Show Washington's Wedding Anniversary In the life story of any great greatman greatman man the incident most certain to interest every human being of every age is the romance of hIs courtshIp and his marriage Great Grea Greatness Greatness ness may remove remo e hun from aver age aKe humanity in every other re- re respect respect re respect but in this element of ro romance romance manse mance he touches the lives litres of all where all understand him This day January 6 G probably old style et Ie marks the anni anni- anniversary anniversary ersary of the wedding of George and Martha Washington in m so far faras faras faias as historians have e b been n able to t fix the date ditc o cats cat's avs s the Um United d States State Stat 3 George Washington Bicentennial commiSSIOn While the records do donot donot d not state the fact it 13 is I probable that George and Martha had heard much of oC each other before fore the they 1 met t Washington had already already I hed as a I soldier by his movements against the on the Ohio and b by his rus I courage at the Battle Bittle of Brad Braddock's Braddocks Braddock's docks dock's Feld and the young oung colonel so often in the so- so soI social so social I cial as well as political capital API 1 of 1 Virginia Ima must hive ve known of the handsome socially prominent nt and wealthy young Widow Custis i Their meeting occurred Then hen Washington then commanding the military ry defences of the Virginia frontier against the ins Indi-ins had hurried down to Williamsburg to urge in 10 person certain needed Im- Im improvements im improvements pro in m his command At Williams William's Ferry Ferr over o the Pam Key river tradition has it Wash Washington Washington ington paused at the house or of Major Chamberlayne which may have been on May 27 1758 and andI was pressed by this friend to stop and of hospitality Wash Washington Washington ington on his way ay to see the Gov Gov- Governor Gov- Gov Governor Governor on important business at first declined but at Major Cham- Cham Chamberlayne's Chamberlayne's Cham insistence agreed to stay to dinner The argument that turned the decision seems to ha have hae e been Major MaJol Chamberlayne's re remark remark remark mark that the charming Mrs Irs CustIs was also a guest at his house i There is almost a humorous note in this snare which fate seen seem seemed ed to cast about Washington's heart With him was as his faithful servant ant Bishop whom General Braddock had turned 0 over er to him and whom Washington instructed to stay by their horses until din din- dinner din dinner ner was as over The old orderly well ell knew his lus masters master's punctuality and took it for granted that the pause at the Chamberlayne home borne would be a brief one But dinner passed the sun sank lower in m the west est and still Washington had bad not emerged At last so the story goes BIshop was as ordered to stable the horses borses for the night It was only too evident that George Washing Washing- Washington Washington ton had found business that to hIm was more important at the moment than his errand with mth the Governor On the next day the journey to Williamsburg was as resumed but no sooner was the business with Ith the Governor Go transacted than Wash Wash- Washington Washington ington hurried to the WhIte on the where the Widow Curtis lived I he be left on June the deeply smitten young Virginia colonel must have been in 10 hl high h SPirits for he took with him rum the I ladys lady's promise toed to wed ed him as soon as his military service on the OhIO was wa a finished I To this day there is i a dispute as to v whether hether tho the wedding of George and Martha Washington occurred at the brides bride's home or at St Peters Peter's church in 10 Williamsburg but the rector lector 1 of St Peters Peter's the Reverend Mr Mossom blossom is known to have officiated at the ceremony and the date of the lS is fixed bv by b Jared Sparks as of or JanI Jan I G 6 1759 Wherever the event oc- oc I it was vas a notable and hant affair with the Governor the military and civil authorities and the socIally elite ehte in 10 attendance George Washington was vas arrayed ns as the most brilliant fi figure ure in 10 the whole assemblage e Naturally so Important a matter as the brides bride's attrie was as not to be lost in m oblivion oblivion Vlon vion and we know that thit Marthas Martha's wedding gown own was as a satin qUilt over which a heavy v white silk in- in inter in inter t ter r woven 0 en with Ith threads of sIlver aas as looped backwith back with white satin ribbons richly brocaded in m a leaf pattern There were close elbow sleeves revealing a puff and ind frill or lice lace Strings of pearls were Ii woven O in m and out of oC her powdered h hair Jr Her high heeled slippers were i of white satin with brilliant buckles I Martha Washington n had been I born Martha DandrIdge At the thea a age c of seventeen she married Col I Daniel Damel Parke Custis a wealthy i iman man who died eight years after their marriage leaving mg her two h 0 chIldren and ind the mistress of a long fortune tune After her wedding ed to Geor George e Washington ton months ha l I stil Ito elapse before the wedded pair could settle down at atI Washington's estate of Mount I Vernon having been elected to toI toi the tho House of Burgesses Washing Washing- Washington Wishing ton I I ton tonas was as obliged ed to attend its se sec stuns an and the couple remained at until May 1759 Then they went to the beautiful estate on the Potomac to make it their home for the rest of their 11 lees es I and to lea leave leae e it a shrine forever to millIOns of Americans who ho hold in ini reverent memory every incident I I in m their thur life Me together |