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Marcia Burns Van Ness 1782 ~ 1832
One of the most distinguished and charming women, who gave
dignity elegance and grace to the social circles of Washington
City, was the wife of General Van Ness. She was the daughter of
David Burns of excellent family who had inherited a fine estate
near the Potomac in the District of Columbia and held the office
of civil magistrate. The building now owned by the Daughters of
the American Revolution and the building of the American
Republics are now situated where was once the magnificent home
and estate of General Van Ness. The seat of National Government
was removed to Washington, in May, 1800. Miss Burns had returned
home from school in 1800, not long before her father's death and
from him she inherited a large fortune.
From the very first she was one of the prominent belles of
Washington City. It is said Mrs. Madison was one of her intimate
friends. At the age of twenty she married Honorable John P. Van
Ness, a member of Congress from New York. After their marriage
he became a resident of Washington, and their home was one of
the most brilliant social centers in the Capital city, Mrs. Van
Ness drawing about her the refined and cultivated persons of the
day. Chief Justice Marshall, Henry Clay, President Monroe,
General Jackson, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. McDuffie, Daniel Webster, Mr.
Hayne and many other noted celebrities of that time were on
familiar terms with General Van Ness and frequent visitors in
his home. The only daughter of Mrs. Van Ness was Ann Albertina,
an accomplished, intelligent young woman. Mrs. Van Ness,
influence was always for good, and her example noble and
elevating; her friendships true and warm. She ever ministered to
the sick and suffering; her deeds of charity were
unostentatious.
Mrs. Van Ness never recovered from the death of her daughter,
which occurred soon after her marriage. A lasting monument of
Mrs. Van Ness' charity was the establishing of the Washington
City Orphan Asylum by her. To this she gave four thousand
dollars, besides many small contributions from time to time, and
her indefatigable exertions obtaining; with the aid of a few
friends, from Congress an Act of Incorporation and a donation of
ten thousand dollars for its permanent support She also gave
directions that a legacy of a thousand dollars should be given
this institution after her death. Mrs. Madison was the first
directress of the institution, but after her departure Mrs. Van
Ness was induced to accept this office, which she held until her
death, on the 9th of September, 1832, at the age of fifty years.
Her husband. General Van Ness was mayor of Washington at the
time; and it is said Mrs. Van Ness was the first American woman
buried with public honors in Washington. Few women have indeed
ever occupied a larger field of usefulness or been more
devotedly engaged in the work for humanity than Mrs. Van Ness.
Women of
America
Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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