The Hermitage, Home of General Andrew Jackson

by Mary C. Dorris

Shelf No. 4: 30. Shakespeare volume given and inscribed by Jackson to Henry L. Rucker of Cincinnati, 1837. Presented by Mrs. C. P. J. Mooney, 1950. 31. A British Dragoon flintlock holster pistol found on Jackson’s battlefield at New Orleans in 1850. Presented by W. E. Metzger. 32. A stone from the grave of Andrew Jackson, father of General Jackson, who died in 1767. The grave is at Waxhaws Churchyard, S. C., and the stone was procured by Mr. Walter Lacoste Wilson and sent to Mrs. Rachel Jackson Lawrence, who presented it to the Hermitage Association. 33. Dueling pistol (one of a pair) owned by General Jackson. Presented by Miss Spon. The whereabouts of the other is not known. 34. Pistol used at New Orleans. Presented by Bettie Hoffstetter Reise. 35. English bayonet embedded in cypress root, found on the battlefield at New Orleans and presented to General Jackson in 1844. 36. The sword and belt of Capt. Samuel Jackson, C. S. A., grandson of General Jackson. 37. Powder flask used by General Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. 38. Old pair of shears. 39. Rifle ornamented with plates of German silver, was given by General Jackson to Andrew Jackson, Jr. It was given by the Jacksons at the Hermitage in 1861 when a call was made for guns by the Southern Confederacy. Purchased at Clarksville, Tennessee, by a Federal officer whose son sold it to Mrs. B. F. Wilson, who presented it to the Ladies’ Hermitage Association.

Shelf No. 5: 40. Picture of Judge Spruce Macay, Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, law preceptor of Andrew Jackson. Gift of Archibald Henderson of North Carolina. 41. Jackson’s license to practice law, 1787, North Carolina. 42. Commission of Major-General, issued to Andrew Jackson, 1801, by Archibald Roane, Governor of Tennessee. Given by J. McGavock Dickinson. 43. Healy’s account of his visit to the Hermitage to paint Jackson’s portrait as commissioned by Louis Philippe. 44. Framed Declaration of Independence. 45. Letter to General Jackson from Bishop Henry Conwell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Philadelphia, written when he was in Rome, containing a picture to Pope Leo XII. Presented by Mrs. Bettie M. Donelson.

Case No. 2

Shelf No. 1: 1. Door scraper, one of a pair used on the front porch. 1A. Original bedspread used until recently in Jackson’s room, with initials R. J. in center. 2. Mexican leggings, hand-tooled leather. Presented to Major-General Andrew Jackson by Gov. Sam Houston. 3. Old account books of Jackson’s & Hutchings’ Store, December 26, 1803-June 15, 1804. 4. Part of one of the original lace curtains. 5. Fringe made and used by Rachel Jackson for a bedspread. Presented by Miss Emma Hoffstetter. 6. Sample of original chintz in Jackson’s bedroom. Presented by Miss Cora Watson, having been given by Rachel Jackson to a member of her family, who were the Jacksons’ neighbors. 7. Lace collar given by Rachel Jackson to Mrs. Governor Carroll, who gave it to her niece, Miss Bradford. At her death, at the age of 95, it was inherited by her niece, Mrs. Lizzie Miller Jones, who presented it to the Association.

Shelf No. 2: 8. Flat silver used at the Hermitage and at the White House, and two mahogany cases in which it was kept. Silver knife and corkscrew which belonged to Jackson. Presented by Mrs. Ramsey McIver, II.

