Marriage and Widowhood.

Three years after their removal to Philadelphia a certificate is issued transferring the membership of "John Payne and Mary, his wife, and their children, William Temple, Dorothy, Isaac, Lucy, Anne, Mary, John and Philadelphia to Pine Street Monthly Meeting." The Paynes settled in what was then the northern part of Philadelphia, and at first John Payne believed his means ample to live in the same hospitable way that had been his wont on the old Virginia plantation, but he soon found his expenses were increased much beyond his expectations, and decided, with the assistance of his sons, to start in business in Philadelphia. For this kind of life, however, his early training had not fitted him, and the business venture was a complete failure. It was followed by his disownment from Pine Street meeting "for failure to pay his debts" (1789), and from this crushing blow the proud spirit of John Payne never recovered, and he died soon after.

It is interesting to know that the store of "John Payne, merchant," was on Fifth Street between Market and Arch, and his residence was 52 Arch Street.

Dolly in the meantime had developed into a charming woman, who entered into all the modest gaieties of the little town, where during the day the daughters of the family, simply dressed, did much of the household work, although even then "some" were so remiss as to "read novels and walk without business abroad."

When the daily tasks were finished the families gathered on the front porch, the girls dressed in plain stuff or chintz frocks with white aprons, and here the passing neighbors stopped to chat awhile or tarry longer. Everybody had a speaking acquaintance, at least, in this little Quaker town.[18]

It was probably in the fall of 1787 that two of Dolly's Virginia friends came to pass the winter in Philadelphia,—Deborah Pleasants,[19] the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Pleasants of Beaver Dam, who had been a friend and schoolmate at the old Cedar Creek School; and her cousin Elizabeth Brook,[20] then from Leesburg, Virginia, a Quaker settlement where the smaller plantations of from one hundred to three hundred acres were cultivated entirely by free labor.

The journey from Beaver Dam had been made on horseback, in easy stages, as there were many Friendly homes to stop at on the way, and the days spent in riding through the almost unbroken forests of Virginia pines and the fording of the rivers had been a delightful experience to the two girls, who, with their entire outfit on their saddle pommels, finally drew rein in the quiet neighborhood of Brook Court, where the arrival of their little cavalcade caused an unwonted stir.

A happy winter followed, in which the three girls were much together, but when summer came "Deborah" and "Elizabeth" returned to their southern homes.

The following girlish letter[21] from Dolly Payne to Elizabeth Brook is undated, but must have been written about December, 1788, or later:

Philadelphia.

How much am I indebted to thee dearest Eliza For throwing off that formality so stifling To the growth of friendship! and addressing First her who feels herself attached to thee by Every sentement of her heart and she often In her "hours of visinary indulgence" calls to Recollection the two lov'd girls who rendered Her so happy during their too short stay in Philadelphia.

I should most gladly have offered you the Tribute of my tender remembrances long before This by the performance of my promise of Wrighting, but my ignorance of a single conveyance[22] was the only preventative.

Let this however, my Dr Betsy obliterate the Idea of my neglect occasion'd by my prospects Of happiness[23] for be assur'd that no sublunary Bliss whatever should have a tendency to make Me forgetful of friends I so highly value.

This place is almost void of anything novell, Such however as is in circulation I will endeavor To Recollect in order to communicate.—Susan Ward and thy old Admirer W. S. have pass'd Their last meeting & are on the point of Marriage. Sally Pleasants and Sam Fox[24] according to the Common saying are made one—Their wedding Was small on account of the death of a cousin, M. Roads. The Bride is now seting up in form For company. I have not been to visit her but Was informed by Joshua Gilpin[25] that he met 40 Their paying their respects, etc., etc.

A general exclamation among the old Friends Against such Parade—a number of other matches

Talked off but their unsertainty must apologize For my not nameing the partys——

A charming little girl of my acquaintance & A Quaker too ran off & was married to a Roman Catholic the other evening—thee may have seen Her, Sally Bartram was her name.

Betsy Wister[26] & Kitty Morris too plain girls Have eloped to effect a union with the choice of Their hearts so thee sees Love is no respecter Of persons——

The very respectful Compliments of Frazier Await the 2 Marylanders—Frazier that unfortunate youth whose heart followed thee captive to Thy home—do call to mind this said conquest Betsy—I see him every day & thee is often the Subject of our Tete-a-tetes—he says the darn in Thy apron first struck him & declares that he Would give any mony for that captivating badge Of thy industry.

