Monroe Defended In Jilting Charge.
Monroe Defended In Jilting Charge.

MONROE DEFENDED
IN JILTING CHARGE
_____

Mrs. Hoes, Great-Granddaugh-
ter, Doubts Former President
Knew Nannie Brown.
_____

BASES STAND ON HIS LETTER
_____

Protest Evoked by Article Saying
Monroe Jilted Girl Who Nursed
Him After Battle Wound.

    The descendants of James Monroe now living in Washington, led by Mrs. Rose Gouverneur Hoes, great-granddaughter of the fifth President of the United States, and herself an authority on the social and political history of Monroe's time, declared last night that they intended to defend the honor and name of their distinguished ancestor against all defamers.
    The reason for rallying to his defense is an article published by Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer, of New York, that Monroe jilted Nannie Brown, who nursed him after he was wounded at Trenton.

Not Mentioned in Letters.

    Mrs. Hoes bases her contention, she says, on the fact that none of Monroe's letters mention Nannie Brown, although he mentions several other colonial maidens who caught his fancy.
    "In a letter written shortly before my great-grandfather's death he mentioned several homes in which he spent the time recuperating after the battle of Trenton, and makes no mention of stopping at Lady Sterling's, where Mrs. Van Rensselaer said the romance took place," Mrs. Hoes asserts. "He does say he was in the home of Judge Wynkoop for over nine weeks, and that he became interested in Christine Wynkoop, who afterward, however, married some one else.

Sees No Resemblance.

    "Mrs. Van Rensselaer also bases her claim to the authenticity of her story on a miniature and ring found by her mother in the lining of the trunk belonging to Nannie Brown, after her death. She simply concluded that this was the picture of Monroe, but from the photograph I have seen of it it bears absolutely no resemblance to the authentic family portraits we have of him. He had an individual type of face, and his portrait can not be mistaken.
    "Mrs. Van Rensselaer has corresponded with the family in regard to this story, and once stated that she had all the facts, but would not print them on account of the family. My late husband and myself have told her that the miniature is not that of Monroe, and that there is no reason to believe, from any authentic evidence, that he ever knew Nannie Brown. This correspondence took place five or six years ago.

Causes Division in Society.

    "In her story Mrs. Van Rensselaer speaks of Monroe as being of obscure origin, which is a ridiculous statement. He came of a line of cultured and refined people, who were distinguished in the early days of this nation."
    The indignation of the Monroe descendants has caused a division in the social circles of New York and Washington, as both Mrs. Hoes and Mrs. Van Rensselaer have many friends in both places.


Source:

Unknown, "Monroe Defended In Jilting Charge," The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Sunday, 1 April, 1923, p. 13.

Created May 19, 2006; Revised May 20, 2006
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