John Overton, a young law student who resided in Mrs. Robards’ Kentucky home, planned to come to Tennessee to open a law office. He was prevailed upon to try to bring about a reconciliation. When he arrived in Nashville he took a room at Mrs. Donelson’s and was successful in persuading Rachel to make a new trial with Robards. In due time Robards arrived and was welcomed by the entire family. It was not long, though, before jealousy again manifested itself. This time it was Andrew Jackson of whom he was jealous.
Jackson had come out from North Carolina with a commission to be prosecuting attorney for the Mero District. He, with Mr. Overton, occupied one of the smaller cabins at Mrs. Donelson’s. The unpleasant scenes to which Rachel was subjected by her husband’s jealousy roused a just indignation in the breast of the young prosecuting attorney. Mr. Overton suggested that they move their boarding place, which they did, going to Manskers, near the boundary between Davidson and Sumner Counties. This also was a group of log houses close together for common protection. But Robards was still very unhappy, and finally he decided to go back to Kentucky, much to the relief of all. Jackson did not move back to the Donelson home but continued to live at Manskers. He had the highest ideals of womanhood, and he did not wish for any act on his part to cast the slightest shadow on the bereft Rachel.
It is unnecessary in this story of Rachel to go into the history of Andrew Jackson before he came to Tennessee, further than to say that his veneration for womanhood originated with his feeling for his mother. Before leaving for Charleston on an errand of mercy, nursing soldiers (an errand in which she lost her life), she committed to writing and left with Andrew one of the most impressive codes of conduct ever written. He kept these last words of his mother and accepted them as the credo of his life. His reverence for his mother was evidenced by the numerous times he referred to her precepts of morals and honor.
To feel that any woman was mistreated filled Andrew Jackson’s soul with indignation. When he saw how unhappy Rachel’s beautiful eyes looked he could hardly contain himself. Then Mr. Robards let it be known that he was coming to force Rachel to return to Kentucky with him. This she said she would never do. The family thought it best for her to go on a visit to relatives in Natchez, Mississippi. Col. Stark, a friend, was going to New Orleans on business, taking his wife and two daughters with him. It was arranged that Rachel should go with them as far as Natchez. Col. Stark asked Andrew Jackson to accompany them because he was so well known as an Indian fighter. After leaving Rachel at Natchez, Jackson went on with Col. Stark, making some investments for himself in Mississippi. While these events transpired, the wheel of fortune was turning in another quarter.
Mr. Overton made a visit to Kentucky and again stopped at Mrs. Robards’ home. While he was there Mrs. Robards had a letter from her son, Lewis, then in Virginia, telling her that a divorce had been granted by the Virginia legislature. When Mr. Overton returned to Tennessee he took the joyful news straight to Mrs. Donelson. She inquired where he got the information, and he replied: “From his mother, who read a letter from her son to that effect.”
Hall and Stairway in the Hermitage
The entrance hall at the Hermitage
When Mr. Jackson was told of this by Mr. Overton it was natural that he as well as everyone else should believe it. The Virginia legislature had indeed granted the divorce, but Robards failed to record it. Some have believed that he did this purposely. Anyway, Mr. Jackson went as soon as possible to tell Rachel that she was a free woman and that he wanted to marry her. After a short time they were married there in Natchez at the home of her relatives, the Greens. Mr. Jackson had secured the “Betsy Jane Trotter,” the same boat that brought Rachel down the river with the Stark girls. It was made ready for the honeymoon, and on it the newly married couple returned to Nashville. They lived first at Mrs. Donelson’s, later at a place called Poplar Grove, then at Hunters’ Hill where they were most happy.
Rachel felt a great pride in all the honors heaped upon her husband. He became the first citizen of Tennessee. He gave the state its lovely Indian name. He was made a member of the State Supreme Court. He was sent to the United States Senate. In that period Rachel probably enjoyed the glamor of public life, but that happy enthusiasm was short lived.
After two years Mr. Overton arrived at Hunters’ Hill with the news that the divorce had never been recorded; whereupon Rachel and Andrew were immediately remarried. Everyone knew that both were entirely innocent of having done anything wrong. Yet this super legal technicality was used by Jackson’s political enemies against him, even to the extent that in the presidential campaign certain pamphlets distributed by the Adams adherents referred to Rachel as an adulteress; and it was the direct cause of the duel in which Jackson killed Charles Dickinson. Through it all Jackson tried to shield Rachel from the calumnies of idle gossips and political foes; but, possessed of an acute understanding, she was aware of it all.