Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

possessed in an eminent degree: To jus
tice, probity and honour firmly at
tached that no view Of secular interest
or worldly advantage, no discouraging
frowns of fortune could alter his steady
purpose Of heart. BY an easy compli-
ance and obliging department he knew
no enemy. but gained many friends;
thus in life meriting an universal es-
TEEN. He died as universally lamented
Nov, 1742, act. 81. Gentle Reader 60
& do likewise.
What was the relationship between Mary
Randolph and Mrs. George Washington Parke
Gusts and Gen. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee?
After the first story about her was published
in The Sunday Star a lady wrote letter say
ing that she believed Mary Randolph was god
mother to Mary Ann Randolph Gusts, the only
surviving child Of the master and mistress OF
Arlington House Estate. She may have been;
it Is not unlikely, but 1t has not been estab-
lished sufficiently to state it as a fact. I'm
doubtedly she was dear to the Gusts family.
The notice of her death and "the procession
Of her funeral to Arlington across Potomac
Bridge" published January "a, 1925 particu-
larly stated she would be buried at spot she
had selected herself Apparently, it had all
been agreed to long in advance Of the event.
However, that she should thus have selected a
burial place for herself seems somewhat odd.
because her husband was still living. Accord
ing to the inscription upon his tomb and other
records he survived his wife more than two
years.
Before her marriage Mrs. Gusts was Mary
Lee FitZhugh. She descended from Peter
Randolph of Chatsworth and Lucy Boiling,
who were her grandfather and grandmother.
Her great-grandparents were William Randolph,
eldest son Of Col William the immigrant and
Elizabeth Beverley. Mary Randolph was 26
years the senior Of Mrs. Gusts, and was her
third cousin. She was. therefore, third
cousing once removed Of Mary Ann Randolph
Gusts Lee; also Of her husband, Gen. Robert
E. Lee, according to q genealogical chart kind
ly supplied by Mr. Cazenove G. Lee, jr. Rob-
ert e. Lee was apparently related to his wife
in three different ways: they were fourth
cousins third cousins and third cousins once
removed.
Gen. Lee descended in the Randolph line
from Elizabeth, second daughter and youngest
child of Col. william Randolph. Elizabeth
married Richard Bland. and their daughter.
Mary Bland, became Mrs. Henry Lee Of Lee
Hall. Their son was another Henry Lee of
Leesylvania. He married Lucy Grymes and
they were the father and mother Of Gen.
Henry cLight Horse Harry") Lee, Washing
tons chief of Cavalry, and author of those
immortal words First in war; first in peace,
and first in the hearts Of his countrymen."
Robert e. Lee was the youngest son of Gen.
Henry Lee and his wife, Anne Carter. AL
though young Lee did not graduate from West
Point until 1929, a year after Mrs. Randolph's
DEATH nevertheless, she perhaps saw her
handsome kinsman frequently at Arlington
House when he came to see Mary Gusts. How
little did any Of them dream then of the great
Civil War to come, and of the fame that
awaited this young cadet when history should
write Its solemn pages.
MARY RANDOLPH was undoubtedly well
come visitor at the great Gusts man
sion. Perhaps she was one Of the notable
company there when Lafayette was Mr.. Gus
It's guest for several days in October, 1924. It
Is quite probable that she knew Gen. WASH
ington> and Martha Washington. Her husband
had been an ofacer In the War Of the Revolt
ton and afterward he'd an important civil ONCE
under commission from our first President. In
Mary Randolphs time Arlington House was
filled with the furniture. family portraits. silver.
glass and china that had come from Mount YER
non upon Martha Washingtons death in 1902.
The very bed upon which washington died was
there and was the proudest possession of George
washington Parke Gusts. great number OF
the priceless heirlooms from Mount Vernon,