The forgotten daughter: Eliza Monroe Hay’s story revealed in her last letters

The letters inspired a dedicated researcher to uncover the truth about Eliza and to bring her remains back to Virginia for proper recognition.

Eliza Monroe Hay, the eldest daughter of U.S. President James Monroe, has been historically misunderstood, but recent research based on her final letters reveals a more nuanced story of her life and legacy.

These letters, preserved in the William & Mary Libraries Special Collections Research Center, inspired a dedicated researcher to uncover the truth about Eliza and to bring her remains back to Virginia for proper recognition.

Barbara VornDick, a part-time docent at the Monroe family's Virginia home, Highland, noticed there was very little information at the historical site on Eliza, even though she played a large role in her father's presidency by taking on the duties of First Lady when her mother became ill.

In brief references to Eliza, she was described as outspoken and bossy, with a narrative suggesting she abandoned her family to live in Paris. Intrigued by the scant information about Eliza, VornDick began her research. She started at Swem Library, home of the Monroe Family Papers, where she discovered letters written by Eliza from Paris during the last years of her life. These letters would shed light on the fate of this forgotten daughter.

"Holding Eliza's letters grabbed my heart, and the things that she wrote in there I needed to explore," VornDick said.

Eliza's letters reveal a sad ending to her story. She went to Paris to improve her health, not abandoning her family and country as the story has been told. Her inheritance was stolen, she was left penniless, and she died far away from family. Eliza was buried in a Paris cemetery plot purchased on her behalf by a thoughtful American diplomat, Daniel Brent, who had worked in her father's administration and recognized her name.

VornDick wanted to know more, and thus, she embarked on a five-year research project, examining courthouse records, family papers and archives. Her work culminated in the publication of a comprehensive biography titled "Eliza's True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe's Eldest Daughter."

However, VornDick knew she wasn't finished with Eliza's story. Upon learning that Eliza's grave in Paris was to be exhumed and resold, VornDick initiated a project to bring Eliza's remains back to Virginia. This involved obtaining permissions from descendants of Eliza and Brent, reflecting a complex and lengthy process.

"Comments were made like, 'This is not going to happen; they're never going to do this.' I just knew it was the right thing to do," VornDick said. "You just keep going for two years, and then all of the sudden, it's happening. Part of me still can't believe it."

Eliza's remains arrived in the U.S. in May, and a ceremony to reinter her with the Monroe family at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, will be held Oct. 23, 2025, symbolizing the restoration of her place in family and history.

"The emotion in the cargo bay when I knelt down and put my hand on her coffin, I couldn't help but cry," VornDick said.

VornDick has become an advocate for Eliza, something Eliza didn't have while she was alive. Through her research, VornDick realized that she wasn't just telling a history of Eliza, but also a history of women.

"If we could make this right for Eliza, maybe in a small way we were trying to make it right for other women who suffered this similar fate in their lives," VornDick said. "And I think it needs to come to the fore."

Discover more about James Monroe and the Monroe family through World of James Monroe Online (WJMO), which provides free access to archives from three Virginia institutions including materials VornDick used from William & Mary's Special Collections.

James Monroe's Highland, a unit of Strategic Cultural Partnerships, is celebrating 50 years of W&M stewardship in 2025. Learn more.

Sarah Thompson, W&M Libraries

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