His mother died when he was only nine years old; his only sister, Sarah, in childbirth a few years later; and his first love, Ann Rutledge, at the age of 22.
مادرش وقتی که او فقط نه سال داشت فوت کرد؛ تنها خواهرش، سارا، یکی دو سال بعد هنگام زایمان؛ و اولین عشقش، آن راتلِج،  در بیست و دو سالگی درگذشت.