Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-05-21
General Washington's First Love.

A correspondent oil the Century, in giving
some "reminiscences of the old country seat
called The Cottage" in Hanover county,
Virginia, gives an account OF General Wash
ington's suit to and rejection by Mary Cary
Her father was Wilson Cary, ESQ.,, of"Ce.
leys," in the county of Elizabeth City, de-
scended from the noble family of Hunsdon.
in England. His relative. Col. Archibald
Cary, Of "Ampthill." in Chesterfield, was at
his death the heir apparent TO the earldom.
The worthy old gentleman seems, from all
we know of him, to have been as proud as
the Coucys or the Somersets and to have
thought bis family the noblest in the land. -
lie lived in great state, with chariot aud
horses, plate and velvet and embroidery--a
worthy OF the old school, fully satisfied with
the "order of things" and enjoying serenely
the good gifts Of Providence. His beautiful
daughter was great heiress and had many
suitors-the accident which befel one Of
them has made her remembered in many
books lie was n young man of very high
character, a relative Of Geo. Wm. Fairfax,
Esq, who lived at Belvoir on the Potomac
and here he met with Miss Cary who came
to visit Mrs. Fairfax, her eldest sister The
young man at once proceeded to fall in love,
which he die with an ardor characteristic of
bis nature. When Miss Cary went back
ed her like courageous gallant, and laid
open siege to the fair fortress. In the good
| old times, however, something more was ne.
cessary than the consent of the young lady /;
and so the youth duly asked q private inter.
view with the awful old lord Of the manor,
who listened to him silently throug hout.-
When the lover had finished, Mr. Cary rose,
made him q low bow. and said that if this
were young Mr.. Washugtons errand at
"Celeys," his visit bad better terminate his
daughter had been accustomed to ride in
her own chariot" And with this allusion to
the poor condition Of the younger son, the
interview terminated. Young Washington
bowed and turned away, and 10 due time
married Martha cambridge Custis, who ere.
sembled Miss Cary" says my authority, "as
much as one twin sister ever did another"
But the old tradition does not end here.
Many years fed away-Mary Cary was Mrs.
Ambler-and her discarded suitor was the
man who bad just received the sword Of
| CORVALLIS at Yorktown whom the whole
civilized world hailed as greatest among the
| great-"the foremost man" not only OF Ame-
ricn, but OF call tho world" He passed
! through the old metropolis, Williamsburg at
the head OF his victorious troops, and the
people were crazy with Joy and alteration
| NC 'aob uNuliy
his horse from proceeding-the calm statue
on horseback passed on serenely. All at
once he perceived OF window, or in the
crowd, bis old love, Mary Cary. He raised
his sword and saluted her profoundly. She
tainted.
But it does not seem that the lovely wo-
man was to blame. She had not been able
to return the affection of the youth-that was
all. She married him who won her heart
Edward Amber. He was not unworthy oI
this noble lady in rank or in character. He
was descended through his mother from the
great Huguenot house of La Roche Jaque.
line, in Nendee, and inherited the honest in
stincts Of his race. AT twelve he had been
sent for bis education to England he gradu.
ated at Cambridge. ana then made the grand
/ tour of Europe, returning to Virginia whe U
be was twenty-one. He was married to NJ iss
Cary soon afterwards became Collector at
! York, and was so much respected that when
| Lord Bottetourt came to Virginia as Gov
ernor, he brought letter of introduction TO
1 the Collector. He died at thirty five and
the Revolutionary War breaking out soon
afterwards, his beautiful widow moved away
! from the scene Of her grief, and took refuge
in the Cottage" far up in Hanover.