Show arlington cemetery once taken as tax property the arlington national cemetery occupies a famous old virginia estate situated on arlington height heigh tr opposite the city of washington overlooking the potomac in the center ot of this tract of more than 1100 acres is the mansion known as the arlington house the property was originally owned by martha washington and was inherited by her grandson george washington parke custis a descendant of her first marriage the mansion was built by him and he occupied it until his death in 1857 it passed then into the hands of his daughter the wife of gen robert E lee and the lees lived there until 1861 during the civil war the estate was confiscated by the federal government ern ment nonpayment non payment of taxes being the specific basis tor for the seizure the military cemetery was established there in 1864 the first burial being that of william christman a union soldier from pennsylvania on may 13 1864 sine it time more than persons been buried there some years after the war leea lee heir george washington custis 13 brought suit against the gov 1 I ment to recover the estate anfee 1884 was awarded the title to it he transferred his restored rights to the government tor for |