The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-28
Mt. Tabor, Fla.
A WOMAN BECOMES A NAN.
The Great virginia Sensation.

markabHe. occurrence. 1t soundS more
like romance than fact, but We must re-
member that truth is frequently stranger
than fiction. Nor can the least doubt be
entertained, because we have the assu-
rance of well known citizen of Atlanta,
that the facts stated in the article con.
cerning Miss (beg PARDON Mrs. (pardon
US, MT. Rebecca Payne, are absolutely
true, he having known her (him) and
her (his) family from childhood. A
special from Winchester, Va, says:
Miss Elizabeth Rebecca Payne,
daughter of the late Joseph Payne, seven
miles from Winchester, who has lived
for thirty eight years as Lady, suddenly
avowed herself to be, q few days since, a
man, and startled James P. Kelley,
Clerk of the County Court here, by ap.
plying for license to marry Miss Hin
ton, who had resided in the Payne family
as domestic. The lady who ired the
heart Of Mr.. Payne with such passion as
to compel him to throw off the habit of
lifetime and declare his sex is prepos-
sessing and forty years of age. The
strange affair has caused a decided sensa-
tionin the Shenandoah Valley and moth.
ing else is talked about. Payne was
brought up as girl. No one ever ques-
toned his sex, and his ayowal that he
was man took away the breath of the
community. Elizabeth Rebecca Payne
was one Of a family Of six daughters
was brought up as woman, and was ad'
mitted into the best society in company
with other members of the family. He
was always regarded as a somewhat mas.
culine girl, but no one suspected he was
man. He was a most dashing and
graceful equestrienne, and always chal-
lenged admiration as he frequently rode
into Winchesterwith his habit aad some
what long hair trailing in the wind. He
was one of the most widely know ladies
in the valley. In addition to good birth
and inherited acres he developed remar-
kable business talent for a woman when
reverses in the family fortunes rendered
it necessary for SOMEONE to put a shoul'
der to the wheel.
His sisters were distinguished for their
culture and personal charms and several
of them married prominent gentlemen.
Rebecca Payne devoted himself to the
management of farm and to the super.
vision of store which he had established
at Rest, where he also held the appoint
ment of Postmistress. He also dealt in
cattle and horses and became an expert
in that way. All his enterprises pros
pered and he has acquired considerable
wealth. Determining to marry he threw
off his dresses and applied for license
from court at Winchester, but the aston.
ished clerk, who, like everybody else,
knew him as woman, declined to issue
q license for a woman to marry woman.
The parents of Miss Hinton lives in
Berkeley County, W. Va, adjoining
Frederick County, in which Miss Payne
lives, SO the latter proceeded to Martins
burg, the county seat of Berkeley Coun.
ty, and procured marriage license in
the name of l.. R. Payne, and the mar.
riage was celebrated Thursday afternoon,
as above stated, the Rev. John Land
street, of the NJ. E. Church, South,
Martinsburg, officiating. A large crowd
witnessed the marriage, the church being
thrown open to the public at the expense
of the groom. The groom, who put on
male attire only few days before the
wedding, is good looking, tail and slim,
rather delicate looking, of fair complex
ion aud with long curls.
Additional interesting details of the
groom are given in the Baltimore Anaeri-
can in letter from Staunton, written by
6 former teacher Of the girl.groom. She
speaks in the highest terms of praise of
Rebecca. She made friends everywhere
by her gentleness of manner and open.
ness of heart. She was true Christian,
and circumspect in all her actions-re-
spectful and attentive to her instructors,
ambitious to excel; and that laudabe
ambition carried her up to the highest
I'D of the ladder of knowledge. She
was famed for her muscular force and
was a leader in all brave exploits. A
shadow of sadness. however, seemed to
rest forever on he~N6xed and handsome
features, caused b, Ape deep secret that
marred her youthta: ppiuess. Years
after her graduation p.Perous young
farmer fell in love with her and proposed
in this way: Becky, l have a farm
worth 100000, and would like to marry
you; but / don't want to marry all your
sisters. They can't live with US"
She replied: "John, I have as good a
farm as yours, but don't want you nor
your S60,000. I am already married to
my mother and sisters. We all have
enough to eat without my marrying"
John went and got married to another
girl, and after awhile Becky bought his
farm for about half its value and added
it to the family estate.
The sequel of this strange, eventful
history is told in the details given in the
letter from Winchester.
"A gentleman in California recently
found in his we'll, sixteen feet deep, a
mass of roots belonging to eucalyptus
HFtx, foof dyofo pk