The Osceola times., 1883-09-08
BENEDICT ARNOLD's NIECE.
Reared In Aristocratic Luxury and Now
Living Upon Charity In Lock Haven.
philadelnhfa Times


Philadelphia Times.
In an humble dwelling in that part of
Lock Haven known as "The DEVILS Half
Acre" lives niece of Benedict Arnold,
Mrs. Ann Roam, widow, aged between
eighty and ninety years. The story of
her life is romantic. Although living by
charity she is ofnoble birth. Her pater-
nal grandfather was French nobleman,
TO whom was given the city of Florence
for his coat-ofarms. Her father, Major
De Haas, is mentioned in history several
times for his daring exploits. Major De
Haas married Miss shippen, of Phila-
delphia. His wife's sister was the wife
Of Benedict Arnold. While stationed in
Philadelphia as commandant Arnold fell
in love with Miss shippen, who was
lady of aristocratic antecedents and Tory
predictions.
Mrs. De Haas died when her daughter,
Mrs. Roam, was very young. After her
death Major De Haas abandoned the
gayety of city life and came with his
family to Clinton County, then almost a
perfect wilderness, He travelled TO here
in u magnificent coach, heavily draped
in mourning and drawn by richly capar-
isoned horses. The appearance of the
Majors coach always created a stir, be-
cause of the splendor Of its equipments
and the number of his servants. He was
wealthy and purchased much land be-
tween this city and Rock Creek, small
town southwest of here. Among the last
of his possessions were the farms now or
recently owned by the heirs of NIessrs.
Hollenback, Herring and Whitefield, 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, a
blacksmith, who had Incorporate habits.
After her marriage she either drifted
away from or was disowned by her faith
or, who died without leaving her any of
his wealth. For many years she lived at
Mill Hall, small village, four miles from
Lock Haven. At that place her husband
fell upon knife, while drunk, and killed
himself. Mrs. Roam is the 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 stature, with face
grooved by the varied experiences of a
life begun in the luxuriant comforts of
wealth and arlstocracy, and soon TO end
as a charitable charge. Her hair is thin
and gray. Her sight seems to be unim-
paired. She is able TO knit and do other
kinds of work without the use of spec
tacles. When your correspondent re-
ferred to her wealthy and aristocratic
parentage, she exclaimed "Ah, yes, sir I;
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
my mother, and arr not certain as to my
age"
Mrs. Roan's brother Philip, was the
father Of the wife of the late James Chat
ham of this city, Alex De Haas, Joseph
De Haas and Mary j. johnson of Beech
Creek, and William De Haas of Corsica,
jefferson county. She had two brothers
besides Philip-Willam and Edward
and two sisters-Eliza and Harriet Mrs.
Roam ana Edward are the only members
of the family living. The latter, an old
man, lives with his son, John 2. De Haas,
on Marsh Creek, Centre county. Mrs.
Roan's mothers sister, Mrs. Bingham, is
referred 10 as follows in an article pub
lished in one of the Philadelphia news
papers some years ago: Here is Mrs.
Bingham, once Miss shippen, an ac-
knowledged leader of society, who, hav-
ing 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
tafterward President), says: Taken alto
gether, she is the finest woman | ever
saw"