New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-01
JeGers0u's Marriage.

Jeuef0Ou'8 nATrlu8cs
John Esten Cooke, in an article in the
July Harper's, writes as follows Of Jeffer.
some marriage:
The affair was quite little comedy in
some aspects, and ended, as all comedies
should. with everybody made happy.
belinda" had been married many years,
and her old admirer was approaching thirty.
when he met with young lady OF twenty
two who produced q strong impression upon
him. She was little above the medium
height, slender but elegantly formed. A
fair complexion, with delicate tint of the
rose, large hazel eyes, full of life and feel
ing, and luxuriant hair Of a rich, soft au-
burn. formed combination of attractions
which was calculated to move the heart OF
a Young bachelor. In addition to all this,
the lady was admirably graceful; che rode,
danced, and moved with elegant ease. and
sang and played on the harpsichOrd very
sweetly.
Add still to these accomplishments the
possession of excellent good sense, very
considerable cultivation, q warm heart and
a very considerable fortune, and it will not
be difficult to understand how tie youthful
Mr.. Jefferson came to visit very frequently
at the lady's residence in the county Of
Charles CITY. 1t was called 1.-The Forest"
and the name Of the lady was Mrs. Martha
Shelton. She was daughter OF John
Wayles, an eminent lawyer, and had mar
lied, in her seventeenth year, Mr.. Bathurst
Shelton, who, dying in l76S, left his young
wife widow at nineteen. As the three
years of mourning began to expire. the
beautiful young lady found herself be-
seiged at 1.-THE Forest" by numerous visit
ors Of these, three were favorites with
the fair Mrs. Shelton. of whom Mr.. Thomas
Jefferson was one. The tradition runs that
In In cd
either BY the musical compliments Of
the young counselor or by the tears of his
opponents.
The tale is differently related. One YER
sion is that the two unfortunate gentlemen
encountered each other on Mrs. Skeletons
doorstep, but hearing Jefferson's violin
and voice accompanying the lady in pa
thetic song, gave up the contest thencefort6
and retired without entering, convinced
that the affair was beyond their control.
The other story is that all three met at the
door. and agreed that they would take their
turns. Jefferson entered first, and the tones
of the lady in singing with her companion
| deprived the listeners Of all hope. How
| ever, this may be, if is certain that the
| beautiful widow consented to become Mrs.
| jefferson; and on the first day OF January,
! l772, there was q great festival at "Vhe
| Forest" Friends and kindred assembled
l
and dancing after the abundant old
| fashion; and we find from the bride
broom's note book that the servants
| ard tiddlers received fees from his especial
racket. 1t showed without, but within all
was mirth and enjoyment, in the light and
| warmth of the great log fires, roaring 10
honor of the occasion. Soon after the per.
formance Of the ceremony, the bridegroom
| and his bride set out in their carriage FOL
| affa
| menced building in 1869, just before the
destruction by fire Of his patrimonial house
| "Shadwell." The journey was not to end
without adventures. As they advanced to
ward the mountains the snow increased n
depth. aud finally they were compelled t.
leave the carriage and proceed on their way
on horseback. Stopping to rest 1t "bien
| helm" the seat of Colonel Carter, where
they found. however, no one but an over
seer, they left it at sunset, resolutely oen'
upon reaching Monticello that hight. Y
was eight miles distant, and the road, which
was rather q mountain bride path thar
| an honest highway, was encumbered VIII
snow three feet in depth. We may fame!
the sensations of the newly weddet
bride at the chill appearance OF tn
desolate Landscape as she passed alonl
through the snow; but she was woman
courage and good sense, and did not car
i
arrived. and a cherries reception awaitet
them-or rather there was no reception 9
all. The fires were all out, the servant
had gone to bed, and the place was as darl
and silent as the grave. Conducting hi
wife to the little pavilion, which was tn
on.y part of the house habitable at tn
time, Jefferson proceeded to kindle q fir
and do the honors. On shelf behln'
some books part of q bottle OF wine wa
discovered; aud this formed the supper Q
the bridegroom and bride. Far from bein
annoyed or discounted by their reception
however, it only served for q topic Of jes
and laughter. The young lady. was q
lighthearted as bird, and sent her clea
voice ringing through tho dreary ittl
pavilion as gaily % che had ever done
the cheerful drawingroom of "The Forest;
and thus the long hours Of tho winter nigh
fed away like minutes winged with laugh
| ter. merriment and song.