The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-07
The Sufferings of Washington.

A GENTLEMEN OF this city recently re-
ceived letter from a lady in Russell
vile, Ky, written in response to in
quiries relative to family of Washing
tons living in that State. In order to OBJ
tain the desired intelligence the lady
wrote to MIR. Washington, making in
quiries as to his condition and his rela-
ton to Gen. George Washington, and
received a beautifully-written reply,
which was inclosed to the gentleman
above mentioned. 1t has been placed at
our disposal, and as a matter of interest
we make the following extracts from it.
Any assistance sent to this venerable
and notwithstanding family would no
doubt, be highly appreciated; and at the
same time be very timely:
GoRDoNsvILLE, Logan County. KY.
Feb. Z, 1877.
MISS -: y The history
of my life would be, indeed, tale of
woe. My father, native of Virginia,
came to this State in the year 1911 a
wealthy man, but by series of misfort-
unes and misplaced confidence in men
whom he regarded as his friends was
reduced from affluence to indulgence, and
my sisters and myself-now advanced in
life-are dependent on the kindness of
friends for the necessaries of life. If |
should be spared to see the Sd of April
next shall enter the seventy eighth year
of my life. l have never at any time
been very robust, and the intirmites of
age now press hard upon me. Forty-four
years of my life were spent in the school
room, but, in consequence of the almost
total loss OF my hearing, Twas compelled
to abandon an occupation from which l
had during the time derived entirely the
means of support, and was thus, in the
decline of life, left destitute.
My father at his decease had nothing
to leave to his family but, owing to the
kindness of some of our Virginia rela.
tives, my sisters had in the Union Bank
of Tennessee stock to the amount of
1900, besides $500 loaned to one of
our nephews. In the recent civil war
they lost it all, and, as | said before,
have lived ever since in a state of pre-
cariOus dependence on their friends. A
few years ago lady of our acquaintance
left my sisters and me legacy of 81 900
in the South, but owing to financial en-
barrassments there we received only
5000 of the amount, and that in small
installments with very long intervals be-
tween. The balance ($400) we shall
never get. In consequence of this loss
my sisters and | were obliged TO give up
little home which l had purchased
with the expectation of paying for it out
of this bCquest, and we are now living
on it by the permission of the present
proprietor, of whom purchased it, who
took it back after had paid $500.
This gentleman built for my sisters
and myself "a small room, to which,
through the liberality of some good
friends in Russellviile, l was enabled to
add q cook-room; and in this diminutive
apartment we are now living, crowded
with various utensils and articles of fur
niture Tor which we can find no other
place. Our room is alternately sit
ting, reception room, drawIng-room and
kitchen, and the floor is in continual
vibration from passers to and fro.
My youngest sister is now sixty
years of age. Although we have lost
nearly everything that we once possessed,
we are thankful for what yet remains
We have house over our heads, and
kind, sympathizing friends who would
doubtless do much for US if they pos
sessed the power.
You desire to learn something re-
specting my relationship to Gen. Wash
ington. My grandfather, Warner Wash
ington, of Virginia, and the General
were brothers children; consequently,
my father and General Washington were
second cousins, and l, of course, am
third cousin to the General. We had
several memorials of our illustrious kins-
man, which we would gladly nave re
tanned as heirlooms in the family, but
our straitened circumstances compelled
us to part with them. am, very re-
specially, etc,
civilian A. WASHINGTON"
- Doferahllrn [ IN \ Tn1er