The state herald., 1915-02-19

The identity OF this "Lowland Beau lllFysS5GsSt
ty" who was the object OF Washing ll|fSssSf2&
toms first affections has been much llIL2A
disputed. Losing, the historian, pro ~
nounced her Mary Bland, and some
are inclined to the belief that she was
Miss Ebeck. 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 favorte with Washington, and who re-
terred TO the commander in chief as first In war
first in peace. and first IN the hearts OF his coun
trymen" 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's mother.
Others will have II that the "Lowand Beauty"
Betsy Fauntleroy. and base their assertion
on a letter written In May. l752 by Washington
to the grandfather OF Miss Fauntleroy In which
he says among other things he purposed soon
us he recovered his strength the had been III
with pleurisy) "to wait on Miss retsy in hopes
OF u revocation OF the former cruel sentence. and
see II meet with any alteration in my
favor"
In I74S Washington became surveyor OF Lord
Fairfax lands lie was then but sixteen. In
undated letter. probably written about the end OF
1850 or the beginning OF i75l 10 his Dear
Friend Robin" (possby Robert Washington Of
Chotauk. anectionately remembered In his Wild
also find alluson to the "Lowiand 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
but often and unavoidably being In com
pany with her revives my former passion for
your Iowland Beauty; whereas, were TO live
more retired from young Women. might, In some
measure, alleviate my sorrows by buryiDg that
chaste and troublesome Passion In the grave OF
oblivion of eternal forgetfulness"
History might have been different had Washing
ton been accepted by the "Lowland Beauty II
the "Lowand Beauty was Betsy Fnuntleroy-
and good authorities think she was-she married
Ebenezer Adams. progenitor OF the Virginia fam
fly of that name. and became the mother OF
Thomas Adams alumnus OF william and Mary
college, slgner OF the articles OF confederation.
and member OF the Philadelphia convention u11S'
iTs0l.
The agreeable young lady" mentioned by
Washington In his letters from the Fairfax resi-
aenec. was Miss Mary Cary. the sister OF Colonel
Fairfax wife. lie turned TO her for conaola'
tion and Il neema her charm miugated hia 'trou'
biesome passion" But Miss Cary had no genuine
love for the ardent young man In 1859 she mar
rled Edward Amber
After his wooinF OF the "Lowlnnd Beauty" he
had another charmer. presumably n member OF
the family of Aicxanders. who had plantation
near Mount Vernon.
Washington while In Barbadoea with his sick
ifbrother Lawrence. met n Miss Roberts who
etrftru an innHfUtt oN'r 'hu'i h'"'' "h'
20 whom he refers IAN agreeable young lady
IL would seem that nearly all the young ladies'
were agreeable TO him. Miss Roberts. II mp
pears was the only one. however. who really cap
tivated him In Barbndoes. While allowing that
all the iadya generally are agreeable" he notes
tina, by III custom they Affect the negro style"
when returned from his iirst campaign and rest
ing nj Mount Vernon. the time seems TO have been
beguiied by some charmef. for one Of hin inti'
mates writes from Williamsburg; u Imagine you
by this time plunged IN the midst OF delight
heaven can afford and enchanted by chnrmcrH
even stranger to the crplan Dame" and foot
note By the same hand only csces further curl
oalty concerning this latter pcrponaso by In
definitely naming her na "Mrn. Neil"
Il IL said that ut one time aud another Wash
inrton had half u hundred uwoolhoarin alons tho
hanks Of the Potomac, tho Rappnhannoek, and tho
James. and even ~ 20 the gates Of Mount Yer
non Perhaps the number Ia exaggerated, but
nj amy rate We have but Hcant account oi most OF
tho fair ONES and are not even told the names
ot the great majority. THIS We do know, that