George Washington & Mount Vernon
As one does their own family tree, it can be interesting to explore about famous individuals and their lives. It helps to better understand certain historical periods in history that those famous people lived as well as your own family members.
A great person to start with is President George Washington. Born Feb. 22, 1732 in the Colony of Virginia, he died Dec. 14, 1799 at age 67 at his home of Mount Vernon, Virginia. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall, quite tall compared to other men in the 1700s.
Really no formal advanced schooling but rather private tutors and a small local school for youngsters. He always felt he had a rudimentary schooling in math and writing. He did learn more by reading and conforming to accepted codes of conduct. Having mentor relationships helped his social development.
One truly associates the estate of Mount Vernon with George Washington. But it had been in the Washington family for many years. Beginning with John Washington, great grandfather of George, owned the land where Mount Vernon would be 1674-1677. Then George’s grandfather, Lawrence Washington owned it from 1677 to 1698.
Mildred Washington, the daughter of Lawrence, had it from 1698 to 1726. She sold the land to Augustine Washington, George’s father, in 1726. A home named ‘Little Hunting Creek’ was built in 1734. When Augustine died in 1743, the house and property went to George’s older half-brother, Lawrence Washington, who was 14 years older than George. Lawrence then renamed it to honor British Admiral Edward Vernon. Lawrence had served with Admiral Vernon. George lived with his half-brother at Mount Vernon who served as a mentor to George.
With Lawrence’s death in 1752, Mount Vernon was left to his only child, Sarah. However, Sarah died in 1754 and the property now went to Lawrence’s wife and Sarah’s mother, Anne Washington. Anne did not live at Mount Vernon in 1754 but instead leased the house and property to George Washington. With Anne’s death in 1761, George Washington inherited full ownership of Mount Vernon. Over the years George expanded the house and his property holdings.
After George’s death in 1799, Martha, his wife inherited Mount Vernon. Then the house and land went to George’s nephew, Bushrod Washington in 1802 after Martha’s passing.
With three other Washingtons, nephews, owned the house and land in later years, by 1858 the house needed saving. An organization ‘The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association’ worked to raise money to buy the house and land from the Washington family, restore the house and save it for future generations. They did raise the needed money, $200,000 and purchased it in 1860.
Photo: Mount Vernon in 1860.
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