Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-31
GUSTS FAMILY, ON
EASTERN SHORE,
GAME HERE IN 1910
John and Joan, Natives of
England, Kept Tavern
/, in Holland.
TOOK PROMINENT PART
IN AFFAIRS OF VIRGINIA
John Gusts, w., Was Eccen-
trio First Husband of Mar
tina Washington.
nv FRANCES LANkFoRD TAYLOR.

ArSau fearQley went 10 ttOtleru1nl
TO attend to some business for his
father. sir George Ycardicy. Cover
nor OF Virginia. who traded in to-
bacco with Holland. While there he
wooed and married Anne GUSTS,
daughter OF John GUSTS and Joan. his
wife. The aforesaid were natives of
gloucester. England, but had moved
10 Rotterdam, where their tavern was
headquarters for English visitors.
Being unwilling for their daughter
TO go TO the New World without
them. they came to Virginia on the
same ship. The name of John Custis
first appears on the Eastern Shore
records in 1910. In 1850, The Vir-
Ejnia Merchant" a ship of 800 tons.
was cast ashore on Assateague.
colonel Norwood, one of the pas
senEcrs. writes of his Kind treat
inont by the Indians. his stay at Ma
;han!el Littleton's plantation and OF
rev clothing at the plantation of
Arsall Yeardley. His delight may be
imagined when he found in tho wife
OF Argall Yeardley a former friend.
Bclow is given an extract from
Norwoods diary: 1T fell out very
lucky for my better welcome that he
had not long before brought over
wife from Rotterdam that had
known almost from child. Her
father, Gusts by name, kept IL
Nictuailing house in that town. lived
!E,Eood repute, and was general host
q our nation there. The esquire.
knowing ] had the honor to be the
a Governors kinsman, and his wife
knowing my conversation in Holland,
was received, carcss'd more like
domestlck, and near relation. than a
man in misery, and stranger.
stay'd there for passage over the
bay about ten days, welcomed and
Toasted not only BY the esquire and
his wife. but by many neighhors that
were not too remote"
Eastern Shore HoxpitabIe.
That the wel!-known hospitality of
the Eastern Shore is no new thing.
is proved by Colonel Norwood. for
he' states that the ne!ghbors WED
with each other IN entertaining him,
and that the tables fairly Groan.d
under game, oysters. terrapin. FISH
and Wild fowl
The second John Gusts. the son
OF the immigrant. was an enterpris-
Ing man. He and his faiher-in-law
Epn sea-ea5sa, engaged n sail
He--as lawyer Of renown and vas
prrnihent in all civil and ecc!esias-
teal matters
c;s,is was great favcT!,e With
Lord Arlington. and named MS plan
,atton or Plantation Greek Airing
tor"
II 1852 We find the name OF John
nuosc-!bed doe hereby engage and
promise 10 bee true and faithful to
the Commonwealth OF England as i;
House ot Lords
Berkeley's Headquarters.
Gusts. was ms or general Of the
Kings forces during Bacon's Rebel
itoa and Ber"eley made the GUSTS
home his hendquarters during his
stay on The Eastern shore.
Genera! Custis was a member Of
the counci! that passed the follow
ing: Upon motion from Acco-
mack County. sent byi.the BarEesses
law has provided that a ncrson sum
Inoned as a witness against another
ought TO answer upon oath, but nc
law can compel man TO answer
AGAINST himself In any matter
wherein ne is liable TO corporal pun
lurgers witnesses had been allowed
to testify without being sworn anC
the accused was forced TO testif,
against himself. The result can wei
vas buried at Arlington. Below l.
given the inscription on his tomb
Here lies the body of John Gusts
ESQ. one Of me Councili and Major
1886 aged &c years. And by hi
sidcSa son and daughter Of his grand
son. John Gusts. whom he had h,
la OF
captain General and Chief Governo
OF the Leewarl Islands.
"Nirtus Post Funera"
Buried mt Home.
John Gusts, the third. was buried a
'Wi!sonia," mis- home. The slab tha
covers his grave bears this !nscrip
Here lyctth. ,ye body Of John Gusts
colonel and Chief o
The Militia on the Eastern shore o
John GUSTS. OF Arlington, and de
parted this life 26th OF January, l7lS
and IN the sixtieth year Of his age ~
hrst wife WAS Margaret. ye daueh
ter of Mr. john Michaell. by whom h,
had seven sons and TWO daughters
who with three Of their sons lies ncaI
d.m; his second wife was sareh. M
ton. the widow Of Mr.. Adam Michael
"ho survives him, but hopes to b.
huridd by min when she dies, as wa;
uSS'' y " ''I'4a' dINOl IlEHly. nov
che is. and departed this life tho ISL,
day of April, Ammo Domini l7OO, AN,
IN the ffty-hrst year OF her age"
John Gusts, the fourth. vas note,
lor his regularity. lie marie,
FRANCES Parkc. daughter o. DAM,
I'arEe, Governor of the I.ceward Il
lands. Their son. Daniel Parkc Custle
was the first husband OF Martha ban
dridge. afterwards Martha Washing
ton. The married life Of John Gust
and Frances, his wife. was not one O
felicity. She was determined and n
MAS eccentric. Their contention
were many. Often silence rrigne,i i,.
tween them. all conversation be!n,
carried on through the servants.
Z "Drise On, MIR. Custism
on one occasion Mr.. Gusts aske
his wife TO take a ride. The hors
Was headed into the bay and whe
ihc water came into the carriar,
Mrs. Custis asked where he was 70
Ing, to which he replied "To III
( Madam" Her answer was. "Ku6
on; any place Is preferable to Airing
q iuL." When the horse began /
show signs OF fright, Mrs Gust
asSed again. where are you going?
He again answered. ITO HI Madam
& Mrs. Gusts said. Again say dr!y
~ ON. any place is preferable to Arling
y tan" Gusts turned his horse. r.
K MnEking. III ] went to HI and IN
deDi himself came out 10 meet us.
u 0osrot believe YOU would be fr!gh,
cgGe Her characteristic reply va