Dolly Madison - Influential Women in History

By Anon

This book is part of a series on historical female figures. It features Dolly Madison, wife of James Madison, and First Lady of the United States between 1809 and 1817. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Dec 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781447484493

Book preview

MADISON.

DOLLY MADISON.

DOLLY MADISON, the gracious and beautiful social leader of her time, was born May 20, 1772, on a North Carolina plantation. Her grandfather, John Payne, was an English gentleman of wealth and education, married to Anna Fleming, the great granddaughter of the Earl of Wigton in Scotland. He settled on the James River in Virginia, but gave to his son, John Payne, a large plantation in North Carolina, where he married a great belle, Mary Coles, whose father was a native of Enniscorthy, Ireland.

This young lady was desired in marriage by Thomas Jefferson, whom her friends favored; but his suit was not successful, as she preferred young Payne. When her child Dolly was born, she was named Dorothy, after a relative, Mrs. Patrick Henry.

The little girl inherited the beauty of her grandmother and her mother; and so careful was the latter to preserve it that her grand-niece says, in her Memoirs, when the little girl went to school she was equipped with a white linen mask to keep every ray of sunshine from the complexion, a sun-bonnet sewed on her head every morning by her careful mother, and long gloves covering the hands and arms.

Both father and mother were strict Quakers; and while they were thankful for the gift of beauty for Dolly, they belived in no external adorning to enhance it. The pet of the grandmother, the child received from her some old-fashioned jewelry, which, not daring to wear, she sewed in a bag and tied it around her neck under her gown. During a long walk in the woods one day, the string must have become untied; for the precious treasures were all lost, and though tearful days were spent in searching for them, they were never found.

When Dorothy, or Dolly as she was called, was fourteen, in 1786, her parents moved to Philadelphia. Mr. Payne had become assured in his own heart that slavery was sinful. He sold his plantation and freed his slaves, several of whom refused to leave his service, and went with him to Philadelphia. His eldest son, John, who had been travelling in Europe, went into business with his father; but their Revolutionary money depreciated, they were unused to trade, and failed, bringing the family into reduced circumstances. Mother Amy, one of the slaves, saved five hundred dollars by her wages, and left it at her death to Mrs. Payne. Mr. Payne was prostrated by the misfortune.

Dolly was at this time a tall, slight girl of nineteen, with black hair, blue eyes, an uncommonly fair complexion, and great sweetness of expression. A rich young lawyer, Mr. John Todd, with good looks and warm heart, also of the Society of Friends, offered himself to her in marriage, but she replied that she never meant to marry.

The young man had shown Mr. Payne much kindness in his financial troubles. It was evident that if Dolly were given