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I searched several key words and it doesn't appear we have a thread on her, which shocked me. If this is a duplicate or there's a special reason why the forum hasn't allowed this Doe to have a post I will understand its removal.
Dancing Jane Doe, Harrodsburg's Dancing Lady - c.1840
Overview
Circumstances
On an unspecified date in 1840, a young woman checked into the Harrodsburg Springs Hotel and registered under the false name of Virginia Stafford. She claimed to be the daughter of a Louisville judge. While no one knew her true identity, they recalled that she was beautiful and that she may have come from New Orleans or Tennessee.
That night, as music played in the ballroom, the young woman came downstairs and began dancing with various partners. The young woman danced and at the end of the night, her final partner realized, that she had died in his arms.
The staff and guests held a funeral for her and she was buried on the hotel property.
According to local lore, a man name Joe Sewell claimed that his estranged second wife, Molly Black, was the young woman who danced herself to death. This was never verified.
Harrodsburg Springs Hotel was in operation in the early 1820s and had its "hey day" in the 1830s and 1840s. In 1853, the property was sold to the U.S. government to be used as a veteran's hospital. The main building burned down in 1856. Subsequent fires in 1864 and in the early 1880s destroyed the remaining buildings.
The grave remains in what is now the Harrodsburg Spring-Young Park. There is a metal marker over her resting place that reads "UNKNOWN - Hallowed and Hushed be the place of the dead. Step Softly. Bow Head." (per Doe Network).
Additional Information
The late Todd Matthews was/is the case worker for the Dancing Lady on Doe Network. A 2021 article about her stated that Matthews was partnering with Dr. Lynne Smelser of Michigan State University to research and identify her. This article includes some information Dr. Smelser gathered during research. The article also mentions they were looking in to the possibility of exhuming the Dancing Lady and sending any extracted DNA to Othram.
The Find a Grave page for the Dancing Lady uses the name "Molly Black Sewell," which is a purported name for her. The Unidentified Wiki lists her as "Virginia Stafford," another pseudonym.
The Dancing Lady does not have a NamUs profile.
Links
Dancing Jane Doe, Harrodsburg's Dancing Lady - c.1840
Overview
- Date of Discovery: January 1, 1840 **
- Location of Discovery: Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky
- Estimated Date of Death: 1840
- State of Remains: Unknown
- Cause of Death: Unknown
- Estimated Age: Early 20s
- Race: Unknown.
- Gender: Female
- Height: Unknown.
- Weight: Unknown.
- Hair Color: Unknown.
- Eye Color: Unknown.
- Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown.
- Dentals: Not available.
- Fingerprints: Not available.
- DNA: Not available.
- Clothing: Unknown.
- Jewelry: Unknown.
- Additional Personal Items: Unknown.
Circumstances
On an unspecified date in 1840, a young woman checked into the Harrodsburg Springs Hotel and registered under the false name of Virginia Stafford. She claimed to be the daughter of a Louisville judge. While no one knew her true identity, they recalled that she was beautiful and that she may have come from New Orleans or Tennessee.
That night, as music played in the ballroom, the young woman came downstairs and began dancing with various partners. The young woman danced and at the end of the night, her final partner realized, that she had died in his arms.
The staff and guests held a funeral for her and she was buried on the hotel property.
According to local lore, a man name Joe Sewell claimed that his estranged second wife, Molly Black, was the young woman who danced herself to death. This was never verified.
Harrodsburg Springs Hotel was in operation in the early 1820s and had its "hey day" in the 1830s and 1840s. In 1853, the property was sold to the U.S. government to be used as a veteran's hospital. The main building burned down in 1856. Subsequent fires in 1864 and in the early 1880s destroyed the remaining buildings.
The grave remains in what is now the Harrodsburg Spring-Young Park. There is a metal marker over her resting place that reads "UNKNOWN - Hallowed and Hushed be the place of the dead. Step Softly. Bow Head." (per Doe Network).
Additional Information
The late Todd Matthews was/is the case worker for the Dancing Lady on Doe Network. A 2021 article about her stated that Matthews was partnering with Dr. Lynne Smelser of Michigan State University to research and identify her. This article includes some information Dr. Smelser gathered during research. The article also mentions they were looking in to the possibility of exhuming the Dancing Lady and sending any extracted DNA to Othram.
The Find a Grave page for the Dancing Lady uses the name "Molly Black Sewell," which is a purported name for her. The Unidentified Wiki lists her as "Virginia Stafford," another pseudonym.
The Dancing Lady does not have a NamUs profile.
Links
- Doe Network: #265UFKY
- 2021 Article
- 2002 Article
- Find a Grave
- Unidentified Wiki
