Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-05-05

sleep and as the Presbyterlans were at ina
time in need OF q new church, the scheme wa
adopted for combining the two things, and b.
connecting the monument with the church Il
make the funds collected subserve to SOM
extent both purposes. The effort was accor
dinghy inaugurated, and for time prosecuted
with considerable success. But very SCOT
some of the Episcopaians raised strenuous
opposition, on the ground that the old lady
having been faithful daughter of theii
church whilst alive, il was not proper or fail
that she should be made q post mortem Pres
bytcrian. heated controversy arose, and
amid the din and dust of the conflict the pI o.
Jected monument disappeared, and with il
also, most mysterousfv, the funds which had
been contributed, aud which have not come
to light even to this day.
Some years subsequent to this, q wealthy
merchant Of New York, inspired, it is said,
with special reverence for the Washington
family from tender regard for q lady Of the
connexon, undertook the erection of q mon.
umeHt at his own expense over the grave
AS has often before been told by newspaper
correspondents, the work went on until about
two-thirds completed, when, unfortunately,
by some CON nercial catastrophe, the benevo.
! lent and patriotic gentleman who had under
taken it lost his large property. This, so far
as he was concerned, brought the matter TO a
stand. The citizens Of Fredericksburg would,
40 doubt, promptly have carried out the
pralsewortby design, but the unhappy contro.
versy in connection with the previous effort
had engeadered such O feeling that nobody
was willing again to meddle with it,
The old fires were still smoulderug and
very little thing might re kindle the flame
Hence, though score or more of years have
elapsed, the unfinished work still stands in
Stdtu quo-a very unpleasant abortion. In
company with few friends visited it the
other afternoon. 1t occupies knoll in
held on the edge of the town. adjoining the
wall OF family burying ground. The struc-
| ture is oil white marble, some six or eight feet
square, and perhaps twelve or fifteen feet
nigh, ornamented with small futed columns
! and intended to have been surmounted by
shaft. The massive block of marble for the
latter lies alongside, still in the rough, as it
came from the hands of the quarters, as do
also various other pieces of stone, even to
| those designed as the base for the iron railing
which was to surround it. The impressions
upon the mind Of the visitor are by no means
agreeable, not only from the unfinished ard
rulnous appearance of things, but from the
fact that the juvenile sportsmen of the town,
thinking, probably, that nobody respected or
cared for it, have made it q mark to shoot at.
until the marble sides are completely be.
spattered with bullets and sunken shot. A
skllial workman, however, could soon remove
these traces of vandalism, and q very mode.
rate sum would carry the projectors design
TO completion. | respectfully submit to the
ladies' OF our country, whether, when they
snail nave consummated their purposes in
regard to Mount Vernon, it might not be
well to evince still further their veneration
for Washington, by putting into some decent
aud creditable shape the fabric which now
dlsgraces bis mothers grave.
TRADITIONS OF MRS WASHINGTON.
There are those still living here who are
able to speak from their personal recollec-
tons OF Mary, the mother Of Washington"
venerable lady with whom | have been
talking tells me that she can distinctly recall
her short, rather thick.s set figure, and her
peculiar round straw hat and red cloak, as in
her childhood she was accustomed TO see the
old lady stirring around the neigh hborhood.-
The traditions are that she was not remarka-
BILE for amenities Of character, but rather for
method and order, strict household govern
ment, and decision Of purpose. To these
characteristics her Immortal son was doubt
less indebted for his admirable system in all
his pursuits, aud for bis inaexble endurance
and determination. 1t is generally under
stood that she did not sympathze in his
revolutionary ideas, thinking that he would
have done much better TO have attended to
his surveying than to be pittiug himself
against the yenera.ed and all-poweriul mother
country.
MRS. wAsHINGToN'S WILL.
Among the most interesting relics Of tho
old lady is her will, which is filed in the
archives Of the court at Fredericksburg.-
The worthy clerk Of the court, John j. Chew, |
favored me with the sight of the original
document, as well as with copy Of it. The |
signature, MARY Washington" is in large,
bold, and somewhat masculine hand. As |
believe the will has never been published, it |
may NOT be amiss, as an interesting relic, TO |
give it place. 1t will be observed that |
with the exception of the LANDS on Accokeek |
rum" Washington did not inherit great |
deal from bis maternal ancestor | give the |
spelling as in the original, though probably
this is the scIivener's
"ln the name of God, Amen. !, Mary |
Washington, of Fredericksburg in the county |
of Spotsylvania, being in good health, but |
calling to mind the uncertainty Of this life, |
aud willing to dispose of what remains of my |
worldly estate. do make and publish this, my
last will, recommending my soul into the
hands of my Creator, hoping for remission
Of oil my sins, through the merits aud medi.
alton of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind.
dispose Of oil my worldly estates as fol.
lows =
"Imprimis. give to my son, Gen. George
Washington, all my lands on Accokeek run,
in the county of Stafford, and also my negroe
boy George to him and his heirs forever
also, my best bed, bedstead aud Virginia
cloth curtains, (the same that stands in my
best room,) my quilted blue aud white quilt,
and my best dressing glass.
"Item. / give and devise to my son,
Charles Washington, my negroe man Tom,
to him aud his assigns forever.
"Item. give and devise to my daughter,
Betty Lewis, my phaton and my bey horse.
Item give aud devise TO my daughter
IN law, Hannah Washington, my purple
,loath cloak lined with shag.
"ltem. give and devise to my grandson, {
Dorbin Washington, my negroe wench, old /
Bet, my riding chair, aud two blk. horses, L, {
lim and his assigns forever. .
"lten. ! give and devise to my grandson )
Fielding Lewis, my negroe man Frederick, /
% him and his assigns for ever; also eight | /
liver table spoons, half my crockery ware. a
md the blue and white tea,china, walnut I
,ook case, oval table, one bed, bedstead, one .
IT. sheets, one pr. blankets and white cotton \
two table cloaths, six red lea. :
her chairs, half my pewter. one-half my iron /
.itchen furniture. n