Evening star., 1948-10-10
BY John CIoeett Proctor

The question es to what will be-
come Of Woodlawn or to whom 1t
will be sold is still undecided,
though it does seem that 1t should
be kept as a shrine. for this was the
home OF Nellie Gusts. granddaughter
of Martha Washington and adopted
daughter OF Gen. George Wash
ington.
Nellie Gusts was the youngest
daughter Of John Parke Gusts, whose
mother, the widow Custis, married
George Washington at her home,
the White House, in New Kent
County, Va. At the time Of her
second marriage, Mrs. Washington
had two children, John and Martha
Parke Custis, who died Of tubercu-
losis at Mount Vernon in 1773. It
was soon after this that John Parke
Gusts married Eleanor Calvert,
daughter of Benedict Calvert. at the
Calvert Manor, Mount Airy, Prince
Georges County, Nd, generally
known today as the Dover house.
But John Parke Custis and his
bride did not reside here very long
going soon to Mount Vernon where
they remained for about two years,
when Washington purchased for the
couple, from Gerald Alexander. one
of the founders of Alexandria. the
beautiful estate Of Abingdon, out Of
money left by his own father. For
few years everything went smoothly,
and three children were born here,
namely. Elizabeth Parke, Martha
Parke and Eleanor Parke; George
Washington Parke Gusts being born
at the home of his grandparents at
Mount Airy, Md.
Washington Took Children
During the closing days Of the
Yorktown campaign. John Parke
Custis was taken down with malig-
nant fever and was taken to the
home of an aunt, few miles away.
This great loss took from Wash
ington all the happiness which
might have been expected from the
surrender Of CORVALLIS at the end
of the Revolution, and as soon there
after as was possible, he was at the
bedside Of his sick stepson, arriving
only few minutes before the young
mans death.
And thus the widow OF John Gusts
was left alone at Abingdon house
with her two children, whom Wash
ington took to Mount Vernon, where
they were cared for by Mrs. Lund
Washington when Martha Washing
ton was absent in Philadelphia, dur
ing her husbands term of Office as
President.
The plight of the family was much
in the mind of the First President,
and he is credited with arranging a
second marriage for the widow with
DR.. David Stuart, close personal
friend, whom he afterward appointed
one Of the first Federal Commission
ers of the District of Columbia.
With her children thus restored. she
moved back to Abingdon and for a
few years the colorful life Of the old
mansion was revived.
Wedding at Mount Vernon
Then came the marriage of Nellie
Custis. IAN event." according to
George Washington Parke Custis,
that occurred on the 22d of Feb
ruary. 1899, that, while it created
an unusual hustle in the ancient
halls, shed a bright gieam Of sun
shine on the Last Days Of Mount
Vernon It was the marriage of
Maj. Lewis, q favorite nephew, with
the adopted daughter of the chief.
1t was the wish Of the young bride
that the General of the Armies of
the United States should appear in
the splendidly embroidered uniform
(the costume assigned him by the
Board Of General Omcers) in honor
OF the bridal; but. alas, even the
idea of wearing q costume bedi-
zened with gold embroidery had
never entered the mind of the chief,
he being content with the old Con-
tinental blue and buff, while the