Shelf No. 3: 9. Gold watch of the adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr. 9A. Memorandum book of Sarah York and Andrew Jackson, Jr., 1859, and his vest. 10. Daguerreotype of Captain Samuel Jackson, C.S.A., grandson of General Andrew Jackson, who was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga. 11. Two daguerreotypes of Andrew Jackson, Jr., adopted son of General and Mrs. Jackson. 12. Miniature of Mrs. Rachel Jackson Lawrence, only daughter of the Jacksons’ adopted son. Her visiting card and that of her husband, which were given by Mrs. Richard Plater. 13. Portion of a gold link chain purchased by General Jackson in Philadelphia, 1831, and presented to his daughter-in-law, Sarah York Jackson. Given by Mrs. Joseph H. Thompson. The other portion of this chain was purchased from Miss Fannie O. Walton, great-great-niece of Mrs. Jackson. 14. The christening robe was worn by the children of Andrew and Sarah York Jackson. 15. The baby cap, which belonged to Rachel Jackson Lawrence, was given by her grandson, C. Lawrence Winn. 15A. Heart pin cushion, made by Rachel Jackson Lawrence of dress scraps from the Hermitage household. Given by Mrs. R. H. Oliphant, whose mother received it from a member of the Jackson family. The second heart pincushion, also made by Rachel Jackson Lawrence, the pearls from the Sarah York Jackson necklace, and the sample of the lining of the Jackson coach were acquired from Miss Effie McIver, whose forebears were close friends of the Jacksons. 16. Pearls which were given to Mrs. Sarah York Jackson, wife of Andrew Jackson, Jr., by President Jackson, when she went to the White House as a bride in 1831. She wore them to receptions given in her honor as a bride and also later as lady of the White House. The pearls have adorned seven brides in the immediate Jackson family. Purchased from the family by the Hermitage Association. 17. Small knife and fork set; were given by General Jackson to his grandson, Andrew Jackson, III. 18. Invitation to General Jackson’s funeral. Presented by Mrs. M. G. Buckner. 19. Presidential ticket (printed on satin) announcing Andrew Jackson’s candidacy for the Presidency. Presented by N. B. Patterson, of Chicago. Printed by his grandfather, Col. J. B. Patterson, who was subsequently editor of the Jacksonian. 20. Bank book of General Jackson, dated 1810. 21. Physician’s statement, 1826. Presented by Mrs. Leonard K. Whitworth. 22. Knife of General Jackson. Presented by J. H. Baker. 23. Engraving of Judge John Overton, Jackson’s law partner and life-long friend. Presented by his great-grandson, J. McGavock Dickinson, Jr. 24. Letter from Andrew Jackson to the Hon. John Overton, August 21, 1831. Presented by Judge John H. DeWitt. 25. General Jackson’s ruler, with outstanding dates of his life engraved thereon. 26. Pair of scales for weighing gold coin. 27. General Jackson’s lancet, used by Dr. Esselman when he bled his patient. Presented by Mrs. Rachel Jackson Lawrence. 28. Original photograph of Dr. Benjamin Rohrer, physician to President Jackson during the entire time he was in the White House. Presented by Cordelia Jackson, 1922. 29. Latin Bible belonging to General Jackson, printed in Anno MDXCIII. 30. Prayer book of General Jackson. 31. Bible of Rachel Jackson. 32. Brass compass of General Jackson which was like one used by George Washington at Valley Forge. 33. Hair of General Jackson in two frames, and lock of his hair presented by Mrs. Jack M. Bass. 34. Jackson’s peace medal. 35. Jackson’s temperance medal. 36. Billfold purchased by General Jackson in Tuscumbia, Ala., May 3, 1828. 37. Pocket comb belonging to General Jackson. 38. Miniature gloves made by an admirer and presented to Andrew Jackson. 39. Congressional medal, presented to Major-General Andrew Jackson after the Battle of New Orleans. 40. Picture of General Jackson and lock of his hair. 41. Porcelain French pipe. 42. Real amber pipe. 43. Pipe from the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas, where Davy Crockett died. 44. Turkish wooden pipe. 45. Two snuff boxes. 46. Sunglass used to light his pipe. Presented by Roy Roe of Mobile, Ala., to Mrs. George Nelson of Murfreesboro, who presented it to the Association. 47. Dutch pipe. 48. Jackson’s watch, engraved: “Presented to General Andrew Jackson by W. W. C. January 12, 1815.” Given by Rogers C. Caldwell in memory of his mother. 49. General Jackson’s Prayer Book. 50. The stick pin worn by President Jackson. Presented by Mr. and Mrs. T. Graham Hall, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Jennie McIver Hall. 51. Gold-rimmed glasses worn by General Jackson until a few years before his death and presented by him to his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sarah York Jackson. She gave them to the only granddaughter, Rachel Jackson, who presented them to John Marshall Lawrence. Purchased from him by the Association. 52. Miniature of Rachel Jackson, worn by General Jackson continuously until his death and only removed at night and placed with his Bible on a table by his bed.

