History - Dallas Co.-Mrs. W.D. Bradfield ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: June E. Tuck ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article. (Printed in "The Times Herald" reprinted in the Daily New-Telegram, Feb. 20, 1939) MRS. W.D. BRADFIELD DESCENDANT OF JACKSON FAMILY The following story in "The Times Herald" will be read by many friends of the family in Sulphur Springs, where Dr. and Mrs. Bradfield are will known, the former being a brother of Mrs. H. E. Henderson. Besides owning a valuable collection of Jacksonian Mementoes, Mrs. W. D. Bradfield of Dallas treasures memories of many happy days at the Hermitage with her grandparents, Andrew Jackson, Jr., and his gracious wife, Sarah. Mrs. Bradfield, nee Carrie Lawrence, the great-granddaughter of Andrew Jackson, remembers that as a young lady she returned to the dignified old Hermitage to be married to W. D. Bradfield, then a student at Vanderbuilt University. Her wedding ensemble was that which had originally been worn by Sarah, wife of Andrew Jackson, Jr., on her wedding day. And a ring she wore was that which President Jackson had given to his prospective daughter-in-law, Sarah Yorke, of Philadelphia. Andrew Jackson, Jr. used this pearl cluster ring with a lock of the President’s hair beneath the setting to solemnize his marriage vows. After a night spent in the bridal chamber furnished by Andrew Jackson Jr., for his daughter, the young Bradfields left for Texas. With the exception of several years in Saint Louis, Texas has been their home ever since. Dr. W. D. Bradfield now retains a theological chair at Southern Methodist University. Some time ago, Mrs. Bradfield sent the Jackson wedding costume and its appointments to Washington, D. C., and it was placed in the National Museum on the figure representing Sarah Yorke Jackson. "General and Mrs. Jackson," explains, Mrs. Bradfield, "had in December 1809, gone to see twin boys born to the family of Severn Donelson, one of Mrs. Jackson’s seven brothers. General Jackson named the boys Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, and he and his wife, Rachel, were allowed to adopt young Andrew. When he was three days old they took him to the Hermitage, soon thereafter completed legal adoption and reared him with great affection. "Andrew was 22 when his father went to the White House. During their residence in Washington, young Andrew was often urged by the father to bring a bride to the White House, married Sarah Yorke and in November 1832, their daughter was born. They named her Rachel in memory of the beloved wife of Andrew Jackson, and she became the ‘pet’ of the White House. "The President called her ‘My baby,’ and when, back at the Hermitage in 1845, she was preparing to go away to Nashville to school, he called her to his sick bed and gave her the cherished miniature of his wife, saying, ‘My baby, grandpa is very sick. Before he says good-by this time he wants you to wear this; you have her name, and it is right that you should have her picture.’ "That Rachel was my mother," continues Mrs. Bradford, "and she greatly treasured the miniature with its sentimental recollections. It also had great intrinsic value, having been painted by Fannie Peale, who had been commissioned to paint original miniature of General and Mrs. Washington. My mother wore this gift until she was 83 years old, and now it is on exhibit in the Hermitage Museum. "Among other gifts of Andrew Jackson were a tiny clock for her doll house and a gold filigree basket, both in my possession. The clock is thought to be the smallest clock in the world with a pendulum. Included in my prized possessions are a Maltese Cross pin of topaz in gold filigree, which was presented to my great-grandfather by the people of New Orleans in 1815 after the Battle of New Orleans; a Madonna miniature which was bought by Andrew Jackson, Jr. for his wife and given to me by her when I was only four and visiting at the Hermitage; and an elaborate cameo pin which was sent to General Jackson from Italy and on the back of which are these words: ‘That thou mightiest injure no man, dove like be; and serpent like, that none may injure thee.’ "This last gift was made in recognition of my great-grandfather’s character in which strength and gentleness were so blended."