Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-08
ALEX CAMBRIA, Y \.
WEDNESDAY, JULY s. 1874
Recovery and Restoration of part OF
the GusflS ESta te to the Lee Family.

Recovery and Restoration of Part Of
the GusflS Estate to the Lee Family.
Asstated 10 yesterday S Gazette, "a decision was
rendered, and judgment eiVeuby Judge Hughes
in the United States Court, in an action OF
eiectment, brought by 6. W. Gusts Lee VS..
AFRO Chase, for the recovery Of the mill prop
erty" on Four Mile Run, devised by the late
G W. Parke Gusts to Mrs. Gen. Lee for life;
remainder to G.. W. G. Lee, which property
had been purchased during the War at sale
for taxes due to the United States by the de.
PENDANT in the cause
The finding of the court, and the judgment
rendered, were as follows, and were based upon
the late decision of the u. S. Supreme Court
10 the case of Tacy vs.. Mary Irwin and others,
to be reported in the 18th volume Of Wallace $
reports:
And now at this day, to wit: the 7th day of
July 1874, the issues of fact in this cause having
been tried and determined by the Court without
the intervent on OF u jury, pursuant to supua-
ton, in writing, duly signed and filed, the Court
makes the following finding upon the facts Long
prior to Decs mber, 1857, Geo. w. L. Custis was
seized in Zee OF the tract of land in the declara
ton mellLOneQj LLhI ny HIS itSI VIII CIV 1NSSt
,nent An office copy Of which Is herein inserted
to wit:
I'm the name of God, Amen l, George w sh-
ington Parke Gusts, of Arlington, IN the coun-
w of Alexandria, and State of Vlrgnla beng
sound in budv and mind, Go make ard ordan
this instrument Of wrling AS my last will and
testament, revokng all other wills ana Tesla
ments whatever.
ii give and bcqueath to my dearly beloved
daughter and only child, Mary Ann Randolph
IL, tafa m
of Alcxal.dria and State OF Virginia, containing
eleven hundred acres, more or less, AND my mill
on Four mill Run, in Tue county OF AleXanurla
and the lands of mine adjacent to SAID mill, IN
the counties of Alexandria and Fairfax, IN the
Stale of Virginia. the use and benefit OF all just
mentioned during the term of her natural lie,
together with my horses and carriage, lurhi
ture pictures aud plato, during the term o1 hef
..On the death of my daughter, Mary Ann
Randolph Lee, all the property lett to ner our
ing the term of her natural life, l give ana be-
uueath to my eldest grandson, George Washing
ton Gusts Lee to him and his heirs forever, he
my said eldest grandson, taking my name ana
arms.
tors Narv Amin Agnes and Mildred Lee, 10
each ten Thousand dollars.
IL give and bequeath to my second grandson,
William Henry Fltzhugh Lee, when h" shall DC
of age, my estate called the White House, IN the
tanning four thousand acres more or less, 10 MIN
and his heirs forever.
Il give and bequeath to my youngest grandson,
Robert Edward Lee, when he IS or age, my es-
tate in the county OF King William, ana state
of Virginia, called Romancocke, containing !our
thousand acres more or less, TO him and his
heirs forever. .
INV esta.. of Smiths Island at the capes of
Virgins, and in the county of Northampton,
lesve to be sold, to assist IN paying my grain
.J-l fnr is
may be deemed by my execu ors IL ost expedient.
ANY and all lands that l may possess IN the
counties of Stafford. Richtlond aud Westuore-
land, | leave TO be sold to aid in paying my
grandaughter's l'gncles.
II give and bequeath my lot in square No2l,
Washington city, to my on.il-laW, Lleutenant
Colonel Robert 4. Lee, to him and his heirs for
ever.
''My daughter, Mary A. R. Lee has the priv-
lege by this will of dividing my family plate
among my grandchildren; but the Mount YER
non altogether, and every. article l possess re-
lating to Washington, and that came from Mt.
Vernon, is to remain with my daughter at Ar
lington House, during said daughters life, and
at her death to go to my eldest grandson, George
Washington Gusts Lee, and to descend from
him entire and unchanged to my latest pcsterity.
My estates of the White House, in the county
of New Kent, and komancocke, in the county OF
King William, both being in the State OF Vlr-
ginia, together with Smiths Island, and the
lands may possess IN Inc co -nCleS ol III,
Richmond and Westmoreland countless, are
charged with the payment of The legacies TO my
grandaughters Smiths Island, and the afore-
said lands in Stafford, Richmond and Westmore-
land, only, are TO be sold, the lands OF the
White House and Romancock to be worked, to
raise the aforesaid legacies to my four gran
daughters. And upon the legscies to my four
yrus.daughters being paid, and my estates that
arc required to pay the legacies being clean OF
debt, then give freedom to my slaves; the said
slaves to be emancipsted by my executors in
such manner rs to my executors may
seem most expedient and proper the said
characterization to be accomplished in not exceed
ing five years from the time Of my decease.
81 do constitute and appoint as my executors,
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Lee, Robert
Lee Randolph, of Eastern View; Right Rever-
end Bishop Meade, and George Washington
Peter.
'"This will written by own hand, is signed,
sealed and executed the twenty-sixth day Of
March, eighteen hundred and ttty-Lvo.
[S.ALl GEORGE WAsHINGToN PARkE GUSTS.
"Witness:
MARTHA CUsT1s WILLIAMS.
wv. EUGENE WEBSTER"
The said tracto land was devised to his daugh-