Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-01-26
Washingtoa's Courtship and Marriage.

Pamunsley, is the mansion known rs tn
"White House." 1t stands on the site o
the one in which Washington was married
From Custis's Life of Mrs. Martha Wash
ington, we extract the account of his court
ship and marriage:
1t was in I75S that Washington, attiret
in a military undress, and attended by :
body servant, tall and milHaire as his chief
crossed the ferry ca led Williams, over the
Ramunkey, branch of the York River
On the boat touching the Southern or New
Kent side, the soldiers progress was arrest
ed by one Of those personages who give
the beau ideal of the Virginia gentleman Of
the old regime, the very soul Of kindness
and hospitality. 1t was in vain that the
soldier urged his business at Williamsburg
important communications to the Governor
&c: Mr.. Chambeplayne, on whose domain
the mlitaire had just landed, would hear oI
no excuse. COL Washington was name
and character so dear to all Virginians, that
his passing by one of the castles of Virginia,
without calling and partaking Of the hospi.
talities of the host, was entirely out OF the
question. The colonel however, did not
surrender at discretion, but stoutly main
tanned his ground till Chamberlayne, bring.
ing up the reserve, i'll the intimation that he
would introduce his friend to young and
charming widow, then beneath his roof, the
soldier capitulated, on condition that he
should dne-only dine-and then, by
pressing his charger, and borrowing of the
night, he would reach Williamsburg before
His Fxcelency could shake off his morning
slunbcrs. Orders were accordingly issued
to Bishop, the colonel's body servant and
faithful follower, who, together with the En-
glish charger, had been bequeathed by the
dying Braddock to Major Washington, on
the famed and fatal field of Monongahela
Bishop, bred in the school of European dis
cipline, raised his hand to his cap, as much
as to say, our orders shall be obcyed."
The colonel now proceeded 70 the man.
sion, and was introduced to various guests;
(for when was Virginia d6mici of the
olden time without guests p and above all,
TO the charming widow. Tradition relates
that they were mutually pleased, on this,
their first interview-nor.is it remarkable !;
they were of an age when impressions are
strongest. The lady was fair to behold, of
fascinating manners, and splendidly endow.%
ed with worldly benefits The hero was.
flesh. .Ganl his early anlent faLpe.!
seem to set his seal, to. give the@worId as
surance of man" e.
The morning passed pleasantly away,
evening came, with Bishop, true to his or
ders, and firm at his post, holding the ia
vorite charger with one hand while the other
was waiting to offer the ready stirrup. The
sun sunk in the horizon, and yet the colonel
appeared not. ""rwas strange, twas pass
ing strange: surely he was not wont to be
a single moment behind his appointments
for he was the most punctual of all men.
Meantime, the host enjoyed the scene OF
the veteran at the gate, while the colonel
was so agreeably employed in the Parlor;
and proclaiming that no visitor ever lett his
home at sunset, his military guest was,
without much difficulty, persuaded to order
Bishop to put up the horses for the night
The sun rode high in the heavens the ensu..
ing day, when the enamored soldier pressed
with his spur his chargers side, and speeded
ON his way to the seat Of government, where
having dispatched his public business, he
retraced his steps, and at the White House,
the engagement took place, with prepara-
tions for marriage.
Aud much hath the biographer heard of
that marriage, from the gray.haired domes-
tics who waited at the board where love
made the feast, and Washington the guest.
And rare and high was the revelry at that
palmy period of Virginia's festal age; for
many were gathered to that marriage, OF the
good, the great, the gifted, and they with
Joyous acclatnatons, hailed i'll Virsnla's
youthful hero, happy and prosperous
bridegroom.
"A Aud so you remember when Col. Wash
inglon came courting Of your young mis-
tress!" said the biographer to old Gully, in
his hundredth year. Gay, master, that
do," replied the ancient family servant, who
had lived to see five generations; great
times, sir great times-shall never see the
like again w ":And Washington looked
something like mana proper man-hey'
Gully?
Never seed the like, sir-never the like
of him, though have seen many in my
day-so tall, so straight! and then he sat
OH horse and rode with such an air All,
sir, he was like no one else. Many Of the
grandcst gentlemen, in the gold lace. were
at the wedding; but none looked like the
man himself"
Strong, indeed, must have been the i'm.
preston which the person and manner OF
Washington made upon the" rude untutored
mind" Of this poor negro, since the lapse OF
three. quarters Of century had not sutticed
to elface it.
The precise date of the marriage the
biorrapher has been unable to discover
having in vain searched among the records
of the vestry of St. Peters Church, New
Kent, of which Rev. Mr.. Muuson, a Cam
bridge scholar, was the rector, and performed
the ceremony, it is believed, about 1855. A
short time after their marriage, Col. and
Mrs. Washington removed to Mount Vernon,
on the Potomac, and permanently settled
there.
"This unon." says Sparks, "was in
every respect felcitous. 1t continued forty
wears. TO her intimate acquaintances and
to the nation, the character OF Mrs. Wash
ington was ever theme of praise. Affabe
and courteous, exemplary in her department,
remarkable for her deeds Of charity and
nietv- transformations. and without vanity