Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-11-26
Martha Washington.

| with q lev oXcepClOuS, eAcelieHt re-
view of Rene Bache's Sea-Coast
Romance, from the facile pen of Mr..
l.. E. Spencer, which appeared in
your interesting issue of the 18th
inst. contained an error in assembling
Martha Washington to the Eastern
Shore of Virginia. Thinking it might
prove of interest to your readers
I've collated the appended brief
sketch of Martha Washington-from
divers authentic sources.
Orlando Jones, son of the Rev
Rowland Jones. born 1851 and died
1719, married Martha Macon, daught-
er of Gideon Macon, of New Kent
county, Virginia. Gideon Macon wat
secretary to Sir William Berkeley.
Frances. daughter of Orlando and
Martha Macon Jones, married Col
John Dandrige, a wealthy, and in
huential tobacco planter of New
Kent. Col. Dandrige died in 1855,
aged 56; his tomb is in st. Georges
Church yard. fredericksburg. Vir
ginia. Martha, the beautiful young
daughter of Col Jno. and Frances
nandrige, at the tender age of seven>
teen, in 1749 married Daniel Parke
Custis, Esq, only son of the Honora
BILE John Gusts, of williamsburg, and
Fannie Parke, his wife. The progeni
tors of the Hon. John GUSTS were
denizens of Northampton county.
Va, and some OF them are buried al
Arlington near Cape Charles City.
The happy married-life of Daniel and
Martha terminated prematurely with
The death of the former in 1857, said to
have been superinduced by grief for
the decease of his infant-chidr' n
Daniel and Fannie. At 1.-The White
House," New Kent county, the
charming widow. Martha Custis, con
tinued to reside with her two surviv-
ing children, John and Martha.
amidst environments beitting the
richest woman in Virginia.
Finding serious impeachment to
the proposed expedition against Fort
Duduesne 1853, in the hardness With
which the Governor and Council pro-
vided the necessary supplies, the
Quarter-Master General ordered Col
George Washington, gallant and in
trepid young commander of tine
colonial forces, to proceed at once to
the State Capital and personally
urge an immediate response to his
petition. Prompt to obey as to COM
mand, George Washington mounted
his charger. accompanied by Bishop,
the gigantic slave bequeathed him
by the unfortunate Braddock, and
rode swiftly, unsuspectingly to his
fate, the inevitable colonial widow.
When about thirty miles from his
destination, he made detour, cross
ed the Pamunkey and at the landing
on the New Kent side, encountered
that genial old Virginian, Col. William
Chamberlayne, who took him to his
dilapidated, but ospitable home to
dinner-and there introduced to him
the most fascinating, black-eyed
widow in all the colony. For the
first and only time in his honorable
and eyentful career, the prospective
Father of his Country forgot an ell
gagement, and duty waited on Cupid.
When the tall soldier tore himself
away the next morning, he carried
with him the pleasing memory OF an
encouraging smile. AS in times OIL
peril a warriors wooing must needs
be brief, at a subsequent visit, Col
Washington won the fair Martha +
promise, which was contaminated
January 9Th, 1853. The marriage OF
illustrious couple took place at st
Peters Church, a quaint little edifice
built in 1903, pictures quely located
among the oaks and NAPLES near
Tue White House," The Rev. MIR.
Massom cfficiated. Soon after, Wash
ington took his seat as Legislator at
Williamsburg. At the close of the
session, he conducted his stately wife
to Mount Vernon, q magnificent es-
tate on the Potomac bequeathed to
him by his brother Lawrence and
named for Admiral Vernon with
whom the latter had served in naval
affairs. At this beautiful retreat, the
abode of rural abundance and felicity
young Martha GUSTS, beloved step
daughter of George Washington, died
June 9th, 1773 John Parke Custls,
only surviving child of Daniel and
Martha GUSTS, fell a victim at the
siege of Yorktown, 1881, having served
throughout the Revolutionary cam
paign. In 1774 he had married the
brilliant and accomplished Nellie
Calvert. daughter of Benedict Cal
vert, and had three daughters and
one son. The latter, George Wesh-
ington Parke Gusts, married Mary
Lee Fitzhugh-and their only child
Mary Randolph GUSTS, was the be-
loved COMFORT of Gen. Robert E. Lee
of Confederate fame. Martha Dan
drige Washington survived her second
husband about three years, and died
at Mt. Vernon, May 22nd, 1902.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia has
reason to be proud of her Colonial,
Revolutionary and Confederate he,
roes, and many noble sons have
adorned the later annals of her his