Mary Jackson Overall was once a rebel spy during the American Civil War. Mary worked with secret service agents out of Flat Rock, and was known to have a way with Federal officers. While in Nashville, Mary made entry into a fort and gained valuable information from the Union soldiers. In 1866 Mary wed John W. Headley, and together they would work as spies in Kentucky. Mary would come to have six children and eventually died 1910 in California.
Key Takeaways:
- known for her sheer beauty and ability to enchant Federal officers with charm, in exchange for highly valuable information
- Mary often teased and flirted with great charm, yet she was unrestrained in her mission
- Endurance and fortitude were virtues of the day for women, such as the indomitable Mary Overall
“She was born in Williamson County and was the daughter of Jackson and Mira Jordan Overall, who wed in in 1842. Upon her father’s death three years later, her mother married cousin John Jordan in 1853.”
