Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-04

stood on the site adjacent 10 which ausOn has art6C,
been made. \ spontaneous growth Of plants, nes
the chimney renders II probable that there for
| merly garden at that point. A gentleman in IN.
company found piece of stone, worn perfectly smooti
side partisily buried in the earth the sit,
of the old mansion, and II was the opinion OF all pre-
sent that il was fragment Of the hearth stona This
| relic WA presented 20 Gov. Wise, who will deposit IT,
| properly labelled, in the Stat. Library AT Richmond
While sojourning y, The birth place the party eXpe
rienced some annoy Ancr from shower of rsin which
terminated the visit NJ the Interesting spot. Several
| persons supplied Themselves with canes from IN
| black haw which grows abuudsntly on the shore oi
the creek and which they intend to preserve az "a
| cred memen'os
Following up the ravine in q n ~ W. direction
| for little more than mile. the Governor and HE
| attendants came to the burial ground and vault in
which are inferred the remains Of the father GRAND
father and great grandfather of Washington, with
those of their respective faniI-s AT Bridges creek
The brick arch OF the vault Ithe sides of which have
been filled in with earth to prevent depredatonsJ
| ia plainly visible. Nothing remains Of the ancien,
enclosure, except one or two partially decayed posts
Close by the vault lays moss covered tomb stone
bearing the following inscription:
Here lyeth the body ct John Washington, eliert
| son 10 Captain Lawrence Washngron who departed
this e ye lO,h OF January, 1890, aged 10 years and
six months.
ALSO Mildred Washington, eldest daughter 10
SAID Washington, who died on ye Let OF August, 1896
aged ) month";
rs
bones and the characters cut in the angular R'vle
CT the ancestral grave stones usually found in Nir
gnis.
Soma other fragments we're found scattered here
and there one OF which bore device which none
OF the company able TO interpret. Ii may have
been the coat of of one of the Washinytons II
ia believed that other slabs and Inscriptions be
found by clearing away he mold which has been &C.
cumustng thers for generations.
After viewing tho consecrated, though neglected
It.l. nIEH htyna oil
trmsn, returned Ia Mr.. Wilson's msnssn. Here
seated around an Old Virginia log FIRE in The pleasant
paror, the guests listened with interest TO the Gov
ernnr's remarks, which were in the conversational
style. He told them that not more than 81 $40 Of the
appropriation would be required Tor the enclosure %.
thu birth place and tn" vaut and with the residue
S!jUO he proposed To build portars lodge and in
sts therein keeper of the grounds. But he had n
more extensive and enlarged plan The establish.
m-nt OF Agricultural School favorite scheme
with him, and he had vainy presented his views on
that subisc' 10 the Legislature. The people of West
inoreand had now an opportunity OF securing the
establishment OF such school and il was hs ardent
desire that one should bs established az Wakefield,
the birth place OF Washington. He would himself
head the subscription and he urged the gentlemen
present to reflect seriously upon the project and take
hold of il in earnest.
The conversation Also turned upon agricultural mat.
srs generally and the Governor presented many theo
ries and methods OF improved farming which com.
plrtey absorbed The attention Of the company. In
short, tho Governor has crested favorable impres
sion upon The minds OF the people here who freely
confess that they have, with the bountiiul gifts
of nature all around them long remained in almost
lethargic condition.
Mr.. Wson entertained his visitors to-day with
eumptuous banquet composed OF the richest luxuries
afforded by the and and water served up In the true
Virginia mode. desert OF refreshing ices and cakes
completed the feast, which was from first TO last sea
eoned with sallies of wit and pleasant repsrse.
Wal aid IYl n ifsO. e..
ington. lwho derived from bis father VIM. Angus
tine Washngton,I to John Gray Of Stafford. John
Gray afterwards cold il To Danie Payne, whose exc
Cutors sold 1t to John f. Wson, isher of the present
proprietor. This gentleman is q connection OF the
Washington family by marriage his wife being
daughter of Lawrence Washington, Esq. OF Ben.
helm, near neighb0r.
About sundo~u, the pessnt company separated,
and Gov. Wise returned to Ciaymont. the residence
of George w. Lewis, Esq. Mr. Lswis s one OF the
fnest specimens of the Virginia gentleman we ever
met with. His home is delightful, and evidences OF
refined taste meet the eye every side. We may
apply TO this household the line ol Thomson:
"An elegant, suiiciency, content.
Retirement, rural quiet. friendship. boOks
Ease and alternate labor, useful lie,
progressive virtue and approving Heaven
Iii understood that the Governor will dine a, thi.
p!nos TO morrow and on Friday DIR. Wirta an ale.
giant mansion not isr distant. Meantime he will hsv"
another interview with Mr.. Wilson relative 10 the
Transfer of the birth place and the burial ground to
the mother State. the result ut which We will gve in
a subsequen: letter.
Doubtless. many nt y"uI r-aderr are AWARD that
George w. Bssselt, Esq Ol Pennington, Hanover
comfy, who married a grand niece OF Washington,
has in hs poaaesaon the old family Bible OF the
Washington family We may appropriately copy
here The following record OF the birth Of Washing
ton, the orginsi ut which i. supposed 10 be III tha
hand writing Of his mother.
George Washington. son to Augustine, and Mary
his wife. WAS born ye llth day Of February 49,.
about 10 in the morning, and baptized the 9Th OF
April foowing--Mr. Beverly Whiting and Christie
Ther Brooks Godfsthers, and Mrs. Mildred Gregory
Godmother."
Wehavs been much interested thia evening, the
perusal of several autograph letters from General
Washington, which Mr.. Lewis has preserved with
great care. Our kind entertainer ia descendant OF
the Washington family, his great grandfather having
married Bette Washington, the sister OF the iustrl'
oua General. We were permitted to make uae OF the
valuable letters alluded 10, which, having never b."
fore been published. will undoubtedly interest your
readers They all have references 10 private matters.
and we select the following
70 CAPT. George Ler.!,
VALLEY FORCE, May Sd, IFS.
Dear George
should be glad il you would let the lnclo,ed 60
by safe hand, as il is to thank Mr.. Turner for An
elegant pair Of pistols and furniture which he ob
ginely msde me present of. do not know where
TO direct 10 him. but believe he lives somewhere on
Rappahsnnock either near Leeds or above it.. He
Al.