The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-04

prey,de1t-I. r. Pert, Acc lphic Lodge No 48.
Vice Prssdent-A p. M,risrsy. Hope Lodge No IA.
I,,as.rer-W j. scott Montauk Lodge No 26
| S.cr,tarv--sm. r. Shove, Empye City Lodge No. 2oe
| soI :. e,,eed - NJ wlkips sag more Lodge Ne al
| i pcRerze, Mosaic Lodge Ne. AIS.
TIE former President, Wee President and Treasurer do
Tbe Board then into secret session, and afssr
trsrsseuns sone strictly private busness, adjourned
Governor Wiss's Visit ca the Birthplace of
| Washington.
| BURIAL PLACE OF THIS WASHINGTON FAMILY.
| ICorrespondenco OF the Richmond Dispatch
| WEsTMoRELArp County, Va, April ~, 1858.
In February. 1866, Col Lewis W. Washington pre-
sented TO the State of Virginia certain conditions,
| he ground comprising the birthplace Of George
| Washington and the graves Of the Washington
family, on the Wakefield estate in this county. This
estate sold in 1919, by Col. George c. Washing
ton " no derived il from bus father William Angus
tine Washngton,) to John Gray of Travellers Rest,
Stafford county reservipg sixty feet square OF the
| ground around the birthplace and twenty fee
| square around the vault. Col. Lewis w. Washing
ton, (son ard heiratlaw of Col Geo G. WashingtonO
therefore presented these reservations ITO the mother
State Of Virginia, in perpetuity, on condition solely
that the State require the said places to be perma
neutly enclosed with iron fence, based on stone
foundations, together with suitable ard modest
Though substantially tablets, tn commemorate to the
rising generation these notable Fpots.'
| Gov. Wise accepted the donation, and addressed
message N the Legislature, asking an appropriation
10 comply with the conditions. The request. after
delay, MAS granted, and the sum Of IS 900 ap-
| propriated for the purposes mentioned.
To day Gov. Wire arrived in this county, and was
received at Ieedstown by George w. Lewis, Esq,
| who conveyed him to his residence, Chym0nt, some
| four miles distant The Governors mission ia to
survey the grounds upon the Wakefield estate, pre-
parstory to carrying out the objects for which the
appropriation was made.
| APRIL 2s.-Tbe temperature of the atmosphere
| this morning was To some extent moderated and
after excellent breakfast. it was announced that
| carriages were in waiting to convey the Governor
| and other guests tn Wakefield about xix miles dis
tant. The drive through the country was pleasant
and exhlirating; the beautiful farms on either side
of the road objects of much interest tn those
accustomed to the brick walls and confined limits of
| city, and the uxurisnt vegetation. everywhere
spripgpg into life made the observer partake in the
universal rejoicing of nature in this vernal season
| The term ATHENS Of Virginia" by which West
| moreand county has been sometimes distinguished
is not appropriately applied; for within her Dor
| dcrs were born some of the most renowned men
whose names appear on the scroll of fame; washing
| ton, Richard Henry Lee and his three brothers,
| Thomas, Francis and Arthur; General Henry Lee,
James Monroe, ard the late Judge Bushrod Wash
| ington natives Of Westmoreland.
| After charming ride the party arrived at Wake
| field and met with cordial reception from John +.
Wilson. Esq., the present proprietor OF the estate
Before proceeding farther il IL necessary tn refer to
the genealogy of the Washington family, in order
that the reader may fully comprehend the situation
| OF this sacred spot.
Col John Washington. who came with his brother
creek, small inlet Of the Potomac, where he thence
| forth lived, and where he died. He had two sons
and q daughter, and it was 10 the second Of
these sons lawrence Washington % that 9th. the
| granted a tract Of land at the mouth Of Pope's
| creek. In his will, which is dated March IL,
1895, Lawrence Washington says" give the tract
| of land on which now live" u John Washington.
Besides this Request Others made IN his second
| son Augustine and to his daughter Mildred. John
Washington, II seems subsequently removed to
| Gloucester, and sold the Popes creek estate to
Augustine, the father of George. Thus we have
traced the history Of the locality down to the date Of
| ar event whkh had deeply important bearing upon
the future destinies Of the infant colony and the re-
| public.
When George Washington was six years of age
the family removed TO their Stanordshre estate, OPP
posite fredericksburg, and about this time (though
/ there il some uncertainty a. 10 the exact perod)
| The house in which he was born was destroyed by
1 fire. There is at present on the spot chimney
which il sad 20 have belonged to the kitchen though
| Il was probably attached TO house subsequently,
tuilt out OF the old materials. Near by, and plainly
visible. Is what seems to be filed mp cellar, with
| the chimney spots distinctly marked, about sixty
feet apart This il doubtless the exact place wbereon
| stood the house in which George Washington was
born.
We may now return TO the party whom we left at
i Mr.. Wilson's residence. After an hour passaed in
| agreeable conversation, Gov. Wise. accompanied by
number OF gentlemen, started on horseback for the
birthplace" which il located in a ploughed field,
about three fourths Of mile northeast 81 the present
mansion. N In on q somewhat elevated plateau
atout City ,ards from the PERCEPTIONS and crescent
| shaped bank Of Pope's creek, which sweeps grace
fully around and soon empties into the broad Poto
mac. The spot commands magnificent and ex
tended view Of the Maryland shore, and Of The Poto
mac for many miles towards the Chesapeake Bay
Close by the chimney Of which have before spoken
il luxuriant growth of figs, the parent stock Of
which lies decsying on the ground while myriads Of
| shoots have sprung up around y. Partially con
ccalcd by thee We found granite slab broken in
three pieces inscrihed:-"Here. on the 1lth Of Feb
/ rsry, 1892. George Washington born" The
| slab was placed there in June. 1915, by g. w. r.
Gusts, who accompanied by friends. went tbither in
In yacht Lady Of the Lake and after depositing the
stone. returned beard and fred federal salute
from swivel which hey had Obtained for the pur-
| pose.
the place e. day for the purpose Of paying their
| spoCts Co the Governor and aiding him ia marking
he birthplace and the family vault Tor enclosure
The Governor rode about the ground and along the
shore Of rope's creek in order To obtain accurate
idea Of the locality frequently consulting With his
companions upon the plan he proposed TO develope.
An aged citizen present said that he distinctly re
mombered when a house occupied the spot where
| the chimney stands and that IL was formerly
| used for a kitchen ard laundry The mansion, he
said, stood the site adjacent, 10 which alusiOn
has already been made. spontaneous growth Of
plants, near the chimney renders II probable that
| there was formerly garden at that point gen
tleman in the company found piece Of stone wore
perfectly smooth one side partially buried in the
earth near the site Of the old mansion; and IL was
the opinion of oil present that IL fragment Of
| the hearthstone. This relic was presented to Gov.
Wise, who will deposit H. properly labelled, in the
| State Library ~ Richmond.
| While sojournirg M the birthplace the party ex.
| perenced some annoyance from shower ~ rain,
which terminated the visit az this interesting spot
Several persons supplied themselves with from
| the black ha.. which grows sbundantly on the
shore q the creek and which they intend b. pro
| serve ~ sacred me mentos.
| Following up the nvine 10 q N. N. w. direction,
for a little more than mile. the Governor and his
attendants came 20 the burial ground and vault In
which inferred the remains Of the father, grand
| father and great grandfather Of Washington, with
those Of their respective families. At Bridges creek