Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-31
aLExAaAzETTE &v1RaINIA ADVERTISER
Arlington.


ington Parke Custis, who for fifty five years
cultivated its luxurant acres. He was the last
of the line OF Washington, being by adoption
the honored son of "The Father OF His Couu-
try" He left Mount VERNON three years after
the death of the General, and with his young
and accomplished wife, Mary Lee Ftzhugh,
took up his abode upon Arlington Heights.
He survived his wife some three years, and in
1851 was laid by her side iu lonely spot not
many rods distant from the venerable old man
sion. Upou his death his sole surviving daugh.
ter, Mary Custis, the wife of Robert X. Lee,
Inherited the estate. At this time, it is said
DO demesne surpassed 1t in America. Possess
lug peculiar natural advantages, which were
adorned by lavish taste and a rare cultivation,
with all the improvem ents then known to the
world of art, it has long borne the reputation of
beiup one of the most desirable places of resi-
deuce and resort in the vicinity of the National
CAPITAL. It's interesting associations, and the
gcniaty OF its quaint old proprietor, with his
three corncred hat, his knee brcechcs, queue
and buckle 3, added to the varied attractions of
the place.
But with the War q new tenor came over the
spirit of it's dreams. When war succ 'eded
peace Arlington felt the force OF the shock. 1t
realized a new destiny-one as strange rs it was
new Its wooded heights, grassy lawns, and
quiet dells heard the tread aud shouts Of SOL
diery, and saw 'the pomp aud circumstance OF
glorious war; The quiet that brooded over
the vast estate 10 time Of peace was disturbed
by the echoes OF artillery laundering from the
forts that enviroued the heights. But all this
has again died away, and has left fifteen thous
and soldiers to slumber oD 10 silence, 10 Sc.
faU etaD nj q
sion where the chief the Confederate forces once
held undisturbed possession of bis Thousand
beautiful acres. The war gave to Arlington new
history. and new yet melancholy interest. To
understand this place, therefore, one must
learn what it once was, and see what by the fate
OF war it now Is.
Glancing at "the last will and testament of
George Washington, oil Mount Vernon" which
is dated July 9, 1899, only few months before
the death of the lllusrious testator, W. learn
that Arlington was bequeathed to George w.
Parke Gusts iu the f.lln wing language: II
give aud bequeath to George WASHINGTON Parko
Gusts, the grandson of my wife, aud my ward
aud to his hens, the tract hold on -Four miie
Run, 10 the vicinity of Alexandria, containing
one thousand two hundred acres, more or less. >
twill be remembered by those Versed 10 &C.
nealogica lore that q. w. Parke Gusts and
Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis, we're the children
of j ohm Parke Custis, who was the only chId
that lived to its maturity, Of Mrs. Martha
Washington and her former husband Daniel
Cus,is. These two children were adopts when
young by General Washington. Miss Nelly
afterward married MIR. Lawrence i wis, the
nephew of the Gcuerai, being the son of Mrs.
Betty w. L,ws, Wsshington's sister. The
old harpsicbord, still preserved as relic 10 the
mansion at Mount Vernon, was wedding pre-
no
occasion of her marriage to bis nephew. Her
brother, q. W. Parke Custis, having been ap
pointed by the great Washington as one OF the
executors of his will, Mount Vernon continued
to be his home until after the death of his
grandmother, Mrs. Martha cambridge Custls
Washington, which occurred May II, 1901, ST e
having attained the age of seventy-one years.
Soon after this sad event he commenced the
erection Of beautiful mansion at Arlington, on
q lovely spot overlooking the Potomac ln ad-
dition to the Arlington estate WASHINGTON bad,
10 one of the causes OF his will, beQueathed to
him his ''entire square, No. q, in the city OF
Washington.
At the age Of twenty-three Mr.. Custis mar,
red Mary Lee Fltzhugh. They lived happily
together at their beautiful home on the west
eide of the Potomac until the death of the lat
ter, which took place in the Arlington man
sion April 23, 1858. Mrs Custis, the mother
of Mrs. General Lee, was buried ln scques
tered and delightful grove near the mauson.
Mr.. Custis died October 10, 1857, aud his re-
mains were deposited by her side, vast con-
course of every rank testiiyiug their reverence
for the departed by their presence at the obse
quies.
That sequesered grove, thus selec ted by its
owner as the last resting place tor hI mset aud
his, has been, 10 the tempest OF the times, lu-
yadeG; the forest has been transfo rmrd ipto a
field of the dead, aud the two marble columns
marking the remains OF MIR. and Mrs. Custls
are now iu the midst of nearly sixteen thous-
and soldiers graves. From the noble portico
that adorns the front OF the Arlington mansion,
81 conspicuous from every point of the Federal
Capital and its vicinity, MIR. Custis had seen
Washington rise from an humble aud unlnter
estiug village into something like its present
grand proportions.
George Washington Psrke Cusis, the pro.
pretor of the Arlington estate, who died on
the 10th oil October, 1857, made and published
his last will and testament, dated the 10Th of
March, 1885, and, which was duly admitted to
probate and record in the county court of the
county Of Alexandria, at its December term,
In 1857. In this instrument he btqueathei to
his daughter and only child, Mary Ann Ran.
doph Lee, the use aud bcueht OF his airing
ton lluuSe estate, containing eleven hundred
acres, more or less, that Of his mill on Four
mile run, and of the lands Of his adjacent to
said mill, 10 Alexandria and Fairfax counties,
Virginia, together with his horses and car
riages. furniture, pictures and plate, during
the term of her natural life. On the death oil
Mrs. LIE, all the property left to her was to 20
to his eldest grandson, George Washington
Custis Lee, aud to his heirs forever, MIR. Lee
taking his grandfather ) name aud arms Tc
each of his four nd-daughters Mary, Auna
Agnes aud Mildred Lee. Mr.. Custis bequeathed
ten thousand dollars. To his second grandson
William Henry Fltzhugh Lee, whsu be should
be of age, and to his heirs forever ne oequ"ath
ed his estate called the White House, IN New
Kent county, Va, containing four thousant
acres. 10 bis third aud youngest. grandson
Robert Edward Lee, when he should be OF age
and to his heirs forever, he bequeathed bis eS