Tennessee's First Lady - Rachel Donelson Jackson

J. Mark Lowe

I know you are all familiar with Rachel Donelson Jackson.  Several years ago, I did a deeper dive into her family and Mrs. Jackson in particular.  Her death came near Christmas in 1828.  I was very impressed with her story, and share some notes from an article written by one of her great-nieces. She was definitely a sturdy adventurer and represented the first Tennesseans.

Rachel Donelson Jackson was born in 1767, while her father, the Colonel John Donelson, was a member of the Virginia Colonial Legislature. Rachel was the youngest of thirteen children. She was described as a black-eyed, black-haired brunette, a handsome lass, the best storyteller, the best dancer, the sprightliest companion, and the most dashing horsewoman in the Western country. 

Colonel John Donelson was appointed principal surveyor of Pittsylvania county, Virginia and Colonel of the militia just three years before his youngest daughter was born. Donelson sold his iron works in 1779, and planned to emigrate to the West. He built his boats, and in company with forty other families started on his journey to the Cumberland Settlement on the 22nd of  December. He kept a journal of this voyage, which began, “Journal kept of a voyage intended by God's permission in the good boat Adventure, from Fort Patrick Henry, on the Holston River, to the French Salt Springs [later called French Lick] on the Cumberland: kept by John Donelson.’

The group, including Rachel Donelson, arrived at their destination on the 24th of April in 1780. Due to the continual fighting with native Indian tribes, several of the Donelson family temporarily located in Kentucky for safety.  While living in Kentucky Rachel Donelson gave her heart and hand to Lewis Robarts. They were married on 1 March 1785, however the union proved most unhappy. The couple was quickly separated. Judge John Overton, a lifelong friend of the families, succeeded in uniting them after one separation, when Rachel’s mother-in-law embraced her most affectionately, being in deep distress over her son’s conduct. When the conduct continued, Rachel moved back to her mother's home. Robarts left his wife and went back to Kentucky.

Shortly thereafter, Rachel learned that Lewis Robarts intended to compel her to accompany him back to Kentucky, she determined to descend the river as far as Natchez with the advice of her friends.

News came through the grapevine that the Virginia Legislature had actually granted a divorce to Robarts's petition. Upon receipt of the news Andrew Jackson hastened to Natchez and offered his hand and heart. Jackson had been a boarder in the home of the Donelson family. Rachel declined the offer of engagement, but her suitor would not be denied. In time, they were married and returned to Tennessee. On arrival, it was learned that the divorce in Virginia had not actually been finished. Once they learned it had been completed, the marriage ceremony was again performed after their arrival in Nashville. 

Andrew Jackson was devoted to his wife. According to all to knew the couple, there marriage was a happy union—a very happy marriage—one of the happiest ever contracted. They loved one another dearly. They held each other in the highest respect. They testified the love and respect they entertained for one another by those polite attentions which lovers cannot but exchange before marriage.

Their love grew as their years increased and became warmer as their blood became colder. No one ever heard either address to the other a disrespectful, an irritating, or an unsympathizing word. He remained Mr. Jackson to her always—never General, still less Andrew—and he never called her Rachel, but Mrs. Jackson or wife. Whatever manner of man he might have been elsewhere, he was always gentle, kind, and patient at home. They were not blest with children. These big-hearted people, having none of their own, were enabled to bestow many kindnesses upon other people's children, for the Hermitage was the place for pleasure and comfort to the younger element of the community, all of her brothers owning the entire lands surrounding the Hermitage.

For four or five years before her death her health had been precarious, and on the 17th of December in 1828, she was taken with a sudden and violent attack of heart trouble. General Jackson was in the field and rushed to her side. The doctor arrived but with no relief for Mrs. Jackson, as she suffered for sixty hours, during which time her husband never left her bedside for ten minutes. Then she grew better and breathed with less difficulty. Rachel then protested to her husband that she was quite well, and he should go into another room and sleep. She did not want anything to interfere with his attendance of the banquet on the 23d of December, 1828. This banquet was planned by the citizens of Nashville and Middle Tennessee in honor of  Jackson's election as President of the United States.

Jackson would still not leave her side. She so earnestly entreated him to rest and prepare for the banquet of the following day that he finally consented to go into an adjoining room and rest. At 9 o'clock he bade her good night, went into the next room, and was preparing to take off his coat when his beloved wife uttered a low, long cry. Her head fell. He looked eagerly into her face, as if expecting to see signs of returning life. He sat all night long in the room by her side, with his face in his hands, grieving, and occasionally looking into her face and feeling the heart and pulse of the form so dear to him. He also sat in the room the entire next day, the picture of despair. 

The sad news reached Nashville early the next morning, where all arrangements for the grand banquet were made. The scene was suddenly changed. Congratulations were turned into expressions of condolence, tears were substituted for smiles, and sincere and general mourning pervaded the community. Announcements from the Board of Aldermen were made, with resolutions from the Mayor, that all business be suspended, and that the church bells be tolled from 1 to 2 o'clock, the hour of the funeral, as a mark of respect for the memory of Mrs. Jackson. On the day of the funeral every vehicle in Nashville was employed in conveying its inhabitants to the Hermitage, and the grounds about the mansion were crowded with people.