After bloting my paper all ore with nonsense I must conclude with particular Love to Debby Pleasants when thee should see her & respects

To her brother James—write often & much to Thy affectionate

Correspondent

D Payne

Addressed to—
Eliza Brooke Junr:
Montgomery County
Maryland
Pr Favour of }
Capt Lynn }

A later letter to Elizabeth Brooke[27] (from Sarah Parker) gives further news of Dolly Payne. After referring to rumors current regarding the approaching marriage of her friend she continues:

"It may be an encouragement, probably, should I inform thee of some old acquaintances jogging on in this antiquated Custom. Dolly Payne is likely to unite herself to a young man named J. Todd, who has been so solicitous to gain her favor many years, but disappointment for some time seem'd to assail his most sanguine expectations, however things have terminated agreeable to his desires & she now offers her hand to a person whose heart she had long been near and dear to—he has proved a constant Lover indeed & deserves the highest commendation for his generous behavior, as he plainly shows to the world no mercenary motives bias'd his judgment (on the contrary) a sincere attachment to her person was his first consideration else her Father's misfortunes might have been an excuse for his leaving her—they pass'd meeting[28] fourth day, was the same day George Fox[29] & Molly C. Pemberton were united, rather an uncommon instance, but their marriage was postponed on account of a relation's death.

"Pine Street meeting house was amazingly crowded, a number of gay folks—I heard a young man say he was surprised on viewing the galleries, as they had more the appearance of a play house than of Friends' meeting. There were great affronts given, I am told, when Dolly retired in the other room to pass by Nicholas Waln, rising and saying 'it was not customary for those that do not belong, unless near connections, to go into meetings of business'—but some were so rude as to press in without any kind of ceremony, very indecent behavior was too obvious to be unobserved, even by children."[30]

Pine Street Meeting-House.
Built 1751.

The "passing of meeting" was then a formidable proceeding. The intended groom, with a friend from the men's meeting, entered the women's side after the closing of the partitions, and taking the intended bride on his arm announced, first in one meeting and then in the other, that "we propose taking each other in marriage."

Many anecdotes are related of Nicholas Waln, who was a leading member of Pine Street meeting, and had been one of the shrewdest and wittiest lawyers of the Philadelphia bar. His words were very apt to hit the mark.

A month later, on Dolly's wedding day, at the head of the meeting (at Pine street) sat James Pemberton[31], "erect and immovable, with his crossed hands resting on his gold-headed cane"; beside him "Nicholas Waln with his smile of sunshine," "Arthur Howell[32], with hat drawn low over his face," and "William Savery of the solemn silvery voice," and other ministers and elders of the meeting. The body of the meeting was composed of the solid Quaker element of the city, and the "gay folks" again crowded the galleries to their utmost capacity. After a short silence Dolly Payne and John Todd arose, and each repeated the solemn marriage ceremony of the Friends, each signed the marriage certificate, and "John Todd of the city of Philadelphia, attorney-at-law, son of John Todd, of this city, and Mary his wife, and Dolly Payne, daughter of John Payne of the city aforesaid, and Mary his wife," were married, 1st mo. 7th, 1790.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF JOHN TODD AND DOLLY PAYNE.

Whereas John Todd of the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, attorney at law, son of John Todd of said city and Mary his wife, and Dolly Payne daughter of John Payne of the city aforesaid and Mary his wife having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several Monthly Meetings of the people called Quakers held in Philadelphia aforesaid for the Southern District according to the good order used among them, and having consent of parents, their said proposals were allowed of by the said meeting. Now these are to certify whom it may concern that for the full accomplishing their said intentions this seventh day of the first month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety, they the said John Todd and Dolly Payne appeared in a public meeting of the said people held at their meeting house in Philadelphia aforesaid and the said John Todd taking the said Dolly Payne by the hand did in a solemn manner openly declare that he took her the said Dolly Payne to be his wife, promising with Divine assistance to be unto her a loving and faithful husband until death should separate them. And then in the same assembly the said Dolly Payne did in like manner declare that she took him the said John Todd to be her husband, promising with Divine assistance to be unto him a loving and faithful wife until death should separate them. And moreover they the said John Todd and Dolly Payne (she according to the custom of marriage assuming the name of her husband) did as a further confirmation thereof then and there to these presents set their hands. And we whose names are hereunto also subscribed being present at the solemnization of the said marriage and subscription have as witnesses thereof, set our hands the day and year above written.

John Todd.
Dolly Todd.

