Dorothy Payne, Quakeress Part 5

Dolly was soon drawn into society, and her brilliant beauty and charming manners drew many admirers. James Madison requested to be introduced, and Dolly wrote her friend, Elizabeth Lee: "Thou must come to me, for Aaron Burr[39] is going to bring the great little Madison to see me this evening." Dolly wore her mulberry-colored satin, and appeared a vision of beauty to him; and it was not his only visit. But it was the "first lady of the land" who finally brought things to a crisis. She sent for Dolly and asked, "What is this I hear about Madison and Mistress Todd?" and, when Dolly hid her blushing face, took her into her arms, and told her that she and "the President" approved, and wished to see her again happily married; "and Madison will make thee a good husband," she said.

In the summer of 1793 Lucy Payne had become the girlish bride of George Steptoe Washington,[40] the nephew and ward of the President. She was but fifteen and he seventeen years old at the time, and they were now living at Harewood[41], near Harper's Ferry. "Harewood of pleasant memory and patriotic a.s.sociation," as an old writer has lovingly said.

It was built on part of the Washington tract of land in 1756, by Colonel Samuel Washington, under the supervision of his brother George, and an old record states that for the hauling of the gray limestone of which it is built, from a nearby quarry, they paid one Shirley Smith "an acre of ground per team per day". The finer part of the woodwork, the pilasters, wainscoting and cornice, were all brought from "Old England" to Alexandria, and thence carted to Harewood, a long and toilsome journey.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Harewood from the garden.]

Now the fair young mistress of Harewood begged that her sister should be married there, and so it was decided. Thomas Jefferson offered his coach for the journey, and taking her sister Anna, the little Payne and a maid, Dolly journeyed to that historic home, accompanied by Madison and mutual friends, riding and driving.

A week of the early fall time had been whiled away when they reached their journey's end, where great preparations were already being made for the festive occasion, for this was to be a "gay" wedding. Guests came from far and near. Francis Madison was there, and Harriet[42]

Washington, and at the last moment "Light-Horse Harry Lee" came dashing up on "the very finest horse in all Virginia."

And then in the handsome wainscoted parlor, James Madison and the winsome "Widow Todd" were married, September 15, 1794, by Dr. Balmaine, of Winchester, Va., a relative of James Madison.

Madison's present to his bride was a wondrous necklace of Byzantine mosaic[43] work, of temples and tombs and bridges, eleven pictures in all joined by delicate chains.

After much feasting and merry-making, in which the groom lost his ruffles of Mechlin lace, which were parted amongst the girlish guests as souvenirs, the bride and groom made their escape and drove away for the honeymoon.

Little record of the wedding is left, and there is no list of the guests present, as at that earlier and more stately, though unpretentious, wedding in the old Pine street meeting-house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Parlor, Harewood.

(In which James and Dolly Madison were married.)]

The following letter from Madison to his father describes the wedding journey:

Harewood, Oct 5, 1794.

Dear & Honor^d Sir:

I have detained Sam, by whom I send this, so much longer than I intended & you expected, that many apologies are due for the liberty. I hope it will be a sufficient one that I found him indispensable for a variety of little services, which I did not particularly take into view before I left Orange. These he can himself explain, & I therefore leave the task to him, proceeding to the history of what relates to myself. On my arrival here I was able to urge so many conveniences in hastening the event, which I solicited, that it took place on the 15^th ult. On the Friday following we set out, accompanied by Miss A. Payne & Miss Harriot Washington, on a visit to my sister Hite, where we arrived the next day, having stopped a night in Winchester with M^r Balmain. We had been a day or two only at Mr. Hite's before a slight indisposition, which my wife had felt for several days, ended in a regular ague & fever. The fits, tho succeeded by compleat intermission, were so severe that I thought it prudent to call in a physician from Winchester. Doc^r. Mackay not being in the way, Doc^r. Baldwin attended, and by a [-----] administration of the Bark soon expelled the complaint. She has since recovered very fast, & I hope, notwithstanding a slight indisposition this morning which may be the effect of fatigue & change of weather, that its return is not in the least to be apprehended. We left Mr. Hite's the day before yesterday. Our time was pa.s.sed there with great pleasure on our side & I hope with not less on the other. Our departure however was embittered by the loss sustained the night preceding by my sister, which you will have an account of from Mr. H. by this opportunity.

