Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
THE BIRTH-PLACE OF GEORGE
WASHINGTON.
A Paper Laid Before the virginia
Historical Society

BY JOSEPH NJ TONER, N. D., OF WASHINGTON, D. G.
from the Richmond Standard
The house In which the nlustrlous Washing.
land known as "Wakefefd," in Westmoreland
county, Va. The farm lies between Pope'5 and
Bridge creeks and about half mile from their
view of 1t and the Maryland shore. This lad
been the home of his ancestry for over seventy
years. II any sketch or picture OF the dom!cle
tory tells us, however, that 1T fronted south;
was four. roOmed, one-story, wooden struc-
ture. with steep roof, af1ording attics, and large
This description fully corresponds with the
architecture of that period In this country.
The homestead was imRrovesd 6y gardens, ser
as were essential to thrifty agriculturlst,
Tradition says that long before the revolution
this house caught fire IN the attic. where Sea
ming, when a large party was congreyated there
enjoying the festivities OF the season, during
one OF the coolest winters known to that sec
ton of the country, and was totally destroyed.
Pupes creek was, according to the same tradl-
ton at the time closed with ice, 50 that wagons
crossed upon it the next day, removing the ar
raj washington only spent the infancy OF his
life in Westmoreland county, it is probable that
this destructive fire led to the removal Of his
icEsbHrg, where he died April II, 1743, at the
age of 40.
Sparkle says: ellis remains were inferred be-
SUE HIS dilCc5UIy Ou NdkCuClu Cot1tO. iiCoi
Bridge creek, Westmoreland county" Bishop
Meade, In his work con the Old Churches, Minis
terS and Families Of Virginia" and Pauldin2,
IN MS History OF the ualted states als, men,
that ~ ere is nothing to mark the spot but the
Old bricks of which the chimneys were built,
The former, who visited the place and inquired
IL to its history, says that Mr.. john Gray, sub:
sequent owner Of the estate, "either repaired
one OF the outhouseS or wing of the old one,
or built small house for his OverSeer out OF
kI1o ~rA p1.t oil
that remains of the Washin yton mansion-the
birth place of General Washington except the
broken bricks which are SC altered about over
the spot where 1t was built
The bricks in the chimney are hard burnt,
glazed bick, said to have been imported from
England, and have the appearance Of never
having been disturbed or having beea used be-
fore they were laid In this Chin lev. Augustine,
Wakefield estate to uguSttne Washington, who
left it to william A. Washington, and he left it
TO George c. Washington. In 1918 George c.
known as s'Wakefleld,' to John Gray, OF Stat
ford county, and, iu Is said, reserved sixty feet
square, covering the site OF the birth place of
have reserved from sale the Washington burial
place, near Bridge creek, which Is in the middle
OF an extensive field. The property passed
from the possession of john Gray to that of
Daniel Paine, who sod to Charles C. JeS',
from whom It, passed to the father OF the pres
ent owner, John E. Wilson who is by marriage
connected with the Washingtons. With view
to permanently mark the birth place Of Wash
Ing on, the grandson OF Mrs. General Washing
ton, G. w. Parke Custis, In 1915 had a stone pre-
pare d and had engraved upon 1t: "Iere On the
born" which stone he had placed upon brick
wall or piers within thirty feet of the chimney
still standing. The stone Is now so broken and
c a into pieces that the inscription Is no
tablet remains or have escaped the relic hunt
ers. The chimney, however, stands in fair
condition of preservation. The site OF this ma
mortal stone Is near clump OF old fig trees
and wild shrubbery. The site Of the house. the
garden, aud grounds, are now all embraced In
cultivated field.
an artist, at my request. it was stubDled field,
from which good crop of wheat had been cut,
and which stood in shocks on the ground, as Is
shown In sketch which I have preserved
Considering the oblivion which is gradually
creeping over this neglected spot, permit me to
suggest that the Virginia Historical Society
give practical turn to our natural patriotism
an enduring monument to mark the spot and
supplement- the crumbling sandstone erected
by Mr.. Gusts.
the eject OF the Change OF chronology from the
Julian calendar to the Gregorl IN in 1884, which
added ten days to the one popularity known as
"Oid STYLE" Great Britain, however, only
adopted this calendar In 1852, when eleven days
were required to correct the error. THIS m ade
what was formerly expressed In Great Britain
and the colonies as February II to be Feb 'uary
22, and as 1t was then expressed In all the coun-
tries which had adopted the revised calend IT.
1t is not without interest," In this connection, to
trace the period wheu and the place wnere the
birthday of General Washington began to as.
sumo the character OF public and national
holiday.
The earliest reference have mat with "a tn
q celebrai ion OF the birthday OF Washington
was On February II, 1882, in Virginia, By some
OF his personal friends, when the General hat
struggle was at the time still undecided A
brief record Is made In the Virginia GIzette of
February Is, 1888, OF pubic meeting 10 Rich
"Richmond. February 15 17s3-Tues!ay last
being the birthday Of his Excellency General
Washington. our illuStrlOus commander-1n-
the utmost demonstration of joy"-(Viryinia
Gazette or the american Advertiser, February Is,
1887
bratiOn OF WaShiDgtOns birthd ~ took place at
the courthouse In Talbot couaty, complete
record OF which has fortunately beea preserved,
From "The Remembrancer or Important Re-
pository Of Public Events for the year 17s3,"
London, part 2, page 81
Extract OF letter from Talbot court house,
date February II, Q7S3,:
s'This being the first year that the birthday
OF our great and worthy General hath been an
nounced to the public, Henry Hooper, ESD,
lieutenant OF Dorchester county, Maryland,
with respectable body OF the truly patriotic
officers and gentlemen CT the county, assembled
at CalnUr!Oge 10 celebrate Cne auSpiCt0u3 da7
which gave birth to the great defender OF Amer-
can liberty, where O public dinner being pro-
weed, the company assembled at noOI, and
aft er dinner drank the following toasts:
Il General WashingtOn-long may he live!-
the boosted hero OF liberty.
90. Congress
49, Governor and State of Maryland
"a. Louis XVI.-the protector OF the rights OF
mankind.
"5. Continental army.
sc. Mary and line.
-. May trade and navigation flourish.
as. The Seven United Provinces our allies.
"9. The Count ROchamOeau and French
army.
80 May the union between the powers in
alliance ever con,inne On the basis OF justice
and equity.
IL. May the friends OF freedom prove the
sons of virtue.
"12. Conversion to the unnatural sons of
America.
"13;, May the union of the American States be
pc retuated.
'The evening was spent with the utmost fes-
tivty."
The 18th OF February was celebrated In New
YORK In 11S4 With festivity and poem song
''God Bless America" This occasion Is referred
TO by William Kolly, Of the New York Hi5torl.
cal Society, as the first public celebration OF
WaSh1ngtOnS birthday, which you will see Is
al error. (Ne,0 York Historical Maglzins, 1862
Other celebrations took place In New York,
the 11th OF February being sele ;ted. until 1892