Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-08
A Romance in Real Life-An Abducted Daugh-
ter Discovered after an Interval of Twenty
seven YearS-An UeiraSS
VIZ ~ -
seven Years

The Taunton (Mass.) Republican, is responsi
bic for the following story:
"a romance in real life has just come to
light, and is at present the chief gossip OF
this city. The facts, as related by an init.
mate acquaintance Of the fortunate family,
are as follows:
cit appears that about twenty-seven years
ago, Captain Brown, whose family resided
III Mattapoisett, was the overseer of the es-
tate of Mr.. Henry E. Clifton, wealthy gen.
tleman of Richmond, Va. From some cause
which still remains a secret, difficulty arose
between Captain Brown and Mr.. Clifton.
wherein the former considered himself the
aggrieved party. To revenge himself for
the supposed wrong, he stole Mr.. Clifton's in
FAINT daughter (then but six weeks oId) Oh the
day she was christened. The child was
brought to Mattapoisett, and secretly adopted
by Brown and his wife as their own. She
was named Julia, and grew to be a woman.
When only sixteen years old, she married
Mr.. Isaac o. Pierce, printer, who learned
his trade in Fall River. Several years ago
| they moved to Taunton, living for awhile 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 paren-
tage, and Mr.. Pierce, who took her for better
| or worse, had never imagined himself the
husband Of an heiress He abandoned the
printers trade, shortly after learning it. and
for several years has earned his daily bread
by the sweat of his brow at Mr. Mason's
works in this city. This is their history un-
til within a very short time. Now comes the
denoasenent.
Last summer while Rev. Mr. Talbot, of
this city, was at Saratoga, he became &C.
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 Mr.. Talbot remarked
upon the striking resemblance of Mrs. Clifton
to lady parishioner of his in Taunton
Nothing particular was thought of it at first {;
but on his repeating the remark, Mrs. Clifton
inquired the age of the lady. On being in
formed that she was about twenty-seven, Mrs.
Clifton Immediately said to her husband,
Why that would be just the age of our
daughter that was stolen
"The matter then received their serious
attention. Mr.. Talbot was taken into their
confidence, and inquiry instituted as to the
reputed parents of the young lady. He re-
turned to Taunton; had conversation with
Mrs. Pierce in regard to her parentage; in
formed her of the Saratoga conversation.
which led her to ask Mrs. Brown, who, she
had never doubted, was her own mother, if
she really were such, at the same time telling
her the reason of the inquiry. Mrs. Brown,
who had kept the secret of the child's parent
age for twenty-seven years, was so overcome
by the question and development of facts
that she Immediately became i'll and died of
the heart disease. Before her death, howev-
er, she acknowledged that Mrs Pierce was
not her own daughter. Captain Brown died
number of years ago. Within few weeks
the affair has developed itself rapidly. Mr.
and Mrs. Clifton and Mrs. Pierce have met
each other; and the old colored woman, who
nursea the abducted infant, has recognized
Mrs Pierce as their real child. by mole on
her shoulder The identity of their long-lost
daughter having been fully established me-
Pierce and her husband have been invited to
live with the Clftons and share in their
wealth; and this they are preparing to do
having broken up housekeeping and disposed
of their furniture.
1.-The cream of the affair is that Mrs. Pierce
is an only child, and therefore sole heiress to
an estate said to be worth hundreds of thou
sands if not millions of dollars, or as an old
lady friend of Mrs. Pierce expresses it, "a
t'!fe less than two millions 1t having been
rumored that Mrs. Pierce had applied for a
divorce from her husband, she has published
card Indignantly denying the SANDER"
At a public dinner in those days when
England End France we're at mortal enmity,
Tom Campbell proposed the health of Ma
poleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.
The company was astounded /; and on the DO
ct being asked why he could give such a
toast, he replied: because he once shot
bookseller"
A good deal of the consolation offered in
the world is about as solacing as the assur-
ance Of the man to his wife when she fell in
to the river. you'll find ground at the
bottom, my dear"