National Republican., 1881-10-22
THE MONUMENT
FOR wAsHlNoTows BIRTHPLACE.
A Full and Complete History OF the Proposed Plan
to Mark the Spot-Passage Of the Bill
in CongresS-Sketch or
the Place.

Early in the congressional session of
1879 joint resolution was adopted approprating
5000 for the erection of monument at Wakefield
10 mark the birth. place Of Washington, the monu-
mcnt to be erected and the money TO be expended
under the direction Of the Secretary OF State.
Nothing more was heard Of the matter publicly
until the close Of october Of that year. on Friday,
the 3Oth OF that month, Mr.. Evnrts then Secretary
of State, with select party of ladies and gentle
men-eleven in all-embarked on board the Tai
lapoosa for the purpose Of visiting the birth place
and selecting spot suitable for the erection of
the monument. They had much diniculty in
effCoting landing on account of the shnllowness
Of tne water. The party visited the birth place,
the old vault, and the Wakefield mansion, aud
o. rkcd on their return just as the sun was set
ting. Among the party was Mr.. Charles c. Perkins,
OF Boston, author Of Raphael and Michael
Angelo" and other ART publications. While at the
birth place Mr.. Perkins made sketch Of the spot
and amer his return to Boston he wrote to Mr..
Wilson for
COPIES or THE INSCRIPTIONS
on the slabs at the vault which that gentleman
sent him-the same that appeared in my last
article. For more than twenty years before this
appropriation OF 5000 was made by Congress the
title TO both the birth place and old vault had
been in the Commonwealth ofvirginia. The his
tory the transaction may interest the reader and
Is as follows Colonel George c. Washington,
whose prudent foresight preserved these reserva-
lions, as sated in my last, was born In the Hay
wood mansion, at Wakefield, August 90 1889, and
died at his residence, on Georgetown Heights July
H. 1854. He was the third son Of Colonel William
Augustine Washington, who resided In the house
IN which Washington was born ut the time Of It's
destruction by fire, and who subsequently built
the mansions at Blenhem and Haywood. Col
onel Washington, when making these rescrva-
tions in 1913, probably foresaw period when they
would be improved in a suitable manner. either
by the family, the State, or the General Govern
ment No steps wero taken, however in this
direction
DURING HIS LIFETIME;
but early in 1858, four years after his decease,
his son, Colonel Lewis William Washington, of
Charestown, TO whom the reservations had de-
.scended by inheritance, wrote to Governor Wise
rendering to the Commonwealth of Virginia these
reservations on condition that the State should
Improve them both and mark them with some
suitable memorial. Governor Wise made this offer
the subject of special message to the Legislature
and recommended its acceptance on the terms
stated. The Legislature accepted the grant on the
conditions named, and ON the Goth day of jan
'uary, 1853, by Joint resolution, appropriated
5000 to comply with the terms OF the grant. The
necessary conveyance containing the conditions
aforesaid, was executed by Colonel Washington to
the State of Virginia, and by direction fthe Leg
'islature, Governor Wise. in the name of the Com.
monwealth, transmitted letter OF thanks to that
gentleman for his generous proposal. In the
spring succeeding, Governor Wise visited Wake
held, and in company with Mr.. Wilsonexamlned
the reservations referred to- Both gentlemen were
satisfied that they were too small for the purposes
Intended and Mr.. Wilson
GENEROUSLY EXECUTED TO THE STATE
on the same conditions, one acre around the birth
place and half acre around the burial place and
road through his estate to both localities. Mr.
Wilson kindly permitted me to make u copy OF the
conveyance Of these grants The interest and i'm.
portance of the subject matters to which the in.
strument relates will warrant the insertion, in this
connection, the following extracts:
Know all men by these presents that I, John L.
wilson, of Wostmoreland County, Virginia, owner OF
the estate called Wakefield, with wish and view
TO promote the object and purpose OF the General As
semby OF Virginia, as expressed and declared in
act passed January 80 1858, approprlatng 5000 TO
preserve the birthplace OF General George Washing.
ton and OF the home and the grave of his progentors
In America by the grant OF all necessary facilities and
privileges for the more perfect accomplishment of
, these objects and purposes, do give, grant, and
DEDiCATErSTo THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
In perpetuity, certain public road or highway OF
travel over the said estate called Wakefield being
6O96 poles In length and pole, 1875 feet I'm width
rs shown on the plot and certificate OF survey made
by George w. English April O. 1852 and hereto an
hexcd.
