Inside The Man Who Started It All.......George Washington
Inside the man who started it all......George Washington
President's Day. In our fast paced society the meaning of this important holiday is often overlooked. To many people in our American society it means nothing more than shopping sales, and a day off from work or school, sometimes both. For me, President's Day means more than the bank and post office closures. You see, I am a member of the Daughters of American Revolution. My ancestor, Private Reuben Messenger of Connecticut, fought for freedom from the British in the American Revolution. Like so many men and woman of his time, he wasn't fighting for himself but for the future generations. Without those brave men and women, we wouldn't be the country we are today. And during the hardest times of the war, when all hopes seemed lost, one man stood out to unify our troops and boast their moral. His name was General George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Augustine Washington
George Washington was born February 22, 1732 on Pope Creek's Estate near Westmoreland, Virginia Colony. His parents were Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. George was the third generation to be born in the colonies. Before immigrating to the colonies, the Washington family had held prominence in England. During the Puritan Revolt (aka The English Civil War) of the 1640's, the family lost a majority of their wealth. In 1657, King Henry VIII granted Lawrence Washington 5,000 acres in the Virgina Colony. George's great grandfather immigrated to Virginia. Not much is known about George's father's side of the family in the colonies until Augustine's birth.
Augustine Washington's father had died when Augustine was only four years old. After his father's death, he and his sister split the inheritance. Augustine gained 1,000 acres and slaves on Bridges Creek in Westmoreland County. Soon after he gained his inheritance he married his first wife, Jane Butler. Jane was an orphan and through threir marriage he gained approxmiatley 640 more acres that she had inherited through her father. Augstine and Jane had four children together. A year after they were married Jane gave birth to son Butler, who died before the age of one. Augustine not only built a family but also increased his land holdings. Augustine was an ambitious man. He built mills, grew tobacco, aquired land and owned slaves. At one time he had even tried his hand in opening up iron mines. In 1726, Augustine had a new home for his wife and children built Wakefield. That same year, he also bought his sister's land and slaves. When he wasn't working on his land he was very active in the Anglican church. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and a sherriff. On November 24, 1729 Jane died unexpectatly leaving Augustine to raise their children Lawernace (age 11), Augustine (age 9) and Jane (age 7) by himself. Two years later, he would remarry. This time to 23 year old, Mary Ball of Lancaster County. Mary gave birth to their first child, George Washington. The couple would have five more children: Elizabeth Washington (1733-1797), Samuel Washington (1734-1781), John Augustine Washington (1736- 1787), Charles Washington (1738 -1799) and Mildred Washington (1739-1740). Tragedy hit Augustine during times of joy. Four years into his marriage, as Mary continued to give him children, Jane died. After the death of Jane, Augustine moved his family up the Potomic River to the Little Hunting Creek Plantation (aka: Mount Vernon). The family would remain there until 1738, whereupon Augustine moved his family to Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River, close to Fredricksburg. Here George Washington spent much of his youth.
Although a member of gentile population, George's family was never considered upper class. His family was considered to be a member of the middling class, since they were only moderatly wealthy. As a boy, George was homeschooled from ages 7 to 15 by the local church sexton and later with schoolmaster. George excelled in mathematics. He was taught all moral, manners and educations that were expected by a man of his station. His educations included geography, mathematics. Latin and Classical English. Although he had a wonderful education, it would be the knowledge he gained from the planation foreman and backwoodsmen that would utilize for most of his life. By the time he had finished his educations, George had become a master tobacco farmer, surveryor and stock raiser.
Not much is known about George Washington's childhood except for the fables such as how he chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree. George's father died of stomach gout on April 12, 1743. At the time of Augustine's death he had a various of planations with a total of 64 slaves assigned through. In his will, Lawerance had been given guardinship of George. Lawerance made certain George has an excellent upbring. Lawerance had also been given the estate at Little Hunting Creek Planation along with the slaves. Lawerance soon renamed the planation as Mount Vernon in honor of Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Navy. George stayed with his mother and helped her run the plantation until he was 16 when he decided to travel with a surverying group. A year later, Lawerance's father - in - law, Lord Fairfax, appointed George as the offical surveyor of Culpeper County. Two years later, as Lawerance suffered from Tuberculosis, George traveled to Barbados with his brother in hopes the tropical weather would cure his brother. At the same time, George was suffering from smallpox. George's survival of the smallpox was vital for his future, in that it innoculate him from the terribel disease that would later kill most of his troops in the Revolutionary War. The disease had left his face slightly scarred. The trip to Barbados had proved futile for his brother. Lawerance died at Mount Vernon in July of 1752. Lawerance and his wife had four children, only one of whom had survived; a two year old daughter named Sarah. Two months after her father's death Sarah died, leaving George to inherit Mount Vernon at 20 years of age.
