Although he was orphaned as a teenager and fathered no children, Andrew Jackson did have a  family.  His marriage to Rachel Donelson brought him into her large family of brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces, and nephews.  Several of these children lived for a time at The Hermitage and one nephew, son of Rachel's brother Severn, was adopted as Andrew Jackson Junior.  Jackson also served as guardian for several children from outside the family.  Some of his friends and associates, such as General John Coffee and artist Ralph E. W. Earl married Rachel's nieces.  After Rachel's death, Jackson took several members of his extended family to Washington to live with him at the White House.  Niece Mary Eastin married Lucius Polk  and great-niece Mary Emily Donelson was born in the White House.