Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-22
THE ARLINGTON HOME
THE ORIGINAL SEAT OF THE FA-
NOUS GUSTS ESTATE.
The ESTATE A SPLENDID ONE.
Now Fast Decayins-The Fourth
John Custis Was Very Eccentric,
and His wife Was n Tartnr-some-
time. Not on Speaking Terms.
written for the Dispatch.)

road. on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,
realize that they are passing through one
Of the most historic sections Of the coun-
try. second only TO Jamestown itself
on the southern extremity of this Pc
nlnsula is located the town OF Cape
Charles, the foundation of which was
laid when the New York, Philadelphia,
and Norfolk railroad was built through
the Peninsula. The town is located on
what was many years ago the Arlington
plantation, the original seat OF the Gusts
family in Virginia, a drop or moro OF
whose blood flows in the veins Of many
of the leading families Of Virginia and
other States. 1t derived its name from
the Earl of Arlington, one Of the minis
| tiers of Charles H., and from 1t Arlington
on the Potomac was named. 1t was quite
large estate, including number OF
islands on the Atlantic coast. among
them Smiths Island, which is still in the
| possession Of the family. Long since has
| the mansion followed the memorable law
| of decay and gone back to the dust from
| whence 1t came. But near the place
where once it stood are two old tomb
stones, indicating that the family bury
| ing-ground as is customary throughout
! Virginia, stood close to the old homestead.
FAST DECAYING.
| Sad to relate, these landmarks Of Eye
olden time" I'm common with many of
| Virginias antiquities, are fast going TO
! decay. 1t is with a feeling Of sadness
! that we witness the decay of the old
! Virginia homesteads. The ruthless hand
| of progress appears to have no respect
| for the places which are made dear TO us
| by so many fond memores-memories
which take us back to the times of long,
| long ago, which have come down through
many years, telling us Of the days of our
| forefathers. There is a tender spot in the
| hearts of each of us for the old customs,
| the old homesteads, of our forefathers;
and it seems as though we are lacking in
| respect TO them when we make no at
| tempt TO preserve the homestead which
| they cherished so dearly. We are not
| cherishing their legacy as We should.
| True, the hand Of Time will, sooner or
| later, destroy every vestge of the days
| OF 'ye olden time" but with a little judi
cious care even its destroying effect may
Tor time be prevented.
THE ARLINGTON HOMESTEAD.
| The Arlington homestead was acquired
! by John Gusts, No. 2, through either his
| first or his second wife. John Custis, No.
| l. WAS an innkeeper Of Rotterdam, and
| one Of the first settlers Of the Eastern
| Shore. John Gusts, No. 2, was born In
| 1880, and died January 90 1895. He was
| thrice married His son, John Custis, No.
| 3, was twice married. He was commits
stoned Collector of Customs for the East
| ern Shore of Virginia in 1851, by Lord
Howard, Of Efingham. Lieutenant and
| Goyernor-General OF Virginia. Previously
| he had been q maior-general in command
| of the Ia storm Share fOVrNG fuTi1y Ia
| cons rebellion. He was buried al Will
| sonia, near Eastville, and his tombstone
| bears this inscription: Here lyeth the
| body of John Custis Esq. one Of the
| Council Of Virginia colonel and COM
| mander- in-chief of the militia Of the East
| ern Shore Of this Colony. He was the
| son of Hon. John Gusts, of Arlington,
| and departed this life 18th January, 1713,
| in the Goth year Of his age. His first wife
| was Margaret, ye daughter Of Mr.. John
Michaels, by whom he had seven sons
| and three daughters who, with three or
their sons, lies near him. His second wife
was Sarah. the daughter Of Colonel
| SOuthey LAttleton, and widow OF Adam
Michaels, who survived him, but hopes TO
be buried by him when she. dies, as was
| lis desire. Which accordingly now she is.
! Departed this life the 18th day OF April.
Ammo Domini, l72O, and in the DIST year Of
her age"
THE FOURTH JOHN GUSTS.
John Gusts No. 4, more Familiarity
| known as Martha Washington's father
in-law, was married i'm 1905 10 Frances,
| the eldest daughter Of Colonel Daniel
| Parke who was, as the tombstone Of
| John GUSTS. No. 2. tell '.. "Captain-Gen-
| eral and Chief-Govern OF the Leeward
| Islands" Miss Parkc IS described as be-
| ing a Tartar shrewish, and curst." Her
temper was exceedingly violent and flu
| rious. John Gusts himself was very &C.
| centric, and his temper was but little less
| peaceable than that OF his wife.
l. rl.l Irat Of al bxr ~
and proud parents, and these qualities
| descended from the parents 10 the chill
| dren. Before their marriage, he was in
! formed Of her violent temper; but, being
| a Gusts, this fact did not cause him any
uneasiness AS is often the case in dealing
| with the fair sex, he "reckoned without
| his host" Gusts, although somewhat
| eccentric, was nowhere when compared
| with Parke. 1T would simply be heads
or tails" as to which was the more disa-
| greeable. his eccentricities or her temper.
NOT ON SPEAKING TERMS.
1t IS reported of them that they were
repeatedly not on speaking terms and
| for weeks at a time would not exchange
| a word; yet. she would preside at the
| table as though they were the most loving
| of couples. All conversation was carried
| on through servants. For instance, she
| would say TO dining-room servant: ASK
| your master II he Will have cofree or tea
| and cream and sugar He would reply:
| Tell your mistress that / Will take coffee
| with cream and sugar.
| 1t is related that upon one occasion,
! after one Of these long spells Of silence,
he dressed himself with great care, or
| dered his horse htched TO the gig, and
| when II was driven 70 the house door
| he approached Mrs. Custis, and in the
most dignifed and courteous manner
asked her If she would like to take
Certainly, Mr.. Custis certainly, sir!
| When have you ever asked me 10 drive
with you before, Certainly. sir; / will
| drive with you with pleasure"
DRIVE ON, SIR"
Helping her into the gig. he seated him
self beside her, and drove 10 the bay
shore. always favorit0 drive. lie was
doubtless in one of his most eccentric
moods, for instead OF pursuing the beau
tiful drive along the shore, he continued
out into the bay. From what follows, we
may easily see that Madame Gusts did
not know the meaning of the word fear,
but evidently she could not sec why her
honored sire was driving out into the
Chesapeake bay, so she asked: "Where
are you going, Mr.. Custis" "To hi,
Madam" Drive on, sirp' was the re-
Spouse. Soon the water was coming into
the foot OF the gig. Where are y9 %
going, Mr.. CustisY' TO h-li Madam
Again came the response. Drive on,
sirI'
After awhile the horse began to swim
The old high gig was almost floating,
and the wafer was up TO the seat With
a woman's psrtinacity, and she surely
had a reason for using 1t, Madam said:
Again / aek YOU Mr.. Gusts. where are
you gongT The same answer. Drive
on, siri"
At this he turned the horse about and
drove back TO tx shore, saying: IF / was