mary was jane pierce's sister. they were very close friends throughout life. and mary was there for jane at all of her most important times in her life. jane and franklin came to andover to visit the family them. came here with their son, benny, to visit the cousins, mary and john had children and franklin and jane became very close and attached to those children after their son passed away. the family stayed at 48 central street which is referred to as the summer white house. it's called that because franklin pierce would come visit his wife in andover. jane would stay with her sister, mary, at 48 central street, and he would come visit them in the summers in particular. it was believed that the administrative staff stayed just across the road from them. jane and franklin were staying in andover because there had been a death in the family. jane's uncle, amos lawrence had, died. so they went to boston to attend that funeral. they returned to andover so they could pack their things and head where they could get ready to move to the white house. unfortunately th

. >> here is debbie schmidt, the andover historical society jane pierce. >> jane and franklin were staying in andover because there family. a death in the jane's u.n.ing m, amos lawrence had died. went to boston to have that funeral. they returned to andover where ready tod pack and get move to the white house. unfortunately, the train ride was very devastating for the family. were a mile outside of andover and an axle rod broke on slipped down an embankment. as i understand it, benny was a child. moving about. this is within five minutes of the train ride beginning and when the train rolled down, he in the back of his head very severely. crash.not survive the the services for benny took place at mary akin's house. they went to concord to bury benny. but jane did not attend. she was very grief stricken and could not make it to the final the funeral. jane was very sick most of her life. she's been referred to as terbucular and probably died of a lung disease and died at street. >> it's a very sad story. they thought he was just down the hill in the snow. to get him ent down and his cap fell

jane became very close and attached to those children after their son passed away. this is referred to as the summer white house. it is called that, because franklin pierce would come visit his wife in andover. he would visit them in the summers, in particular. it is believed the administrative staff stayed just across the road from them. jane and franklin were staying in and -- andover because there had been a death in the family. their uncle, james laurnts lawrence had died. they returned to andover where they could get ready to move to the white house. unfortunately the train ride was devastating for the family. they were about a mile mile out of andover. an axelrod broke on the frane train. as i understand it, benny was a baby, moving about, and when the train rolled down, he was hit in the back of his head very severely. he did not survive the crash. mary rvices took place at acres' house. jane did not attend. she could not make it to the final procession of the funeral. jane was sick most of her life. she has been referred to as tuburcular, and she probably died of albuquerque -- uberculosis. >> harriet lane hosted many tivities at her home which p

. >> i want to thank our guests for this program on jane pierce first and harriet lane. both of our guests have books available l where you can read more about these first ladies. one is "remembering the ladies," and "first ladies, an intimate portrait of the women who shaped america." thank you to both of you for being with us, and thank you to all of you for being our audience this evening. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] each weeknight this month, we bring you another episode of "first ladies." episodes.is fall, all ne the new season begins monday, september 9, but the program on edith roosevelt. tomorrow night, looking at mary todd lincoln and during the program, visit our facebook page for a discussion with historian catherine clinton responding to your comment in question at .acebook.com/c-span read about the first ladies in the continuing book on the series from the white house a store co-association. you can get your copy for -- historical association. public-span -- we bring events

pierce. >> franklin was staying in and jane's on goal had died. they went to the funeral. they were gingrich moved to the white house. about aately, they were the trainf andover slipped on and embankment. the child was moving about. this was within five minutes of the train ride starting. he hit his head severely. he did not survive the crash. the services for any took place at mary's house. any, but janeury it did not attend. jane was very sick for most of her life. she has been referred to as tubercular. >> it is a very sad story. down and hisnt whole top of his head was crushed. that is the second little boy lost. no one would get over that. she became very morose. she wrote letters to him all the time, and the white house, and the jefferson davis's had a little boy. he was four years old. she developed an attractive -- attraction to this child. he died. she was crushed. >> the davis child. >> the davis child died. >> geoff davis goes on to be the president of the confederacy. what is the timing of all this? -- we see him through the fall of the confederacy. he was a we