New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-20
ARLINGTON.
The Last VIII and Testament Of q. VI
p. Custis.


the settlement of the estate OF the. late
George w. P. Custis. Appraisers We're APP
psinted aud proyision made tor.-au, the de-
tails which the law rec lures on such occa-
sions. The hohse Of Mr.. Gusts, standing in
sight of the capital, upon a similar emf
nence, had, from the earliest days, celeD-
rity wide as the nation. but recent events
have made its history portion OF the hlsto-
ry of the country. Especially has AIRING
ton and its associations always possessed a
peculiar attraction to the people OF Alex
andria. That sort of special interest which
Washington manifested In the affairs OF our
fathers, Gusts, his adopted son, displayed
toward their sons. endeayOring not alone to
descant upon his virtues in our midst with
eloquent words, but by his manner and his
devotion to our interests to Illustrate to, one
generation of Alexapdrians what had been
the conduct of Washington toward its pre-
decessor. ssat-
He hoped to make the home and family
at Arlington the distinctive social successor
Tor all time of the home and family OF
Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon might be-
come the property of the world, the repre-
sentative Of the iliustrious public lite that
closed beneath its roof and is sepulchred in
its shade; but Arlington should be sacred
to the home life of the great man. with
Washingtons social board for its heirloom,
the type of its conduct and the ornament of
its life. .
For this purpose he devised his Arlington
estate to Mrs Lee for life. and then TO
George Washington Gusts Lee, he to take
the name of George w. 2. Gusts, and, in
another clause of the Will, he gives his
daughter the right of dividing the family
plate, but he adds: s
1.-The. Mount Vernon plate altogether and
r ro
ton. and that came from Mount Vernon, is
to remain with my daughter al Arlington
House during said daughters life, and at
her death to 90 to my oldest grand son,
George Washington Cnstis Lee, and to des-
cend from him entire to my latest posterity."
Few men peered into the future with a
wider experience or more acute phllo-
sophy, yet as he executed his will that
March day OF 1855, while the interest of the
world gathered around the MalakOff. where
Russia deted the armies of France and
England, and the city across the Potomac
was hearing, with scarce attentive ear. some
rrmOrs of mobs in 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
! see that his hopes would ind loftier ac-
complishment than he dreamed. aud 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 of Arlington its material inheritance
| left it by the family of Mount Vernon,
would develop a kinship in sphere far
higher than a mere material connection, the
home at Arlington, not shining with re-
| Elected light, but resplendent with the lofty
civic virtue aud military resown of its
! head. Mount Vernon and Arlington, blend
| ing together in the history and the hearts
of the people. safe beyond the accidents OF
| time and the spoiliugs OF mortality.
As a contribution to the history of the
| times we give the will of the illustrious old
! gentleman:
In the name of God, amen. T. George
| Washington Parke Gusts, of Washington
| House. in the country 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
revoking all other wills and testaments
| whatever. | give and dequeath to ms
dearly beloved 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 Alex.
andria, and the lands OF mine adjacent 10
said mill, in the counties of Alexandria 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 natural life.
On the death of my daughter. Mary Anna
Randolph Lee, all the property left to her
| during the term of her natural life, | give
and bequeath to my eldest grandson taking
my name and arms.
| leave and bequeath to my four grand
daughters. Mary, Anna, Agnes and Mildred
Lee, to each ten thousand dollars.
| | give and bequeath to nay second grand
son. William Henry Fitzhugh Lee, when he
4 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 for
| ever.
| give and bequeath to nv third and
Youngest grandson, Robert Edward Lee
when he is of age, my estate in the county
! of King William and State of Virginia
| called ROmancock, containing four Thousand
acres, more or less, 20 him and his heirs for
ever.
| Nv estate of Smiths Island, at the capes
| of Virginia, and in the county of North
ampton, leave to be sold to assist in pay
ing my granddaughter legacies. to be SOLD
in such manner as may be deemed By my
executors most expedient.
Anv and all lands that / may possess in
the counties of Stafford, Richmond anC
Westmoreland, leave to be sold to aid in
paving my granddaughter legacies.
| give and bequeath my lot in square No
81, Washington City, to my sOn-in-law
Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee to hin
and his heirs forever. Ny daughter, Mar,
A. r. Lee, has the privilege, by this will, o
dividing my family plate among my CRANE
children, but the Mount Vernon plate alto
gether. and every article possess relating
10 Washington and that came from Noun
Vernon. is to remain with my daughter a
Arlington House, during said daughter
life, and at her death to go to my 'eldes
grandson, George Washington Gusts Lee
and to descend from him, entire and un
changed. to my latest posterity.
NV estates of the White House, in tn
| county of New Kent, and Romancock, il
the county of King William, both being il
the State of Virginia, together with Smith
Island and the lands may possess in tn
county of Stafford, Richmond and West
moreland counties, are charged with til
payment of the legacies to my granddaugl
ters Smiths Island, and the aforesaid land
in Stafford, Richmond and Westmorelan
only are to be sold; the lands of the Whit
House and Romancock TO be worked to rails
the aforesaid legacies to my four grand
daughters.
And upon the legacies to my four CRANE
daughters being paid, and my estates tina
are required to pay the said 1egacies bein
clear of debt, then | give freedom to m
slaves, the said slaves to be emaneipated b
nav executors in such manner as to my eXt
cutors may seem most expedient and prope
) the said emancipation to be accomplish
= in mt exceeding five years from the time {