Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-09-25
Bonapartes of Baltimore.

The Branch Of the family residing in Bal
timore, Maryland, was derived from the mar
riage Of Jerome Bonaparte, brother Of the
Emperor Napoleon l., with Elizabeth Pat
terson, daughter of William Patterson, an
cmigrant merchant in the city of Baltimore.
She was scarce eighteen years Of age when
Jerome Bonaparte. in command of French
frioate, landed in New York, in 1903. She
at that time, was distinguished by uncommon
personal beauty, and is said, moreover to
have strikiugly resembied the Bonaparte
family. The fame Of Napoleon insured for
his brother Jerome distinguished reception
in America, and wherever he went be was
most Hospitality entertained. On visiting
| baltimore he saw Miss Patterson, and soon
became much attached to her, a partiality
which she readily returned, and being ambi-
tious in her views of life, she at once accepted
his offers of marriage, and was united to him
Dec. "a, 1903. The marriage cereu ony was
performed by the Bishop of Baltimore John
Carroll, brother Of Charles Carroll, Of Car
rollton, the signer of the Declaration Of lnde
/ peudence, and in accordance with the ritual
Of the Roman Catholic Church. The mar
| riage contract, considered Of Importance, was
drawn up by Alexander J. Dallas, subSe
qucntly Secretary of the Treasury and wit.
messed by several official personages, nclu-
naparte remained in America for full year,
visiting, with his wife, various parts Of the
country. At length they embarked for Eu-
rope in the spring of 1905, in the American
ship Erin. and arrived safely at Lisbon. The
news OF the marriage proved very dstaSteIul
to the dictator OF Frapce, partly because
Jerome had dared TO marry without his con-
| sent, and partly on account Of his own wish
to unite all his brothers to European prln-
cesses. Before the newly welded pair could
reach Europe, en- order went forth TO every
port under French authority, forbidding them
to land. The hopes Of the fair American
were now forever bighted, as Napoleon
sterniy refused TO recognize her marriage.
Jerome left her at Lisbon, and FASTENED to
| Paris, hoping by personal interview to
soften the Emperor, directing the vessel to
| proceed to Amsterdam, as the state Of his
wife's health would not admit Of her under
| going long land journey, even il passport
could be obtained for her, which was very
doubtful On the Frin's arrival at TreXel
Roads, Madame Bonaparte found that an
order had been awaiting her coming, which
| prohibited Ler from landing. She was obliged
| to sail at once For England, where she esiab-
| lshed her abode, and al Chamberwell, near
| London, July :, 1905, gave birth to a son,
Jerome Napoleon Bon0parte, now living in
Baltimore She never saw her husband
again, except in a casual meeting many years
after their separation. Jerome, who was
originally mach attached 20 his wife, iG vain
! petltoned the Emperor to recognize her, and
was finally obliged to yield to the dospots
| iron will and marry the Princess Frederica
! Catharine, of Wurtemberg. After the down
| fall of Napoleon. Madame Patterson las she
was styled for long perod) visited Europe,
| aud is said TO have encountered jerome 30
naparte, with his Princess, in the gallery OF
! the Pitt Palace in Florence. On meeting,
I Jerome started aside, aud was overheard to
saw to the Princess. THAT lady is my former
wife" He instantly left the gallery, and next
morning departed from Florence. Napoleon
! Bonaparte never succeeded IN Inducing the
! Pope, Plus VII, TO declare Jeromu's first
marriage null and void. To the Plaintiffs 5
honor be it said he invariably refused aud
| this protest has of late been brought forward
in a question Involving the rauk Of the Balti-
more Bouapartes, as princes Of the Imperial
household. Madame Bonaparto has, since
the birth Of her son, generally resided in
Baltimore, as she does at present, in the pos.
session of abundant weslIh. Notwihstaud-
ing her treatment by Napoleon, she has
always expressed tho highest admiration for
him, and prophesies that her grandson is
eventra ally TO succeed him s emperor Of the
French. jerome Napoleon, son of the pre-
eeding, born in England, July I, 1905. His
mother returned to the United States during
his boyhood, and he was reared in Baltimore.
| He entered Harvard Collsge, and graduated
| from that institution in 1926. Mr.. Bona
parte had then some intention Of pursuing
! The legal profession, bat, although he studied
for tho bar, he never practised law. lie was
married early in life 70 Miss Susan Mary
Williams, daughter of Benjamin Williams,
Esq, originally of Roxbury, Mass. Miss
Williams was lady OF very large fortune,
which, united with Mr.. Bonapartes own pro-
perty, has made him one OF the weaithiest
citizens of Baltimore. Since his marriage b
has devoted his time to the management oi d
large estate, and partly TO agricultural pur-