In about 8 or 10 days we expect to set out for Philadelphia, & your daughter-in-law begs you & my mother to accept her best & most respectful affections, which she means to express herself by an early opportunity. She wishes f.a.n.n.y also to be sensible of the pleasure with which a correspondence with her would be carried on.

I was Friday at Mr. Hite's. He promises steadfastly to be with you in about a fortnight at farthest, & to do anything on his part requisite for a vigorous prosecution of the undertaking at Bernard's Ford.

I must ask the favor of my mother to make me a memorandum of the clothing to be obtained at M^r Dunbar's for the negroes, & of yourself to have it transmitted along with a list of other articles such as salt, iron, etc., which may [be] wanted for the winter's use. I heard with great satisfaction by Mr. Howard that her complaint, which appeared in so doubtful a character when I left her, had taken a turn that promised an early & I hope entire recovery. With my sincere prayers that perfect health & every other good may attend you both I

remain y^r affec^t son J. Madison, Jr.

I called soon after I came into the neighborhood on Mrs. F. Hite, & found her & family well. I intend to repeat my visit if possible & to introduce her new relative to her[44].

The grave "elders" of the Friends' meeting had hesitated ere they drew up the letter of disownment against Lucy Payne,[45] now the wife of the nephew, namesake and ward of Washington. And now again, as was their custom, "Dolly" Madison[46] was "disowned because of her marriage" to one not a member of the Society. The many strangers drawn to Philadelphia by the establishment of the government there were causing sad havoc in their midst.

Returning to Philadelphia, Dolly threw herself into the gay life of the capital, of which she at once became one of the chief ornaments. John Adams wrote to his wife from Philadelphia: "I dined yesterday with Madison. Mrs Madison is a fine woman, her sisters equally so. One of them is married to George Washington. The ladies, whose name is Payne, are of a Quaker family, one of North Carolina."

Her marriage to Madison opened up to her a larger and broader life, one for which, by nature, she was well fitted. In the past she had felt that her membership in the Society of Friends ofttimes debarred her from many innocent pleasures and advantages as well, and "her undue fondness for the things of this world," for which she had once been chided, added zest to her new surroundings.

Her father had died the year before her marriage, and other changes followed in quick succession. January 5, 1795, Elizabeth Drinker writes: "I heard this evening of the death of two of Molly Payne's sons, Temple and Isaac. The latter offended a man in Virginia, who some time afterward shot him with a pistol."

[Ill.u.s.tration: James Madison Dolly Madison

Portraits by Gilbert Stuart.

Reproduced by permission of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the owner of the paintings.]

Her father's will was not proved until 1796. He left his wife, Mary Payne, sole executrix. His property consisted chiefly of lands in West Virginia and Kentucky, and it probably had little value. (De Chastellux tells of meeting a young emigrant who had bought one thousand acres in Kentucky for fifty guineas.) George Walker, John Todd and Dolly Todd were witnesses. The two former were no longer living, and the record reads:

"This day appeared Dolly P. Maddison, of the State of Virginia, Gentlewoman, late Dolley P. Todd, who being one of the People called Quakers, and conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, Doth Solemnly affirm and declare," etc.

Lucy Washington and Anna Payne likewise made affirmation to their belief in their father's signature to the will.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Signatures of the three daughters who proved the will of John Payne in 1796.]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 18: Population of Philadelphia in 1770 about 31,000.--Proud's History.]

[Footnote 19: Deborah Pleasants, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Pleasants, was born 25th of Eleventh month, 1763, at Beaver Dam, Goochland County, Va.; married William Stabler in 1789, and settled at Leesburg, Va., but soon after removed to Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md. William Stabler died in 1806. Deborah Stabler died Sixth month 26th, 1845.]

