FHB Mary Donelson

Family History Book: Mary Donelson (1751-1834)

Family Background

Mary Donelson was the second daughter, and 3rd or 4th child of Col. John Donelson and his wife, Rachel Stockley. Her brother, Alexander, was also born in 1751, but since the exact dates of birth have so far escaped me, I don't know which was born first or if in fact they were twins.

Marriage & Travel

Mary was apparently a head-strong young woman, as she eloped with John Caffery against her father's wishes. Caffery (later a militia Captain) was his employee, possibly apprenticed to Col. Donelson at the time. They did reconcile, as evidenced by Col. Donelson's mention of them in his journal of the Donelson Expedition from Watauga Settlement to what is today Nashville, Tennessee.

The Donelson Expedition

Mary and her family were along on the expedition, leaving from Watauga Settlement on 22 December 1779, down the Holston, Clinch, and French Broad to the mouth of the Tennessee river where it meets the Ohio. At that point, after many adventures, John and Mary Caffery (and presumably their children) left the main group to go down the Mississippi to Natchez on 20 March 1780, as shown in Col. John Donelson's journal.

Captured by Indians

On 28 January 1792, Indians attacked the home of a Mr. Thompson (near Nashville), killed him, his wife, son and a daughter, and took prisoners Mary Donelson Caffery, her son, and Thomspon's other daughter. They were still held and treated as slaves by Creek indians as late as July 1794.

Life in Mississippi

Grindstone Ford

According to a 1807 journal by Mary's nephew, Stockley Donelson Hayes (son of her sister, Jane), Mary may have lived in or near Grindstone Ford, NE of Port Gibson, Mississippi on Bayou Pierre, near mile marker 45.7 on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Hayes wrote of visiting Mr/Mrs Caffery there on June 22nd, 1807. (The handwriting in the facsimile journal page is difficult to tell if it says Mr or Mrs, but since Capt. John Caffery was working in Natchez as Pres. Andrew Jackson's agent, it probably refers to Mrs. Mary Donelson Caffery, his aunt, rather than her husband.)

Natchez & Port Gibson, Mississippi

I have not found any record of the Caffery family living in Natchez, although numerous sources say Capt. John Caffery was agent for Andrew Jackson there. Mary's will is recorded in Claiborne County, where Grindstone Ford and Port Gibson are located. Daughter Sophia Donelson (Caffery) van Dorn lived in Port Gibson, where her husband, Peter van Dorn, was a judge. Their house is an historical landmark there. Among others, the van Dorns had a son, Earl, who became a Major General in the CSA. It is possible that Mary lived with the van Dorns after John Caffery died (in 1811), and she may be buried there, but so far I have found no record of where either of the Cafferys are buried, at Grindstone Ford or Port Gibson.

References

• Donelson, John. Journal of the Donelson Expedition, 22 December 1779-24 April 1780.
• Ramsey, J.G.M., MD The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century. Walker & Jones, Charleston, SC, 1853. Reprinted by The Overmountain Press, Johnson City, TN, 1999.
• Hayes, Stockley Donelson, 1807 Journal (page 5 of 7) mentioning visit to "Mr(s). Caffery".

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