Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14

tied on the eastern shore of Virginia in
1910 His son John (second) rose to dis
tinction In the colony, and built IN Norm
ampton county Che southermost Oh inc
Virginia counties on the eastern shore)
fine residence which he called Arlington,
In honor of Henry, Earl of Arlington. the
co-grantee of Lord Culpeper to Virginia un.
der patent from Charles II. The second
John Custis who became Gen. GUSTS IN
Bacon's rebellion, had a son, John GUSTS
third who was member of the KING
council OF Virginia in 1IO4. and his son,
John Gusts fourth, was married to Frances
Parke. daughter of Col. Daniel Parke. Tho
marriage was unhappy, Frances Parke Gus
tbs died of smallpox and John GUSTS fourlh
died at Arlington. Northampton, IN ilU.
Over his grave Is monument "hi en- 'e dns
that his marriage was q failure. Inc IN
scrfption given in Henry Howe's historical
collections Of Virginia follows:
tUnder this Marble Tomb Lies the BODY
Of the Hon. John Gusts, Esqr. Of the City OF
WILLIAMSBURG and Parish Of Burton, For
merry Of Hungar's Parish on the Eastern
Shore Of Virginia and County of Northamp-
ton, Aged II years, and yet lived but seven
Years Which Was the Space OF Time He
Kept a Bachelors Home at Arlington on
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This IN
scription put on this tomb was by his own
positive orders"
lei Parke Custis. who in the summer Of 1749
was married to Martha cambridge, the
handsome daughter OF John Dandrldge OF
Williamsburg. The father of the groom
presented to him that now famous estate,
White House, on the Pamunky river. IN
New Kent county, where d. P. Gusts died
In 1857 and where George Washington was
married to the Widow Gusts, January g.
1859.
For the sake of being systematic, 1t Is
necessary to tell now what everybody
knows that the children of Mrs. Martina
cambridge Custis-Washington were Martha
Parke Gusts. who died at Mount Vernon
of consumption in 17T3 aged seventeen
wears. and John Parke Gusts. This man.
after rather a wild career at Annapolis and
at New York, where he was student at
Columbia College, then Kings College. was
married to Miss Calvert of Prince George
county Md, lneal descendant or Loro
Baltimore. This couple took up their abode
ar Abingdon between Washington and
Alexandria, and all the girls. Elizabeth.
Martha and Nellie, We're born there. George
Washington Parke GUSTS was born at
Mount Airy, Prince George county, April
so, 1871
1t was In December, ITS that John Parke
Custis of Abingdon bought from Gerald
Alexander 100 acres of land opposite
Georgetown. The price paid was IL 100
Virginia currency. He called the new place
Arlington in memory of the old GUSTS seat
across Chesapeake bay. The Alexander
who sold the land was one Of the family
who. with the family West, owned the land
on which Alexandria stands ana Tor whofp
the city is named. The Alexanders had
bought G.OOO acres Including the Arlington
tract for six hogsheads of tobacco from
Robert Howsen, who on october y. 1868
had obtained the land from Sir WllIlam
Berkeley, governor of Virginia, as recon-
pense for bringing immigrants to the col
ony.
When this tract was transferred by Ger
aid Alexander to John Parke Custs, the
only house on 1t was that in which the
Alexanders lived and which stood near the
river about mile east Of the heights. NOT
a vestige of 1t remains.
John Parke Gusts OF Abingdon became