Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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In reply to:
Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 12/09/04
Certainly, glad to be of service.
Susan Claiborne was born on Sept. 5, 1791, the daughter of Colonel of the militia, William Claiborne, III, and Kathryn Dandridge, daughter of Thomas Dandridge.The family, at the time of her birth was residing at Romancoke, the family estate in King Georges County, Virginia.In 1808, she embarrassed the family by her elopement with James Rutherford, a local hoodlum.Mortified by her action, William ordered her name removed from all civil and religious documentation pertaining to the family, and, to this day, no record of her life exists.
Susan never gave any indication of the wilfulness and headstrong behavior that characterized her marriage.Indeed, she was a model of decorum and demeanor.Those who knew her in later life attributed this arbitrary behavior to the fact that she was extremely conscious of her physical shortcomings and had grasped the first proposal offered her.She was known to fly into a rage whenever anyone made mention of the abundance or her facial hair.Taunts of "look at the Bearded Lady," were certain to initiate a tirade of reproach toward the offender.She, also, was extremely conscious of the drooping eyelid and profound limp, both products of an attack by a stablehand with whom she had a short, but stormy, affair.
She was described as "short and stout, with dark hair and one blue eye (the other could not be observed, owing to the aforementioned eyelid)".She was said to have the temper of a wildcat and the disposition of a snake.
After settling in Tennessee, Susan and James lived the life of a typical frontier family.With the help of strong drink and frequent use of opiates grown in her "herb garden," Susan was able to lead a happy, contented, barely conscious existence.At her funeral, the only mourner was heard to exclaim, "Gawd, what a woman!I knowed her more than thutty yars, and never saw her sober!A fitting epitaph for a courageous pioneer woman.
There, Ms. Snodgrass, you now have the solution to your Susan "mystery".
Ron
More Replies:
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Ronald Couch 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Robert Martin 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Ronald Couch 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Ronald Couch 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Robert Martin 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Ronald Couch 12/09/04
-
Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Robert Martin 12/09/04
-
Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Ronald Couch 12/09/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
Robert Martin 12/10/04
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama
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Re: James RUTHERFORD Jackson Co., Alabama