## Narrative Summary of the Obituary Martha Rochelle (Mattie) Tyler, granddaughter of President John Tyler, was born 1 Mar 1846 in Jerusalem, Virginia, and died 9 Jan 1929 in Courtland, Virginia. She served as Postmistress in Courtland from 1897 to 1914 and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy. ## Narrative Summary of Funeral Services Funeral services for Martha Rochelle (Mattie) Tyler were held on 10 Jan 1929 at her home in Courtland, Virginia. She was buried on 11 Jan 1929 at the Hines burial ground on the Southampton-Sussex line. ## Transcript Martha Rochelle (Mattie) Tyler 1 Mar 1846, - 9 Jan 1929 MISS MATTIE TYLER, GRANDDAUGHTER OF JOHN TYLER, IS DEAD The death in Courtland on Wednesday [9 Jan 1929] of this week of Miss Mattie Tyler, granddaughter of President John Tyler of the United States, severs a link with the Old Virginia of the forties and brings to a quiet close the long life of a lady of the old school in whose veins coursed the blood of prominent and illustrious Virginians on both sides of her house. Miss Martha Rochelle Tyler was born 1 March 1846, in the village of "Jerusalem" (as Courtland was known at that time), the daughter of John Tyler, son of the President, and Mrs. Martha Rochelle Tyler. The place of her birth was the old Tyler home, the residence now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Parker near the Courthouse. Her father was the oldest son of President John Tyler and his first wife, Letitia Christian. A fact of unusual historical interest in the Rochelle family was the career of Captain James H. Rochelle, Confederate States Navy, an uncle of Miss Mattie Tyler's. After the War Between the States, Captain Rochelle, like many other young Southerners of his day who could not submit to the humiliation of remaining in the defeated and prostrate South, offered his sword and skill to another country. He received a commission to organize a navy for Peru and was ranking admiral in the fleet of that South American republic. Miss Tyler had a brother, James R. Tyler, who died in Richmond about 20 years ago, and one sister, Miss Letitia Christian Tyler, who became the wife of the late General William B. Shands, a prominent figure of his day in the Old Dominion and the father of the late Senator William Shands, also of Courtland. Her nearest relatives are the children of Senator Shands: William R. Shands of Richmond; Miss Letitia Shands, who teaches in Petersburg; and Miss Bessie Shands of Courtland. During the presidency of her illustrious grandfather, her father, John Tyler Jr., acted as secretary for his father in the city of Washington and maintained his residence there until his death in 1896. At that time Miss Mattie removed to Courtland and in 1897 was appointed Postmistress for the town by President McKinley, a position she held until the year 1914 in the first Wilson administration when changes in the civil service regulations made her ineligible to longer hold the office. It will be remembered that during the administration of President Roosevelt when she was about to lose her position, an appeal to the President in person by Miss Mattie resulted in her retaining the office. Miss Mattie, as she was familiarly called by all her friends, was a woman of unusual interest and intellect. She possessed a marvelous store of historical information with reference to her grandfather's time as Vice President, as President and later as a member of the Confederate Congress. She was well versed in the history of the Confederacy, and during the war was a nurse to wounded Confederate soldiers in the town of Courtland, the old Baptist Church still standing on Main Street being converted into a hospital. A monument was erected to Texas soldiers of Hood's Brigade by the Texas Division UDC a few years ago in the burying ground in the rear of that old church, and information leading to the burial place of these heroes from Texas and subsequent erection of that monument was supplied by Miss Tyler. She was a member of both Daughters American Revolution as well as Daughters Confederacy. A communicant Episcopal Church services conducted from home yesterday afternoon [10 Jan 1929] Bishop A C Thompson Portsmouth Bishop Coadjutor Diocese Southern Virginia assisted Rev Jas Watt rector Nottoway Parish Interment made [11 Jan 1929] Hines burial Southampton Sussex line cemetery longtime Rochelle family [Publication: Franklin, Virginia, Tidewater News, Volume 24, Number 14, 11 January 1929, Page 1] ## Vital Statistics Summary | Field | Information | |---------|-----------------------------------------------| | Name | Martha Rochelle (Mattie) Tyler | | Age | 82 | | Birth | 1 March 1846; Jerusalem (Courtland), Virginia | | Death | 9 January 1929; Courtland, Virginia | ## Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Place of Residence | |------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------| | Martha Rochelle Tyler | Mother (predeceased) | Unknown | | John Tyler Jr. | Father (predeceased) | Washington, D.C. | | James R. Tyler | Brother (predeceased) | Richmond, Virginia | | Letitia Christian Tyler | Sister (predeceased) | Unknown | | General William B. Shands | Brother-in-law (predeceased) | Unknown | | Senator William Shands | Nephew (predeceased) | Courtland, Virginia | | William R. Shands | Nephew | Richmond, Virginia | | Letitia Shands | Niece | Petersburg, Virginia | | Bessie Shands | Niece | Courtland, Virginia | | Captain James H. Rochelle | Uncle | Unknown | | Dr. Lyon G. Tyler | Half-Uncle | Charles City County, VA | | D. Gardiner Tyler | Relative | Richmond, Virginia | | Senator Lloyd E. Warren | Relative | Portsmouth, Virginia | | Mrs. Maggie Stephenson | Relative | Sussex County, Virginia | ## Publication Details | Field | Information | |---------------|--------------------| | Newspaper | Tidewater News | | Location | Franklin, Virginia | | Date | 11 January 1929 | | Volume | 24 | | Number | 14 | | Page | 1 | ## Other Relevant Information Martha Rochelle (Mattie) Tyler was the granddaughter of President John Tyler. She served as Postmistress in Courtland from 1897 to 1914. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy. During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse for wounded Confederate soldiers in Courtland. She provided information that led to the erection of a monument for Texas soldiers of Hood's Brigade.