The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-08
Bsuodict ArnOld's Niece.

REARED IN ARISToCRATIC LUXURY AND NOW
LIVING UPON CHARITY IN LOCK HAVEN.
A Lock Haven telegram says: In an
humble dwelling in tnat part OF Lock
Haven known rs "The Devils Hall
Acres" lives a niece Of Benedict Arnold
Mrs. Ann Roam. a widow, aged between
eighty and ninety years. The story OF her
life is romantic. Although living by charity,
she is OF noble birth. Her paternal grand
father was q French nObleman. to whom
was given the city Of Florence for his coat
of-armS. Her father, Major Dellaas, is
mentioned in history several times for his
daring exploits. Major DeIIaaS married 4
Miss Shippen, of Philadelphia. His
wiIe's sister was the wife OF Benedict Ar
mold. While stationed in Philadelphia as
| commandant Arnold fell in love with Miss
Shippen. who was a lady Of arlstocratic
aptecedents and Tory predictions.
Mrs. DeHaas died when her daughter,
Mrs. Roam, was very young. After her
death Major DeIiaas abandoned the gayety
Of cltv life and came with his family TO
Clinton county, then almost a perfect will
dcrncss. He travelled TO here in a mag
| nifient coach. heavily draped in mourning,
and drawn by richly caparisOned horses.
The appearance Of the Majors coach al
WAYS created stir. because of the splcn-
| dor Of its equipments and the number OF
| his servants. lie was wealthy. and pur-
| chased much land between this city and
Bcecb Creek. small town southwest OF
here. Among the last OF his possessions
were the farms now or recently owned by
the heirs OF MesSrs. llOllenback, Herring
aud Whitefeld, all located in the district
mentioned.
Mrs. Roam was the Youngest daughter,
and TO her was given the surname Of her
mother. She married Joshua Roam, Il
blacksmith. who had iutemperate habits.
| After her marriage she either driited away
from or was dlSOwned by her father, who
died without leaving her any of his wealth.
For many years she lived at Mill Hall, a
small village, four miles from Lock Haven.
! AT that place her husband fell upon knife
while drunk and killed himself. Mrs. Roam
! is tbe mother Of three children, but they
seem to have little regard for her welfare,
and for a long time she has lived upon the
| charity OF a kindly-dispOsed family.
She is small Of statue, with face
grooved by the varied experiences OF a
| life begun in all the luXuriant comforts OF
wealth and ariStocracy and soon to end as
a charitable charge. Her hair is thin and
gray. Her sight seems to be unimpaired.
She is able to knit and do other kinds OF
work without the use OF spcctacles. When
YOUR correspondent referred to her wealthy
and aristocratic parentage, she exclaimed
" All. YES. sir; no one can deny that my
father owned thirteen plantations at one
time and could step from one to the other
| without crossing any other land. never
| saw nv mother and am not certain us to
my age a.,
Mrs. Roan's brother Philip was the
father OF the wife OF the late james Chat
ham. OF this CITY; Alex. DeIIaaS, Joseph
DeUaas, and Mary j. johnson. OF Beech
| Creek: and William Dellaas, OF Corsica,
Jefferson county. She had two brothers
besides PhilIp-William and Edward
and two siSterS-EliZa and Harriet. Mrs.
Roam and Edward are the only members OF
the family living. The latter, an old man,
/ lives with his son, John p. Dellaas, on
Marsh creek, Centre county. Mrs Roan's
mothers sister, Mrs. Bingham. Is referred
TO as follows in an article published in one
Of the Philadelphia newspapers some years
aoo. "Here is Mrs. Bingham, once Mrs.
! Shippen, an acknowledged leader OF soci-
ety. who. having reigned at the court OF
Louis XVI, has returned to establish her
| brilliant salon in Philadelphia. and OF whom
that man OF sound judgment, John Adams
/ (aftcrward Presidcnt). says: 'Taken alto
gether, she is the finest woman l ever
| COW ~