• General Notes

  Gabriela Chapman, was as notable a woman as had been her mother and grandmother. Following her decease, August 1, 1899, a local writer had this to say of her:
  
  The news of the death of the Marchioness de Potestad-Fornari, which recently occurred at Saint Lunaire, near Dinard, France, has been received here with the deepest regret by her relatives and many friends. It has seldom fallen to the lot of an American woman to receive the many distinguished honors which during her life were conferred upon her, and to achieve the many brilliant successes both at home and abroad which were awarded to Madame de Potestad.... When Miss Chapman made her debut into society here all were captivated by her great beauty and charm of manner, and her conquests were many.
  
  Her choice fell upon the Marquis de Potestad, one of the attach‚s of the Spanish Legation in Washington. After a brilliant career in Washington they went abroad; where the beauty and charm of the Marchioness de Potestad became well-known all over Europe. In his early life in Spain the Marquis de Potestad had formed the friendship of the young daughter of Count Cyprien de Montijo, a Spanish Grandee, who, on becoming the Empress Eugenie, extended a cordial welcome to his wife at the Palace of the Tuileries. During those brilliant days of the empire, when the wealth and beauty and learning of Europe were there, none was more distinguished than Madame de Potestad, and there are persons now living who can recall her--beautiful and stately--at the grand balls of the Tuileries or walking with the Empress in the shady gardens of Fontainebleau.
  
  For the past few years Madame de Potestad has been lady in waiting to Isabelle, formerly Queen of Spain, and it was while accompanying the Queen to Saint Lunaire that she died. It fell to the lot of Madame de Potestad to be specially honored by royalty--for Queen Mercedes, first wife of Alfonso XII, father of the present king of Spain, presented her with the "Banda" or grand cordon of Maria Louisa, and two years ago the Sultan conferred upon her one of the most important and beautiful Turkish decoration
  
  The above-mentioned marriage of Gabriela Chapman to Luis de Potestad, Marquis de Potestad-Fornari, took place in November, 1853. The mother of the Marquis was an American, Mildred Carter, a member of the noted Virginia family of that name, descended from Robert, popularly known as "King" Carter, of "Corotoman," president of the colony of Virginia. The Marquis, who is still living, in Madrid, has had a distinguished career in statecraft and diplomacy, he having been for many years a conspicuous figure in official circles in his native country, Spain.
  
  Following this notable matrimonial alliance, seven children were born to the Marchioness de Potestad, to-wit: Luis Emilio, Emily Mildred, Emmanuel Henry, Juan Henry, Robert Edward Lee, Marie Gabriela and Julie Francoise Eugenie. Of these, four still survive.
  
  The eldest of the sons, Luis Emilio de Potestad, now deceased, is survived by two daughters, who reside in Spain.
  
  The eldest of the daughters, Emily Mildred de Potestad, who is now a widow, and lives in Madrid, married Carlos Caro, le Comte de Caltavuturo. She has two children, a daughter and a son. The latter, who bears his father's name and title, Carlos Caro, le Comte de Caltavuturo, is at present a student at the University of Pennsylvania.
  
  The youngest son, the second who married, Robert Edward Lee de Potestad, whose wife, Alice Lee George, of Baltimore, is a second cousin, resides near Ellicott City, Md. They have one child, a daughter.
  
  His next younger sister is Mrs. Richard Tilghman, 1935 Spruce Street--the only one who lives in Philadelphia. Her children are Miss Marie Gabriela Tilghman and Richard Tilghman.
  
  The youngest of the daughters of the Marquis de Potestad is unmarried and resides in Madrid.
  
  
  
  
   

Details of Gabrilla's family with Marquis de Potestad