The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-08-04
NUMBER 81
Andrew Jackson's Wife
THE STORY OF HER DEATH As ToLrRy
OLD SERVANT

THE STORY OF HER DEATH As roIpBy An
OLD SERVANT.
There was TO be grand supper given old
master in Nashville the next day and in the
evening she tole him be must lav down and
! get some sleep. He hadn't had his clothe,
| of since Wednesday but he said mo
/ Ole mistus said he must, and she had A bed
! brought into the parlor for him Betty
/ who was old, and talked To master as she
/ pleased, said to him he should Law down.
and that he should not 90 70 town next
| day that she saw death on ole mistus'
| face. He then went into the parlor. took
| of his coat, westeoat and boots. and Law
| down. He said he couldn't sleep, but he
might rest while, and to come for him
| quick II there WAS any change in mistus.
| In little while mistus said she wanted 10
| get up. Me and Betty helped her lup and
| placed her in a chair. Betty was about To
hx the bed, when mistus, VINO was leaning
on me, said, "Ah - and her head dropped
on my shoulder. just then George came
TO the door. tie was going home. and his
wife wanted him always to ask how old
mlstus was before he started. | tole him
to call master. Master run in, and we
placed here in bed. She did not breathe
George went for the doctor. who was asleep
IN another room. When he came in master
said, Bleed Der, bleed her, doctor" The
doctor shook his head. Master again said,
Bleed her, doctor, for Gods sake ~ The
doctor then struck the lancet in her arm.
but there was no blood. He then tried the
temple there WAS just drop of blood
hardly enough to stain her cap. Then he
SAID, General, she is dead" She never
drew a breath after she said FAh - Moses,
a cOlOred boy on the place, mounted a
horse and galloped to Nashville to tell the
news to friends and relatives. Master An
drew Donelson and Major Lewis came about
daylight | remember their hats were coy
cred with frost. 1t was a cold clear night
Others came in afterward, and, with the
neighbors, soon filled the house. Master
never left the room where mistus Law. He
stayed while we washed, combed and
shrouded her We tried to get him away,
but he wouldn't go. He sat in chair with
his head bowed and his face in his hands.
crying all the time. Nobody could comfort
him. After mistus was laid out he sent up
stairs for ten blankets for the body to be
laid on. Me, Betty and Mary went up and
fetched them down. They were spread on
the table in the parlor, where tbs body was
to lay, and 1t was put upon them He
thought she might come to in the night, and
said she would lay SO hard on the bear board
When this was done my little boy Byron
came in. Master called him to him and
stood him between his knees. ''Your ole
missus is gone, Byron" he said, and began
again to cry. Miss Matthews took Byron
away from him. He sat by the corpse all /
night, holding his head down and moaning !
so pitiful Every now and then he would /
uncover the face and kiss it, and watch to
see if there was any sign of life When she .
was buried he could hardly walk, and had to .
be helped to the grave by two of his friends. |
He said to one of the gentlemen when they /
got back to the house "W hat i the yorld'- /
hOnors to me since she is taken from me?' |
He had a small frame house built over her
grave. He said he didn't want the rain to
fall on her 1t remained there until Mr.. /
Harris put up the monument. Master kept
ole mistus' cap with the spot of blood on it \
for many years. don't know what ever |
cum of it.