The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-14
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Death of q Woman Who Was Born at
Mount Vernon Ninety-ive Years Ago,
and Who Lived There Till After " ash
ingfonss

Death of a Woman Who Was Born ut
Mount Vernon Ninety-ave Years Ago,
and Who Lived There Till After " ash
ington's Death.
New York Herald, June L.
A remarkable woman has just died at
Richmond, Va She was perhaps the last
living human being who had seen
and talked with Washington. notwith-
standing the number of struggling
pretenders who occasionally appear before
the public as claimants for this honor. Mrs.
Young, the person to whom reference is
made was the last surviving child of Gen
eral Washington's steward, Anderson, the
honest and frugal Scotchman who for so
many years had control "a his domestic af-
fairs at Mount Vernon. Her maiden sister,
Miss Nellie Anderson, died in Richmond
more than fifteen years ago at the ad-
vanced age OF ninety-five, and now the
venerable survivor departs this life after
having lived exactly the same length of
time. She was born at Mount Vernon in
1887. For more than sixty years she had
resided in Richmond, respected by the en-
tire community and beloved BY all whose
privilege il was to enjoy her immediate ac-
quaintance. Remarkable for strength of
body as well as vigor of mind, she had
perfectly retained, until within the
past few days. recollections of the
early part of her life at the home of
Washington. To all who conversed with
her on this subject and its interesting asso-
Citations she gave, without ostentation, salts
factory replies. To great dignity of bearing
she united that true modesty so character
Istic of the real woman. She died as she
had lived-a devout Christian. The writer
of this sketch conyersed with her in years
past upon subjects connected with her life
at, Mount Vernon. She was thirteen
years of age when the head OF that
bereaved household and the Nation
died and, of course, could remember
many incidents of her childhood. The
account she gave of what she insisted was
the real cause of Washington's death differs
much from that given by historians gener
ally Although all agree that the attack
which carried off the ilIustrious man was
brought on by his exposure on cold De-
cember day while taxing his usual ride on
horseback, yet even this might have beer
averted had not the incident occurred which
of Mrs. Young The General had returned
from his ride cold and shivering,
had retired to the house and was
actually about to take his dinner
when message came to him from a boat
wright whom he had employed, and who
desired immediate instructions before he
could finish the boat upon which he was at
work. Washington, probably somewhat
fretted at the untimely interference. hurried
down to the river bank without hat or over
coat, and stood exposed to the chilling
blasts that blew over the Potomac. His
anxiety to finish the business kept him there
too long The consequence was a violent
accession to the cold he had already taken,
which during the following night culmin-
ated in the attack which soon proved fatal"
Mrs. Young always took great pleasure in
dwelling upon the goodness and uniform
kindness of General and Mrs. Washington
to ali connected with their establishment. 1t
must be remembered that at that time the
relative social position of dependents, do
mestics and the great proprietors were
strongly contrasted. The aristocratic senti-
ment prevailed. and about the great house"
as it was called, more than ordinary
sesene of awe presided. With this were
connected the strictest rules of decOrum.
against which it was more than treason to
err. Notwithstanding this, the children OF
all the adjoining households were free to
come and GO; and Mrs. Young and her Sis
ter often romped on the porticos and
through the hall of the stately mansion
with the children of the Fairfaxes Cur
tises and Lewlses, some of whom were
constant guests OF General and Mrs.
Washington. Indeed, she has told the
writer that she and her sister were
rarely permitted to retire from the
presence of Mrs. Washington before having
received some tokens of kindness in the way
of fruit. cake, and such like, and that on no
occasion did the General pass them without
kindly greeting. She took special pleas
ure in referring to an incident in which
Washington's stepson, young Curtis, and
Rawlins. one of his manager, met with 2
sore discontinue. The two were INDUCING
their favorite pastime of dancing and fid-
ding. Curtis being the dancer and Rawlins
the fiddler when to their surprise and dis
may the General stepped suddenly upon
the scene. We may well imagine the effect
of so august presence at such moment.
The air of Mount Vernon must have been
conductive 10 longevity. Wasbington's
| favOrite negro hunter and body-servant dur
ing the war. Will Lee, lived TO be more than
hundred years old. Thomas Bishop. his
English servant who had been with Brad
dock in the same capacity on the Continent
and in America, mp TO the time of the lat
ter's death, and who at the dreadful day
of Monongahela disengaged Washington
from his slaughtered horse and lifted him,
worn and weak, upon the back of another
also survived to nearly the same length OF
DAYS, and so did old Father Jack The
African fishernas,. whose duty it was 10
supply the table at Mount Vernon with fish
! from the waters of the Potomac.