The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-01
How Gen. Washington Got the Mitten

A correspondent of the Century, in
giving some "reminiscences Of the old
country seat called the " Cottage" in
Hanover county, Virginia. gives an &c.
count of Gen. Washington's suit to, and
ej'c!ion by, Mary Cary:
Her father was Wilson Cary, Esq, OF
Ccleys." in the county OF Elizabeth City,
descended form the noble family of Humid
son in England. His relative, Col. Ar
chibald Cary, of Ampthill, in Chester
field, was at his death, the hrir apparent
to the earldom. The worthy old gentle
man seems, from all we know Of him, TO
have been as proud as the Coucys or the
Somersets and TO have thought his fam,
ily the uoblest in the land. lie lived in
great state, with chariot and horses, plate
and velvet and embroidery--a worthy OF
the old school, fully satisfied with the
Order of things" and enjoying sercnely
the good gifts Of Providence. His beau.
tilul daughter was great heiress. and
had many suilors-the accident which
befel one Of them has made her remcm.
bered in many books. He was young
man Of very high character, relative oI
Geo. VIM. Fairfax. Esq, who lived at
Revuir, 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 did with an ardor characteristics
Of his nature. When Miss Cary went
back home to" Cclevs," on James River,
he followed her like courageous gallant,
and laid open siege to the fair fortress -
In good old times, however, something
more was necessary than the consent OF
the young lady and so the youth duly
asked a private interview with the awIuI
old lord of the manor, who listened TO
him silently throughout. When the lover
had finished, Mr. Cary rose, made him a
low bow, and said that it this were young
Mr.. Washington's crrand at &" Ceicys,"
his visit had better terminate his daug-
ter had been accustomed to ride in her
own chariot" And with this alluSion to
the ponr condition OF the younger son, the
interview terminated Young Washing
ton bowed and went away, and in due
time married Martha cambridge CustIs,
who " resembleA Miss Cary" says my
authority, Gas much as one twin SISTER
ever did another"
But the old tradition does not end here.
Many years fled away-Mary Cary was
Mrs. Ambler--and her discarded suitor
was the man who had just received the
sword OF Lord CORVALLIS at Yorktown /;
whom the whole civilized world hailed as
greatest among the great" the foremost
man" not only of AmercH, but of" all Ibis
world" He passed through the old me.
tropolis, Williamsburg, at the head OF his
victorious troops, and the people were
crazy with JOY and alteration almost
The vast multitude nearly prevented his
horse from proceeGing--the calm statute
on horseback passed on sercnely. All at
once he preccived at window, or in the
crowd, his old love Mary Cary. lie
raised his sword and sauted her pro
foundly. She tainted.
But it does not seem, that the lovely
woman was to blame. She had no! been
able to return the affection Of the youth
that was all She married him who won
her heart, Edward Amber. lie was not
unworthy oil this noble lady in rank or in
character. He was descended through
his mother from the great Huguenot house
Of La Roche Jaqucline, in Vendee, and
inherited the honest instincts Of his race.
At twelve he had been sen; for his educa-
rion 10 England; he graduated at Cam.
bridge, and then made the grand tour of
Europe, returning to Virginia when he
was twenty. one. lie was married to Miss
Cary soon afterward became Collector
at York, and was so much respected that
when Lord Rouetourt came to Virginia
as Governor, he brought letter of intro
duclion to the Collector. He died at lhir.
ty.fve; and the Revolutionary War
breaking out soon afterward, his beautiful
widow moved away from the scene OF her
grief, and took refuge in the " Cottage" "
far up in Hanover.