two patients were Zachariah Mallory and Catherine Harvey.

Neither harmless nor incurable people were admitted; the cells were reserved for dangerous individuals or for patients who might be treated and discharged. Apart from the keeper, the staff included a matron for female inmates, a visiting physician and slaves for domestic duties.

By the theories of the day, mental illnesses were diseases of the brain and nervous system, and the mentally ill chose to be irrational. Treatment consisted of restraint, strong drugs, plunge baths and other "shock" water treatment, bleeding, and blistering salves.

When the hospital was closed during the American Revolution, the keeper boarded patients in his home. The original building was raided by both sides in the Civil War, burned in 1885, rebuilt and expanded. The institution moved elsewhere in Williamsburg in the 1960s and continues to provide patient care as Eastern State Hospital.(8) Today, a structure built to resemble the original occupies the site, houses exhibits and serves as the entrance to the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.

Decendancy

What happened to Zachariah Mallory and his wife is unknown.

Zachariah Mallory and Delisha's son, Henry Higgason Mallory married Elizabeth Bingham in Fayette County, Kentucky and had two sons who were born in Hanover County, Virginia. The family migrated to Kentucky in the 1800s. The two sons, Henry S. Mallory and Stephen Mallory died in Ohio.

Zachariah Mallory and Delisha's son, John Mallory served in the American Revolution and married Elizabeth Grubbs and had nine children. The family lived in Goochland County when John Mallory received his pension. Their descendants migrated from Virginia to Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas.

Some speculate that Zachariah Mallory and his wife may have had at least one other child, William Mallory, Sr. but this has not been proven.

Eight known generations are charted in part in an Outline Descendant Report for Zachariah Mallory.