Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-05-13

At aksusld and met With cordial rseep-
tion FROM John Il. Wilson, Eco the present
proprietor Of the estate. Before proceeding
fsrther. it is bsces,sry to refer 20 gcpealogy
OF the Washington family, in order tbs. the
reader may fully comprehend the situation
OF this sacred spot
Col John Washington, who came with bis
brother TO America Ia 1857, settled on the
bssk Of Bridges creek, smsli inlet Of the
Potomac, where hs thenesforth lived aud
where he died. He had twe sons aud .
daughter, and IL vas 10 the second Of these
sons, Lawrence Washington that the pro.
pristors Of the Northstn Neck Of Virginia
granted tract Of lsnd q, the mouth Of Pops's
creek. lu his will, which 10 dated March
ilth to9s, Lawrence Washington says-.I
giss tae track Oi land 90 Which now 1--we, 70
John Washington. Besides this bsquest. o
thefs were made to bis secoad sou AugusIiue,
aud to bis daughter Mildrei John Wash.
iogtou, 10 seems, subsequently, removed to
Gioueester, aud sold the Popss creek estate
TO Augustine, the laihsr Of GEoRaE. Thus
We have traced the history Of the locality
down to the date Of an event which bad
deeply important bearing upon the future
destinies Of the infant colon Ind the repub-
lie
When George Washington was six years
OF age, the family removed 10 their Stafford
shire estate, opposite Fredericksburg. and
about this time lihough there is some uu
certainty as 20 the exsc, period J the house
10 which he was born was destroyed by fire.
There Is al present on the spot = chimney
which is raid 10 have belonged to the kitoh
en-, though il was probably attached 10 \
house subsequently, built out Of the old ma.
ter'sis. Near by, aud plainly visible, is
what seems to be filed up cslisr, xith the
chimney spots distinctly marked, about sixty
feet apart This is doubtless the exact place
wherein stood the house in which George
Washington was bora.
We may nov return to the party whom
We left at Mr.. Wilson's residence After an
hour passed in agreeable eouyersatiou, Gov.
Wise, accompanied by = number Of gentle,
men, started on horseback for the birth.
place, which is located 10 ploug1sd field,
about thrse-fourtbs ofa mile northeast Of the.
present mansion, IL Is on . somewhat ele-
vaied plateau, about 6fty yards from the pre-
eipitous aud crescent shaped bank Of Pope's
creek, which sweeps gracefully around and
soon empties into the broad Potomac. The
spot Commands magnificent aud extended
vieS Of the Maryland shore, aud Of the Po.
tomac for many miles towards the Chesa.
/ peAko Bay.
Close by the chimney Of which We bays
before spoken, is luxurisnt growth Of hgs
the parent stock Of which lies decaying on
the ground, while myrids Of shoots hsvs
sprung up around IL Partially concealed
BY these, We found = granite slab, broken in
three pieces, inscribed d-"Hers, on t6e liza
Of FteEGry, iTS2, George Warrington ,sas
Dora" The slab was placed there IN June.
1915, By G. w. p. Custis, who, aecona panied
BY friends, went thither In his yacht ~La
dy OF the Lake" and after depositing the
| stone, returned on board and fred q Federal
salute from swivel which they had obtain
ed for the purpose.
A considerable number Of citizens Assem-
bled at the place to day, for the psrpo.e Of
| paying their respects 70 The Governor and
aiding bin IN marking the birth place and
the family vault for enclosure The Cover.
nor rode about the ground and along The
shore Of Pope's creek, in order to obtain 40
accurate idea Of the locality, freqssniIy cor
sultiSg with bis eVmpssiops upon the plan
: be proposed to develop.
/ An aged citizen presen. said be distinctly
remembered uhsp house occupied the
spot where the chimney DOW stands, and
that IL vas formerly used for kitehou and
! laundry The mshsioO, bs ssid, stood on
tho site adjacent 10 which aIiusieu has 81
ready been made A snontLneous gFpWtb
! Of plants, near The chimney, rendered 10
1 probable that there vas formerly saFdea
81 that point A gsHsleman 10 The comps.
% fouod piece Of stone. worn perfectly
smooth on one side, partially buried In the
earth near the site Of tbs old mansion, aud il
vas the opinion u all present that il was E
fragncnt of tbo benfthB,one This relic vas
7 presented "a Gov - 10, zbs siM 5.zrsjt -,
( properly labelled, 10 the State Library st
Riobmopd
While sojouFbing st the birth place The
party experienced some anuo7aoce from
sbouer % raia, which tsrmipated the visit
81 this interesting spot Several persons sup
/ piled themselves With canes from tbs black
has, Hbioh gross abandently on the shore
7 Of tbe creek, snd shieh thsy inieDd 10 pre-.
serve ss sacred memehioes
/ Following up the Fsvine ia . N. " W
/ dirtetiop, foF little mofs than q mile. The
Governor ADD his attendants cams "a The bo
rial groebd ssd vault ia shieh are intefed
( she remains Of the father, gFspafstbss and
! great gFandfsihsg Of Wsshiagtoa, stth those
| Of their respective hnilies, az BfidHss
creek. The bsiok arch o. sbs vsslt fine sldss
Of ubioh hsvs been allsd IN vith earth 20
4 prsysat dspfsdatiops,l b piaihly visible -
/ Hothibg Tsmaias u ths aasisnt sbalosars,
sEospt one or TO partially assaysd posts
I Olvss b tbe vsglt lsyss NOES severed tomb
! stone, bsss.as ghs fo!l5siaE insoriptisB
Here lysih the body sf jobs washing
7 tsn, eldest con 70 Captsin I,asrsnos Wash
ingfsu, uhe dspsrtsd this i4s - l0ih of
Jasssry, 1000, aged 10 years fad s1
months.
'Also, hildFss WashiuEion, eldest daugh
isF 10 ssid Washiuisa. Eho died ob ys ss
0f Aagust, lG96. Agsd Bouahs
4 TIE si0bs alec bssra ths dsgiss sf skull
aad sFsss kgsss, Az iAs shsFsassFs sfs sut
10 ths apgalsf style of tbs anesstrsl gave
stones nsaaiiy fsasd ia FiFaioia
Boms sihsf ffssnsats usfs issnd scatter.
Cd here saa ttsFs, sas q ukioh boss be
Vios Ehish nons 81 ths so@pasy vsFs sole
" ibtsrgFst II may have bssa ths sssi q
arms % ono q ne Wssbingtous Il is -
lisvsd thst ether slsbs api issofibdons ssa
b fsaad b aisariag sssy ne aaia abiol
tss ben tseamaittidg tbsFsfsf RsaaraG8es
Aiisr Eisaing tbs eoasesTats3 ttoasb
nefiestsa scoi Qsgsfasf W -, aessnpssi
% - segsfai ssgsismsa. rstarpsd % No