The Winslow mail., 1899-05-27
WASHINGTON'S TOMB.
Mount Vernon Now Guarded by a
New Watchman.
The Courtiy Old CcIored Mas WI q
Held the Place Over Haif Gem
tury Succeeded By Another
of HIS Color.

Few of the millions of people who
have visited Mount Vernon during
the last half-ceutury could have
overlooked the picturesque and stall
wart figure of Uncle Edmund Parker,
the old colored man who reverently
guarded the tomb of Washington.
His courtly and dignifed manners, his
deeply marked face and the respectful
courtesy with which he answered
questions made an impression upon
everyone. He was tall of stature, but
his shoulders were slightly bent with
age, and his beard ard hair Of late
years became sprinkled with gray.
The old man died with the Old year
and is greatly missed by all tie bah
itues of that sacred place. for he had
been there since 1S41, with occasions.
intervals of absence during the war
He was born in 1927 at Blakeiy farm,
near Charleston. w. Va. slave Of Mrs.
John Augustine Washington. and
came with her to Mount Vernon,
where he lived on the plantation until
he Joined Ellsworth's zouaves at Alex
aEdria, as cook. When they went to
battle he remained in the city and
cooked for the commissary depart
ment and the teamsters. Later he was
cook at the old Capitol prison for nine
months. Ee returned to Mount Yer
non for n short time and then joined
the union army at Fort Washington
and remained as cook for the band OF
the Fourth artillery until the close of
the war Then be went back to his old
home again, and in 1874 was appoin ted
guard at the tomb of Washington by
the Ladies association, where he re-
manned until he was taken i'll in June
last. and for six months was a great
sufferer from cancer of the stomach
until death released him on December
30. The. regents pensioned him, did
everything for his comfort and paid
his funeral expenses.
Uncle Edmund was the father of 10
children, nine of whom are still living
and visited him during his illncss.. He
'disre bered" the date. but was
very proud of the fact that lie was
married in the library of Mount Yer
non mansion by Parson libbey in the
presence of the Washington family
and was the only slave who ever had
the honor. In olden times in the south
masters used to perform the marriage
ceremony. but on the occasion OF Ed
mund's wedding Augustine Washing
ton was i'll. and Parson Libbey, who
was a member of the family circle,
was called upon TO officiate.
Uncle Edmund's successor as guard
of the tomb of Washington is Thomas
Bushrod. another venerable negro, who
for the last eight years has been sex
ton at Pohick church, in Fairfax coun-
ty. Va, with which Washington was
so closely identified. Washington
served on the committee that selected
the site and superintended its con-
structioD and was a vestryman and
warden of the parish for many years.
in the spring of 1862 union soldiers
were camped in and around the church
and very nearly destroyed it. Private
contributions from patriotic people as
sisted the impoverished parishioners
TO repair the venerable edifce so that
it can still be used, and there is bill
before congress to pay an indemnity
for the damage so as to enable it to be
restored to its original condition.
Thomas Bushrod was born in 1925
near Warrenton, Fauquier county He
was a slave of the Fitzhugh family
from 1s47, when his home was changed
10 a plantation near Pohick church in
Fairfax county, where he has since
lived. He is man of venerable appear
ance and quaint dignity and fully ap-
preciates his onsibility-Wash-
lngton Cor. ST. Louis Rcnnhlic