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1726 |
William Bayley, the father of Richard Bayley and grandfather of
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton migrates to America from England. He settles
in New York City.
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1744 |
Richard Bayley, the father of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is born in
Fairfield, Connecticut.
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1746 |
William Seton, the grandfather-in-law of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton
and father of William Magee Seton, is born in England (April 24).
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1763 |
William Seton migrates to America from England.
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1767 |
William Seton marries Rebecca Curson, the daughter of Richard Curson.
Richard was the co-proprietor of “Seton & Curson” import merchants of
New York City.
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1768 |
William Magee Seton, the future husband of Elizabeth Seton, is born
in New York City (April 20). He is baptized the following month (May 8)
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1769 |
Richard Bayley marries Catherine Charlton in Elizabethtown, New
Jersey (January 9).
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1771 |
Richard Bayley, a physician by trade, returns to America from England
after studying medicine abroad for two years.
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1774 |
Elizabeth Ann Bayley is born in New York City (August 28). She is
baptized a few weeks later.
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1775 |
Richard Bayley makes a return trip to England, but returns home as
the American Revolution begins in earnest (July 12).
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1776 |
William Seton marries Anna Maria Curson after the death of his first
wife, Rebecca (November 29).
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1777 |
Catherine Bayley, the mother of Elizabeth Ann Bayley, dies (May 8).
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1782 |
William Seton becomes assistant to the chief of police and
superintendent of the Port of New York.
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1782-86 |
Elizabeth Ann Bayley resides in New Rochelle, New York, prior to
moving back to New York City.
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1786-94 |
William Magee Seton becomes a clerk of discount in New York City.
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1790 |
Richard Bayley helps to form the New York Dispensary for the Poor.
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1790 or 91 |
William Magee Seton and Elizabeth Ann Bayley meet for the first time
in a “grown-up” sense and begin courting.
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1792 |
Richard Bayley is appointed the first professor of anatomy at
Columbia University.
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1794 |
Elizabeth Ann Bayley and William Magee Seton are married at St.
Paul’s Church in New York City (January 25).
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1795 |
Anna Maria Seton is born. She is the first child of Elizabeth Ann and
William Magee Seton (May 3).
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1797 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton’s first foray into charity work comes when she
volunteers her services to the Widow’s Society of New York City.
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1797-1804 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton becomes treasurer of the Widow’s Society.
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1798 |
William Seton dies in New York City (June 9). Richard Bayley Seton,
the son of Elizabeth Ann and William Magee Seton, is born in New York
City (July 20).
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1800 |
William Magee Seton declares bankruptcy, and the family encounters
financial troubles as a result.
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1801 |
Richard Bayley dies in New York City (August 17).
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1802 |
Rebecca Seton, the daughter of Elizabeth Ann and William Magee Seton,
is born in New York City (September 19).
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|
1803 |
The Setons take a trip to Italy and land in the village of Leghorn
(November 18). William McGee Seton dies in Pisa, Italy, after suffering
from a brief illness contracted after they arrive in Europe (December
27).
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1803-1804 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton becomes attracted to Catholicism and learns more
about the Church during her stay in Italy.
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|
1804 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton returns to the United States (April-June). She
announces her new- found adherence to the Catholic Church and turns away
from her traditional Episcopalian upbringing (June).
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|
1805 |
The official conversion of Elizabeth Ann Seton into the Catholic
Church at the hands of Reverend Matthew O’Brien takes place at St.
Peter’s Church in New York City (March 14). She makes her First
Communion (March 25).
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1806 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton’s sister-in-law, Cecilia Seton, becomes seriously
ill and converts to Catholicism, which is inspired through Elizabeth’s
example. Elizabeth Ann Seton receives instructions in Church Doctrine
from Bishop John Carroll (America’s first Prelate), which leads to her
Confirmation (May 26).
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1808 |
Elizabeth Ann Seton moves from New York City to Baltimore for the
sake of her children, who attend school in the area (June 15). She
institutes and becomes the headmistress of a school in Baltimore (Fall).
She decides to enter religious life, make her holy vows in the presence
of Bishop Carroll, and becomes known as Mother Seton (March 25).
