Early in the Jackson Presidency

(JACKSON.). DECATUR, S[USAN]. A.L.S., to Major General Andrew Jackson, March 11, 1829, in ink. Union Hotel [?Wash.], March 11th, 1824. 3 1/2 pp. 4to. Folds, otherwise fine. $1,500.00

A touching plea from Stephen Decatur's widow to Andrew Jackson: "I entreat you to send me a word of hope or comfort; for my situation is mortifying and distressing beyond all expression!...I now find myself overwhelm'd with desolation and poverty staring me in the face!" The main object of her letter, however, is to ask Jackson's assistance in the preferrment of a Mr. Ridgely [Daniel Bowly Ridgely, Sr.?] and towards that end she writes, "I now enclose a note from the Navy Commissioners, and another from Francis S. Key [not present], one of the most distinguished lawyers in this district, and one of the most active and able advocates of your election, and the brother-in-law of Mr. [Roger] Taney the Chairman of the Jackson Committee of Baltimore.

She goes on to elaborate Mr. Ridgely's difficulties, three sisters and an aging mother along with a wife and eight children to support. She closes, "I am sorry to be so troublesome to you my dear General, but I hope you will make every allowance for me...." Mrs. Decatur was widowed in 1820 when her husband was killed in a duel. Key, of course, is better known as the author of "The Star Spangled Banner" than as a lawyer and his brother-in-law Mr. Taney was to become attorney general in Jackson's first cabinet and Jackson later nominated him to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1816, Decatur came to the aid of Robt. Fulton's widow in similar fashion.

Jackson and Susan Decatur socialized and wrote each other frequently during Jackson's presidency, "on terms of increasing intimacy and familiarity."--Tom Coens.