Rachel's Marriage and Divorce | Robards Perspective
NPT Producer Kathy Conkwright traced the Lewis Robards family and found several of his ancestors. One family member sent the self-published book, History and Genealogy of the Robards Family. The book was compiled by James Harvey Robards in 1910. It is important to note that there are several incorrect facts and dates in this version of what the Robards family historian says happened between Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson and Lewis Robards. The following excerpts are taken directly from the book:
"Jackson's Wife"
The true story of the great stateman's matrimonial venture. A bit of history that has been generally suppressed or destroyed. The wrong light in which Mrs. Jackson's first husband has been put by biographers of General Jackson. What the court records of Virginia show with regard to the Robards divorce and Jackson's marriage and great love for his wife.
Jackson's whole public life, like his private life, was marked by a strong purpose to follow his own bent, regardless of the consequences, and he carried his points by the sheer force of his character. It was in the same spirit that he invaded another man's home and carried away his wife, paying no heed then to how the world might look upon it. He fell in love with her. He wanted her for himself. She reciprocated and he took her boldly away.
Since the Jackson presidential campaign the true history of this affair has never been published; it was hushed up on the election of Jackson to fill the chief office of the nation, but now that more than a century has passed and the affair can be talked of dispassionately, there seems to be no reason why the true facts of the case can not be published, and justice done to the man who was wronged.