Part 14 (1/2)

MARY WAs.h.i.+NGTON'S WILL.

The last will and testament of Mary Was.h.i.+ngton has for many years attracted general interest, and numerous visitors call at the courthouse to inspect and feast their eyes upon the original doc.u.ment. So precious does the court regard this relic that an order was made for its preservation, and it is now in a case and receives the special attention and care of Mr. A. B. Yates, the polite and accommodating clerk of the court. The will is in these words:

”In the name of G.o.d, amen. I, Mary Was.h.i.+ngton, of Fredericksburg, in the county of Spotsylvania, being in good health, but calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and willing to dispose of what remains of my earthly estate, do make and publish this my last will, recommending my soul into the hands of my Creator, hoping for a remission of all my sins through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind. I dispose of all my worldly estate as follows:

Imprimis. I give to my son General George Was.h.i.+ngton all my lands on Acc.o.keek Run, in the county of Stafford, and also my negro boy, George, to him and his heirs forever; also my best bed, bedstead, and Virginia cloth curtains (the same that stands in my best room), my quilted blue-and-white quilt and my best dressing gla.s.s.

Item. I give and devise to my son, Charles Was.h.i.+ngton my negro man, Tom, to him and his a.s.signs forever.

Item. I give and devise to my daughter, Betty Lewis, my phaeton and my bay horse.

Item. I give and devise to my daughter-in-law, Hannah Was.h.i.+ngton, my purple cloth cloak lined with shay.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand son, Corbin Was.h.i.+ngton my negro wench, old Bet, my riding chair, and two black horses, to him and his a.s.signs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand son, Fielding Lewis, my negro man, Frederick, to him and his a.s.signs forever; also eight silver table spoons, half of my crockery ware, and the blue-and-white tea china, with book-case, oval table, one bed, bedstead, one pair sheets, one pair blankets and white cotton counterpane, two table cloths, six red leather chairs, half my pewter, and one half of my iron kitchen furniture.

Item. I give and devise to my grand son, Lawrence Lewis, my negro wench, Lydia, to him and his a.s.signs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter, Betty Carter, my negro woman, little Bet, and her future increase, to her and her a.s.signs forever; also my largest looking gla.s.s, my walnut writing desk with drawers, a square dining table, one bed, bedstead, bolster, one pillow, one blanket and pair of sheets, white Virginia cloth counterpane and purple curtains, my red-and-white tea china, tea spoons and the other half of my pewter, crockery-ware, and the remainder of my iron kitchen furniture.

Item. I give to my grand son, George Was.h.i.+ngton, my next best dressing gla.s.s, one bed, bedstead, bolster, one pillow, one pair sheets, one blanket and counterpane.

Item. I devise all my wearing apparel to be equally divided between my grand daughters, Betty Carter, f.a.n.n.y Ball and Milly Was.h.i.+ngton; but should my daughter, Betty Lewis, fancy any one, two or three articles, she is to have them before a division thereof.

Lastly. I nominate and appoint my said son, General George Was.h.i.+ngton, executor of this my will, and as I owe few or no debts, I desire my executor to give no security nor to appraise my estate, but desire the same may be allotted to my devisees with as little trouble and delay as may be, desiring their acceptance thereof as all the token I now have to give them of my love for them.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of May, 1788.

MARY WAs.h.i.+NGTON.

Witness _John Ferneyhough_.

Signed, sealed and published in our presence, and signed by us in the presence of the said Mary Was.h.i.+ngton, and at her desire.

J. MERCER, JOSEPH WALKER.”

The will was written by Judge James Mercer, first President of the Court of Appeals, or ”Chief-Justice of the General Court.”

THE MERCER MONUMENT.

In the year 1906 the government of the United States erected a monument to General Hugh Mercer, who was mortally wounded at Princeton, N. J., while gallantly leading his men in a charge against the British in 1777. He lived one week in great suffering, when he died and was buried near where he fell, but afterwards removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he now sleeps.

Gen. Mercer was born in Scotland, studied medicine at Aberdeen and graduated with high honors. After graduating he soon rose to distinction as a surgeon and physician and did much service in the army. He was at the battle of Culloden Moor, Scotland, where his party was badly defeated, and those not taken prisoners fled to other countries to save their lives.

Gen. Mercer came to this country and settled in Pennsylvania. He was with Gen. Braddock, who was killed at Fort Duquesne, and, being thrown with Gen. Was.h.i.+ngton, became attached to him and came to Fredericksburg ”to be near him,” landing here in 1763. He practised medicine and established a drug store at the corner of Main and Amelia streets.[60] Gen. Mercer married Isabella Wallace and lived at the ”Sentry Box” with Geo. Weedon, who married his wife's sister, until the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Soon after his death Congress appropriated $5,000 for the erection of a monument in this place to his memory, but the matter was overlooked and the grat.i.tude of the government for his services was not exhibited to the extent of a memorial until the year 1906, one hundred and twenty-nine years after his death. In 1905 a bill was pa.s.sed by Congress appropriating $25,000 to erect a monument to perpetuate the memory of the grand hero--two-thirds of the interest of the amount appropriated in 1777--and he now appears in heroic size, on his pedestal, on Was.h.i.+ngton avenue, in the att.i.tude of a patriot, drawn sword in hand, ready to strike for Home and Country--Liberty and Independence.

We naturally uncover our heads while we ”behold this friend of Was.h.i.+ngton--this heroic defender of America!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Presbyterian Church. (See page 207)]