Here follow the boundaries and route on the
plat of the proposed road or highway 70 and from
the birth place and the old vault and continues Il
And the said John H. Wilson does, moreover by
these presents, give, grant, and dedicate unto the
Commonwealth of Virginia purporting one acre of
land or so much less as may be required annexed
to the reservation Of sixty feet square at the birth.
place aforesaid, granted to the Commonwealth by
Lewis w. Washington as to contain equal quantities
on either side of said reservation and also onehaf
acre ofand or less, il requisite, at the buralplace
aforesaid, also granted 10 the Commonwealth of yir.
glnia annexed to said burial place. in the same man.
ncr for the use Of said Commonwealth of Virginia ns
margins or spaces around said place
FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND EMnELLIsTIMENTs,
To have and TO hold the aforesaid places or parcels
ofground for the uses and purposes aforesaid, and
the aforesaid road way as highway of travel 10
and from the places aforesaid, TO the Commonwealth
of Virginia In perpetuiy, to aud for the uses of the
commonwealth .her citizens, and Others so long as
the visitors TO these places shall cOnne themselves
to the road or ways and places so reserved and
granted ns above mentioned, saving and rcservng tc
me- the said John t. Wilson, the right and priyileg,
ss an ultimate protection against wiIlful and con
. hnued intrusOns and trespasses. which may subject
me TO serious damages to close the said road or way
against such nruders or trespassers only as maj
hl to he protected against by resort to the u tcla
tribunals of the county. and also the right and prlvi
leGe to continue the gate said road. And I'll,
SAID Joan f. Wilson, for myself heirs and executors
do moreover covenant and agree 10 and with IN,
Commonwealth Of Virginia that will, and my heir,
and executors shall, permit oil the labOrers archl
tects, and others who may be employed In the worl
OF enclosing. making, and embellishing the spots or
PLACES EMBRACED IN THIS GRAST
and the grant Of the said Lewis w. Washington Il
land on said estate haul over the same and deposl
adjacent to the places oil necessary materials for tn
work to be constructed and TO remain on the land I'm
I'll said works are completed
1.-THE length Of the roadway conveyed in tn
foregoing instrument is about two and three. quar-
ter miles The instrument was executed by Mi
Wilson under his seal August l, 1859, acknowl
edged before justice of the peace August %, ant
properly recorded October 20 of the year aforo
sai d
The outbreak Of our civil war soon after thes
conycyances were executed prevented the Stat
from complying with their provisions and the al
vent peace found the Commonwealth In con
dition of utter financial prostraiou; and the con
ditions ofthese grants remain uncomplied with III
10 the present time. There was Gn unfortunate
omission in the conditions of both Of the oforesal,
conycyNnces. There iVas 40 time specified tpiihii
uhich the conditions should be compiled tUhh. Tn,
State might hold possession of the reserya
tlOns and roadway for centuries without maklnl
the proposed Improvements, and the grantor
would have no redress, as the State by so doin
q would not be violating the letter Of the instru
ments,
THIS TITLE DIFFICULTY LooMED UP
In large proportions soon after the visit OF NJ
Evars aud party to Wakefield, aud immediat
steps were taken to remove the disability aud sc
cure the titles to the United States. Mr. Robe
Washington, brother.in-law OF Mr. Wilson, an
prominent lawyer In westmoreland County, nd
dressed letter on the subject to Governor Holl
day, Of Virginia, who handed 1t for reply to III
Commonwealth's attorney. ThlOugh.the courtes
of Mr. Washington and Mr., Wilson ] was pc
mitted to read the answer Of the State attorne