The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-15
~.-, From the Alexandria Gazette.
The Lee Family and Other Property
Historic Document-The Last Will
and Testament of G.. w. II. Cusifs.

The County Court, which has just closed
its session, gave the necessary orders and
completed the necessary arrangements for
the settlement Of the estate of the late Geo.
W. T. Gusts. Appraisers were appointed
and provision made for all the details
which the law requires on such occa-
sions. The house of Mr.. Custis, standing
in sight Of the Capital, upon similar
eminence, had, from the earliest days, a
celebrity wide as the nation, but recent
events have made its history a portion of
the history Of the country. Especially. has
Arlington and its associations always pos
sessed peculiar attraction to the people
of AleXandria. That sort of special in
tcrest which Washington manifested in the
affairs of our fathers, Gusts, his adopted
son, displayed towards their sons, eudeav-
orng not alone to descant upon his yir-
tues in our midst with eloquent words, but
by his manner and his devotion to our in
terests, to illustrate to one generation Of
AleXundrians what had been the conduct
of Washington towards its predecessor.
He hoped to make the home and family
at Arlington the distinctive social successor
for all time Of the home and family of Mount
Vernon. Mount Vernon might become the
property of the world, the representative
OF the illustrious public life that closed be-
meath its roof and is sepulchred in it's
shade but Arlington should be sacred to
the home life of the great man, with Wash.
ington's social board for its heirloom, and
his domestic and social character for the
type of its conduct and the ornament of its
lie. 0'
For this purpose he devised his Airing
ton estate to Mrs. Lee for life, and then to
George Washington Gusts Lee, he to take
the name of George w. p. Gusts, and in
pln IF hn yayIn frIv n
daughter the right Of dividing The family
plate, but he adds: - ~
"The Mount Vernon plate altogether,
and every article that L possess relating to
Washington, and that came from Mount
Vernon, is tn remain with my daughter at
Arlington House during SAID daughters
life, and at her death to 20 to my oldest
grandson, George Washington Gusts Lee,
and TO descend from him entire to my latest
Dosterity.''
Few men peered into the future with a
wider experience or more acute philoso-
ply, vet rs he executed his will that March
day of 1865, while the interest of The world
gathered around the Malakotf, where Rus.
Sin defied the armies Of France and Eng.
land, and the city across the Potomac was
hearing, with scarce attentive ear, some
rumors of mobS 10 Kansas, he could not
see how soon the storm OF civil war would
scatter all his designs for Arlington. and
that even "the Mount Vernon plate" the
material emblem Of the social life he wished
Arlington to perpetuate, would be reft
away from his daughter and held for some
time by title of Strong-Hand. Still less
did he see that his hopes would
find a .loftier accomplishment than he
dreamed of, and that he would stand IN
history between the TWO great captains OF
the age, the adopted child OF one, and the
adopted father OF the other; that the war
which reft from the family aU Arlington its
material inheritance left it by the family OF
Mount Vernon would develope q kinship
in sphere far higher than mere mat erial
connection, the home at Arlington not shin
ing with reflected light. but Respondent
with the lofty civic virtue and military re-
nown of its head, Mount Vernon and Ar
lington blending together in the history and
the hearts of the people, safe beyond the
accidents OF time and the spoilings Of NOR
tality.
AS a contribution to the history of the
times we give the will OF the illustrious old
gentleman:
In the name of God, amen. /, George
Washington Parke GUSTS, Of Washington
House, in the county of Alexandria, and
State of Virginia, being sound in body and
mind, do make and ordain this instrument
of writing as my last;will and testament,
reyoking all other wills and testaments
whatever. l give and bequeath to my
dearly-beloyed daughter and only child,
Mary Anna Randolph Lee, my Arlington
House estate, in the county of Alexandria,
and State Of Virginia, containing eleven
hundred acres, more or less, and my mill
on the Four. mile run, IN the county OF
Alexandria, and the lands of mine
adjacent to said mill, in the, counties of
Aiexandria and Fairfax, in the State OF
Virginia, the use and benefit OF all just
mentioned during the term Of her natural
life, together with my horses and carriages,
furniture, pictures, and plate, during the'
term of her natural life.
On the death Of my daughter, Mary Anna
Randolph Lee, all the property left to her
during the term of her natural lie give
and bequeath to my eldest grandson taking
my name and arms.
leave and bequeath to my four grand
daughters, Mary, Anna. Agnes, and MAI
dred Lee, to each ten thousand dollars.
give and bequeath to my second grand
son, William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, when
he shall be of age, my estate, called the
White House, in the county OF New Kent
and State of Virginia, containing four
thousand acres, more or less, to him and
his heirs forever. Va
give and bequeath to my third and
Youngest grandson, Robert Edward Lee5S
when he is Of age, my estate in the county
1f King William, and State Of Virginia,
called Romancock, containing four thou
sand acres, more or less, to him and his
heirs forever.
Of VIRGINIA. and in the county OF North
ampton. i leave to be sold TO assist 10 pay,
ing my grand daughters iegacles-So pe soia
ia sucn manner as may be deemed ny my
executors most expedient. =