Ring

According to family tradition, this ring was presented to Dolley Payne Todd by James Madison upon their engagement in the summer of 1794. Dolley wore the ring throughout her life, and left it to her niece and caretaker, Annie Payne Causten (1819-1852). Following Annie’s death in 1852, the ring descended to her daughter Mary Causten Kunkel, who returned the ring to Montpelier through a 1918 sale to Annie duPont. Following Mrs. duPont’s death in 1927, the ring was inherited by Marion duPont Scott. The rose gold ring, which features seven small diamonds circling a larger diamond, was among objects bequeathed to the National Trust for Historic Preservation by Marion duPont Scott.