Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-02-19

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The identity Of this 'Lowland Beau
w." who was the object Of Washing
toms first affections has been much nEIaA
disputed Losing. the historian. pro-
nounced her Mary Bland. and some -
are inclined to the belief that she was
Miss Eilbeck. beauty OF Charles
county. Maryland who married George Mason
Others maintain that she was Lucy Grymes. who
married Henry Lee and became the mother Of
the famous Light Horse Harry who was
great favorite with Washington, and who re-
ferred to the commander in chief as first in war.
first In peace and first In the hearts of his coun-
frymen." Those who favor the Lucy Grymes
Identification point to the affection of Washing
ton for Light Horse Harry as a resultant of
the early love he entertained for Harry mother
Others will have it that the "Lowland Beauty"
was Betsy Fauntleroy and base their assertion
on letter written in May. 1852, by Washington
20 the grandfather CT Miss Fauntleroy in which
ne says, among other things he purposed as soon
az he recovered his strength (he had been Ill
with pleursy) ito wait on Miss Betsy in hopes
OF revocation Of the former cruel sentence. and
see Il can meet with any alteration in my
favor"
In l7ls washington became surveyor OF Lord
Fairfax lands. He was then but sixteen In an
undated letter. probably written about the end of
1750. or the beginning OF 1851, to his Dear
Friend Robin" (possibly Robert Washington Of
Chotauk. afectionately remembered in his VIM
we also find ailusion to the 'Lowland Beauty"
my place Of residence is at present at his lord
ships. where might. were not my heart olsen
gagged. pass my time very pleasantly, as very
agreeable young lady lives In the same house
Xxx. but often and unayoidabIy being IN COM
pany with her reyfves my former passion for
your Towland Beauty; whereas, were I to live
more retired from young Women. might. In some
MEASURE, alleviate my sorrows By burying that
chaste and troublesome Passion In the grave Of
oblivion Of eternal forgetfulness.'
Hietory might have been different had Washing
con been accepted BY the "Lowand Beauty" II
the 'Iowland Beauty" was Betsy Fauntleroy-
and good authorities think she was-she married
Ebenezer Adams. progenitor OF the Virginia fam
ily OF that name. and became the mother OF
Thomas Adams. alumnus Of william and Mary
college, signer OF the articles OF confederation,
17s0l. a4
IA The agreeable young lady" mentioned by
washington IN his letters from the Fairfax resi-
kence. was Miss Mary Cary. the sister Of Colonel
Fhirfax' wife, He turned to her for consoa-
fibn and Il seems her charm mitigated his "trou-
blesome passion" But Miss Cary had no genuine
love for the ardent young man. In 1752 she mar
red Edward Amber. ltt
4 After his wooing OF the 'Iowland Beauty" he
had another charmer presumably member Of
the family OF Alexanders. who had plantation
near Mount Vernon.
halfbrother Lawrence met Miss Roberts, who
exerted an influence over his tender heart and
toswhom he refers as ian agreeable young lady"
It would seem that nearly all the young ladies'
were agreeable to him. Miss Roberts, 1t ap-
pears. was the only one, however. who really cap
tivated him in Barbadoes. While allowing that
all ~the ladys generally are agreeable" he notes
that ''by III custom they affect the negro style.
When returned from his first campaign and rest
ing at Mount Vernon, the time seems to have been
beguiled by some charmer, for one OF his inti-
mates writes from williamsburg: Il imagine you
By this time plunged In the midst Of delight
heaven can AFFORD and enchanted by charmers
even stranger 10 the Cirpian Dame," and a foot
note by the same hand only exctes further curl
osity concerning this latter parsonage by in
definitely naming her as Mrs. Neil"
It is said that at one time and another Wash
fngton had half hundred sweethearts along the
banks OF the Potomac, the Rappahannock, and the
James. and even up to the gates Of Mount Yer
non. Perhaps the number is exaggerated. bu
nj any rate we have but scant account OF most o.
ths fair ones and are not even told the name:
OF the great majority This we do know, thai