The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-12-09

"a JGDoN FRIDAsY bEcEl1BHR 8, 1864: 90 =

i, 1876 NO. So.
A12enaance IN Real Life.
N abducted Daughter Discotersd after "a,
Interval, % 1Wsntg sepen Ieays An Heir
esss s5.se ge $50
The Tauntons Mass. Republican is ~
/ sponsible for the following story: -
s. "A romance in real life has just come to
light, and is ut present the chief gossip Of this
city. The facts, as related by AN intimate
/ acquaintance of the fortunate family, are as
! follows:
II appears that about twenty seven years
ago, as Captain Brown, whose family resided
In Mattap0isett, was the overseeY OF the estate
Eof Mr.. Henry E.. clifton, = wealthy gentleman
of Richmond, Va. From some cause, which
still remains secret, =. difficulty arose be-
tween Capt Brown and Mr. Clifton, wherein
! tho former considered himself the aggrieyed
party. ~ revenge himself for the opposed
wrong, he. stole Mr.. Clifton sinfant daughter,
then but,s weeks aldapn tho day she Was
christened, The child was brought to. Metta-
poisett and secretly adopted By Brown and
his wife as their own, She wap named
Julia, and grew to be a woman When only
l'sixteen years old she married Mr.. Isaac 0.
Pierce, printer, who learned his trade in
Fall River. Several years ag6 they moved TO-
Taunton, living for q while at East Taunton,
but more recently at the Green Two children
have been born to them. one Of whom is now
living.
During this long period Mrs Pierce has
lived in blissful ignorance Of her high parent.
age, and Mr.. Pierce, who took her for better
or worse, had never imagined himself the
] husb&Dd of an heiress. He abandoned the
printer trade shortly after learning it, and
for several years has earned his daily bread
by the sweat of his brow ct Mr. aMason's
worksi this city. This is their history I'M.
til within d very short time. Now comes the
denoseuseiat. Il
Last summer while Rev, Mr.. Talbot, Of
this city, was at Saratoga, he became ac-
quainted with Mr., Clifton and wife, who, it
appears, at the breaking out Of the rebellion,
converted their Richmond property into cash
and moved to Baltimore. In the course Of
conversation with them MI. Talbot remarked
upon the striking resemblance of Mrs. Clifton
70 . lady parishioner Of his in Taunton. No,
thing .particnlsfl was thought Of it at 6rst; but
on his repeating the remark, Mrs Clifton in
quired the age Of the lady. On being inform /
ed that she was about twenty.ssven, Mrs.
Clifton Immediately said 70 her. .hasband
.sswhy, thar would be just the Of orr dauch. Z
ter that was stolen, z.
ssIshe matter then received their serious AZ.
tention. MIR. Talbot was taken into their
confidence, and inquiry instituted as 10 the
reputed parents Of the young, lady. He re-
turned, to Taunton; had conversation with
Mrs Pierce in regard tosher parentaee: IN
formed her Of the Saratoga conversation.
which led her to ask Mrs. Brown, Who, she
had never doubted, was her own mother. il
she really was such, at the same time telling
her the reason Of the inquiry. Mrs. Brdsn.
who had kept theseovet of the child q parent.
age fur twenty years, waS SO overcome
by the question snd the deseloppentu If facts.
that she immediately became i'll and died Of
the heart disease. Before her death, however.
she acknowledged that Mrs. Pierce was NOT
herssyn daughter: Capt Bro wn: died q num-
Der of years ago.
within few weeks the affair has sdeyel-
soped itself rapidly. Mr.. and Mrs. Clifton
and Mrs. Pierce have met each other, and the
old colored woman, wh0Hursed the abducted
infant, has recognized Mrs. Pierce as their
real child BY a mole on her shoulder! The
identity of their long lost daughter having
been fully established. Mrs. Pierce and her
husband have been invited to live wish the
CIiftons and share in their wealth; and this
stheyare preparing to do, having broken mp
house keeping and disposed Of their f6niture.
D Ct &c cream OF the affair Isl that Mrs. Pierce
sis an only child and therefore sole heiress to-
"a, estate said to be worth hundreds of thena
sands, If rot millions of dollars OF, .as IN old
lady friend of Mrs. Pierce expresses il. e.