Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-03-07
BELLEBOYD, ,THESPY.
incidents i'm Her Early Life In
tercstingly Related by
"Aunt" Mary
Stripling.

"Aunt" Mary
STRIPPING.
At the western base of hill in
Berkeley county, w. Va, about a
mile and half back from the river,
and directly opposite Williamsport,
in comfortable farm house, sur
rounded by family of grown chill.
dren lives "Aunt" Mary Stripping,
an Old colored woman, who cherishes
the memory of once having been the
maid, and, in a manner, the COM
pauion in her early life of Belle Boyd,
the famous female spy of the Confed-
eracy.
"Aunt" Mary is relict of slavery
DAYS. She was born in Clarke coun-
ty, Virginia, on the plantation Of
John Early, the father of Gen. Jubal
Early, the leader. Her childhood
was spent in that old Virginia home,
but when her young mistress, Miss
Susan Early became the bride of
James Glenn, whose plantation bor-
dered many miles on the Potomac,
about Sandy Ridge, near Shepherds
town, she went along to continue in
the.service of her misses" 1t was
there she first met and became asso-
ciated with the woman whose daring,
wild escapades were rarely equaled by
and often astonished the men in gray
with whom she mingled during the
days of blood and strife.
Maria Belle Boyd was born in Mar
tinsburg. She was the daughter of
Benjamin Boyd, a reputable and
wealthy resident of that place. Their
home was bright. inviting place. and
there Belle and her sister. who lives
in Charlestown, and brother were
carefully reared. Her after life
however, threw black shadow
athwart the threshold of that home
and the training she received there.
James Glenn, the owner and mas
ter of "Aunt" Mary, was the uncle of
Belle Boyd, who often visited and
spent much of her time on his plan
tation before the war. She was des-
cribed to Nail representative by the
old colored woman as having been a
stately and prepossessing young lady
with black eyes and hair, and having
many admirers among the male sex.
Her associates were classed among
the best families. She always dress
ed in style and was great lover of
out door sport, in which her high
spirited nature was wont to revel.
She sat upon horse like eques-
trienne and would ride like the wind
over the country for miles in the
fox hunt with an escort, but frequent
ly alone. In this respect her manner
often bordered upon recklessness. AT
times she would appear disguised in
male dress and ride horse back with
parties of her friends. These elements
in her nature at that time, however,
were the only indications, which,
though unforeseen, pointed unerringly
into the future to life of stirring
romance and wild and reckless dar-
ing.
james Glenn had two daughters,
Florence and Lille. who were her
constant companions during her visits
to their home.
When the war broke out Belle
Boyd's nature was aroused and her
sympathies went out freely to the
Southern cause. She never intimated
to anyone her determination, but after
the first year of carnage passed she
quietly left home and joined Gen.
Ashby's command. Her career then
began. She gradually overcame her
womanly timidity and the spirit of
fearlessness arose in its stead. AS a
spy she won fame and figured in some
of the greatest adventures on record.
Her services to the Confederate army
were almost invaluable. The fame Of
woman spread over the country, and
won at once admiration and contempt.
Her life has been published in full
and is well known. She was captured
by the Union soldiers and sent to For.
tress Monroe. Then she was sent to
the Old Capital prison in Washing
ton, and there married a Northern
soldier. There her father found her
and died of broken heart. Her life
afterward was checkered and full of
romance and adventure.
What the Shakers of Mount Leban-
on know more about than anybody
else, is the use of herbs and how TO be
healthy.