The evening times., 1899-09-08

the southern Dranch OF the Iamlly Win the
Northern branch. The latter wing has for
some years past held annual Tyler Family
Meetings." as they are called at Andover,
N. H., which have been largely attended by
descendants of Job Tyler.
There has always been a difference be-
tween the Northern and Southern Tylers as
to their relationship and their ancestry, as
is usually the case when heraldy and lin
cage enter into the consideration of a ques-
ton; SO this year the annual Tyler Fam
lily Meeting" is to be held in Washington to
enable the Virginia and Maryland Tylers to
meet their New England cousins and agree
If possible, on the relationship, affliation,
and status of each particular branch.
On the subject of the connection between
the Northern and Southern Tylers, the fam
lily of the late President John Tyler seems
TO be divided. Lyon g. Tyler, one of his
sons, who is president of William and Mary
College, Virginia, is president of the Tyler
Family Meeting" Dr. Lachland Tyler of
the New York board of health, another son,
is also a member of the society, but Mrs.
Letitia Tyler Semple, daughter of Presi-
dent Tyler, now residing at the Louise
Home in this city, is strongly opposed
clares that there is absolutely no relation
ship existing between the Tylers of the
North and the Tylers of the South.
Mrs. Semple, who is seventy-fve years
old, Is very entertaining. and is a perfect
mine OF family lore. When questioned cCn-
corning the meeting and its objects she
disavowed any connection with the society
of Tylers which is to hold the melting. Il
have frequently been approached on the
subject Of becoming member of the So
ciety," she said, but have never joined and
never WILL as l don't consider the Northern
Tylers are any relation to us of the South.
Some time ago ] received a letter from
Moses Colt Tyler, the secretary of the
meeting, informing me that / had been
elected one of the board OF governors, as a
patriarchess. All that was necessary, he
said, was for me to be over eighty years
of age and to declare myself descendant
of Job Tyler. / replied that l was clearly
ineligible to membership as / was not de-
scended from Job Tyler and had never
heard OF him and could not become a pa
triarchess. as l was not eighty years of
age. ="
Il have frequently been asked by men,
bers of my own family as to the advis-
ability of joining this organization, and
have always advised against it, as / do
not believe the descendants of Job Tyler
whoever he may be, have any connection
with Henry Tyler, my ancestor The lat
ter came to Virginia when jamestown was
founded and had a grtlt of land near what
is now Williamsburg. but which was then
Bruton Parish. A house built by the first
John Tyler in 1860 is still standing in
williamsburg. On the accession OF Will
liam and Mary the capital OF the colony
Of Virginia was moved TO Bruton Parish
and its name changed to Williamsburg
William and Mary then founded the COL
lege which still bears their name. To af-
ford site for the governors house John
Tyler gave part of his town property.
The other Tylers came from different
part of England. They were Covenanters,
Roundheads, and Puritans, and emigrated
to Holland after they had cut off the head
of Charles l. From Holland they sailed
for the Colonies, landing in New England.
For 250 years there has been no claim Of
relationship between the two families, and
l am sure no good ground exists for such
a claim
Mrs. Semple takes great pride in her
family and its history, and has the rela-
tionship between its different members. to-
gether with the deeds for which they have
been noted, at her finger tips. There were
five John Tylers in a direct line. of which
the President was the fourth. The first
was the son of Henry Tyler, and gave the
land for the mansion OF the governor Of
the colony of Virginia His son, John Ty-
ler the second, was the last marshal the
colony ever had. During the latter part
of his life his son, John Tyler the third.
who was then a student, became imbued
with ideas of freedom and was warned by
his father he would some day be hanged
as a traitor. Because of his devotion to
~, ko
Tyler, the patriot" An intimate friend
of Patrick Henry and other Virginia pa
triots, he took a prominent part in the
Revolution, and afterward became COVER
nor of the State and justice of the supreme
court.
The fourth John Tyler was also governor
of Virginia and then President OF the Unit
ed States. He left large family having
three sons and four daughters by his first
wife and four sons and one daughter by his
second wife. One Of his sons by his first
wife was John Tyler, the fifth, who was
his fathers private secretary while In the
White House. The last John Tyler was
such a handsome and courtly man he was
| called Prince John" By his first wife,
Letitia, President Tyler had three sons
Col. Robert Tyler, John and Tazewell Ty-
Ter, and four daughters, Letitia, Mary, Eliz-
| abeth, and Alice. All are dead except Le-
titia, who married Major Semple, of Mexi-
can war fame
Robert Tyler left five daughters and a
son, all living inoAlabama John left a
son. James Tyler, now at the Confederate
Home in Richmond, and daughter, Mat
tie Rochelle Tyler postmistress at Court
land, Va. Tazewelf Tyler who was named
after Senator Lytt9n Waller Tazewell, an
| intimate friend Of. President Tyler, left a
son, J. NJ Semple Tyler, and daughter
Martha T. Tyler, both of San Francisco.
Mrs. Semple had nb children.
Mary Tyler married a Mr.. Jones. and
was the mother of Robert Tyler Jones, the
young Virginian who carried the Confeder-
ate flag up the hill at Gettysburg in the
face of a hail of bullets. Elizabeth Tyler
| married Mr.. Waller.i Her son, w. G. Wal
Ter, was editor of the Richmond, Wa.)
Times" at the time of his death. Alice
| married Rev. Dr., Dennson and left a
of Warm Springs, Va miss Letitia Chris
daughters, is now in one of the depart
| ments In this city.
BY his second wife President Tyler had
four sons-Fitz Walter. David Gardner.
| Lakeland, and Lyon G. Tyler Fitz Walter
Tyler lives in Richmond and David Gard
ner Tyler at Sherwood. President Tyler S
old home. Lyon G. Tyler president of
William and Mary College, has three chill
dren. Mrs. William Ellis, a daughter of
President Tyler by his second WIFE, lives
in Mecklenburg county, Virginia. She also
has several children. DR.. Lakeland TYLER
Is member of the New York Board of
Health.
MARYLAND has large number of MON,