The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04
TRENTON'SW NPATRI0T
DAME VINO DBLIGH HTS IN sERTING
HER COUNTRY'S ENDS.

The Daughter Of Man who Foush WIZ
PsuI Jones -Oaerins her Az TO he'p ret
Down Rebellion rse Real spirit OF 177"'
Sarah Smith stafford OF Trenton Is the
daughter Of Lieut. James Bayard Stafford, VINO
..rv.d unJer Paul Jones In the Bon Homme
Richard and who in the memorable contest
with the seeipis OF the osst OF England, on the
2sd Of septemper, 1779 distinguished himself by
jumping into the sea and rescuina the b,R that
had been shot away. While mailing II to tho
mast he was severely wounded. He subse-
quentIy allied civil ofices OF distinction. tic
died soon after Sarah was born. In AFTER years
Sarah went to Trenton and opened scnooi, re-
csiving PATRONAGE from the influential families
Of tho State. Her acquaintance became extern
sive and her friendship was much cultivated.
She continued her school for twenty years, and,
In 1919, went to Washington upon peculiar
mission. Her father being volunteer did not
rece,ve any portion Of the prize money allowed
by Congress.
m,ss Stafford sought TO secure his share. At
,bs capital she made friends In several Of the
influential families, and q school was establish
ed, by which she could support herself while
pressing her claim. For twenty-four years this
bttle woman worked on, being visited at times
by SIMON Cameron. Senator Edmunds. Ben But
Ter, and others, but the bill did not reach nnai
confederation until 1879. Then, after being
an ended by Mr. Hale, reducing the amount to
$500, It was passed.
HER ANCESTRY.
Patriotism and pride OF ancestry have ever
been Miss Stanord's oh aract eristics. Among her
ancestors she includes Sir Stafford II Northcots
OF England, Charles Carroll OF Carrollton, one
Of the slgners Of the Declaration OF Independ-
ence and Michael Bacon the nrst, who came
over In tho Mayhower. what hurts tho old lady
more than anything else Is the desire OF many
false pretenders tn cldim kinshp TO her. She
exhibited letter from the Bacon family OF New
England, wherein Efforts are made to prove that
the Rev. DIR. Leonard Bacon Is OF Kin. But"
said she, " they cant fool me I'm too well in
formed have a Will dated 1909, which Leonard
Bacon has tried toRe possession Of, but y will
prove nothing for him." aud she toddled on and
produced musty piece OF paper, which could
be read only with difficulty.
Miss stafford had accumulated tl5,oOO when
the rebellion broke out. Public finances were
in deplOraole condition. and Gov. Olden made
proclamation callins for the loan Of million
dollars. Miss stafford was the first to respond
Wrapping her money in an apron she fastened
70 the state House, and laid 1t all before the
WHAT'S th,s2" he said.
ut Is every cent have In the world" she re-
Ba .ss it," out II my country ns'a' IT. ''' can
the Governor endeavored to have her recon.
slider her artion. The war has commenced"
he said, and God only knows how 1t will end
and you may lose your all
Governor and she looked him traight In
the eyes, while her Voice betokencd great nrm-
ness. "my country is in danger. II can have
use It ms you will"
The Governor took So 600 and gave her voucher
No. ]. The voucher was subsequently paid in
greenbacks, and as sue had lent the amount in
gold. the Legislature afterwdrd passed an act
giving her 500 additional. she then had about
fl00tOi bolds. ~. In the vaults OF the trenton
Banking Company on the 2lst OF January,
1s12 burglars entered that institution, gagged
the watchmcn, opened the vaults, aud escaped
with much piunuer, including all of Miss stat
forG's property She has not received cents
reimbursement. Tue money that she received
from tOn.te&, was Invested 10 Northern Pacific
stock, and tnat was wiped out by the failure Of
nothing except the mouse she lives In. II Is a
nne three-stury brick structure, situated Ia a
are decorated with national colors, and large
medallion OF W asnington ornaments the door.
HBR PORTRAIT.
Miss Sarah Is short and well preserved, and
enjoys ali her faculties. Her face beaned with
pleasure as she led the way into wonderfully
disDrdered room. Old muskets. swords shot,
shell. uniforms. camp equipments. and trophies
were scattered everywhere. Miss sarah settled
into an easy cnair WITH long sigh, saying. " IN
very tired NV what do ySu suppose I've
TONED TO pave this street. ana n they do 1t viii
cost me setU, and haven't got the money. so
am getting a counter petition. and she un
rolled "A paper containing 300 names which ibis
httie old lady Of "a years had gathered by walk
ing around town. she defeated sewer job a
wear ago and Is confident of success against the
pavement. She il very voluble. but her intelli-
Rence makes her yerDosity endurable. She said
that she mad just returned from Washington,
whitner she had been to see what could be done
~
Alstter received from Admiral 1 nornton A. Jenk-
ins, L. ) ~, VI the Government Board u Cen
tenna Commissioners. who desired some of her
relics for exhibition al Philadelphia. Then she
brought In three immense pager boxes, Uttered
with documents and letters, many OF them oil
great value, and tlaced them before the re-
porter for INSPECTION. There were letters from
SIR Stafford Northcote, All engrossed copy OF
thsnss from a former Legislature for the gift of
Bible To each member, an Autograph letter 10y
Commodore John barry. recommending
Lieutenant Stafford; court martial pro-
ceeungs In the against benedict
Arnold, tried In 1850 for fraud ana delin-
quencies as Quarterm aster; photographs origi-
nal order by Gen. Washington, dated Valley
Forge. Marcn, IT'S. relative to the Icorganiza-
tion Of his body guard. and many other cufios-
lies. Tnen she exhibited a piece Of the court
dress and sash worn by the wife Of Capt. Miles
standish; the Sword Of Bunker Hi" which
In 1870, and which was used at Lexington and
Bunker Hill photograph OF the star spAnelcd
washington's bed curtains, imprinted With me-
dalton portraits of distinguished Generals Of
Of the old Alliance, original picture OF Paul
Jones, and batch OF Continental money.
THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG.
The most important relic belonging TO Miss
American h-g recognized by foreign powers.
anu the one shot from the masthead Of the Bon
Homme Richard In the engagement with the
Scraps. While Its identity has never been
sailed, there has been much discussion as TO
Miss stafford Is positive, and has much evidence
on her side.
Lieut.. stafford was transferred with the nag
70 the Alliance, and the coIors we're used upon
that vessel until the close OF the war, wben they
were presented by act OF Congress TO the Lieu
tenant for his bravery, and have been Ia the
family ever since. They were exhibited at the
great Sanitary Fair, held In New York and Pha-
delphia. and at Lexington last year. The flag
Was originally eleven feet long, by SIX feet ave
tuches wide but tho length has been reduced
To uine feet. IL is Of bunting, with thirteen red
and white stripes, and twelve white stars upon
blue held. II was made la l77T by ladies' OF the
old Swedish Church, Pniladelphia and was pre-
scented to Paul Jones.
a North Carolina hail.