[Footnote 20: Elizabeth Brook, daughter of James Brook, Jr., born 1762; married 1790, at age of 28 years, to George Ellicott, of Ellicott's Mills, Howard County, Md. James Brook, father of Elizabeth, was the Friend who had freed the first slave freed in the State of Maryland.]

[Footnote 21: In possession of Lucy Tyson Fitzhugh, Westminster, Md.]

[Footnote 22: Post-offices were often at a great distance from the person addressed, and it was often better to wait for some one traveling that way. Then, too, postage was high.

The "Historical Register" gives the following postage rates, 1810-1814.

Every letter consisting of one sheet to go a distance less than 40 miles, 8 cents; 40 to 90 miles, 10 cents; 90 to 150 miles, 12-1/2 cents; 150 to 300 miles, 17 cents; 300 to 500 miles, 20 cents; over 500 miles, 25 cents. The rate was doubled, trebled and quadrupled as the number of sheets increased.]

[Footnote 23: Her approaching marriage to John Todd.]

[Footnote 24: Samuel Mickle Fox, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Fox, and Sarah Pleasants, born Eleventh month 8d, 1767, daughter of Samuel and Mary Pleasants, were married Eleventh month 27th, 1788.]

[Footnote 25: Joshua Gilpin (born Eleventh month 8th, 1765; died Eighth month 22d, 1841), son of Thomas and Lydia Fisher Gilpin, married Mary Dilworth and had eight children. Marriage entertainments at this time were very expensive, and hara.s.sing to the wedded. For two days afterward punch was dealt out in profusion, and, with cakes and other sweetmeats, were set out on the lower floor, and were also sent generally through the neighborhood, even to those with whom the family did not visit. On the second floor the bride received the visitors, and was kissed by all comers, often as many as a hundred a day. The richer families also had as many as one hundred and twenty to dine and stay to supper the day of the marriage. All who signed the marriage certificate also were invited to tea (or supper). At the time of the "pa.s.sing of meeting" for two days all the male friends of the bride were privileged to call, drink punch, eat cake and kiss the bride! Even the plain Friends submitted to these things.--"Watson's Annals."]

[Footnote 26: Younger sister of Sally Wister.]

[Footnote 27: Owned by Lucy Tyson Fitzhugh.]

[Footnote 28: The Friends' form of marriage required that the parties proposing marriage shall first inform their monthly meeting of their "intentions." This form is now handed in in writing. The meeting then takes the matter into consideration, and if there is no reason to object, the permission is given at the next monthly meeting to "accomplish their marriage." When this permission is obtained, the parties are said to have "pa.s.sed meeting."]

[Footnote 29: George Fox, son of Joseph Fox, carpenter, and Elizabeth, his wife, and Mary Pemberton, daughter of Charles and Esther Pemberton, were married Eleventh month 25th, 1789.

Joseph Fox was one of the committee of citizens appointed to prepare an answer for Paul Revere to carry back to Boston at the time of the closing of the port, he having been sent with a message to Philadelphia asking the support of her people.]

[Footnote 30: This letter was dated 12 mo. 7, 1789, and is marked "Received Nov 26th 90 & forwarded by Jno Janney."]

[Footnote 31: James Pemberton, born 26th of Sixth month (August), 1723, in Philadelphia, was the son of Israel and Rachel Pemberton. He was one of the "overseers" of the public schools founded by charter in the town and county of Philadelphia. Was one of the managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital and a prominent merchant of the city. He was a member of the Society of Friends. He was married, first, to Hannah, daughter of Mordecai and Hannah Lloyd, in 1751, and had six children. In 1768 he married Sarah, daughter of David and Mary Smith, of Burlington, N. J.

Their daughter became the wife of Anthony Morris. In 1775 he married Phebe, widow of Samuel Morton. James Pemberton died Second month 9th, 1809.