First Caesarean Baby in America LbNA #28310 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Family Grave Seekers  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jan 12, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Pt. Pleasant |
| County: | Mason |
| State: | West Virginia |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | TrailingTisa |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Status: | FaaFFFaFFFa |
| Last edited: | Jan 12, 2007 |
First Caesarean Baby in America
Appears to be missing as of 9/29/2010!!! This letterbox commemorates the first baby born by Caesarean in America. Dr. Jesse Bennett performed the operation upon his own wife after her attending physician’s attempt with forceps failed. The two doctors conferred with Mrs. Bennett and she requested the Caesarean be attempted as the best chance for the baby to survive though she felt certain she would not. Facilities in Rockingham County, Virginia were less than ideal. Two planks were set on two barrels for an operating table. The patient was given laudanum to make her sleepy. Two slaves held her still so she would not flinch as the incision was made. Mrs. Bennett’s sister held a lamp for light. Thus, Maria Bennett was born. The date was January 14, 1794. Happily, both mother and child survived. A few years later, the family relocated to what is now Mason County, West Virginia because Mrs. Bennett’s father owned land there, remaining for the rest of their days as prominent citizens in a pioneer land. Maria married twice and died in Mason County at the age of 76. She reportedly has descendents still living in Mason County today. It was not until after Mr. & Mrs. Bennett’s deaths that a neighbor boy who grew up to be a doctor and remembered hearing the circumstances of Maria’s birth decided to set medical history straight by taking statements from Mrs. Bennett’s sister who had held the lamp and one of the slaves who had held the young woman still during the operation.
Directions:
Start at the Jesse Bennett historical marker in the cemetery near the railroad trestle on Viand Street (Rt. 62), Point Pleasant, WV. Convenient parking is at Advance Auto Parts. From the sign, take a bearing of 115 degrees and proceed 40 footfalls to the 14-foot monument for Dr. Jesse Bennett. His wife, Elizabeth Hogg Bennett is resting to the right. From in front of Dr. Bennett’s monument, take a bearing of 80 degrees and proceed 40 footfalls to a rectangular monument for Lovina and Mary Jane Smith. Now, take a bearing of 200 degrees and proceed 30 footfalls to a huge sycamore tree covered in vines. What you seek is a camouflage-covered bag along the trunk nestled behind vines maybe a foot up from the base of the tree, slightly clockwise of your approach. Please be certain to reseal the bags well to prevent damage to the paper inside. While you’re in town, you might enjoy searching for the Mothman and Chief Cornstalk. Happy Letterboxing!
Appears to be missing as of 9/29/2010!!! This letterbox commemorates the first baby born by Caesarean in America. Dr. Jesse Bennett performed the operation upon his own wife after her attending physician’s attempt with forceps failed. The two doctors conferred with Mrs. Bennett and she requested the Caesarean be attempted as the best chance for the baby to survive though she felt certain she would not. Facilities in Rockingham County, Virginia were less than ideal. Two planks were set on two barrels for an operating table. The patient was given laudanum to make her sleepy. Two slaves held her still so she would not flinch as the incision was made. Mrs. Bennett’s sister held a lamp for light. Thus, Maria Bennett was born. The date was January 14, 1794. Happily, both mother and child survived. A few years later, the family relocated to what is now Mason County, West Virginia because Mrs. Bennett’s father owned land there, remaining for the rest of their days as prominent citizens in a pioneer land. Maria married twice and died in Mason County at the age of 76. She reportedly has descendents still living in Mason County today. It was not until after Mr. & Mrs. Bennett’s deaths that a neighbor boy who grew up to be a doctor and remembered hearing the circumstances of Maria’s birth decided to set medical history straight by taking statements from Mrs. Bennett’s sister who had held the lamp and one of the slaves who had held the young woman still during the operation.
Directions:
Start at the Jesse Bennett historical marker in the cemetery near the railroad trestle on Viand Street (Rt. 62), Point Pleasant, WV. Convenient parking is at Advance Auto Parts. From the sign, take a bearing of 115 degrees and proceed 40 footfalls to the 14-foot monument for Dr. Jesse Bennett. His wife, Elizabeth Hogg Bennett is resting to the right. From in front of Dr. Bennett’s monument, take a bearing of 80 degrees and proceed 40 footfalls to a rectangular monument for Lovina and Mary Jane Smith. Now, take a bearing of 200 degrees and proceed 30 footfalls to a huge sycamore tree covered in vines. What you seek is a camouflage-covered bag along the trunk nestled behind vines maybe a foot up from the base of the tree, slightly clockwise of your approach. Please be certain to reseal the bags well to prevent damage to the paper inside. While you’re in town, you might enjoy searching for the Mothman and Chief Cornstalk. Happy Letterboxing!