Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-30
THE wASHINGTONS.
The Half Brothers of George and Their
Descendants.

number of the Magazine Of History to the effect
that the nearest relatives of the illus.rious
Washington do not bear his name is misleading.
And the further smplifcation of the statement
Is. If possible, still more erroneous that from
the half brothers of our first President are de-
scended the Washingtons who represent the
Washingtons Of the present day" These gen.
ordinations, l apprehend, were made hastily
and without study or a knowledge of the facts.
The writer, presume, Is well informed as to
the descendants of Washington's sister Betty,
the second wife of Col. Fielding Lewis, of
fredericksburg. Va, whose first wife was also
Washington and distantly related to the gen.
eraL As George Washington had no children
himself. the nearest of kin in descent would be
the children of his brothers and sister.
wAsHISGToS's ANCESTRY.
II is known to most students of history, al
though it will bear repetition. that George
Washington. the first President of the United
States. was the son of Augustine, grandson of
Lawrence and great-grandson of John WASH
ingtOn. the emigrsnt who came from England
and settled III WestmOreland county Va. in
1857. His will was made in 1878, and was proven
in court January 10. 1917. His remains were
inferred at Wakefield. the name of the estate
IN Westmoreland county. Augustine Wash
ington. the grandson of the emigrant and tie
father of the President was born on Bridges
creek, Westmoreland county. Va. 1891 and
died on his plantation, in Stafford county
nearly opposite to the town of Frederic Ksburg.
Va. April H. 17i3. His remains were taken to
WestmOTeland and inferred in the family bury
ing ground. He was twice married. first to
Jane. daughter of Caleb Butler, of Westmore-
land county. by whom he had four children
three sons and one daughter Butler the first
born. died in infancy. Lawrence, second child
inherited from his father the plantation now
known as MT. Vernon" and which he left to
his half-brother George in the event of his
only surviving child dying without issue.
Augustine. third child. inherited from his
father the old homestead on Bridges creek.
Jane, fourth child. died unmarried at about the
age Of fourteen. His wife the mother of the chill
dren named died November 81. 1928 and is
buried at Wakefield Augustine Washington
married
FOR dis SECOND WIFE,
Mary, daughter of Joseph. granddaughter of
VIM. Ball, who came from England with his
family, and settled at the mouth of Coroto-
man river in Lancaster county. Va. To Au-
gustine and his second wife. Mary BALD Wash
lngtOn, were born six chlldren: First George,
born, Bridges Creek. Westmoreland county.
Va, Feb. IL. y. s.. or Feb. %, n. s., 1892
planter. statesman and founder of the Ameri-
can republic. Second. Betty, who married Col
Fielding Lewis. and was the mother of five sons
and on daughter. This niece and these
nePhevs. although not bearing the name of
Washington. have the same kinship as the
did. They doubtless have numerous descend
ants, "a Is indicated in the paragraph which
gave rise TO this article. Third, Samuel colo
mel IN the Revolution. born 18th Nov. 1874 He
was five times married; had issue by two of his
Wlyes-hve sons and one daughter. He died in
Isl. and was buried on his estate, Harwood
Berkeley county. Va. Fourth. John Augustine
born jan ID. 1876. married Hannah. daughter
of Col. John Bushrod. of Westmoreand county
Va. They had five children who survived
their InlnOrIry-tnrpe and two Iauobtars
Fifth, Charles. colonel in the Revolution born
May 2. 1I38. He married Mildred. daughter of
Col. Francis Thornton of Spottsylvania county,
Va. They had four children who attained their
majOrity-twO and two daughters Col
Chas. Washington laid out the town of Charles
town. His estate. Happy Retreat" a fine
plantation, adjOined the town. Sixth. Mildred
born 1879: died in infancy
II this record is complete and reliable IL
would then appear that Augustine Washington
the father of the President. had seven children
who lived to maturity and married Namely
Lawrence and Augustine by his first wife and
five by his second wife. who were therefore
half brothers and sister TO the former. namely
George. Betty. Samuel. John Augustine, and
Charles. Our attention in this study centers in
the descendants Of these children of Augustine
Washington and especially the males who have
perpetuated the name of Washington.
MAJOR LAWRENCE WASHINGTON
Oldest half brother of George. was born in
had attained a suitable age he was sent to
England to be educated On leaving college he
entered the British navy and served with dis
function under Admiral Vernon. After returning
from the expedition against the Island of
Carthagenia he retired from the naval service
and returned to Virginia. and shortly after
married Ann. oldest daughter OF the Hon
William Fairfax. a retired naval officer presi-
dent of the council of Virginia. and agent for
Lofd fslriaxs immense estate, the Northern
Neck of Virginia" He resided at 'Belvoir" an
extensive and beautiful plantation miles
below
MOUNT VERNON on THE POTOMAC.
Major Washington took his bride to his estate.
which he had named Mount Vernon" in honor
of his old commander. Four children were
born 70 them, all of whom died in their homage
Lawrence Washington q man of fine adj
dress and good business habits and bv his en-
terprise and sagacity had added largely to his
inheritance.
In his will after making ample provision for
his wife and one infant daughter then living
he conditioned that in the event Of this child's
dying without issue that then the Mount
Vernon estate. which was left to her should at
once vest in and become the property of his
brother, George Washington whom he named
one OF his executors This child. daughter
died shortly after her father. The Mount
Vernon estate went to her uncle George before
he was twenty-One years of age. Major Law
=.
buried at Mt Vernon. His widow married
George. an uncle of Arthur and Richard Henry
Lee, patriots in the Revolution
AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON
born l120 second son of Augustn brother of
Lawrence and half-brother of George and his
brothers and sister. married Anne. daughter of
Col VIM. Aylett. man of wealth and influence
IN Westmoreland county. Va. They had four
children who lived TO maturity and married
First. Elizabeth. who married Col Alexander
SpOttswOOd; second. Jane, who married Col
John Thornton; third. Anne. who married Bur
dett Ashton: fourth, William Augustin, who
married first his cousin Jane daughter of John
Augustln tthe full brother of George of Rush-
field. WestmOreland county. Va His second
marriage was 20 Polly. daughter of Richard
Henry Lee. of Chantilly. His third marriage
was 20 Sally. sister of Col John Tayloe OF
Mt. Airy. Richmond County, Va This William,
Augustin. the fourth child of Augustin half
brother of George, was the only male that had
survived to the half-bTother of the President
The line through Lawrence was extinct and
but one son. William Augustin survived TO per-
petuate the line from the haif-brother Angus
tin. In other words. George Washington had
But ONE NEPHEW FROM HIS HALF-BKorHERs
to perpetuate the name of Washington On
the other side be had nephews by each Of his
three brothers. Samuel had five sons, John
Augustin three sons. and Charles two SONS
The chance then of descendants from the half
brother and the brothers of Washington to per
petuste the name stood at the start as two is 10
three. When the generation had moved on to
nephews II stood a. one TO eleven in the chances