The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-09
BLENNERHASSETT
SOME UNFAMILIAR PAGES FROM
HIS LIFE.
why He Abandoned Luxury and Sta
ton in England and for Many
Years Lived Life Of SecIu-
sion in Mississippi Wilds.

A. C. Wharton in New Orleans Times
Democrat.
why Hartman Blennerhassett, famous
afterwards as the associate of Aaron
Burr chose to abandon a luxurious home
the backwoods of America, has only re-
Gently been understood. He mad wealth
a social position of considerable distinc-
ton and the entree of cultivated circle
about him; yet all this he forsook for the
raw life of the New World.
The mystery was explained last year
in an article contributed to the Century
Magazine by Therese Blennerhassett-Ad-
ans. Blennerhassett left England 1t ap-
pears, to escape the ostracism which he
encountered after his marriage in 1876
with Margaret Agnew, daughter of his
sister, Catherine, and granddaughter, 1t
may be remarked in passing, of General
James Agnew, who fell at the battle of
Germantown. At the time of this i'll
starred union Blennerhassett was man
Of 81. well-bred and well-educated: his
wife was an accomplished girl of Is. A
few months later they landed In America,
and 50 carefully was the secret guarded
that hone Of their children ever suspected
them of being uncle and niece.
While occupying the home that he had
established on an island In the OHIO
River, Blennerhassett became interested
in the schemes of Aaron Burr-whatever
they may have been-and in January,
1907, followed him down the Mississippi
This step was taken. the Century article
declares, mot from love of adventure.
but to remove himself further from those
who knew him. When the enterprise
collapsed, as 1t did the next month,
Burr's little flotilla was at anchor oppo.
site Bruinsburg, a spot made famous
f1fty-six years later. as the landing place
of the army which General Grant led
against Vicksburg. To this part OF Mis-
sissippi, Blennerha3set. after his arrest
and release and the detruction of his Ohio
property returned to seek a home: IL
was possibly in 1908 that he settled IN
Claiborne County, about six miles from
Port Gibson, on a thousand-acre tract of
dense woodland. belonging to Drury w.
Breaxeale, a prominet lawyer and planter
Pleased with Its fertility and wild beauty,
in February, 1910, he purchased the tract
for $1,000, calling 1t La Cache, In token
of his purpose to lead life of seclusion;
There this polished man of the world ana
his delicately-reared wife spent the next
eleven years, their only neighbors few
pioneers scattered in the wilderness
around. Two children were born to them
at La Cache, a daughter who died IN m
fancy-and IN 1872, son, Joseph Lewis,
their your gest child, and the last surVlV-
ing member of TIE family.
Blennerhassett seems quickly to have
identified himself with the people of C!a'-
borne County. In 1903 his name appears
in the public records as a commissioner
ferson County line; and in September.
1873 during the great indian panic,
caused by the massacre at Fort MINIS,
he was ono Of the men selected by ire
citizens to superintend the erection OF
stockade forts for refuge from the ex-
pected invaders Doubtless his wealth
helped to make him prominent. for ne nad
retained an English property that yieldea
Sc 600 per annum-a great income IN tnat
primitive community.
I'm nf hia nniRhhOrS was the lawyer
Breazeale from whom he had purchased
La Cache plantation. tn Examines We're
intimate, but on one occasion dlnlcuity
arose between the two men that came
mar costing Rlennerhas set. his life. Rid
ing over to Breazeale's one morning 10
discuss some matter OF business, ne mao
an interview with the latter which enaeo
In high words. Breazeale, man OF I'M
netuous spirit was so incensed by re-
mark made by Blennerhassett that ne
seized an AK lying near them in the yaro
and advanced with the weapon unlllteo
Fortunately, his arm was stayed by MS
daughter Sarah, who chung 10 MN anu
impeded his movement until his passion
had time to cool. This daughter, AFTER
ward Mrs Joseph Calender. died IN new
Orleans about the year 1870, ana II IL on
her authority that this incident is mere
related She described Mrs. Blennerhas-
sett whom she knew well. as an attrac-
tive woman, of superior culture and intel
ligence. ,,o,t
In 1894 Blennerhassett aHalrs went
badly. Debts accumulated; sixteen sui -,
against him were pending In the county
court at one time. and losing neartr ne
advertised an auction sale OF his mousse
hold effects, with the purpose OF leayins
Mississippi. Soon, however, MS consluie e,
able income freed him from these DIM
culties. and he decided to remain anu
build a handsome residence on his plan
tation. ... ar,, ba
But while preparing Tor ms WORK me ne
got into feud With neighoor, one 'o ond
eventually decided HIM to sell out anu
leave This affair -hows aim IN very
bad light. dispute about the tTespass
ing nf some hogs belonging 10 rays leo
to an exchange of threats; and one even
ing after dark, in F eb;hl"y iSls' bien-
nerhassett and his son Dominick went 10
Ulyss dwelling on an adjoining planta-
ton. called him to the gate ana peat MIN
to iisensibility ,,,o.,orho.-
setts were arraigned before the county
court on a charge of assault with intent
to murder. Pubic opinion heing strohsIS
against them in Claiborne, they procured
n change of venue to Jefferson, where
thew were tried durinS the next term OF
court some months later The trial. neIo
al the ...Lle village OF Green me- tnen
the county seat Of Jefferson, engaged the
abIest legal talent in Mississippi Attor-
nev-Ceneral Lyman Harding undertook
the prosecution, assisted by Hon Chris
topher Rankin; while the de1ense was
managed by Judge Edward Turner. Judge
Reid, United states Senator, and Joseph
f. Davis, brother of the future President
Of the Confederacy The accused ecu ed we" ,rpe
nosad On the father and one of $500 on
the SON. An appeal was taken to the su 81
,rerae Court which, however denied their
motion for a new trial. declaring the as,
sault to have been highly aggravated anu
atrocious. 5000. no
This AFFAIR rendered Blennerhassett so
,,nnnn,iar that life in Claiborne County
became unpleasant for him. Accordingly
in December 1913, he sold Ia C sIaveI p'S for
cox 600 and soon afterwards removed TO
Kew York. and thence TO Montreal. Fall
ine 70 establish a law practice in Can