COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF WASHINGTON
It was in 1758 that that officer, attired in a military undress, and attended by a body servant, tall and militaire as his chief, crossed the ferry called Williams's, over the Pomunkey(sic), a branch of the York river. On the boat touching the southern or New Kent side the soldier's progress was arrested by one of those personages who give the beau ideal of the Virginia gentleman of the old regime, the very soul of kindness and hospitality. It was in vain the soldier urged his business at Williamsburg, important communications to the Governor, &c Mr. Chamberlayne*, on whose domain the militaire had just landed, would hear of no excuse. Col. Washington was a name and character so dear to all Virginians that his passing by one of the castles of Virginia without calling and partaking of the hospitalizes of the host, was entirely out of the question. The Colonel however did not surrender at discretion but stoutly maintained his ground till Chamberlayne, bringing up his reserve, in the intimation that he would introduce his fiend to a young and charming widow then beneath his roof the soldier capitulated on condition that he should dine- only dine- and then, by pressing his charger and borrowing of the night he would reach Williamsburg before his Excellency could shake off his morning slumbers were accordingly issued to Bishop, the body servant and faithful follower, who, together the fine English charger, had been bequeathed by dying Braddock to Major Washington on the and fated field of Monongahela. Bishop bred in school of European discipline raised his hand to cap as much as to say, "Your orders shall be obeyed."
The colonel now proceeded to the mansion and introduced to various guests, (for when was a Virginia domicil of the olden time without guests?) and above all to the charming widow. Tradition relates they were mutually pleased, on this, their first interview, -nor is it remarkable; they were of an age when impressions are strongest. The lady was fair to behold, of fascinating manners, and splendidly endowed with worldly benefits. The hero was fresh from his early fields, redolent of fame, and with a form on which "every god did seem to set his seal to give the assurance of a man."
The morning passed pleasantly away evening came with Bishop true to his orders and firm at his post holding the favorite charger with one hand while the other was waiting to offer the ready stirrup. The sun sunk in the horizon and yet the colonel appeared not. "Twas strange, 'twas passing strange," surely he was not wont to be a single moment behind his appointments- for he was the most punctual of all men.
Meantime, the host enjoyed the scene of the veteran at the gate, while the colonel was so agreeably employed in the parlor; and proclaiming that no visitor ever left his home at sunset, his military guest was, without much difficulty, persuaded to order Bishop to put up the horses for the night. The sun rode high in the heavens the ensuing day, when the enamored soldier pressed with his spur his charger's side, and speeded on his way to the seat of government, where having dispatched his public business he retraced his steps and at the White House, the engagement took place, with preparations for marriage.
And much hath the biographer heard of that marriage from the gray haired domestics who waited at the board where love made the feast and Washington the guest And rare and high was the revelry at that palmy period of Virginia's festal age; for many were gathered to that marriage of the good the great, the gifted, and they, with joyous acclamation hailed in Virginia's youthful hero a happy and prosperous bridegroom.
"And so you remember when Colonel Washington came a courting of your young mistress?" said the biographer to old Cully, in his hundredth year. "Aye, master, that I do," replied the ancient family servant, who had lived to see five generations; "great times, sir, great times- shall never see the like again!" "And Washington looked something like a man, a proper man- hey, Cully?" "Never seed the like, sir- never the like of him, though I have seen many in my day so tall so straight! and then he sat on a horse and rode with such an air! Ah, sir, he was like no one else. Many of the grandest gentlemen, in the gold lace, were at the wedding; but none looked like the man himself." Strong, indeed must have been the impression which the person and manner of Washington made upon the "rude untutored mind" of this poor negro, since the lapse of three-quarters of a had not sufficed to efface it.
The precise date of the marriage the biographer been unable to discover, having in vain searched the records of the vestry of St Peter's church, New Kent, of which the Rev. Mr. Munson(sic), a Cambridge scholar, was the rector and performed the ceremony, it is believed about 1759. A short time after their marriage, Colonel and Mrs. Washington removed to Mount Vernon, on the Potomac, and permanently settled there. - Life of Mrs Martha Washington by G W P Curtis
-The Rover: A Weekly Magazine of Tales, Poetry and Engravings, also Sketches of Travel, History and Biography- 1844 issue 22
The Rover was a weekly magazine of tales, poetry, etc,, etc, published by Seba Smith(1792-1868) which apparently only existed from 1842 to 1845.
* Col. Chamberlayne was the owner of Poplar Grove Plantation which was the southern side of William's Ferry
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