Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-07-21

JEFFERSON'S MARRIAGE.

The affair was quite a little comedy
in some aspects, and ended, as all come
dies should, with everybody made happy.
belinda" had been married many
years, and her old admircr was approach
ing thirty, when he met with young
lady of twenty-five, who produced a
strong impression upon him. She was
q little above the medium height, slen-
der but elegantly formed. A fair com
plexion, With delicate tint of the rose
large hazel eyes, full of life and feeling,
and luxuriant hair of rich soft auburn.
formed a combination of attractions
which was eminently calculated to move
the heart of youthful bachelor. In
addition to all this the lady was admira-
bly, graceful; she rode, danced, and
moved with elegant case, and sang and
played on the harpsichord very swecty.
Add still to these accomplishment the
possession of excellent good sense, very
considerable cultivation, warm heart
and considerable fortune, and it will
not be difficult to understand how the
youthful Mr.. Jefferson came to visit very
frequently at the ladys residence in the
county Of Charles city. 1t was called
"The Forest" and the name of the lady
was Mrs Martha Shelton. She was a
daughter of John Wayley. an eminent
lawyer, and had married in her seven
tenth year Mr.. Bathurst Shelton, who
dying in 1768, left his young wife d
widow at nineteen. As the three years
of mourning began to expire the beautiful
young lady found herself besieged al
1.-The Forest by numerous visitors
OF these, three were favorites with the
fair Mrs. Shelton, Of whom Mr.. Thomas
Jefferson was one The tradition runs
that the pretensons of the rivals were
decided either by the accomplishment
of the young counsellor or by the fear,
of his opponents The tale is different.
ly related One verson is that the two
unfortunate gentlemen encountered each
other on Mrs. Skeletons doorstep, but
hearing Jefferson's violin and voice
accompanying the lady in q pathetic
song, gave up the contest thenceforth,
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 tones of the lady in singing with
her companion deprived the listeners of
all hope. However this may be, it is
certain that the beautiful widow consent
ed to become Mrs. Jefferson, and on the
1st day of January, 1772, there was a
great festival at 1.-THE Forest" Friends
and kindred assembled from far and
near there was frolicking and dancing
after the abundant old fashion and we
find from the bridegroom's note book
that the servants and fiddlers received
fees from his especial pocket. 1t snow
ed without, but within all was mirth
and enjoyment, in the light and warmth
of the great log fires, roaring in honor
of the occasion. Soon after the per-
formance of the ceremony the bride
groom and bis bride set out in their car
rage for "Monticello," where Jefferson
had commenced building in 1869. just
before the destruction by fire Of his
patrimonial house of "Sbadwell." The
journey was not to end without adyen-
lures. As they advanced toward the
mountains the snow increased in depths,
and finally they we're compelled to leave
the carriage. and proceed upon their way
on horseback. Stopping to rest at
''BleDheim ;" the seat Of Colonel Carrier,
where they found, however, no one but
an overseer they left it at sunset, reso-
tutely bent upon reaching Monticello
that night. 1t was eight miles distant,
and the road, which was rather a noun
tain bridle-path than an honest highway.
was incumbered with snow three feet
deep. We may fancy the sensations Of