Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

by Mary French Caldwell

So ended all thoughts of victory for Andrew Jackson. All that had made victory sweet, all that had made life worth while, had passed away. The only thing to which the broken old man looked forward was his return to their beloved Hermitage. His body, his mind, and his indomitable will he carried to Washington—but his heart he left buried with Rachel in their garden.

Although for a time after her death Rachel Jackson’s Hermitage—the building as it appeared from 1819 to 1831—remained unchanged, the period was, to all intents and purposes, ended. The household and its followers centered about the White House, and the lonely resting place of its mistress was left to the tender care of relatives and the slaves whose grief was still inconsolable. General Coffee, R. E. W. Earl, Andrew Jackson Donelson and his wife, Emily, who was for a time mistress of the White House; Andrew Jackson, Jr., and later his bride, Sarah York Jackson; Major Lewis, and others formed a part of the household. Some of the time three Marys—Mary Coffee, Mary McLemore, and Mary Eastin—daughters of Rachel’s nieces, added gayety to the Washington household. Mary Eastin was married in the White House to Lucius Polk, and Mary Coffee married General Jackson’s ward, Andrew Jackson Hutchings.

A new phase in the history of the Hermitage began in 1831. Andrew Jackson, Jr., married the beautiful and cultured Miss Sarah York, of Philadelphia, on November 24, 1831. Some interest in the future began to live in the heart of Andrew Jackson. Since his wife’s death he had contemplated his son’s marriage with more than ordinary concern.

“It is,” he wrote to a friend in May, 1829, “the only hope by which I look to a continuation of my name....”

It proved to be more than that for it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship destined to last from the time he welcomed Sarah York Jackson, as a bride, to the White House, until she stood at his deathbed at the Hermitage in 1845. The President, because of pressing duties and ill health, had not been able to make the journey to Philadelphia to attend the wedding, but he sent Col. Earl with a cluster of pearls for the bride. It was in the form of a ring, and there was a lock of his hair on the under side of the setting. With it he sent the message that from his son’s description of her he thought “pearls the most fitting gift, as emblematic of the purity of her character and the beauty of her face.” (From the notebook of Mrs. Rachel Jackson Lawrence—State Library.)

The wedding took place at the home of Mrs. Samuel Wetherill, Sarah York’s sister, who lived on Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia. Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Wetherill, and another sister, Mrs. Adams, were left orphans in early childhood, and, at the request of their dying father, were cared for and educated at Mrs. Malland’s boarding school. They were well-bred, charming, and well connected. Andrew Jackson himself—and he was a noted matchmaker—could not have made a better choice for the future mistress of the Hermitage.

Before Andrew Jackson, Jr., brought his bride to the red brick mansion in Tennessee, extensive remodeling was done. This period in the history of the Hermitage had been completely overlooked until a letter in the Hermitage collection was recently brought to light. This letter (Published for the first time in the 1933 edition of the present work) which is quoted in full, gives complete data on the remodeling of the Hermitage in 1831, as well as the building of the tomb in the garden. It reads:

“Nashville, December 6, 1831.

“Dear sir: I have the satisfaction to inform you that the additions and improvements to the Hermitage are compleated. I have in addition to the improvements, as exhibited on the plan furnished you a neat and appropriate Portico on the back side of the center building, which adds very much to the comfort & convenience of your dwelling.

“The Hermitage as improved presents a front of 104 feet, the wings project 9 feet in front the center building and are connected by a colonnade of the same breadth. The colonnade consists of 10 lofty columns of the Doric order the entablature is carried through the whole line of the front, and has wreaths of laurel leaves in the frieze, on the cornice is a blocking corse that support an appropriate balustrade. The upper story consists of a Portico surmounted by a pediment which breaks the monotony of the composition in a very satisfactory manner.

“The material employed in the emprovements are all of the best quality the neighborhood affords, the colonnade is covered with the best copper the sheets weighing from 12 to 14 lbs. each sheet, and the gutters that convey the water from front to back are also of copper. The wing buildings and Porticos are roofed with good ceader shingles. The old Kitchen is removed and the matereals employed in the erection of a large and comodeus smoke house which is placed on a line with the new kitchen. The internal arrangements are almost to my mind. The dining room is large and will dine 100 persons at one time comfortable. The wing at the East end contains the library a large and comodeous room and overseer room, and a covered way that protects the three doors leading to the library the overseer room and to the back parlor.

“In the progress of the emprovements I adhered as closely to the plan furnished you as circumstances would admit. The only alteration I have made is in adding 2 feet to the length of the Kitchen, and 20 feet to the length of the East wing. The latter was done at the request and with the advice of Gen. Coffee which additions I hope will meet with your approbation.

“The following is the amount that has been expended independent of what has been done by your one (own) hands—

Cash	to stone-cutters, mason & bricklayers	491.00
“	to carpenters and joiners	678.00
“	to painters and glazers	187.00
“	plasterers	168.00
“	copper smith and tinner	350.00
“	Lumber and shingles	468.50
“	Hardware glass &c.	110.00
“	Lurners (?) bill	25.00
“	Halling lumber from Nashville	11.00
		$2488.50

“You will perceive by this amount notwithstanding the several additions, the back Portico, and many additional expenses incident to such emprovements I have been able to effect it with a less sume than the original estimate which to me is a source of gratulation without respect to any hope of pecuniary emolument. I must entreat you to believe that no such sordid matire entered into my views. To merit your approbation has been my ambition, to succeed in obtaining it is my best reward—I have received in addition to the fifteen hundred Dollars the amount of your chieck, Five hundred dollars from Mr. Josiah Nicholl, making two thousand dollars, leiving a ballance of Four hundred and eighty-eight Dollars.

“On receipt of your letter of the 18th August for which I return you my thanks for the expressions of kindness it contains, I employed an expereanced stone-cutter in whome I have entire confidence who is progressing with the Temple & Monument it will be composed intire of stone. The massivenes of the parts of the Grecian Doric order require a material of great strength such as the white stone of this neighborhood and when this can be obtained it must always be a subject of regret that recourse should be had to any imitation of it however exact: but I found it impossible to get ceader timber large enough to be wrought into the forms required. The principle cost of this substantial and highly ornamental emprovement consists of the hire of stone cutters, and the purchase of copper for the covering of the doom. I expect in the progress of this work to have the ade of your one hands & teems in quarry & halling the stone, which will enable me to bestoe an additional quantity of labor on the building, in order that it may fully meet publick expectation. I am anxious to have it finished as soon in the spring as possible, in as much as I will be necessary detained hear to direct the operation of the workmen in order that it may be in conformity to the plan furnished you.

“I have made a drawing of the Hermitage as emproved, which is in the hands of an experanced engraver, it will make a splendid picture and as soon as it is finished I will send you a copy which will give you a better idea of the building than any written discription I can give—my best respects to your son—Mrs. M joins with me in tendering you, not our complements, but our kindest & best wishes,

“I am your most obldge D Morrison.”

Cash	to stone-cutters, mason & bricklayers	491.00
“	to carpenters and joiners	678.00
“	to painters and glazers	187.00
“	plasterers	168.00
“	copper smith and tinner	350.00
“	Lumber and shingles	468.50
“	Hardware glass &c.	110.00
“	Lurners (?) bill	25.00
“	Halling lumber from Nashville	11.00
		$2488.50

Notes in Andrew Jackson’s own hand on the back of the letter read: “Mr. Morrison rec’d & answered. A bill for $300 inclosed to Mr. Morrison or Josiah Nichol. A. J. To be preserved. A. J.”