The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-31
MADAME JUMEL'S ESTATE.
THE SENSATION OF THE Day IN NEW
YORK.
A Cause Celebre-A Presumptive Son OF
George Washington.
Correspondence Of the Boston Post.]

Correspondence Of the Boston Post.]
NEW YORK, January 26.
It is now almost one hundred years since
one of the most remarkable women who have
| figured In American society was born, and 10
80 great an age did she attain that the law
yers may be said to be only at the commence
ment OF their quarrels over her estate. Eliza
Bowen was born in Providence, R. l., In
ITS, and died. as Madame Jume, In New
York City, in 1865. Hers was a most sin.
gular life, and her history, career and
circumstances, giving rise as they did to
nearly century's gossip and scandal, are
now for the first time being recalled
to memory In a connected form by the
efforts of the opposing lawyers In the trial be-
fore the United States Circuit Court for the
possession of the estate. The greatest inter-
est is manifested In the case. particularly by
those of middle and advanced age, who have
| had the opportunity OF watching the move
menls of and taking part In the general con.
versation concerning Madame Jumel during
the past twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years.
When the old lady died, seven years ago,
| many were the "reminiscences of the former
s'belle of New York; INDUCED In by wealthy
! dowagers and garrulous old gentlemen, but
as one cannot be forever thinking Of the dead.
the theme soon became as lfeless as It's sub
jpct, and was only touched upon at rare inter-
walls and in casual discussions. Now, how.
ever, the veteran affair has become cdSoS
6elli, and therefore not only the bench and bar
but also the "old society of Gotham are all
''up In arms" about 1t.
THE PARTIES IN THE SUIT.
;1oL oolo of,,yo
pletIon, many ladies being included In the all-
dience. Judge Shipman presldes, and the
lawyers In attendance are goodly In number
and reputation. For the plaintiff appear Mr..
william A. Beach, ex-Surrogate Gideon ].
Tucker, Messrs. Chauncey Shafer, Levi 8.
Chatheld, F. G. Mcdonald and others. The de-
fendant Is represented by Messrs. Charles
Ing parties are, respectively. Mr.. George
Washington Bowen-an old, venerable, white
haired gentleman of Rhode Island, yho claims
to be the only child of Eliza Bowen-and Mr..
Nelson Chase, the present holder Of the Jumel
estate, who disputes Bowen's pretenslons, and
claims to inherit the property legally, being
the nearest liviog relative of the deceased.
t,Where there's will there's way" the pro.
verb truly observes, but the trouble In this
case is that there Is no satisfactory will. The
only instrument Of the kind that was left be.
hind her has been set aside by the court ana
the surrogate, 30 that the madame, although
she made many attempts ut constructing
will, was finally bafled in her intentions; and
though she went down to her grave In the 6rm
conviction that she had ordered her mundane
affairs according to her desire, she must have
found disappointment awaiting her In the
ssspirit-land," If ''such things be-"
THE YOUTH OF MADAHE JUAEL.
It is sufficient for the present purpose to
say that the life of Madame Jumel, without
being positively and continuously immoral,
was, to say the least, peculiar, Involved the
happiness and misery OF number of histori-
cal Americans, and was Of the most varied
description. AS related by Mr.. Shafftr, Eliza,
or as she was generally called, "Betsey"
BoweB, was the daughter of John and Phoebe
Bowen, of Providence, R. I. Her parents
were of the lowest aud poorest class. John
being seaiaripg man and Phoebe Waif from
childhood, whose history cannot be traced.
Bstsey had Two sisters, one older than herself,
named PQlly. and one younger, named Layi-
ma The youtn Of the Eirle waa passed under
the most unfavorable conditions. Their father
was away at sea most OF the lime, ana the,r
in mournful seclusion. The residence Of the
Bowens was continually the scene of violent
disorders, participated In by the most
degraded specimens of white and black hui
mauity. Twice was the house torn down
by mob, and at last Phoebe was
sey were sent to the town workhouse. They
we're then only ten or twelve years old, and
the effect of these early associations upon their
youthful minds may be imagined. Polly and
Betsey left their mother In 1889. Lavina had
been confded 10 infancy to the care Of rela-
tive of Phoebe, living 10 Providence, namely,
the wife of Major Reuben Ballou, a Revolu-
tionary soldier; and now Betsey Bowen sought
and obtained home In the same family. Her
circumstances do not appear to have been i'm
proved, however, by this change, for the man.
sion of the Ballous WAS Of the same turbulent
character as that Of Bowen and his wife. Here
Polly died, but Betsey grew to be q young wo-
man, and In 1874, at the age OF nineteen, be-
came the mother OF the present plaintiff,
George Washington Bowen. The Identity of
the father Is somewhat obscure, but 1t Is sup
posed that he was none other than the redoubt-
able Revolutionary hero, Major Reuben Balou,
himself Inasmuch, however, as Betsey had
before that time made pilgrimage to New
York, and In later lie hintei very strongly of
an intimate acquaintance with distinguished
American, there are those who suppose that
the Youngsters appellation was not given
without good reason. This is immaLerial,
though, as The present action Is brought under
the New York State statute, allowing children
to inherit from their mothers property, both
real and personal.
BETsEY'S RISE AND PROGRESS.
Soon after this, Belsey shook the dust of
Providence from her feet, and went to New
York City, bidding final farewell to her
hopeful son, whom she left In the tender
charge of Mrs. BallOu, woman afflicted with
no absurd jealousies. In 1901 Betsey appears
to have become domeslicated iu New York.
and then and there began that extraordinary
career which has only just now come 10 an
end, and which led her to the highest pinnacle
of worldly prosperity. At this time she was
about twenty-five years of age, Of great beau-
ty. and-what is marvellous in view Of her
educanon-possessed of mental ability and
tact which charmed and enthralled all behold
ers. She soon became very celebrated, and
assumed the ''belleshp" which she only abdi-
Gated at death. Among her undoubLed or
suspected admirers, at different periods In her
life, were General Washington, Louis XVIII,
Joseph Bonnaparte, Mr -Jumel and Aaron
Burr. In 1904 she became acquainted with
Jumel, and persuaded him to marry her. This
was the commencement OF her financial and
social good fortune. Jumel as Is well known,
was French gentleman of ability and wealth.
who, after various vlcissiludes In his native
country and elsewhere, embarked early In
the century for New York, with about dozen
ships, arrived safely, became one of the ear.