Vermont Woman Sells Eighteenth-Century Paintings at Auction, Uses Proceeds to Save Historic Home
WHITBURY—Four historic paintings were sold at auction in New York City for almost a quarter of a million dollars last week, but their price tag might be the least interesting part of their story.
Abigail Mary Dutton’s name might have been lost to history, were it not for the efforts of her nine-times great-granddaughter. Lenore French, who was raised in Whitbury, Vermont, but has since lived in Manhattan, found the paintings while clearing out her late grandmother’s attic.
The discovery led her on a search for the mystery artist’s identity—a task that proved difficult, as the signature on the paintings was nearly illegible.
Neither the local historical society nor public records provided any answers.
It wasn’t until French showed the paintings to her family’s former groundskeeper, Thomas Bradford, that she uncovered the truth.
Dutton, who hailed from upstate New York, was engaged for a time to a Cpl.
James Bradford, who fought in the American Revolution.
Unable to secure her family’s blessing, Abigail was forced to break off the engagement with Bradford, later marrying the much older and wealthier Alpheus French.
Both men were among six European families to settle in the Whitbury area, which was originally settled by the Wabanaki people.
Evidence of the broken engagement exists in a series of letters, part of a private collection belonging to the Bradford family. Photocopies of the letters were included at auction with the paintings on the condition that their contents would not be made public.
Ms. French is putting the proceeds toward the ongoing restoration and preservation of her family’s historic home in Whitbury.