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Line 20: == Marriage == Inspired by the flashy appearance of wealth of Johann Lavien, Rachael’s parents encouraged her to marry the businessman in 1745, at age 16. A year later, she gave birth to a son, Peter. However, the marriage would not last. In 1750, Rachael refused to live with Lavien any longer, which was punishable by imprisonment under Danish law at that time.<ref>[[Johann_Michael_Lavien| Johann Lavien Wikipedia article]]</ref> She spent several months in a 10 by 13 foot cell with one small window, in the [[Christiansted_National_Historic_Site|Fort in Christiansted, St. Croix]]<ref> Soon after being released, she fled to the British West Indies, where she met James Hamilton. Hamilton and Fawcett moved together to her birthplace, Nevis, and had two sons together, James Jr. and Alexander. Rachael abandoned her son Peter to his father in the process. Line 27: == Death == Rachael died of yellow fever after fighting the illness for several days. She passed in the early hours of February 19, 1768, at the age of 39. James, Jr. and Alexander were left orphaned. Rachael was buried in Mr. Tuite’s Grainge Plantation.<ref> After learning of Fawcett’s death in 1768, Lavien used the 1759 divorce decree in probate court to prevent James Jr. and Alexander Hamilton from inheriting any of her property, due to their illegitimate birth. Her entire estate went instead to her first son, Peter. | |||