The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-02-10
REMINISCENT STORY OF THE.
GREAT CHIEF JUSTICE.
SIMPLE HOME LIFE
Devoted to His Wife. Whom He
Married in Youth, After She
Had Once Discarded Him.
Survived Her Four
Years. -'S.

"S"lHsI any lCOnOclaStlc action in re-
GARD TO the home OF Chief Justice
Marshall, encourages the hope that
measures may be taken to preserve
In perpetuity the priceless relic
In country born scarcely more
than 800 years ago, and not admitted
into the family of nations until 176
years afterwards, the sum total of
such remains must be small We can
III anord, through recklessness, indif-
ference, or a lack OF appreciation OF
historic values to lose one of them:
and in very special sense is this true
OF what is associated with one of the
nations builders man conspicuous
IN strengthening the foundations of
the government under which we live
The Marshall family, of English
origin, collaterally descended from the
great Earl Pembroke, the wise Cover
nor or the young king Henry III, dates
in America about 1860, a singular cir
cumstance being that the eldest son
IN each generation was alternately
John or Thomas. They became large
landholders. and the chief Justices ia
ther, Colonel Thomas MarshaIl-the
friend and schoolmate of WashtSgton
and his associate in the survey OF, hhe
FAIRFAX eState-left to each grandson
named Thomas a thousand acres, his
distinguished son bequeathing to his
nameSakes in the same degree a SINH
lar legacy. Some Of this land. parted
with for a song in the DISCRIMINATION
following the Civil War, was in West
Virginia, and being later acquired bv
Senator Davis. of that State. was sold
by him at immense figures. The chief
Justices mother was Mary Keith. a
granddaughter Of William Keith, Earl
Mareschan Of Scotland, and a daugh-
ter OF Rev. James Keith, an Episcopal
clergyman, from whom Judge James
Keith, President of the Virginia Court
or Appeals. is also directly descended
In his role of soldier, lawyer, states
man, diplomat, and judge, Marshall
illustrates Carlyle's theory that dis
tinction, in every department, springs
from the same qualities. In the soil of
his character, too, flourished the do
mestic virtues; and it is with memories
Of these that the Marshall house is
redolent.
Built in 1875 it was the first per-
manent home which he established
after coming to Richmond. In keep
ing with his simplicity CT character
AN attribute of greatness-it was
palmer than many OF it's neighbors
The large dining room, however, be-
speaks generous hospitality; while
the quaint mantels and high panels
are interesting examples OF the archi-
lecture of the day. In the rear were
ample grounds, where the cheif JUS
tice amused himself with his favorite
game of Quoits.
MarshalTs marriage TO Miss Nary
willis Amber, a daughter OF Jacque-
lin Amber, of Yorktown later treas
urer of the new Commonwealth. a de-
Scendant of the noble JacQuelins OF
France, did not occur Until after his
removal to Richmond. y daughter
of the famous williamsburg beauty
tebecca BUrwen. whose charms en-
shared Thomas Jefferson, and of JEFF
ferson's successful rival the young
lady had natural claims to attractions.
Marshall met and lost his heart with
her in the spring of 1779. when the
Minute Men tarried briefly at York
town, and only fourteen years old she
refused him from sheer timidity. a
cousin divining the situation, however,
sent him, surreptitiously, a lock OF her
hair. when, taking courage. the young
lieutenant renewed his suit. and her
decision was reversed. Their mar
riage took place in 1888, and is re-
ferred to by him as the event in
his life contributing most to his hap
piness," while its date, according to-
his direction, is one of three on his
tombstone in Shockoe cA~.etery.
The Marshall house stood. in. its day
in the court end of Richmond, and
the circle into which he introduced
his bride must have been exceptional
lly charming. A few OF the old homes
still serve as dwellings, as that of the
eminent lawyer and Congressman.
benjamin Watkins Leigh. on Tenth
and Clay Streets; and of General
JacQuelin HarVie, who married Mar
.shaU,s only daughter, and two OF
whose daughters, and granddaugh-
ter live in Richmond. Others mas
Querade under new uses, as the Val
entine Museum, former residence .oi
General Wickham, defender of-AarOn
Burr and tn Virginia Hospital, once
the home OF the C0skIeSi WAo sti.
| have representatives In the city.
while Others stiA have been sacrifices
TO material considerations, or vipeC
out by fire. r.,
a recent instance of the latter fate
was the University School OF. Aledf-
cine. WHICH sprQng from. the site OF
| Che residence OF Mrss MarSiI1ll's =
| Mary Cary. famous from having dis
| carded, Washington, the gTeat-Sreat-
! uncle, Edward Amber, Who- married
aunt of Constance Cary Harrison, the
novelist, and some of whose hneai
| descendants as the rector OF HOLY
Trinity Church, and Senator Gra1att
| of Caroline county, now live in lHch-
mOnd, while another Sreat-Sra noson.
| Bishop GraVatL OF " est Virginia, IS
| we'll known here.
Mrs. Marshall eventually reU into
| confirmed Ht healdl, and grand
| daughter. the late Mrs, 'MarGaret
| Smith, of baltimore, one OF whose
| daughters. wife Of the rector OF ST.
! PauPs Church. is a resident of iGCh-
! chief justice carried her from room to
room, never allowing any 1IIc TO take
his place.
From contuued suffering Mrs. Mar
| shalIS nerves bccame SO sensitive chat
the authorities, n CONSIDERATIONS r.. g
| thc town clock mufhed; aud AliSs
Hartley Graham. Who sd ed at the
| louise Home i'm Washington, All
| Arstly over nneCyt and who often
Isited tEe Marspals, rs IL SIR, re-
called how the chief Justice usod 20
remove his shoes Qi epterjpg the front
door to avoid disturbihS hcf.
| "A regular attendant Of the N1Enu-
mental Church, and retaining
throughout the simple faith of child
! ~'r'. IL was his custom. lust before
rebripb, - ,caG ~ avEy a ,ChaRter Srum
u Bible kept in her small rUom ON q
small mahogany table, snews owned 10y
the Misses Harviei while his evening
tdeVoGons were always concludes will
the prayer. Now / lay me down tC
sleep" learned at his mothers knee
| Mrs Marshall died in nd .l