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BettyO · (This post was last modified: 03-27-2015 09:19 AM by BettyO.)

Lew Powell's supposed "fiancee", Mary E. Branson, was MUCH older than he; I have found her baptism record - she was born December 7, 1828!! Thus making her 37 years old to Lew's age 20 in 1865 when things were "hot and heavy".....Therefore, she was apparently 43 years old when she died in 1871.

KateH. · 03-27-2015, 10:26 AM

It sounds like she had a little "Civil War cougar" thing going on.

LincolnMan · 03-27-2015, 10:32 AM

Yeah, that's what I thought too. So "cougars" are not something new.

Pamela · 03-27-2015, 03:30 PM

(03-27-2015 10:32 AM)LincolnMan Wrote: Yeah, that's what I thought too. So "cougars" are not something new.

So Mary Surratt wasn't the only woman who was "fit, fat and forty"!

brtmchl · 03-27-2015, 03:44 PM

I see everyone beat me to the Cougar joke. I wonder if he also had an infatuation for Mary Surratt.

Gene C · 03-27-2015, 06:41 PM

This reminds me of a song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIIon1S1Das

J. Beckert · 03-27-2015, 06:43 PM

Nice find, Betty!

Eva Elisabeth · 03-27-2015, 06:56 PM

Does a photo of Mary E. Branson exist? BTW - GREAT photos in "Alias Paine", Betty!!! Love the entire layout as well! Will be the next to be read - can't wait!!!

LincolnToddFan · 03-27-2015, 10:17 PM

Eva you beat me to it..I REALLY want to know what she looks like ever since I read Betty's book. Wink

Jenny · 03-28-2015, 01:39 AM

Seems likely that Lew had "a thing" for older women! Big Grin

RJNorton · 03-28-2015, 03:46 AM

(03-28-2015 01:39 AM)Jenny Wrote: Seems likely that Lew had "a thing" for older women!

Hi Jenny. This has been mentioned before, but I believe two trial witnesses testified Mary Surratt visited Lewis when he was staying at the Herndon House. I believe both Betty and Laurie have said how unusual it was for a woman to make such a visit during that era. Betty and Laurie, please correct me if I didn't say that correctly.

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 03-28-2015 06:54 AM by BettyO.)

Yes, Roger - you are correct! A woman (ANY age!) would not visit a young gentleman's bedroom in the 19th Century unless she was either A) his mother or B) his sister..... just wasn't considered "proper."

Needless to say, I was somewhat shocked when I saw Mary Branson's birth dated listed as 1828. She would NOT be lying about her age at her confirmation/baptism when she was 14 years old in 1842. Lew wasn't even born yet - So....all I can say is that she must have been desperate for a suitor - even a 20 year old kid!

She must have still been nice looking and yes, there were lovely women in the Victorian era who never had a touch of makeup application or other "aids" to assist their looks, who were stunners - Lew's own mother comes to mind, along with Teresa Sickles, Kate Chase, Vinnie Ream, etc. One wonders just how lovely they'd look today WITH makeup! Next on the agenda is to find a photo of the Branson ladies. I've found a drawing of a gentlemen who MAY be Joseph Branson, as well as a photo of a Margaret Branson who may be Maggie, but without definite verification, I do NOT want to post or publish them.... I do have a photograph of Mrs. Branson's sister in old age and yes, there are traces of beauty there. Her son; Mrs. Branson's nephew, was in the brewing business and was also blond and handsome. They were a fair haired blond family, I think....

DKEast · 04-13-2015, 04:37 PM

Not hard to believe, Lewis could be a screen star today! Very handsome gentleman!

Eva Elisabeth · 04-13-2015, 09:19 PM

(04-13-2015 04:37 PM)DKEast Wrote: Not hard to believe, Lewis could be a screen star today! Very handsome gentleman!

He sure could have. A kind of James Dean perhaps?

DKEast · 04-18-2015, 07:27 PM

(04-13-2015 09:19 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:
(04-13-2015 04:37 PM)DKEast Wrote: Not hard to believe, Lewis could be a screen star today! Very handsome gentleman!
He sure could have. A kind of James Dean perhaps?

indeed - or a Hunter Parrish haha!