The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-28
MADAME JUMEL.
HcS Early History ~ Related ~ IN Octc-
ssnarinu Of Providence, II. l.


[Fron the Albany Argus, Jan. 27.l
The Argus recently reported the arguments before
his Honor Justice Boecks at Saratoga Springs IN the
for q commission TO examine Rhode Island Wit.
nesses and for u change OF venue. the Justice de-
cided to send the Saratoga county eJectment suits
for trial before New YORK city justice ana jury, and
granted the plaintiffs motion for commission
The examination OF the witnesses accordlngiy COM
plaintiff being represented by Levi ). Chatneld and
Gideon ]. Tucker, Esquires. and the defendant by
Charles O'Conor ana Jan @. Carter, Esqulres OF
New York, and Charles Hart, Of Providence, the
testimony rs relating 10 the pedigree ana carry NE
OF one 81 the most rcmar4apie Woen u nc, nis h
ded worth millions, the surroundings nj eA'
perences Of her early lie were not o. he m ost re-
hneG character. II will be remembered tnat tne
plaintiff, George w. Bowen, cls.>>l to be me only
son OF Madame Jumel and her ner' at-law, and this
whether he turns out to be legitimate or legiti-
male, since, under our statute OF 1865 iegitimaLe
children Inherit from the motaer, III default OF any
leaitiInate children. The defendant, Nelson Chase,
claims under conveyances made 10 him by nephews
aud neices OF Madame Jumel, VINO claimed 10 DO
her heirs, and sold their interest 70 INN soon ter
her death. TIE enorm value oil the estate ana
the interesting questions arising In the controversy
make the matter one Of more than usual public
interest The folio wing testimony was taken at
dence on the i2ta inst and several succeeding
days
lei Hull swora:Resldes and was bern in Providence
~ eigntytwo years OF age; has lived III Providence
all ms LIE. except five or Elk winters spent at the
South; knew Reuben bailou, oil Providence, IN his
life time; he lived ia Charles streets was butcher;
knew his widow; lived few houses from her,
with George Wheeden, a baker. In my childhood;
my father set up mr. Wneeden In business; my father
died when was ABOUT three Or four years old, and
Nj. Wneeden was nv guardian: when / was BOY
living at his house USED 10 he sent every morning
WAN a hand-basket with biscuits 10 Mr.. Neweis and
Mrs. Bailou's; knew Phebe Bowen; she lived on
the old Warren road, seven or eight miles from Pro-
violence; knew she certainly had one enid; there
were two girls lived with her; one named Betsey.
the other Molly or Polly; when i first knew Betsey
she was thir cen or lo'rteen years old don't know
which girl was the oldest; they both used to come
bare-looted into Providence with Phebe; they had q
small hapdeert, and used TO bring IN herbs and
greens 70 SELL always used TO stop at gle house, came
two or three tunes week; the girls thought good
deal OF me; was very small bog; afterwards saw
Bersey Bowen hirs. Ball0u's; saw her there when
she mad calld there; DON'T know how cid the child
was: she called NE Into her bedroom and wanted to
show me her good fat boy, as she called 1t; after
wards she gave me some coppers to buy candy; saw
her there good many times afterwards; could not
ready to 80 W New FORK; the morning saw the
baby there there 10 carry brea these bis
cuts: II was small gambril rooed house, and
SANDS there YETI Belsey was In the south part IN
bedroom, IN bed; she said IL was her baby, anu
asked me how liked the looks OF IT. l
should Judge at that time It was about
tnree or four days old, shonld Judge she was IRON
hiteen 10 eighteen years old; never knew that the
Balous were re atlves OF Betsey Bowen; BetSey
stayed In Providence after saw the baby; it could
not nave been year; II might have been i've or SIX
months she stayea: always saw her there at Mrs.
Ba.lous after the birth OF the child; they had
monkey there, and used 10 go up TO see and play
with it, so used to see her pretty often; always saw
the baby there: saw her carrying lt round In her
arms AMER snc got well and nursing 1t out of a Kind
81 bottle: IL was warm weather when she went away
from Proylceuce, she ana one Lavlnia Bailou lett
together III tie New ork packet, Captain Curry;
Laslnla was a married woman, married TO man
named Jones, Gersham jones' son; he was brass
founder ana had lived IN Providence / should say
that Setsey Bowen weab 10 New York from tour
to eight months after the baby born
/ first saw the baby in cold weather: after
Bcisey went TO New York, the baby renamed at
a.rs. Bal.ou's; he WAS there, ! guess, TILL ne was
ABOUT nine years Old; then went TO Smlthfield on
farm; saw MIN III Providence now and then; he
used 10 make his nome at Mrs. Ballou's when lie
came III visits; then he came back 10 Providence
ana lived at Mr.. Wheedon's, where lived; ne was
good stout bog then: he lived there with me; have
Known him ever since; he IS new here present; Geo.
". Bowen, the piaIntiu, Is the person; he always
went by the name OF George ". Bowen; never
heard Mrs Baliou say whose child he was; never
used 10 see Mrs. Daliou much wnen the ohild was
there; Mis-. Ballou had one daughter Lavina, an0 q
son, Wllnam; both now dead; Laylna died in New
YORK; Reuoen Ballous widow died many years ago:
! saw petsey Bowen after she went to New YORK;
saw her at MIR. Mason's house In Providence; she
brought on the body Of q man who had died III New
lorn; brought IL In coffin and had IL buried IN
Swansea, II. L. don't know the mans name; may
be tals more than ten years after she first
satae person saw at Mrs. BaIlou's; saw her again
in frovidence: one evening j was coming down
the street ana heard there was woman gong 10
lecture liz Benent street; went 10 Benefit street;
there was tavern there; II Is there now; a woman
came Out on the piazza and spoke about her gong
TO France and being admitted TO the Court OF Frances
she talked little while; the boys made such a
hooting at her, haioolpg and Kissing that couldn't
near half she SAID; 1t the woman we used to
call Betsey Bowen; the one had seen VITA the
baby; she said her name was Jume; had before
that heard Betsey was married to u Frenchman in
New FORK that had considerable property heard Ter
mother, heDe Bowen, say so; she gave the name or
Juine; Reisey had not been to france YET when
Phebe made this remark.