For more about this amazing man visit:
http://www.biography.com/people/george-washington-9524786?page=2
Augustine WashingtonGeorge Washington was born February 22, 1732 on Pope Creek's Estate near Westmoreland, Virginia Colony. His parents were Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. George was the third generation to be born in the colonies. Before immigrating to the colonies, the Washington family had held prominence in England. During the Puritan Revolt (aka The English Civil War) of the 1640's, the family lost a majority of their wealth. In 1657, King Henry VIII granted Lawrence Washington 5,000 acres in the Virgina Colony. George's great grandfather immigrated to Virginia. Not much is known about George's father's side of the family in the colonies until Augustine's birth.
Augustine Washington's father had died when Augustine was only four years old. After his father's death, he and his sister split the inheritance. Augustine gained 1,000 acres and slaves on Bridges Creek in Westmoreland County. Soon after he gained his inheritance he married his first wife, Jane Butler. Jane was an orphan and through threir marriage he gained approxmiatley 640 more acres that she had inherited through her father. Augstine and Jane had four children together. A year after they were married Jane gave birth to son Butler, who died before the age of one. Augustine not only built a family but also increased his land holdings. Augustine was an ambitious man. He built mills, grew tobacco, aquired land and owned slaves. At one time he had even tried his hand in opening up iron mines. In 1726, Augustine had a new home for his wife and children built Wakefield. That same year, he also bought his sister's land and slaves. When he wasn't working on his land he was very active in the Anglican church. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and a sherriff. On November 24, 1729 Jane died unexpectatly leaving Augustine to raise their children Lawernace (age 11), Augustine (age 9) and Jane (age 7) by himself. Two years later, he would remarry. This time to 23 year old, Mary Ball of Lancaster County. Mary gave birth to their first child, George Washington. The couple would have five more children: Elizabeth Washington (1733-1797), Samuel Washington (1734-1781), John Augustine Washington (1736- 1787), Charles Washington (1738 -1799) and Mildred Washington (1739-1740). Tragedy hit Augustine during times of joy. Four years into his marriage, as Mary continued to give him children, Jane died. After the death of Jane, Augustine moved his family up the Potomic River to the Little Hunting Creek Plantation (aka: Mount Vernon). The family would remain there until 1738, whereupon Augustine moved his family to Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River, close to Fredricksburg. Here George Washington spent much of his youth.
Although a member of gentile population, George's family was never considered upper class. His family was considered to be a member of the middling class, since they were only moderatly wealthy. As a boy, George was homeschooled from ages 7 to 15 by the local church sexton and later with schoolmaster. George excelled in mathematics. He was taught all moral, manners and educations that were expected by a man of his station. His educations included geography, mathematics. Latin and Classical English. Although he had a wonderful education, it would be the knowledge he gained from the planation foreman and backwoodsmen that would utilize for most of his life. By the time he had finished his educations, George had become a master tobacco farmer, surveryor and stock raiser.
Not much is known about George Washington's childhood except for the fables such as how he chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree. George's father died of stomach gout on April 12, 1743. At the time of Augustine's death he had a various of planations with a total of 64 slaves assigned through. In his will, Lawerance had been given guardinship of George. Lawerance made certain George has an excellent upbring. Lawerance had also been given the estate at Little Hunting Creek Planation along with the slaves. Lawerance soon renamed the planation as Mount Vernon in honor of Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Navy. George stayed with his mother and helped her run the plantation until he was 16 when he decided to travel with a surverying group. A year later, Lawerance's father - in - law, Lord Fairfax, appointed George as the offical surveyor of Culpeper County. Two years later, as Lawerance suffered from Tuberculosis, George traveled to Barbados with his brother in hopes the tropical weather would cure his brother. At the same time, George was suffering from smallpox. George's survival of the smallpox was vital for his future, in that it innoculate him from the terribel disease that would later kill most of his troops in the Revolutionary War. The disease had left his face slightly scarred. The trip to Barbados had proved futile for his brother. Lawerance died at Mount Vernon in July of 1752. Lawerance and his wife had four children, only one of whom had survived; a two year old daughter named Sarah. Two months after her father's death Sarah died, leaving George to inherit Mount Vernon at 20 years of age. For more about this amazing man visit:
http://www.biography.com/people/george-washington-9524786?page=2
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