Mary Eleanor Braden (1796-1829)

Mary Eleanor Braden was born 16 January 1796 in Loudoun Co., Virginia.  She was the first child of Robert Braden and his wife, Elizabeth (Stevens) Braden.  She was probably named for her maternal grandmother, Mary Eleanor (Webster) Stevens.

Mary was named in the will of her grandfather, Thomas Darnell Stephens (will written in 1814); he left his granddaughter "one half Eagle of the value of five dollars."  

Sometime around 1817, Mary Eleanor married Zachariah Dulaney, son of Leroy Dulaney and his wife, Anne (Routt) Dulaney.  So far, no record has been found that gives the date and place of their marriage.

Their first child, son Robert Leroy Dulaney, was born 12 September 1818.  He was probably named for both his grandfathers, Robert Braden and Leroy Dulaney.   
Four more children were born to them, all in Loudoun Co., Virginia:
Elizabeth Ann Dulaney, born 10 December 1820, and probably named for her grandmothers, Elizabeth (Stevens) Braden and Anne (Routt) Dulaney;  
Woodford Hector Dulaney, born 16 March 1822, and probably named for his uncles, Woodford Dulaney and Hector Braden;
Mary Eleanor Dulaney, born 19 November 1823, and probably named for her mother, Mary Eleanor (Braden) Dulaney; and
Charles Fenton Dulaney, born 19 December 1825,.

Mary is mentioned in her father, Robert's, will dated 28 June 1827.  Her father died 14 November 1827.

Mary died 18 April 1829 (per her tombstone) in Waterford, Loudoun Co., Virginia.  She is buried in Catoctin Free Church Cemetery.  Here is a link to her Find-A-Grave memorial.

A death notice, printed 26 May 1829 in the Daily National Intelligencer (of Washington, D.C.), states:  "DEATHS.  In Waterford, Loudoun county, Virginia, on Thursday evening, the 16th ult. In the prime of life, Mrs. MARY ELEANOR DULANEY, the amiable and affectionate consort of Captain Zachariah Dulaney, of that place.  A numerous class of relatives, including a husband and Infant children, are left to deplore her loss...."    

A death notice, which was printed in the Genius of Liberty on 6 June 1829, gives her death date as April 16th.  The death notice reads, "Died at Waterford on April 16th, Mrs. Mary Dulaney, consort of Capt. Zachariah Dulaney."

A letter dated 5 July 1829, from Sarah Hough in Waterford, Virginia, to Mary (Jenners) Braden in Lafayette, Indiana,  mentions "Mr. Dulaney's great loss" and refers to all their little children.  This appears seems to be a reference to the death of Mary Eleanor (Braden) Dulaney.  The letter continues, "Mr. Dulaney's little children live with him where they lived when you left us."  When their mother died, Robert was 11, Elizabeth Ann was 9, Woodford was 7, Mary Eleanor was 6, and Charles was not quite 4 years old.

Mary Eleanor (Braden) Dulaney is mentioned in various probate and chancery records related to the estate of her father, Robert.