Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-12-02
A Romance In Real Life.

A Romance In Real Life.
An Abducted Daughter Discovered after
an Interual of Tnenty- seven Kears-An
Ueiress.
The Taunton (Aiass.) Republican" is
responsible 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 10.
innate acquaintance of the fortunate fami-
ly, are as follows:
Il appears that about twenty years,
ago, as Captain Brown. whose family resi-
ded in Mattapoisett, was the oyerseer of the
estate Of Mr.. Henry g. Clifton, wealthy
gentleman of,Richmond, Va. From some
cause, which still remsins a secret, diff
Guilty arose between C=@rrt. Brown and mr.
Clifton. wherein the former considered him.
self the aggrieved party. Toreveugs him
self for the supposed wrong, he stole Mr..
Clifton's infant daughter, then but six
weeks old, on the day she was christened
The child was brought to Metapoisett and
secretly adopted by Brown aud his wife as
their own. She WAS named Julia. and
grew to be 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 while at East Taun-
toa. but more recently at the Green. Two
children have been born to them. one of
whom is no. living.
During this long period Mrs Pierce has
lived in blissful ignorance of her high pa
rentsge, and Mr. Pierce, who took her for
better or worse. had never imagined him
self the husband Of an heiress. He aban-
doued the printers trade shortly after
learning it, and for several years has earned
bis daily bread by the sweat Of his brow at
Mr. Mason's works in this city. This is
their history until within very short
time. Now comes the aenouement.
Last summer while Rev. Mr.. Talbot. OF
this city. was at Saratoga. he became ae-
quainted with Mr.. Clifton and vie, who.
it appears, at the breaking out of the re-
belion, converted their Richmond proper
ty into cash and moved to Baltimore. In
the course of conversation with them Mr..
Talbot remarked upon the striking re-
semblance Of Mrs Clifton to LADY PARISH
Toner Of his in Taunton. Nothing particu-
lar was thought OF it at FIRST; but on his re-
peating the remark. Mrs Clifton inquired
the age of the lady. On being informed
that she was about twenty seven, Mrs.
Clifton Immediately said to her husband
s'why that would be just the age Of our
daughter that was stolen /"
The matter then received their seriou.
attention. Mr.. Talbot was taken Into
their confidence, and inquiry instituted as
t, the reputed parents Of the young lady.
He returned TO Taunton; had a converse
ton with Mrs. Pierce in regard to her pa.
rentage; informed her of the Saratoga con
versation, which led her to ask Mrs
Brown, who, she had never doubted, was
her own mother, if she really was such, at
the same time telling her the reason of the
inquiry Mrs. Brown, who had kept the
secret of t4e child's parentage for twenty
seven years, was so overcome by the ques-
ton and the development OF facts, that she
u4Aeai 'Ci pCCdHIt III au1 uIeu " CuO
heart disease. Before her death, however,
she acknowledged that Mrs Pierce was
not her own daughter. Capt. Brown died
number Of years ago.
Within few weeks the affair has de-
veoped itself rapidly Mr.. and Mrs. Cliff
ton and Mrs. Pierce have met each other,
and the old colored woman, who nursed 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,
Mrs. Pierce and her husband ha, been
invited to live with the Cliftons and share
in their wealth ; and this they are prepar-
ing to do, having broken up housekeeping
aud disposed of their furniture
Tho cream Of the affair is that Mrs.
Pierce is an only child, and therefore sole
heiress to an estate said to be Worth hun.
dreds of thousands. if not millions Of dol.
lars: or. as an old lady friend of Mrs.
Pierce expresses it, "a trife less than two
millions. ." t.whaving been rumored that
Mrs. Pierce had applied for divorce from
her husband, she has published card in :
dignantly denying the SANDER"