Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-26
ARLINGTON from A. q. 1869 to 4. ID
1877.

The people of America turn with instinct
i've interest to whatever touches even re-
motely the memory of Washington. Almosj
unconsciously the name of Arlington calls
up Mount Vernon, for both arc now the hal
lowed GROUND where heroes sleep. Resting
quietly at Mount Vernon lies the llberator
of our infant Republic from British rule;
little farther north, on the Potomac repose
many thousand soldiers of this same repub-
lie who, a century later, laid down their lives
a holocaust at their country's need.
But Arlington and Mount Vernon have
another and closer association. AS has
been often told, Gen Washington married
widow, Mrs. Martha Gusts. Her only son,
John Parke Gusts, "was, according to the
family history and tradition, q man OF truth
and probity, and highly esteemed by ten
Washington. Being one Of the aids OF Gen.
Washington, and with him at the siege OF
Yorktown, he was seized with camp fever
about the time of its surrender, and died
before he could reach the ''Whitc House on
the Pamunkey. Gen. Washington visited him
on his death bed and at his death adopted
his two youngest children, the late G. w:
Parke GUSTS and Mrs Lawrence Lewis"
Extract from letter Of Gen. r. +. Lee,
dated Lexington, Va, 10Th June, 1865.
Such is short but faithful account OF the
causes which led to the adoption by Gen.
Washington of George Washington Parke
GUSTS. Surely sentiment of peculiar
guardianship should attach to all connected
With one who bore such flial relations to
"thc Father of his Country"-that grand
old hero who ''put away the kingly crown" y
| content to pass from earth as private citizen
of the Government he had founded. How
far that Government has been true to its
obligations to him, the story of its relations
to his representative in the third generation
may throw some light, and may startle not
| few.
Being one of the executors Of Gen. Wash
ington's will, Mt. Vernon continued to be
the residence of Mr.. Gusts until after the
death of his grandmother, Mrs. Washington,
| which occurred May p, 1901. Soon after
this sad event he commenced the erection OF
beautiful mansion at darlington" his pat
rimonial Inheritance At the age of twenty
three Mr.. Custis married Mary Lee Fitz
hugh. They lived happily together at the
lovely homo on the west bank of the Poto-
mac, and now lie peacefully side by side in
the centre of the Soldiers Cemetery. The
spot selected as their last resting place was
originally sequestered grove, but the iron
hand Of war has levelled natures proud
growth of forest trees and planted thous-
ands of plain white head-boards in their
stead.
1t may be interesting to state that 'Ar
lington' is apart Of the original "Howsen
patent During the reign of Charles H. of
England, Sir William Berkeley, Governor of
Virginia, granted to Robert Howsen the
lands contained within patent bearing date
October 21st, 1869. This patent granted
six thousand acres uf land in consideration
OF the transportation of a number of persons
into the colony. The city Of Alexandria,
PATENT It is wsestab i1GSsIcq ui Rsy t ths
Howsen assigned and conveyed all these
lands to one John Alexander in 1869, by
deed poll recorded in Stafford County Court.
From his lineal descendant, Gerard Alexan-
der, Mr.. John Parkc Gusts bought Airing
| ton, as the following memoranda will certify.
| (Copy.)
1t is this day agreed between Gerard Alexander,
of Fairfax county, of the one part, and Robert
Adams, for John Parke GUSTS, of the other, that
| the said Gerard Alexander will comply with the
said John Parke Gusts, his heirs and assigns for
ever all the land he is entitled to between the line
called North six Gin Howsen's patent, agreeable to
| a plat and recovery made lately in the General
Court and Potomac River, supposed to be 1000
acres, for the OF eleven thousand pounds cur
| rency Possession will be given on the 25th of
December, l778; for the performance Of which the
above parties have bound themselves in one thous-
and pounds
(signed) GERARD ALEXANDER,
ROBERT ADAMS.
Witness: PHILIP ALEXANDER.
(Copy.)
Fairfax Dec. 18th, 1778
Then received Of John Parke Custis the sum of
eleven thousand pounds, Virginia currency, in full
for a tract of land, supposed thousand acres,
lying on Potomac river, and in the county OF
Fairfax.
tsigned) GERARD ALEXANDER.
Turning from this purchase, made one
hundred years ago, we find that George
Washington Parke Gusts, in his last will
and testament, dated 10Th March, 1855, de-
viscd as follows:
81 give and bequeath to my dearly beloved
daughter and only child, Mary Ann Randolph Lee,
my Arlington-house estate, in the county of Alex
andra, and State of Virginia, containing eleven
hundred acres, more or less, and my mill, on Four
mile run, in the county Of Alexandria, and the
lands of mine adjacent to 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 her natural life
son the death of my daughter, Mary Ann RAM
dolph Lee, all the property left to her during the
term of her natural life, give and bequeath to my
eldest grandson, George Washington Gusts Lee, to
him and his heirs forever, he, my said eldest grand
son, taking my name and arms.
'.My daughter, Mary A. R: Lee, has the privilege
by this will of devising my family plate among nv
grandchildren but the Mount Vernon altogether
and every article possess relating to Washington,
and that came from Mount Vernon, Is to remain
with my daughter at Arlington house during said
daughters life and at her death to my eldest
grandson, George Washington Custis Lee, and TO
descend from him entire and unchanged to my
latest posterity.'
1t will be observed that Mr.. GUSTS speaks