Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/18

 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��also a tutor for Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis, whom Washington had adopted, being the two youngest children of his step- son and aid-de-camp, Col. John Parke Custis, who died of cam}) fever just after the surrender of Cornwallis, Wash- ington consulted General Lincoln, who conferred with Rev. Dr. Joseph Willard, president of Harvard College, and Rev. Dr. Samuel Haven, pastor of the South Parish of Portsmouth, N. H. Tobias Lear, who had just graduated with honor at Harvard, in 1 783, was recommended and accepted. He gave eminent satisfaction, remaining the confidential and intimate friend of Washington until his death, a period of fourteen years, and was several months after his decease the custodian of his papers.

The next monument, which is simi- lar to the one erected to Tobias Lear, has the following inscription, —

" HERE LIE THE REMAINS OF

MARIA LEAR

AND HER INFANT DAUGHTER.

HER MEMORY

DEPENDS NOT UPON

INSCRIPTIONS ON MARBLE.

HER EULOGY

IS IN THE

HEARTS OF HER FRIENDS."

The next and last (only four inter- ments having been made in this lot) is a marble monument. On the base rest four pillars, two feet in height, four sided, with beveled edges, supporting a heavy piece of marble, fashioned after the Roman cross, and placed horizontally, with this inscription :

" FRANCES D. LEAR,

WIDOW OF COL. TOBIAS LEAR, BORN 17th OF NOV., 1779, DIED 2D OF DEC, 1856."

The first wife of Col. Lear was Mary Long, to whom he was married April 18, 1790. She died in Philadel- phia, Oct. 4, 1 793, of yellow fever,

��while a member of the family of Washington.

Mary or Polly Long, as she was known at the bridal altar, was the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Col. Pierse Long, general by brevet, a native of Portsmouth, N. H., a distinguished citizen, a successful merchant, and an eminent patriot, having rendered important services in his own province of New Hampshire as well as in the vicinity of Lake Champlain and Lake George : partic- ipating also in the movements which resulted in the capture of Burgoyne and the surrender of his army. Col. Long was a delegate to Congress, 1784 -86; held important positions in his own State, and was appointed by Wash- ington collector for the port of Ports- mouth, but died suddenly, April 3, 1 7S9, before entering upon the duties of the office.

Col. Lear's second wife, to whom he was married Aug. 22, 1795, was the widow of Col. George Augustine Washington, a nephew of the General, born in 1763. She was a niece of Martha Washington. Her maiden name was Frances, daughter of Col. Burwell Bassett, of Eltham, New Kent County, Virginia. Her mother was a sister of Lady Washington. Col. Washington died in 1 793, leaving three children.

Frances Dandridge Henley was the third wife of Col. Lear, and survived him. She, also, was a niece of Martha Washington and a sister of Commo- dore John D. Henley of the U. S. Navy, who died on board the Vandalia, May 23, 1S35, while in command of the West India squadron. After the death of Col. Lear, his widow retired to her room and remained there one year. The first time she left the house she entered her carriage, drawn by two horses, and with a coachman and a colored servant, proceeded to Ports- mouth to evince her affectionate and filial devotion to the mother of her deceased husband.

Benjamin Lincoln Lear, the only child of Tobias and Mary (Long)

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