Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-10-03
GENERAL JAcKsoN's MARRIAGE

This event in the history of General Jack
son has been often alluded to, but the circum-
stances attending it are very little known.
The subjoined narrative is from euIogy deliv-
cred at Natchez:
Miss Rachel Donelson, the daughter of Col.
Donelson. of Virginia, had been celebrated for
her gayety, attabHity and sweetness of dispo-
siton. Her father emigrated to Tennessee,
and, dying, left her an orphan. She formed an
unhappy matrimonial connection with mo-
rose, jealous, and dissipated character by the
name of Roberts, who soon abandoned her.
The difficulty was made up, and The welded
pair came together again; soon after which
Andrew Jackson became transient boarder
in the same house where Roberts AID his wife
were residing. A second rupture soon occurred.
and Roberts left his wife and went to Kentucky.
Learnfhgthat he intended returning and taking
her there, and dreading his inhumanity and bad
treatment, she determined 10 seek an asylum
in Natchez, beyond his reach. Natchez was
then the Oregon Of America. In the spring of
1871 she came here with Col. Starke, and his
family. Al the earnest request of Col. Starke,
Gen. Jackson piloted his family through the
Indian country. After his return, Judge Over
ton communicated TO him the astounding in
telligence that he was the unconscious cause
of the last separation; that it arose from Ro-
beTts's jealousy of him; and the circumstances
Of his. accompanying Col. Starke, to protect
his family from the Indians, had been seized
upon by Roberts as a ground of divorce, in a
petition to the Virginia Legislature.
The thought that an innocent woman was
suffering so unjustly on his account made
Gen. Jackson's sensitive mind most uneasy
and unhappy. He Immediately sought oAt
Roberts and expostulated with him on the
injustice and cruelty of his causeless suspi-
clon; but the interview ended in mutual def
2 ances. At length news came that the Vir-
ginia Legislature had actually granted the
divorce in accordance with Roberts's petit
ton. Forthwith Andrew Jackson FASTENED to-
Natchez, and offered his hand and his heart Ia
: the innocent and amiable woman, who had
been made SO unhappy by false and unfounded
accusations. He came to Natchez, to give
II the world the hishes. evidence he could give
8, of her innocence.
f Although free TO form a new connexion, Mrs
Roberts declined the prof red offe.. Bus
Andrew Jackson was not 10 be outdone. he
/ addressed her i'm tie language of Ruth To
s Naomi s'Entreat me not to leave thee or 10
o return from following after thee, for wher
!. thou goest will go, where thou lodgest / will
lodge, thy people shall be my people, and thg
= God my God; where thou diest, will die ant
al there will be buried" a promise which he
ST literally fulfilled in refusing the sarcophagu'
c. Of the Elf Feror Alexander Seyerus. that he
/; might be buried by her. At length, aftt'
= some three montI,s, Mrs. Roberts, being cor
81 WINGED that the cbivalry which prompted tbs
S, proposal had become associated with genuine
S. love, accepted the offer, and they were maj
:, ried in this city or lis vicinity, and returned
to Tennessee. On arriving there, finding tha
&C. the divorce had not gone through all The forms
X required by the laws of Virginia, at the tfn'
IL Of their marriage here, the ceremony VA
~ again performed there.