The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-19
GEORGE wAsHINGTON's SWEETHEART.
Pretty Mary Philipse, Who Captivated the
Father of His Country.

Pretty Mary Philipse, Who Captivated the
Father of His Country.
New York Recorder.
1t lie one hundred and thirty.seven y ears
ago this month that General Washington,
on journey North. met fair Mary Philipse
of New York, and laid the foundation of
one OF the prettiest rOmances In the ira
ditlODs of the country.
Mary Philipse's story has been sketched
many times until there is little new to say
Of her. She was the heiress of the family
whose founder was Frederick Phllipse.
who owned vast tract of land embracing
Tarrytown and reaching down to the
Hudson. The Magazine of American
History says that upon a tax list of New
York city for the year 1914 he is
rated as worth $4,000 forms 1892 000l. by far
the richest man III town; only two men ap.
preached him IN wealth. and these were
rated each at 81, 900 forms 10000. Fred
erlck PhIiipse. and his son Adolphus after
him. were in the Governors Council and
intensely loyal to the King. The wealth of
the family had not grown less by 1856.
Mary Philpse was heiress to q vast amount.
Her sister, likewise an helress. had mar
ried Beverly Robinson. the son of John
Robinson, who was Speaker of the House
of Burgesses of Virginia. and as such had
so eloquently cOmplimented Washington
when no took his seat there. Beverly had
been schoolmate OF Washington and 1t
was but natural chat the latter should be
his guest on this visit to New York. And,
equally as matter of course, Washington
at this house met Mary Philipse. Irving
says of this meeting: @1
That be was an open admirer of Miss
Phiilpse is an historical fact; that he
sought her hand, but was refused. IS ira
dltional and not very probable. His mill
tary rank, his early laurels and distin-
guished presence were all calculated to win
favor in fema 70 eyes. but as his sojOurn In
New York was brief he NAV have been
diifident in urging his suit with a lady &C.
customed to the homage of society and
surrounded by admirers. The most prob
able version OF the story is that he was
called away by his public duties before he
had made sufficient approaches in his siege
of the lady's heart to warrant o summons
to surrender"
it is certain til at Washing on did not marry
her. Yet by the strange conc alienation of
events In that stirring age. twenty years
later he occupied her house on Harlem
Heights as his headquarters. After he had
gone back to Virginia q letter reached him
from friend giving him warning that
another was seeking the rich and beautiful
prize. Capt. Roger Morris. fellow aid
de-camp in the BraddOck campaign, was
likely to win her hand. But Washington
left the field clear for him. Hence Mary
PhIlipse became Marry Morris. And when
the Revolution came she chung to the ira
dltions of her family and remained loyal
Ist. Besides her wealth and beauty she
and imperious will; so much so that it
was freely limited at that time that if
Washington had married her he wonld
never have been the leader of the patriots
Captain Morris may have needed no petit
coat persuasion to keep him from joining
the rebels. At any rate. the wife and hus-
band both fled to England. and their es-
tates on Manhattan island were contis-
Gated. They owned beautiful mansion
overlooking the Harlem river and the
country far beyond il. Later il came in to
tho hands of Mime. Jumel. who was married
to Aaron Burr shortly before the latter's
death in 1880. and it still stands to-day
known as the Jumel mansion. as a lonely
relic of former days, on northumberland.
sixty first street, near ST. Nicholas avenue
1t was occupied by Washington as head
quarters after the battle of Long Island
and before bis retreat from Manhattan
island, or in the early autumn months of
1776 1t may be that his thoughts reverted
with fond regret to the beautiful mistress
of the mansion In the happy days OF youth.