PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE 3 



herited large estates from an uncle. Washington 

 paid much attention to the fair sister of Mrs. Beverley 

 Robinson, and each day of his sojourn with his 

 former comrade-in-arms made him less inclined to 

 bring the visit to an end. It was no secret to his 

 friends that this young lady's attractions had made 

 a deep impression on his heart. 



Irving, in his " Life of George Washington/' 

 alludes to this episode, but he evidently could not 

 bring himself to believe that his hero had proposed 

 to Mary Philipse, and that his offer had been re- 

 fused. Such, nevertheless, is the tradition in her 

 family, and that it was a generally accepted belief is 

 proved by the frequent allusions to it in American 

 literature. There is, at least, no doubt as to his 

 affection for her, as, when he was at last compelled 

 to leave Colonel Beverley Robinson's hospitable 

 roof in consequence of pressing military affairs, he 

 confided the state of his feelings to his friend, who 

 shortly afterwards wrote urging his immediate re- 

 turn, as another admirer of Mary Philipse was in 

 the field, and was pressing his suit. This rival was 

 Washington's former companion-in-arms, the young 

 English officer, Captain Roger Morris, who suc- 

 ceeded in securing the lady's hand. 



In January 1758 Mary Philipse was married to 

 Captain Roger Morris, in the presence of a brilliant 

 gathering. Members of the leading families of the 

 province and representatives of the British forces 

 in America were present on the occasion. A strange 

 episode happened during a great feast that followed 



