Was Patrick Henry's wife Sarah Shelton crazy?

Answer 1

Sarah Shelton Henry was, actually, insane. She was kept in a seventeenth century version of a straight jacket in the basement of the Henry's Scotchtown home. Now, this may seem harsh, but the alternative was worse: an asylum was the only other option, a place that, at the time, was cold, cruel, and unkept. There was no question that she would die there of starvation or disease. She had the 'best' medical care, which were, for the time bleedings and exorcisms. When she finally died in February of 1776, she was buried in an unmarked grave on the family plantation. Word is that she still haunts Scotchtown. Now, this leads some to speculate that Sarah was the inspiration to Patrick Henry's famous quote "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Truth to this is really unknown. It could be true, but chances are it's historical fiction. If you enjoy historical fiction, there's been a book written about Patrick Henry and his nutsy wife called 'Or Give Me Death' by Anne Rinaldi. It's actually a brilliant and thought provoking piece. Keep in mind, again, it is fiction. Hope to have helped.

Answer 2

After going "insane" Patrick put her in the home cellar where a salve looked after her. In February she died of the inflammation of the throat in the year of 1775.