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1809 |
Mother Seton wears the formal religious habit of her station for the
first time, which comprises “a black dress with short shoulder cape, and
a white muslin cap with crimped border tied under the chin by means of a
black crepe band. A rosary … draped from the leather belt that served
for a cincture” (June 1). She leads five fellow members of the Sisters
of Charity in their first public appearance at the celebration of Mass
(June 2). The aforementioned black dress of Mother Seton becomes the
adopted and standard uniform for each member of the order (June 9). The
Sisters of Charity move from Baltimore to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where
they established a Motherhouse. The American Sisters of Charity mark the
feast of St. Ignatius Loyola as the anniversary of the permanent
establishment of their community in Emmitsburg (July 31). Bishop Carroll
makes his first visit to the Sisters of Charity new residence (October
20).
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|
1810 |
A log cabin later named the “White House” is built to house the
Sisters of Charity (February). The order establishes the St. Joseph’s
School, which begins with three students and is credited with helping to
originate the American parochial school system (February 22). Bishop
Benedict Flaget is appointed to obtain the rules of conduct outlined by
the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in France by Mother Seton.
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1812 |
Mother Seton is elected superior of the Sisters of Charity. Her
daughter, Anna, a novitiate in the order dies (March 12). The permanent
rules and constitutions of the Sisters of Charity are approved by Bishop
Carroll (September 11).
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1813 |
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity, which number 18 at this
time, make their vows as a group (July 19).
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|
1814 |
A small band of nuns leave the Motherhouse in Emmitsburg to staff an
orphanage in Philadelphia (September 29).
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1816 |
Mother Seton’s daughter Rebecca dies (November 3).
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1817 |
The state of Maryland grants incorporation status to the order under
the corporate
title: “The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s.” The mission of this
group is defined as follows — “works of piety, charity and usefulness,
and especially for the care of the sick, the succor of aged, infirm and
necessitous persons, and the education of young females.” (January).
Various members of the Sisters of Charity are sent to New York City to
staff a mission.
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1818 |
Mother Seton contracts an illness and her condition worsens over the
next three years
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1819 |
Mother Seton again is reelected as superior of the order.
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1820 |
Mother Seton makes the last spiritual retreat of her life (August).
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|
1821 |
Mother Seton receives the Last Absolution and Last Indulgence of the
Church. She dies in Emmitsburg (January 4).
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|
1852 |
Archbishop Patrick Kenrick of Baltimore makes the public remark that
“Elizabeth Seton did more for the church in America than all of us
bishops together.”
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|
1853 |
The first full-length biography of Mother Seton is written by
Reverend Charles I. White.
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|
1856 |
Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley of Newark, Mother Seton’s nephew, names
Seton Hall College (later University) in her honor.
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|
1882 |
James Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore begins saying Mass at the tomb of
Mother Seton.
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|
1911 |
The case for Mother Seton’s canonization is first introduced (June
7).
|
|
1936 |
The Sacred Congregation of Rites found that “No obstacle exists
against taking further steps relative to the cause.” This “cause” is the
call of sainthood for Mother Seton.
|
|
1940 |
The case for canonization is formally introduced to the public
(February 28).
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|
1959 |
Mother Seton is declared “Venerable” by the Sacred Congregation of
the Catholic Church (December 18).
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|
1961 |
A pair of miracles performed via the intercession of Mother Seton are
discovered and validated. These miracles include the cure of Anne
Theresa O’Neill’s bout with leukemia in 1952 and Sister Gertrude
Korzendorfer’s head and pancreatic cancer in 1935.
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|
1963 |
Carl Kalim, a Lutheran construction worker allegedly is cured of a
rare brain disease through the intercession of Mother Seton.
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|
1975 |
Mother Seton’s feast date is declared (January 4). The official
Canonization of Blessed Mother Seton is decreed by Pope Paul VI
(September 14).
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2000 |
Silver anniversary observance honoring the
canonization of Mother Seton.
|
2006 |
The sesquicentennial year of Seton Hall
University and its founding as the Catholic University of New Jersey
with Mother Seton as her patroness. Hazard Zit Forward.
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Compiled by Alan Delozier, University
Archivist/Assistant Professor
William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center
Walsh Library - Seton Hall University
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