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History of Wetzel County, West Virginia
by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901

Page 44
HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.

Harman Blennerhassett, whose connection with the ill-fated project of
Aaron Burr, has given his name a wide notoriety, passed down the Ohio
river, in Wetzel county, on his way to Marietta, in 1796. About the
year of 1798 he commenced his improvements on the beautiful island
since known by his name, embosomed on the Ohio near the end of
Washington county, Ohio, and resided upon it for a number of years,
surrounded with all that made life dear, when the tempter entered
this Eden and forever blighted his earthly prospects. After years of
wandering he finally died in 1822, on the island of Guernsey. His
beautiful and accomplished wife subsequently returned to this country
and preferred charges against the United States and asked for claims,
but without success. She died in New York in 1842. She was possessed
of a rare ingenuity in the literary line and wrote that beautiful
poem, "The Deserted Isle." The island will ever remain a memento of
the fate of this unfortunate family, around whose melancholy fortunes
the genius of Wirt his weaved a tribute of eloquence alike
imperishable.

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