In 1812, Matthew Harris Jouett married Fayette County resident Margaret Henderson Allen, nicknamed Peggy, and they eventually had 9 children. This is one of 3 portraits painted of her by her husband.
Margaret was pregnant with their 9th child when Matthew died. The baby, born one month later, was named Matthew Jouett, Jr. Because of the family’s financial struggles, she took in boarders at her home.
She lived for 46 years as widow in Lexington.