Notes on Cuba Diary

Sara and Robert Hays were married around 1837. This is the couple who took the trip to Havana, Cuba, in 1867 from Buffalo N.Y where they lived. Robert’s business is unknown. Their daughter Mollie, age about 6 or 7, was left in the care of her Grandmother, Sarah’s Mother, and an Aunt. Another young child, Lena, was also at home, relationship unknown, perhaps a cousin. The other child, Clara, who travelled with Sara and Robert, may have been an older daughter.

The names of the relatives at home with Mollie, are not always clear because of Sarah’s writing; her script is difficult to decipher. Several friends and acquaintances also fall into this category.

Other relatives mentioned, for example, Auntie Burt and Henry Sizer, also lived in Buffalo. Relatives in Cleveland are mentioned too.

The reason for the trip, as far as I can guess, was that Bob was suffering from a bronchial problem, and Sarah, perhaps, from the menopause. An ocean voyage was supposed to benefit one’s health in those days.

It is obvious that Sarah was not familiar with Spanish; her spelling of several place names was not quite correct. She seems to have been an inveterate sightseer, and a good writer as well.

Four of Bob’s charming illustrations were inserted into the text of the letters, along with handwritten comments. There are two more in the original diary, but not printed.  One illustrates a “volante”, a type of carriage, on p. 58, and the other “How to eat an orange”, on p. 84.

The Map of “Old Havana” was found in an issue of The Smithsonian Magazine in an article about the natural areas on the island of Cuba.

Some names of the generals involved in the Civil War in the South may not be correct, as well as the names of Federal Buildings in Washington D.C.

One intriguing element is the description of the results of an explosion, probably of an ammunition supply near Savannah; it calls for an explanation. The soil at that site had the quality that could keep intact the bodies of soldiers killed in that explosion. What that type of soil is would be helpful to discover.

If you are familiar with Civil War history you may follow the trip with greater knowledge, but no less appreciation than I.

Sylvia Whitcher,

Transcriber, with much help from Sylvan Rubin, and Alissa and Sophie Hollander Rubin.

2012