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Health & Fitness

The Strong East End Roots of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was born in on July 28, 1929. Her parents John (Black Jack) Vernou Bouvier III and Janet Norton Lee had been married a year earlier on July 7, 1928 at St. Philomena’s Catholic Church in East Hampton. The Bouvier family estate named Lasata, Native American for “place of peace,” was located at 121 Further Lane three blocks from the Maidstone Club and one block from the ocean. The estate was actually the property of Jackie’s grandfather John Vernou Bouvier II. The former first lady’s mother’s family had their estate on Lily Pond Road. It may be noted that young Jackie spent the first twelve tears of her life summering in East Hampton on 12 acres on Further Lane while the rest of the country dealt with the great depression. The Bouvier family enjoyed pets and it is believed that Jackie’s first pet was a Scottish terrier named Hoochie. Eventually the Bouvier’s would have a white rabbit, a white bull terrier, a dachshund, and a Dalmatian. Her love of horses chronicled her whole lifetime with her farm in Virginia with President Kennedy and her farm in New Jersey but it was as a child riding on the 12 acres of Lasata that she first rode. Becoming an accomplished rider Jackie competed in Madison Square Garden at age 11, scoring a double victory representing East Hampton. It is believed she was riding Danceuse, her favorite horse. No other child won in two categories that year and it is a difficult thing to do even to this day. She also trained and rode occasionally at Martin Aylward’s stables on Henry Road off of Majors Path in Southampton. Mr. Aylward also owned a major stable on the west side of Central Park in New York City near where Tavern On the Green is now located. The huge structure that housed the horses is actually an ABC TV studio today. Many prominent New York City Social Register families used the Aylward stables both in Southampton and New York City. Mr. Aylward’s grandson a Southampton resident still remembers Triple Crown winner Man O’ War staying at the Southampton stable of his grandfather one summer. It seemed the famous horse got into the habit of nibbling the young boy on the shoulder. Jackie often competed and trained against the best from New York City at Aylward’s. Spending the winters in New York it is not certain if her family kept horses at Aylward’s stables in the city although it is probable according to certain sources. Buried at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in East Hampton are Jackie’s Father, her paternal grandfather and paternal great grandfather. Also buried in the very same cemetery located on Cedar Street in East Hampton is her maternal grandmother and many of her grandmothers relatives. It may be noted that Jackie’s mother’s ancestors were the Sergeants of Kent, England the original founders of East Hampton. Steven Smith Jackie’s brother in-law who married Jean Kennedy the Former President’s sister, and maintained a residence in the Village is also buried in East Hampton. After Jackie’s parents split up, her mother married Hugh Auchincloss of Newport, Rhode Island. It was in Newport where Jackie married Jack Kennedy September 12, 1953. Jackie’s mother then married a third time, to long-time friend and Southampton resident Bingham Morris on October 25, 1979. Bingham’s deceased wife had been in Janet Lee Bouvier’s bridal party. Jackie’s mother lived with Bingham in Hampton’s Park in Southampton. Mr. Morris an adventurer had in fact sailed around the world before marrying Jackie’s mother. It was during this time that Jackie could be spotted having coffee in town in Southampton while visiting her mother. However in 1981 Janet Lee Auchincloss Morris divorced Bingham Morris. After her third marriage ended Jackie’s mother moved back to Rhode Island where she passed away July 22, 1989 six days before Jackie’s 60th birthday. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg owned a home in Sagaponack until it was sold during the summer of 2006. However before the sale Jackie’s grandchildren also summered in the town where she did as a child. Caroline could be spotted waiting patiently at Long Island Sound then on Main Street in East Hampton while her children shopped for new CD’s. Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis died May 19, 1994 in New York City. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery next to President Kennedy in Arlington, Virginia. The eternal flame flickers on the hill marking the slain President Kennedy’s final resting place. Next to him forever rests Jackie whose grace, elegance, and courage inspired a nation in one of its darkest hours. But think not of a widow in a black dress watching the caisson carrying the casket of the assassinated president. Instead think of the young girl riding her pony near the ocean down off Further Lane smiling as both she and her pony enjoyed a nice cool summer ocean’s breeze.

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