You may think you know a lot about our founding fathers, especially George Washington, but I’m here to challenge that. Do you know anything about his parents, where he was born, or his childhood? You may not think these facts important, but everyone’s childhood effects their adulthood. The beginning of all stories must be told. You cannot just jump in at the climax and expect a happy ending. Here is George Washington’s story from his birth to, where everyone starts his story, the French and Indian War:
George Washington was the first first child of Augustine Washington (1694-1743) and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789). He was born on Pope’s Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His birth date is February 22, 1732.
Washington’s ancestors were from Sulgrave, England. John Washington, his great-grandfather, immigrated to Virginia in 1657. George’s father Augustine was a tobacco planter who owned slaves and later tried his hand in iron-mining ventures. The Washingtons, when George was young, were moderately prosperous members of the Virginia gentry, of “middle rank” rather than one of the leading planter families. Slave holders formed the ruling class at this time in Virginia and other southern colonies. The economy was based on slave labor.
George had six siblings who reached maturity: two older half-brothers, Lawrence and Augustine from his father’s first marriage to Jane Butler Washington, and four full siblings, Samuel, Elizabeth (Betty), John Augustine, and Charles. His full sister Mildred died when she was about one, his half-brother Butler died while an infant, and his half-sister Jane died at the age of 12, when George was about 2, making three deaths before adulthood. Washington’s father died when he was 11 years old. After that, George’s half-brother Lawrence became a surrogate father and role model. Another formative influence in George’s life was William Fairfax, Lawrence’s father-in-law and cousin of Virginia’s largest landowner, Thomas Fairfax.
Much of Washington’s boyhood was spent at Ferry Farm in Stafford County near Fredericksburg. A plantation on the Potomac River was inherited by Lawrence Washington from his father and later named Mount Vernon. Upon his father’s death, George inherited Ferry Farm and eventually acquired Mount Vernon after Lawrence’s death.
Washington was prevented from crossing the Atlantic to receive the rest of his education at England’s Appleby School, as his older brother’s had done, by the death of his father. He received the equivalent of an elementary school education from a variety of tutors, and also a school run by an Anglican clergyman in or near Fredericksburg.
Talk of securing an appointment in the Royal Navy for him when he was 15 was dropped when his mother learned how hard that would be on him. Thanks to Lawrence's connection to the powerful Fairfax family, at age 17 in 1749, Washington was appointed official surveyor for Culpeper County, a well-paid position which enabled him to purchase land in the Shenandoah Valley, the first of his many land acquisitions in western Virginia. Thanks also to Lawrence's involvement in the Ohio Company, a land investment company funded by Virginia investors, and Lawrence's position as commander of the Virginia militia, Washington came to the notice of the new lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie. Washington was hard to miss: At exactly six feet, he towered over most of his contemporaries.
In 1751, Washington travelled to Barbados with Lawrence, who was suffering from tuberculosis, with the hope that the climate would be beneficial to Lawrence's health. Washington contracted smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly scarred, but immunized him against future exposures to the dreaded disease. Lawrence's health did not improve; he returned to Mount Vernon, where he died in 1752. Lawrence's position as Adjutant General (militia leader) of Virginia was divided into four offices after his death. Washington was appointed by Governor Dinwiddie as one of the four district adjutants in February 1753, with the rank of major in the Virginia militia. Washington also joined the Freemasons fraternal association in Fredericksburg at this time.
But these are just all facts! Was Washington a happy child? Well, George did not like talking about his childhood. We therefore know very little of it. Even the story of the cherry tree has been found a myth! The only thing we know is that George’s mother was a troubled person, and this affected her children. Mary Ball Washington was the child of a marriage between a wealthy gentleman who married a family housemaid who had no education. It was a legitimate marriage, so Mary eventually inherited land, slaves, and money from her father, but she was ill-prepared to step into the role of mother and mistress of a successful household. Biographers report that she was defensive and over-protective of her children to the point that their childhood may have been quite stressful. For example, other children in the area reached an age when they were considered old enough to play by the river, but Mary never gave her children this type of freedom, fearing they might drown.
In the end, we all know Mr. Washington turned out alright. He began surveying very young and did great things in the wars to come. We all feel proud when we see his face, knowing he was our first president. Just remember: it is always important to know someone’s past to see how much they may have overcome and how truly brave they are.
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