Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-09-11
GENERAL JACKsoN's MARRIAGE.

| 1hls event In the history OF General Jack
son has been often alluded to, but the circum-
stances attending it are very little known-a,
least we have never met with any account oil
them until now. The subjoined narrative is
from an eulogy delivered at Natchez.
Miss Rachel Donelson, the daughter of Col.
Donelson Of Virginia, had been celebrated for
her galety, ai!ability and sweetness of dispo-
sltion. Her father emigrated to Tennessee,
and, dying, lett her an orphan. She formed
an unhappy matrimonial connection with a
morose, 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 and his wife
were residing. A second rupture soon oc-
Cured, and Roberts left his wife and went 10
Kentucky. Learning that he intended return
ing and taking her there, and dreading his in
humanity and bad treatment, she determined
to seek an asylum in Natchez, beyond his
reach. Natchez was then the Oregon of
America. In the spring of 1921 she came
here with Col. Starke and his family. AT the
earnest request of Col. Siarke, Gen. Jackson
piloled his family through the Indian coun-
try. After his return, Judge Overlon commu-
nicated to him the astounding fact that he was
the unconscious cause of the last separation
that it arose from Roberts's jealousy of him
and the circumstance of his accompanying
Col. Starke, To protect his family from the In
dams, had been seized upon by Roberts as
ground OF divorce, in petition to the Virgin
la Legislature.
The thought that an innocent woman was
suffering so uujusliy on his account, made
Gen. Jackson's sensitive mind most uneasy
and unhappy. He Immediately sought out
Roberts, and expostulated with hun on the
injustice and cruelty Of his causelcss suspicion,
but the interview ended in mutual deiiances.
AT length news came that the Virginia Legis-
lature had actually granted the divorce in &C
cordance with Robertss petition. Forthwith
Andrew Jackson FASTENED TO Na,chez, and
offered his hand and his heart to the innocent
and amiable woman, who had been made so
unhappy by false and unfounded accusations
He came 10 Natchez, TO give the world the
highest evidence he could give of her inno-
cence.
Although free TO form new connection,
Mrs. Roberts declined the proflered offer
But Andrew Jackson was not to be outdone
lie addressed her in the language Of Ruth to
Naomi: "Entreat me not To leave thee or re.
turn from following after thee, for where thou
goest will go; where thou lodgest will
lodge; thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God, where thou diest | will
die, and there will be buried" promise
which he literally fulfilled in refusing the sar-
cophagus OF the Emperor Alexander Seyerus,
that he might be buried by her. At length,
after some three months, Mrs. Roberts, being
convinced the chivalry which prompted The
proposal had become associated with genuine
love, accepted the offer, and they were mar
ried in this city or its vicinity, and returned
to Tennessee. On arriving there, finding that
the divorce had not gone through all the forms
required by the laws of Virginia, at the time
of their marriage here, the ceremony was a.
gain performed there.