Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-16
MRS. ANDREWLACKSON, GLRLHOOD
PART OF OLD ACCOlMACK,S HZSTOR Y
Rachel DonaIdson's Dark
Beauty Long Remcm-
bcred in Early Homo.
HER FATHER A MAN
MANY POSSESSIONS
Tradition Fails to Explain His
Emigration to Tennes-
sec Estate.
Hr FRANCES LANKEonu TAYLOR.

nc same year two children were bor1,
indcr very different circumstances
he hoy. Andrew Jackson. first snw
lie light in the lids OF North Caro-
ina. while the girl Rachel Donaldson.
'nfncd her eyes in handsome Han
'ver!an house 1T Assawoman Hills,
Arcomack County
Fate led those two together and
hey were married at Natchcz. Miss,
Ihis marriage led to ducls. scandal.
bitter feelings and even helped To up
20, pr"eidout's Cabinet. History
ellis US that the Grcat-grandmo,her Of
!schcl Donaldson was an Indian.
Early History Unknown.
How John Donaldson came Ia be
Wing on the Eastern shore is not
tnown. bat 1t liz known that he mar
led tho daughter OF Colonel Charles
Stochlcy, OF the "ilcrmitagc." AsSa-
""man INNS. Accomack County.
,oloael Stocklcy WAS "A man OF i'm.
'oriancc. lie was "a planter aud
owned "a shipvard From his own
wharf his own ships sailed In coast
rise and foreign trade. Tie manor
rouse w.s situated on hill which
hccd the Atlantic Ocean and groves
II Whispering pines were nearby.
Tradition says that Rachel Donald
'on played around the mill on the
plantation and that tho ripple OF the
"atcr was no swcctcr than the ripplr
II her laughter.
Why donaldson left his Eastern
shore home. where everything that
nature can provide ia this climate
sas a, his door. il no, known
Parton. In his life OF Andrew Jack.
ion. says: Colonel John Donaldson.
brave and wealthy old Virginia sur.
.eyor was in the Cumberland Noun
aims during the EcVolutiouary War
md. left by boat down the Holstein
Der for Tennessee abuu; 1850. with
~ n wss his daughter. Rachel. a BLACK
I'd, black haired brunette. AK gay.
Esd and handsome "a lass az ever
! AGED on the deck Of a fat boat.
Sc took the helm while her father
not at Indians"
II his Tennessee settlement Colonel
| Donaldson had horses. cattle. negroes;
| .cryth!rg possible Ia frontier life.
J" Was the w:aithinst man IN his Vi
Unity. and the SPOT. near Nashville
hat he nrst TILED IS s,iit pointed out
. s!ghtBecrs
In one OF the long winters. when an
unusual Influx OF Immigrants had re-
iuced the supply OF corn. Colonel Don
udson took his family and servants
o Kentucky and !iveI there until the
leNt harvest
During this residence in Kentucky
MS daughter married Lewis Robards.
md the brave old pioneer returned 10
he cnrbsrlana without her.
Mrt TrnEic Death.
This old hero, though he never sus
| 1ccted that he wac one. met very
rasic death. His body vas found by
*i,h him. pierced hy bullets. 1t was
lever known whether II Was the work
)f an Indian or some anbushcd rob-
By this time Richards and his wife
lad gone 10 Tennessee and we're iiv
n" with Colonel and Mrs. Donaldson
intil the Indians could be suhdued
,nough TO make 1t safe for them TO go
o their own land. i've miles from the
settlement.
II l5s'. yonnE solicitor TO- ~, APdr sIs
nomg%nnd secured. board with Mrs.
ooEIidson. VINO was glad TO have am
VIZ man in the house to help defend
i/from the Iadians.
llFNot the least pleasant feature OF
his home was the spr!ghtly Mrs. Ro-
pards the best Story-tcller. the
sprightliest companion. the most
flashing horsewoman in the Western
Husband was jealous.
Her husband was jealous. taclturn
knd disagreeable in the extreme. They
had been separated on account Of his
Jealousy. but were living together
how. though not happily.
The presence OF the young solicitor
1uarrel between Richards and Jackson,
personal combat followed and Jack
son was bound over to keep the peace.
Hea found board elscwheEc
Nashville to go to Kentucky. News
koon reached the settlement that he
WAS making ,arrangsmen;s to move
his wife TO Kentucky. On hearing
En n'I get et' out M OF his way. and Jackson
Went with her ito protect her from
khc Indians.
y According TO Judge Over,on's lot
;icrs, Jackson said that "hc was the
Hnost unhappy OF men In having been
hnnocently and INDEPENDENTLY the
happiness of Mrs. Richards. whom he
Believed to he n very fine woman
when Robir heard OF the eva
Hat Virginia) for 4 divorce
j News reached the settlement that
Nine petition had icen successful. IN
bride. the formHr Mrs. Richards. The
|ccrcmony had been performed by II
Catholic priest. " truth. ii was not
Wears that the divorce was really
Granted. Upon ascertainlng this
jackson had another ceremony nor-
Formed. this time by q Protestant
iIcIergyman living near Nashville
a Jackson kept his pistols in per
J feet condition for thirty-scven years.
'heirC most prompt to defend his
( Wifc's good name.
| Nan OF High Temper.
/ His temper wa., finder at hest. bat
lin respect to his wifc's honor IL w:s
cunpow lev. Ne became very sore
lon the subject and his'Inoroscncss IN
strain uudcr which he lived
| william Dickinson fell in duel
with Jackson, the result Of m in
After IN. dvcl Jackson took a
friend TO his wife's Srnvc and point
ling TO the mound. said: They may
say OF ne WIN. they -please. hut the
Imam who makes :. disparar!ng re-
mark about the ange! who s!eerS
there has to die"
Henry A. Wise began his law prac-
tice in Nashville: There he married
the daughter OF the Rev. obediah
Jennings, who was tho pastor OF
jackson The second night after
their marriage Mr.. and Mrs, Wise
i were guests OF Mrland Mrs jackson.