Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-12-12
A CURIOUS ROMANCE.
The Strange Bit of Family History X
Gently Unearthcd in Boston.

The Strange Bit of Family History Re.
Gently unearthcd in Boston.
A strange bit of family history was
whispered to me the other day. Years
ago pretty Miss Adams, of Boston, and
cousin of John Quincy Adams fell in
love with fascinating young fellow
named De Camp. Direct descent from
the great Earl of Douglas did not recon.
Gle Miss Adams parents to the idea OF
their daughter marrying him. But love
is stronger than bars and bolts and they
found way to meet.
A marriage followed, which, strange
to say, proved happy one, but Mrs. De
Camp was entirely cast off by her fam.
lily. Mr. and Mrs. De Camp lived in
Baltimore, which was farther from Bos-
ton then than from Europe now. -Four
children were born, two sons and two
daughters When the eldest was only
eleven years old both parents died and
the orphans were taken by the relatives
of Mr.. De Camp and their mothers his
tory was forgotten, ifever known. These
children grew up and married and one
daughter, Mrs. John Hancock, is living
in Washington to-day. All she has
ever known of her mother was that she
belonged to the old Adams family.
Whether she had aunts or unclcs she
had never heard.
DSeven charming daughters have grown
up in Mrs. Hancock's home and when
they are all together no gayer house
hold can be found. The eldest daugh-
ter is the wife of Governor Merriam, OF
Minnesota; another the wife of Lieu
tenant Hare, Seventh Cavalry, U. S. A.,
and third married Captain Eugene
Griffen, of the Engineer Corps. Re-
Gently Captain Griffen resigned from the
army to accept position in the Thorn
son-IIouston Electric Light and Rail.
road Company, and went to live in Bos-
ton.
Paying visit to one of the old fam
lilies of the Hub, Mrs. Griffcn casually
mentioned that her grandmother was an
Adams, of Boston, and cousin of John
Quincy Adams. In few days Miss
Adams, an old lady of ninety-four years,
sent for Mrs. Griffen, and it was soon
discovered that Mrs. Griffen's grand.
mother was the old lady's sister, Of
whom she had never heard since the
days of the runaway marriage. Mrs.
Hancock at once went to see her aunt
and learn about her mothers early life.
AS the old lady remembered the lonely
years which she had spent without
knowing and enjoying the society and
love of those who were the nearest and
would have been the dearest, she could
otrefrain from weeping. Each daugh-
ter of Mrs. Hancock has been to see the
old lady and the few years that may yet
be spared her she hopes to pass with
some one of the family.
Miss Adams, though so old, has re.
gained her second sight and can read
without glasses. She is as active men,
tally and as interested in all the topics
of the times as fifty years ago. Mrs,
Baker, of Covington, Ky, another aunt
of Mrs. Hancock. is still living at ninety
wears. Mrs. Baker has no children, and
her niece, Mrs. Hancock, will inherit her
ample property. The youngest and
only unmarried daughter of Mrs. Han
cock bears the historic name Of Abigail
Adams The author, Thomas Bailey
Aldrich. has also proved to be q cousin
of Mrs Hancock. Truth is stranger
than fiction IS every day proved. Wash.
ington CIR. Philadelphia Times