Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-31
A HOd8Tn SCaGdal-Goysra0r P0ssy
Of Indiana, Said 70 bs a Nat
Ural Sen Of tbs Father
Of His Country.
The JuneI Will Cass-ls the Heir an
Illegitimats Son Of es0rgs
Washington

the first Territorial Governor Of Indi- /
ana, and that the portrait was painted |
from a miniature likeness done on 1
ivory when he was quite young, and /
which was the only likeness of him |
extanL. There your information /
would probably cease, and you would /
leave the building without COuCeiving /
the idea that you had gazsd upon the |
" counterfeit resemblance" OF YER /
liable
SON OF TIE "FATHER OF HIS COUN- |
TRY"
yet the story of his birth and paterni- I
ty Is often C8nvassed among the older |
and more prominent citizens OF the |
State, and, perhaps, outside OF 1t; and /
none who are acquainted with the ev- !
fdence upon which it rests doubt the /
assertion that Colonel POsey was a |
son Of George Washington.
The history of the matter suCCinctiy |
stated runs about in this wise:
THE P0sEY FAMILY,
consisting of husband and wife, were /
tenants on the Mount Vernon estate. !
The then Colonel George Washington |
was married to Mrs. Gusts in 17jS. /
About 1854 Mrs. POsey was left a wild /
Ow by the death Of her husband. /
Washington, then a young man, fre- |
quently hunted and ished on the es- !
tate, aud sometimes, when be- /
lated, accepted or sought the hOspi- /
talilies OF Mrs. P0sey's house, who |
is represented rs q lady of very con- |
siderable personal attractions. At |
what time or how it came about that |
the
RELATIONS BETWEEN THESE TWO !
assumed a more intimate character |
than those Of hostess and guest Is, of 1
course, unknown, but it IS certain |
that some two years after the death OF |
her husband-shg in the interim hav- /
ing remained fe8ye sOt8-a son was /
born TO her, who grew up to be that |
same youth whose portrait adUrDs the /
wall Of the Governors room at ln- |
diauap0lis.
II is also certain that Washington /
greatly to his credit as q Just and /
equitable man, if our theory be cor !
rgct) always 10 the day OF his death /
manifested a warm and friendly iute- |
rest Ia
THE FORTUNES OF THIS YOUNG MAN. /
He charged himself with his main /
teDance and education, and when he 4
arrived at a proper age, be was for a /
time a member of the military family /
of the General in the field, and subse- /
Quently, by his influence, was made /
the Governor of the Territory of In /
diana. These circumstance of them 4
selves would make q strong csse in .
support Of the truth Of cur assertion,
but there are other items of evidence /
Of even greater weight Of authority /
than these. The family of Col POsey
were in possession OF four or five
Likeness OF WASHINGTON,
taken at different periods of his lie,
given TO him IS souvenirs OF an 1
intimate regard. Washington kept /
up correspondence with him OF the /
most confidential character, sometimes /
addressing him as "My Dear Son." I
These letters are or were very recently /
ia existence, and in tine possession Of a /
gentleman of this State,
The P0sev family are now extinct. |
Governor POsey married, and left |
surviving him, IS his only issue, one /
son. The son lived and died a bache- /
I1r. without any known issue. lie /
inherited as heirlOOms the miniatures /
of Washington, and also the papers Of /
bis father, including these letters. /
When he died the gentleman 1 refer /
to above became his literary executor, /
and came into possession Of the Wash /
ingtOn letters.
From the New York sun, March %
The examination Of Mrs. Aun Eliza |
NandervOOrt i8 the Jumel viii case !
was continued yesterday.
TIE OLD LADY's TESTIMONY
was very important, not so much 80
in the settlement of the heirship TO
the vast estates Of Madame Jumel as
in the probable establishing OF an in-
teresting historical fact.
Mrs. NandervOOrt said-EreelOYe
BallOu died after / was married. 1
never heard my mother say anything
to George W. Bowen or in his pres
euce about his mother, either as Bet
sey Bowen or Madame jUmcl. To be
sure she spoke 20 him about Madame /
Jumel, but always called her by that
name, and never hinted 10 him that
she vas his mother.
QuestiOn-WhO was George W. /
BOWen's father2
WInes5-That is a singular ques-
tiOn to ask me. The saying is that
any fool knows his mother, but it is
only the
WISE CHILD THAT ENOWETH BIS
FATHER.
Well, who was repUted to be his
father?
Witness-I have heard my mother |
say that in Rhode Island the common
belief was that Uriah Bowen was
his father; but my mother often said
she believed that his father was
George Washington. A iiutter in
court.
Question - George Washington
What George Washington do you
mean2
Witness-I mean General George
Washington, the Father Of his
Country.
Questioa-Where was General
WashintOn stationed?
Witness-I don't know whether he
lived at the White House or not.
Perhaps be lived in Pennsylvania
sOmeW here. / don't know.
QuestiOn-Iel what you heard
your mother say in reference to the
LfNNN ELllDA VI 1IN 2. LlEAl4 Wash LlnlF-
TON WITH THE BALLOU FAMILY.
Witness-AIy mother said that Reu
ben BallOu was a major in the Con-
tinental army, and used 10 carry dis
patches. He rode a young horse that /
was a great jumper. He would jump
fences, and frequently threw the major
and hurt him badly. Ouoe, when
Reuben lay very low, suffering from
his injuries, General Washington came l
often to see him. Betsey lived in
Heuben's house at the time. She I
helped Mrs. BallOu do the work OF the !
house.
Question-Was this before George
Washington Bowen was born?
Witness-Yes, sir
GEORGE WAS BORN IN THAT HOUSE
lin the Charles street house in Prov
idence. Mother told me that the
General came very often while the
major was sick, and look dinner and
tea with him several times.
QuestiOn-Wh hen was this2
Witness-SOme time during the I
Revolution. Mother never told me t
where George Washington lived at {
the time.
Question-Who was Madame Ju- {
mel's fatheF2
Witness-I have heard that be be- 1