Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-09
Concord, az. H. C:L q.

JOHCOTU, W. IL N't' = -
At the late term of the Supreme Cou.t a.
Amherst, the grand jury found indictments
against Mr.. J. Of New York, and Mr.. B. Of
New-lpswich, Tor iorcib!y taking and i'm
prisoning girl about ~ years of age, Tor
the purpose OF putting her INTO the posses-
sion OF her mother.
The circumstances arc understood 10 be
these-Some time last spring carriage
came to n. with the widow of Maj. WOOL
! stoncrait, late of the u. States army, and
resident at New-Orleans. aud three chill
Gren-one about l2 years OF age, his dauSh-
| ter by former wife, and the other two re-
ported 10 be his adopted childrcn.--Ihe
daughter was left for her educalion IN the
| family of the clergyman OF New-lpswich.
The adopted children we've carried to
! Rindge. From the conversation OF Jane
The daughter, it soon became known that
the pretended adopted children were the
illcgiiimate children OF Major WooIsion-
| craft, and one of them born in his own
/ house.
In the month of August, a carriage came
with tie own mother OF Jane, aud several
of her friends, two OF whom were witnesses
of her marriage with Major w. They
brought recommendation from the Cover
nor and other respectable people in the
state of New-York. twas by accident
that the mother got intelligence where her
daughter might be found. One of her
friends being in Boston, heard some con-
| versation respecting certain coachnan
! having been into the country to carry a
family belonging to New-Orleans From
some circumstances which were mention
ed, she suspected it must be the widow OF
Major w. with the daughter of her friend.
She accordingly applied to the coachmon
for further information but he denied any
know ledge of the matter. However, he
was at length induced to confess tat he had
carried the family into the country under
injunctions of secrecy, and gave IniorIna-
ti0n where they. This intelligence
was communicated to the mother, who in
few days made her appearance at New
Ipswich and called At the house OF Mr.. 4.
to whom she had letters She now found
herself in the neighborhood Of Der only
child, from whom she had been separated
when an infant, and never seen for years.
She was doubtful whether she could identi
fly her own child, out mentioned that il she
was her child, she would be twelve years
Ole next Sunday Mr. B called at the
house of the Rev. Mr.. II. The child came
TO the door. Mr.. B. enquired her age. II
shall be iwelve years old next Sunday, Twas
the reply. Mr. i. informed Mr. r. that
the mother of Jane was al his house, ami
wished 10 see her. Mr., II. said he could
not allow her TO go. That she was placed
underhi care by the stepmotier. and guar
dian Of the child, and that he had particu-
lar instructions not to lei her have any in
tercnurse with her mother, or 10 see her,
except in his presence : as she was repre-
scented TO him 10 be an unworthy character,
and TO have been divorced for her miscon-
duct The child had likewise great dread
otseeing her mother. She had been taught
10 believe, that if she would consent to see
her own mother, her fathers ghos, would
appear to her. Mr.. B. now returned.
The mother, sufficiently agita,ed with the
idea OF seeing the child, was now distressed
with the expectation that she might neve.
be permitted to see her. She represented
that since the death of Major w. she had
sent 10 New Orleans for the child, on winch
the step-mother had caused her TO be re-
moved. giving out word that she was gone
TO North Carolina, and the next intelligence
they had of her, was that she had been
brought to Y. privately, as has been men
toned and She now apprehended, that
whenever il became known TO the step
mother. that she had discovered the resi-
dence of her daughter, she would be again
removed, perhaps where she would never
hear of her Mr.. B. assured her she should
see her child, and now proceeded with her
and her friends, to the house OF Mr.. ii.
where. after many objections and much de-
lay, meeting took place. This shall
rot attempt to describe.
After this interview, the mother and her
friends finding that Mr. H. would not give
up the child, returned TO Boston for further
information and advice. After being ab-
sent about week they came back. and ha-
wing found means toget the girl 10 the house
OF one Of the neigbbors, they took her at
midday, and put her into chaise,
and carried her TO the house Of Mr. B.
where she remained till the next Morning,
when they proceeded TO New York. The
reason given by the friends Of the mother,
for proceeding in this way, instead oftakiDg
legal steps 10 obtain the child, is, that they
were apprehensive she would ne removed
beyond their reach, before they could OBJ
tain legal decision.
As prospects the divorce, it appears that
or3 years after the marriage, the mother
left the Mississippi, where they then resid-
ed, and returned to her friends in n. York.
This separation, on the one part is repro.