This true story about Mary Elizabeth Arnold happened before she married Joseph Hall in about 1844. Her mom was Prudence Jackson, daughter of Colonel George Jackson.
“Mary Elizabeth Arnold was the eldest daughter of Elijah and Prudence [Jackson] Arnold. She was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, 1819. She attended school at Clarksburg [Harrison Co., WV].
“One day while at her home in Jacksonville [small community in Lewis County, VA now WV named for Colonel George Jackson], about the noon hour, she crossed the back yard, carrying a large butcher knife in her hand, on her way to inspect the cutting of a big fat juicy ham. Just as she reached the center of the yard a deer jumped the garden fence. She struck at it with her knife but only succeeded in wounding it. Not to be outdone she ran after it. The deer crossed the yard, leaped the fence into the road, and made for the river. On reaching the other side it attempted to jump a stake and rider fence, but the lofty rider prevented too much and the noble king of the forest was left hanging by his hind feet. By this time Elizabeth, still holding the knife, arrived on the scene, and promptly “struck the deer.” When once asked by an inquisitive niece “Why, Aunt Liz, where did you stick it?” she replied, “In the neck, of course.” Long after the dinner hour had passed her brothers returned home from their unsuccessful hunt, to find a huge stag hanging in the back yard. To the day of her death Elizabeth Arnold retained the antlers of “her hunt.” She never tired [of] relating her thrilling experience to her young relations, and to one young great-niece in particular [Mary Prudence (McClellan) O’Hara, author of the sketch.].”
Ref: Written document by Mary Prudence (McClellan) O’Hara, found in HCPD Library.
Lineage: Mary Elizabeth Arnold Hall4, Prudence Jackson Arnold3, George Jackson2, John Jackson1.
Submitted by Dan Hyde.