Shelf No. 4: 53. “The Works of Lord Byron,” presented to Jackson by Earl. Interesting letter from Byron to publishers of this volume is shown in Case H in opposite room. 54. Tortoise shell card case which belonged to R. E. W. Earl, given by Mrs. Stanley Horn. 54A. Card case and purse of Earl’s, presented by C. L. Winn. Pen portrait of Earl. 55. Jackson Electoral Ticket, 1832. He was overwhelmingly reelected, receiving 219 votes out of 286. 55A. Miniature of Jackson, given by Mrs. Benjamin A. Brakenbury, of Santa Barbara, Calif. 56. Jackson’s Cabinet, 1829. Gift from Jackson to Major A. J. Donelson, Secretary to President Jackson. 57. New York, Nashville, Clarksville weekly papers of 1845, containing notices of the death of Jackson. Presented by W. M. Drane of Clarksville in 1920. 58. Badge worn at Jackson’s funeral. Presented by Mrs. Frank Jefferson Blodgett of New York City, through Mrs. Lindsay Coleman of Nashville. 59. Badge used in commemoration of the death of Jackson. Presented by Charles Costleigh in memory of members of his family. 60. Letter from Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1821, regarding James Leander Cathcart. 61. Silver spoons, one of which is from a set of Jackson’s spoons and the other from a set of Felix Grundy’s. The handles were molded into Columbia Liberty Bells. 62. Silver cheese scoop, engraved, “G.W.C., Hermitage, Jan. 11, 1860,” Editor of Harper’s Weekly, to whom it was presented by the Jackson family. 63. Shaving case used by General Jackson. 64. Water color of Stockley place in Virginia, the home of Rachel Jackson’s grandfather. 65. Gavel made of wood taken from the birthplace of Rachel Donelson, wife of Andrew Jackson. Presented by Mrs. Myrtle Blair Motley, Wm. Pitt Chapter, Chatham, Va. 66. Mortar and pestle used for compounding medicine. 67. Case for aquamarine necklace of Rachel Jackson (displayed on figure in opposite room). 68. Rachel Jackson’s night cap. Presented by Mrs. John H. Cunningham of San Antonio, great-granddaughter of Mrs. William Watson, a neighbor and friend of Mrs. Jackson who was with her during her last days and to whom Mrs. Jackson gave the cap. 68A. Preliminary sketch made by Sully of one of his portraits of Jackson. 69. Sewing case made and used by Rachel Jackson. 70. Long beaded purse, made by Rachel Jackson. 71. Spinning wheel in bottle presented to General Jackson. 72. Flat iron used at the Hermitage during Jackson’s lifetime, presented by Andrew Jackson Baker, Jr. 73. Miniature of Jackson in youth. 74. Pair of gold-rimmed spectacles used by Mrs. Jackson. 75. Needlepoint bag. 76. Jackson beaded bag. Loaned by Tennessee State Library. 77. Miniature frame of onyx and gold inlay, containing lock of General Jackson’s hair. Presented by Mrs. Joseph H. Crenshaw of Ft. Royal, Va. 78. Work bag of Rachel Jackson. 78A. Pearl comb, which belonged to Rachel Jackson. Given to her niece, Rachel Donelson Eckford, then to Mrs. H. J. Darden, who willed it to her cousin, Dr. M. M. Cullom. Presented by Dr. Cullom to the Association. 79. Rachel Jackson’s pearl ring. 80. Set of Mosaic jewelry consisting of belt clasp, necklace and ear rings, each medallion representing a different ancient temple, purchased by Andrew Jackson from widow of Stephen Decatur.

Shelf No. 5: 81. Part of letter written by Jackson to his wife, Rachel, regarding the Hermitage church and its pastor, the Rev. William Hume. Given by one of the latter’s descendants, Leland Hume. 82. Painting of the Hermitage church, by Cornelius Hankins. 83. Poem on the death of Mrs. Jackson. 84. Letter from John Adams, Quincy, Mass., March 25, 1822 to James L. Cathcart. 85. Letter written by General Jackson to William Donelson, November 29, 1842. Presented by Miss Matilda Allison Porter, 1946. 86. Small portrait of Andrew Jackson, painted by Franklin Witcher of New York, for Jackson’s Presidential campaign. Bought from a relative Of the artist. 87. Springfield, Jefferson County, Miss., where Andrew and Rachel Jackson were married in 1791. Presented by Daniel Clay Bramlette of Woodville, Miss. 88. A letter of General Jackson to Mrs. Jackson, January 29, 1824. Presented by Judge John H. DeWitt. 89. Hermitage (or Ephesus) church membership roll 1824-1839 including the Jacksons, given by C. L. Winn. 90. A photostat of Jackson’s list of contributions for repairs of the Hermitage church and suggested alterations made by Andrew Jackson Donelson, given by Stanley F. Horn.

Case No. 3

Shelf No. 1: 1. The green and white covered dishes, the six flowered soup plates, and the small knife and fork, which all belonged to the Jacksons, were given by Mr. and Mrs. T. Graham Hall, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Jennie McIver Hall, a friend of the Jackson family. 2. China platter and six matching soup plates, which were the Jacksons’. Given by Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield Clark, Jr., in memory of Mrs. Sheffield Clark, Sr. 3. Brass dinner gong. 3A. Pottery pitcher, given by Wylie B. Ewing, of Delray, Fla. Made for a dinner given in honor of Jackson, June 11, 1834, in Wheeling. W. Va.