The Female Stranger

In the fall of 1816 a strange ship arrived at Alexandria, Virginia. Two people emerged from the vessel, a man and his wife, and walked into Gadsby's Tavern Hotel (then called City Hotel). The hotel owner's wife immediately called a doctor for the woman was clearly very ill. Despite medical attendance the woman grew sicker every day. The man then summoned the doctor, the entire hotel staff, and the owner and his wife. He asked them all an unusual request: he asked that everyone present in the room swear an oath to never reveal the man or his wife's identity. Everyone agreed and took the secret to their graves. Several days after the oath was taken the woman died. To this day the man and the woman's identities remain unknown. The man buried his wife at St. Paul's Cemetary in Alexandria, Virginia. Her gravestone has the following engraving:

"To the Memory of a
FEMALE STRANGER
whose mortal sufferings terminated
on the 14th day of October 1816
Aged 23 years and 8 months.

This stone is placed here by her disconsolate
Husband in whose arms she sighed out her
latest breath and who under God
did his utmost even to soothe the cold
dead ear of death.

How loved how valued once avails thee not
To whom related or by whom begot
A heap of dust alone remains of thee
Tis all thou art and all the proud shall be

To him gave all the Prophets witness that
through his name whosoever believeth in
him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts.10th Chap.43rd verse"

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