Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[Lewis Gannett]

(06-30-2014 10:12 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  As I continue to read this thread a thought occurred to me. Mary Lincoln (whatever people's opinion of her might be) was an intelligent woman who was knowledgeable about and involved with her husband's life and career.

I can't help but believe that if AL was having "romantic" relationships with anyone else, whether she was there or not (ie. what some might hint at going on at Lincoln's Cottage at the soldier's home) she would have known or found out about it. I further believe that if Mary was aware that AL was having "romantic" relationships (whether with a man or woman) she would have addressed it with him quite plainly and probably in a way that would have been witnessed/heard by any number of other people. There have been cases identified where she became very distressed and jealous over what seem to be minor issues and I can't believe that she would have stayed with AL if something a more substantive infidelity was occurring or had occurred.

Good point. What did Mary know and if she did know something, why didn't she blow up with Lincoln conspicuously enough that people noticed? I don't have a good answer to that.