Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
AN OLD VIRGINIA PLACE
Historic Hayfsld, the Home of the Late ".
= E Clark.
The Residence of Lund Warrington,
an Intimate Friend of the
First President.

Written for The n .ning Star.
William E. Clark of this city the following
mention Is made Of Hayfield. Va. his sum-
mer home. where he died:
"Hayfield. Mr.. Clark's summer home, Is
one Of the most beautiful places around
Washington. It is quite near Mount YER
non. and the historic old homestead was
built about 100 years ago by George Wash
ington, and was occupied by Lewis Wash
ington."
Gen. Washington was frequent visitor
at Hayfield for many years, but am quite
sure that he had nothing to do with the
construction of this mansion, and l do not
believe that he ever owned any part OF
the plantation. 1t is well known that every
incident Of Gen. Washington's public and
private life has been brought out In the
numerous biographies OF him and In .ns
publications Of his correspondence, and II
there Is among them anywhere mention
of his ownership Of the Hayfield estate
have failed to see it. In the absence or
such proof the inference would be strong
that Hayfield was never a part of his
numerous properties.
About the year 1852 or '53 Gen. Washing
ton became the owner Of the Mount YER
non estate. The house. as described by
Losing, was "a plain, substantial man
sion." 1t may not have. been large: for the
country residences of gentlemen in those
days were generally simple and Of mod
crate dimensions. as compared with the
modern style; but though he had large
FAMILY. connection and many calls upon
his hospitality, the structure sufficed for
the generals purposes for more than thirty
years. Virginia country houses have FOR
generations possessed what might be call
ed capacity for stretching, In order 10
accommodate guests, which is unknown In
many localities.
Simple, but Comfortable.
If Gen. Washington. with his ample
means. did not care to enlarge his own
family mansion Of Mount Vernon he would
not be likely to build another house at
much cost in the neighborhood. There was
absolutely no motive for him to do SO. The
construction Of country houses at that era
was a matter of considerable expense and
trouble. and hardly any gentleman had
more than one private residence. Mount
Vernon, with its conveniences. beautiful
surroundings and ample domain. was
enough to satisfy any personal aspiration,
and the estate furnished a round of duties
nearly every day for its owner or manager
to discharge
At the time assigned In the notice re-
ferred to for the construction of Mayiield-
namely, 1T75-the difficulties between Eng
tilities had begun, and no planter would
have cared to embark in new enterprises.
Gen. Washington, especially. had been for
years thoroughly absorbed In the revolu-
tionary moYsfaegt, and at the time stated
he became enn16&nder-in-chiefo of the Amer
look after hi aehirs personally.
Again. IL 4ehsW Washington had been the
owner of the Afdyfield estate he would not
have sold 10 Itwas farm of fairly good
land. 1t iE true that his large body of
western lads vas acquired for specula-
ton, but a firm lying near his own, cleared
and cultivated, once owned would undoubt-
eddy have ken.breserved by him and in
cluded in hi Lad will and testament.
1t has bean; rot an uncommon practice
In the southernsitatas for gentlemen whose
attention was ssosengrossed by politics. war,
or other ma3te@ that they could not per-
sonally supsrin Kind their estates, to engage
the seryiccE ofssone relative whom they
could fuliyA trut sfor this purpose, Law
renee Wasfing3ba, the elder brother of
George and byf whose will the latter in
herited Mount Vernon, married the daugh-
ter of the Hons Milliam Fairfax. an ex-
officer of distinction in the British service.
Fairfax had his own beautiful country
seat OF Belvoir. not far from Mount Yer
non. but was also manager OF the great
landed estates Of his cousin, Lord Fairfax.
General Washington, by reason OF his &C
manhood, and frequent absences from
home was compelled often to rely upon
the aid of his relatives for the superintend-
enee Of his own large and diversified prop
critics. His will records his obligations to
two Of his brothers for this service, but the
person on whom he depended for the long
est, period and especially during the crit,-
cal seven years of the revolutionary strug-
gle, was his friend and kinsman. Mr.. !Lund
Washington Of Hayfleld.
Intimate with Gen. Warrington.
The published correspondence Of Gen.
Washington with Mr.. Lund Washington
shows the closeness and Intimacy of their
personal relations. and that no man en-
joyed the generals confidence to a greater
extent. LundS Washington and his broth
ers, Robert and Lawrence, had been com
panions Of Gen. Washington in boyhood
days. Lund Washington was younger than
any of these, but he matured rapidly and
became a natural selection for the most
important trusts. He was born on the 2lst
of October, 1737 and died in July. 1896.
some three years before Gen. washington.
The general was present at the funerai.
The widow of Lund Washington and two
of his brothers are remembered IN the last
will of Gen. Washington with expressions
of esteem and regard.
The business connection Of Gen. WASH
ington and Mr. Lund Washington began
about l7fo, and ended in 1IS5. but their
personal intimacy was terminated only by
the death of the latter. This was natural.
They were very near neighbors-out-ooor
men. so to Speak-anQ ndu IndHy hmuIeo
tastes. besides the associations of life
time. For many years preceding his death
in 1896 Lund Washington was the owner or
Hayfield and lived there. l have always
understood that it was he who built the
family mansion. He was a prosperous
country gentleman. That he was man OF
great force of character, Intelligence and
business capacity goes without saying His
own immediate family were well represent
ed in the revolutionary service.
npo hrothar John washington, was a
captain in Virginia regiment, was present
at the capture of the Hessians and died in
the service Another brother. Thomas,
was a lieutenant and participated In the
battles of Germantown and Monmouth be-
ing present at the memorable interviews
between Gen. Washington and Gen. Lee,
when the former rallied the men and led
them to the charge. Another brother, Rob
ert mad his family home, woodstock" on
the Potomac, burned by British marauders,
two of his sons being in the patriot service,
one of whom died at the early age of sew
enteen on British prison and pest ship IN
the harbor1 tof New York. But no one of
these was more devoted to liberty than Mr..
Lund Washington, and.no man could have
rendered more hvaluable service than he
whose friendship, fidelity and sagacity en-
abled the American commander-in-chief to
feel during those long seven years of trial
that his family and home were being safeiy
guarded, AID thus give his undivided
thoughts and energies to the great work he
had in hand.