NAMES OF THOSE SIGNING THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF DOROTHY PAYNE & JOHN TODD

Edward Tilghman,
James Ash,
Owen Jones,
John Pemberton,
Thomas Clifford,
James Pemberton,
Samuel Pleasants,
Caleb Foulke,
William Savery,
James Cresson,
James Logan,
Benedt. Dorsey,
Samuel Clark,
John Parrish,
Thos. Harrison,
John Payne,
Mary Payne,
John Todd,
Mary Todd,
James Todd,
Alice Todd,
Lucy Payne,
Anna Payne,
Mary Payne,
Betsy Blau,
Thos. Poultney,
Stephen Burrows,
Mary Burrowes,
Sarah Waln,
Esther Fisher,
Saml. Coates,
Arthur Howell,
John Elliott, Jr.,
Thos. Follet,
Caleb Atmore,
John Poultney,
Caspar W. Morris,
Zaccheus Collins,
Henry S. Drinker,
Chas. West, Jr.,
John Biddle,
Elijah Conrad,
Ebenezer Breed,
John E. Cresson,
Richard Johnson,
Geo. Roberts,
Benj. Chamberlain,
Abigail Drinker,
Maria Hodgdon,
Kitty Doughten,
Benjamin Morgan, Jr.,
Caleb Carmalt,
James Bringhurst,
Anthony Morris,
Griffith Evans,
Isaac Bartram,
Anna P. Pleasants,
Israel Pleasants,
Samuel Emlen, Jr.,
Nicholas Waln,
Samuel Emlen,
Owen Biddle,
Samuel Shaw,
Eliza Collins,
Anna Drinker,
Mary S. Pemberton,
Sarah Biddle,
Mary Shaw,
Abigail Parrish,
Susanna Jones,
Phebe Pemberton,
Sarah Parrish,
Mary Pleasants,
Elizabeth Dawson,
Mary Eddy,
Ann Marshall,
Sarah Ann Marshall,
Mary Drinker, Jr.,
Eliz. P. Dilworth

The short but happy married life of Dorothy Payne Todd was spent at 51 South Fourth street,[33] now Fourth and Walnut streets, and here her sons, John Payne and William Temple Todd, were born.[34]

In 1793 that dread disease, the yellow fever,[35] raged in Philadelphia, and John Todd hastened to send his wife to a place of safety. She and her infant son, William Temple, three weeks old, were carried in a litter to Gray's Ferry, then well beyond the city's limits. John Todd himself returned to the city. His parents were first taken, and he, feeling himself stricken, hastened to Gray's Ferry for one last glance at his beloved wife. Dolly, in spite of his remonstrances, threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. After days of unconsciousness she slowly recovered to find her husband and her infant son no more.

John Todd, Sr., left a will. To his son John he willed £500 and his watch; and to each of his grandsons, Payne and William Temple, he left £50.

John Todd, Jr.,[36] died October 24, 1793. To his wife he left the settlement of his "very small estate." His will had been made some time before his death, and said:

I give and devise all my estate, real and personal, to the Dear Wife of my Bosom, and first and only Woman upon whom my all and only affections were placed, Dolly Payne Todd, her heirs and assigns forever, trusting that as she proved an amiable and affectionate wife to her John she may prove an affectionate mother to my little Payne, and the sweet Babe with which she is now enceinte. My last prayer is may she educate him in the ways of Honesty, tho' he may be obliged to beg his Bread, remembering that will be better to him than a name and riches.—I appoint my dear wife executrix of this my will.

John Todd, Jr.

Inventory and Appraisement of the Goods & Chattels &c. late the property of John Todd, Jr.[37]

Viz:—£sd
One large Side Board90000
One Settee100000
Eleven Mahogany & Pine tables171706
Three Looking Glasses140000
Thirty-six Mahogany and Windsor chairs271206
One Case of knives & forks50000
And-Irons, Shovel & Tongs90206
Window curtains & Window blinds120000
Carpets & Floor Cloaths111500
Bed, Bedstead & Bed Cloath300000
Sundry Setts of China &c.90000
Articles of Glass Ware & Waiters etc.90706
Glass lamp, pr Scones & six pictures31706
Sundry Articles of Plate & Plated ware—also Sett of Castors140706
Sundry Kitchen furniture121000
Desk & Book case50000
An open stove20500
Two Watches91500
One fowling piece30000
One Horse & Chair400000
Library1871500
————
4340500
Appraised Seventh day of Dec. 1793.

The estate of John Todd was more ample than his modest statements would indicate. He left his wife that commodious dwelling of English red and black brick still standing at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, with stable on the grounds. The inventory of his effects shows that the house was well furnished. His library, too, was a good one, and with her "horse and chair" Dolly found herself more than comfortably provided for.

The moving of the national capital to Philadelphia had crowded the city to its utmost capacity, and homes were hard to find. Mary Payne had opened her doors,[38] and Aaron Burr, then Congressman, was fortunate to find boarding there.

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 association," 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.

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.

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 & Honord 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 15th 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 Mr 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. Docr. Mackay not being in the way, Docr. 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 passed 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 Fanny 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 Mr 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 yr affect 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."

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.

Signatures of the three daughters who proved the will of John Payne in 1796.