of England, somewhere about the year 1655. As his removal took place during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, he was probably one of those who preferred liberty in a strange land, to a dishonourable submission at home. He is believed to have been a military man in early life. His will, now at Mount Vernon, has the following endorsement, "The will of Lieutenant Colonel Washington." This document also bears witness to an ardent piety in the testator; the venerable founder of his family. As the parish in which he lived, has always borne his name, he was probably mainly, instrumental in its establishment. A slight bequest in favour of the church, evinced his dying solicitude for the decent maintenance of those services which he had cherished while living. After his arrival and settlement in Westmoreland, he married Miss Pope, daughter of the gentleman from whom the creek on which he lived took its name. By this marriage he had three children, viz. Lawrence, John, and Ann. To Lawrence, the oldest son, he bequeathed the estate on which he lived-the Pope's Creek farm. Augustine Washington, the father of George, was the son of Lawrence, and born in the year 1694. He was probably the oldest son of his father, as he inherited the patrimonial estate at Pope's Creek. He was twice married. His first wife was Jane Butler, by whom he had four children, viz. Butler, Lawrence, Augustine and Jane. Of these, Butler died young, and Jane the 17th

of January, 1735, when about thirteen years of age; Law

rence and Augustine attained to manhood. The first was born in the year 1718. The second wife was Mary Ball, a young lady of highly respectable family, in the northern neck of Virginia. To her he was married on the 6th of March, 1731, being himself thirty-seven years of age. Of this union George was the first fruit. He was the oldest of

*The date of the will is Oct. 21, 1675.

six children, viz. George, Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles, and Mildred. The latter died when sixteen months old.

It was about the year 1739 that Mr. Washington removed from his estate in Westmoreland, to a farm owned by him in King George county, (now Stafford county,) on the Rappahannock river, directly opposite to Fredericksburg. This change of residence was probably induced by considerations of health-the Potomac estate being sickly. Previous to this event, George had been sent to a school kept by an old man named Hobby, who was at once a teacher and sexton of Washington parish. By this old man was the future hero and statesman taught to read. During this period domestic incidents occurred, embracing the religious instruction of George, to which reference will be made in the proper place. Between him and his father, it would seem that a delightful intercourse always subsisted; it being a matter of regret to the latter that he was obliged to be separated from his child, even during the hours of school. Mr. Washington survived his removal from Westmoreland but a few years. He had time enough allowed him, however, to mark the budding virtues of his son. It was in the Easter holydays that Mr. Washington was taken sick. George was absent at the time, on a visit to some of his acquaintances* in Chotanct, King George county. He was sent for after his father's sickness became serious, and reached the paternal abode in time to witness the last struggle and receive the parting benediction of his beloved parent.

Lawrence Washington, the eldest son by the first wife, indulging a military spirit, joined the army, a little after he

* In his will, General Washington made the following bequests. "To the acquaintances and friends of my juvenile years, Lawrence Washington and Robert Washington, of Chotanct, I give my other two gold-headed canes, having my arms engraved on them," &c.

became of age, and received a captain's commission, dated June 9th, 1740. "He was assigned to a company in a regiment to be raised in America, under the command of Colonel Alexander Spotswood, designed for the West India service, and to act in the Spanish war. The regiment was transported to Jamaica early in 1741, where it was united with the British forces in time to take a part in the unsuccessful siege of Carthagena, conducted by Admiral Vernon and General Wentworth, in March, of that year. After the failure of the expedition, the fleet sailed back to Jamaica, where the land forces were stationed, except during a few months in the summer season, when, for reasons not known, they were taken to Cuba. Captain Washington returned to Virginia near the close of the year 1742, having been absent about two years.”* In a few months after his return, his father's death took place. He died at his house, opposite to Fredericksburg, on the 12th of April, 1743, aged 49 years. As the eldest son, Lawrence had been charged with the care of the family and estate. About this time he married Ann Fairfax, a daughter of Mr. William Fairfax, and relative of Lord Fairfax. Soon after which event, he settled on an estate, not purchased by him, as has been said, but bequeathed him by his father; and called by himself Mount Vernon, in honour of Admiral Vernon. While Lawrence settled at Mount Vernon, in the neighbourhood of his father-in-law, his brother Augustine took possession of the family estate at Pope's Creek, which property had been also bequeathed him by his father. To him was George sent a short time after the death of Mr. Washington. Here he continued about three years, going to school all the time to a Mr. Williams; a plain, but respectable teacher.

During this period he was taught the manual exercise by Adjutant Muse, a Westmoreland volunteer, who had been

* J. Sparks.

in the West India service with his brother Lawrence. He was also instructed in the art of fencing, by Mons. Vanbraam, who afterwards accompanied him to Venango as his interpreter. At the conclusion of his residence in Westmoreland, we find him attempting to enter the naval service of Great Britain. In September, 1746, he went to the county of Fairfax, where his brother Lawrence resided. With the consent of his mother a midshipman's warrant had been obtained for him by this brother. But a change of mind, on the part of Mrs. Washington, had suspended his final decision, and in a month or two induced him entirely to abandon the thought of going to sea. He did not again return to Westmoreland, but spent his time at Mount Vernon, and with his mother near Fredericksburg. Here he again went to school, and continued till his seventeenth year; at the commencement of which, viz. in March, 1748, he engaged as a surveyor in the western part of Virginia, associated with Mr. George Fairfax, in the service of Lord Thomas Fairfax. In this laborious office he continued about three years, with occasional intervals of absence, on visits to his brother at Mount Vernon, and to his mother. In the month of September, 1751, if not before, he relinquished the occupation of surveyor, for the purpose of accompanying his brother Lawrence to the West Indies, whose declining health rendered such a trip necessary. There he did not stay long, taking the small-pox during the time, and returning to Virginia alone in February, 1752, Lawrence remained with the hope of deriving benefit to his health, but failing in this respect, he returned home the following summer to his grave. He died at Mount Vernon, July 26th, 1752. George was at Mount Vernon when his brother died, and immediately took charge of his affairs, On opening the will of the deceased, it was found that he

had given to George the Mount Vernon estate,* together with some valuable lands in Berkley county, Virginia.

A short time before this, according to Judge Marshall, George had been appointed by the governour and council, adjutant to the northern division of the Virginia militia, with the rank of major. It was about fifteen months from the death of his brother that he received the appointment, and engaged in his first public duties as envoy to the French commandant on the Ohio. The colony of Virginia having been recently divided into four military districts, his appointment of adjutant-general was renewed during his absence, and the northern district assigned him. In his visit to the Ohio he was to act as the messenger of the governour,† to deliver a letter to the French commandant, and ascertain the meaning of sundry recent hostile movements of the French, consisting of undue encroachments on the lands of his majesty, the king of England, and maltreating subjects of the British crown. Being commissioned on the 30th of October, 1753, he set out the same day on his arduous and dangerous enterprize. Through many difficulties, privations, and hazards, did he persevere in the fulfilment of his mission, which he at length accomplished to the perfect satisfaction of the authorities by whom he had been employed. After many risks of his life, with much suffering from cold and fatigue, he returned to Williamsburg, with the answer of the French commander, and an account of his own travels and proceedings, on the 16th of January, 1754, having been absent about six weeks.

In consequence of the zeal, fidelity and ability, with which

*Though prompted by his fraternal affection for George, in giving him Mount Vernon, yet it appears from an inspection of the will of the father, that a desire had been therein expressed that Lawrence, in case he should die without issue, would give that property to George. He died without issue, it is believed, and obeyed the father's wish.

† Dinwiddie.