El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-07-29
Helped Win Freedom
Wife of First President Sacrifices
Easy Life To Help Him
In the Field.
BY MADIsO- c. PETERS.
Copyright 1916 by Madison c.
Peters)

rAGTHA CAMBRIDGE. Oldest
MI child OF Col John Cambridge and
L Il Frances Jones. was born June 81.
1871. in the county of New Kent. Viz
ginia. On her mothers side Martha
came of a goodly line Of scholars and
divines- Her grandfather. Rev. Roland
Jones. of oxford county, England, was
the first of the family to come 10
America in 1874.
The cambridge estate was near
enough to Williamsburg, the capitol of
the colony. which shared with Anna
polls the honor OF leading the fashions
of the day. and Martha had all the sd-
vantages of q young girl in her class Of
life. in a day when classes were more
distinctly marked than now Col Dan
bridge was descended from the West
family. of which Thomas. third lord OF
Delaware. was the governor and cap
tain general Of the early Virginia set
Elements The Danbridses We're prom
inent figures in Virginia history
IIarrieS at l..
At the age OF = Martha married Col.
Daniel Parle CUstiss an amiable and
respectful Bile man The first Custis anne
TO Virginia from Rotterdam IN 1870.
Col Custis in addition TO a large es-
tate. owned house in WILLIAMSBURG
called SIX Chimney house. and a couu-
try place on the York River. known as
the White house, the latter having been
the constant residence Of Mrs. Custis
during her widowhoOd, and here her
second marriage was sOlemniZed To
her union with GUSTS four children
were born: a daughter died in infancy.
4 son Daniel whose early death is
supposed to have FASTENED his fathers.
Martha. who arrived al womauhood and
died in 1870. and John who gave his life
TO his country. at p, at the siege of
Yorktown.
Col Custis died in 1857 after less
than ten years of married life and, a {
-. Mrs. Custus was left a widow with
two small children and an estate. con-
sisting Of an enormous area OF rich
lands and about $3.50. 600 in cash. huge
fortune in those days, of which she
was sole eXecutriX. and she attended
personally 10 the administration Of Il
Washington Wins Her. First Visit.
The handsomest and wealthiest
widow i'm Virginia visited her friend.
Mai Chamberlsyne. where she met
Col George Washington. Mrs GUSTS
was nearly = years OF age three
months younger than the colonel. Ira
dition has 1t that on col Washiugton's
first visit to Mrs. Custic' home. having
been rOwed across the river by slave.
he asked whether Mrs. Gusts was at
home. and received the reply. Yes /
'spected-' 1t is believed thar the en-
cagement took place during this visit {
as they did not meet again until the I
wedding day. in 81. Peters church. /
January 1853 Soon after this she re- I
moved permanently to Mt. Vernon. with I
her two children. whose interests F,
Washington made his own
There is no foundation for the fanci- 7
full connection between the White !
house, the home of Mrs. GUSTS. and the !
White House at Washington. that in /
was WashingtOn's desire that the of /
fetal residence of the presidents OF {
the United States be so named in :
memory Of the Virginia home in which /
his happiness cOnsummated The |
White House was so named because. /
INSTRUCTED of freestone it was painted
white.
WashinEtcn-S Clothes London Made.
Washington was an aristOcrat He /
was particular about his clothes. which I
anne from London Mrs Washington
always dressed with simplicity al home /
but when she drove to Williamsburg.
Annapolis or Alexandria. in her
chariot and four. with black positions
in white and scarlet livery, she was /
rightly attired.
Shared Husbands Camp Life.
When Gen Washington became COM !
mander in chief of the colonial forces /
Mrs. Washington accompanied him to I
Boston and witnessed its seige and evac- J
IatiOn. Martha Washington might !
have remained at home in comfort and /
luxury. but instead she turned away I
from the ease she always enjoyed and /
shared her husbands rough camp life
Her rich wardrobe was cast aside and |
she wore only cheap homespun dresses. !
She ate the n1eager camp fare and /
worked in the hospital At Valley |