Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-22
THE HOME OF WASHINGTON.
How Gen. Washington Came into Pos.
session-The Mt. Vernon Association.


session-The Mt. Vernon Association.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
The chain OF title to this famous estate shows
that it has always been in the possession of the
Washingtons, descending by will or inheritance
from the grant of Lord Culpeper. in 1910, to
the time il was sold to the Mount Vernon La
dies association of the Union" April 6. 1855
1t is Of record in the early land records Of the
colony of Virginia that in 1870 tract of land
on the Potomac river, above Dogue run. in
which Mount Vernon is embraced. containing
5000 acres, was patented jointly to John WASH
ington, of Westmoreland county, Va. great
grandfather of the illustrious George Washing
toni, and Nicholas Spencer, was surveyed for
them under a warrant from Lord Thomas Gull
pepper, proprietor of the Northern Neck of yir-
ginia. In the division of this tract shortly
after. 1850 acres lying between Dogue run and
Little Hunting creek was assigned TO John
Washington. under the name of Hunting cree X
plantation" John Washington died in Janu-
AIRY, 1917. His will. dated February 26. 1915.
was proven January 10. 1917. In his will he
left this plantation to his son Lawrence. who
had some improvements made upon it, and at
his death he bequeathed it to his son An
gustine, the father of the general. Augustine
Washington cultivated and further improved
this Hunting creek plantation" and in the d.
vision of his estate left il by will TO his Oldest
son, Major Laurence Washington. who married
Anne, the oldest daughter of the Hon. William
Fairfax, of Belvoir, Fairfax county. Va. Major
Washington improved the estate and built the
middle portion -four rooms) of the present
mansion, and gave the name Mount Vernon TO
the estate. His portrait hangs in the room as
signed to West Virginia at Mount Vernon.
Between Lawrence Washington and his half
brother George there was a remarkable attach
ment and congeniality of tastes, notwithstand-
ing the disparity of fourteen years in their age.
Major Laurence Washington was accom-
plished gentleman and received a good educa-
ton, and was one of the far-seeing business
men of his day, as was his father before him.
He was largely interested in the manufacture
of iron. both in Virginia and Maryland: was
one of the originators of The Ohio COMPANY ~
and at the time of his death its president He
had served several terms in the house of bur-
gesses, and was adjutan s-gereral with the
rank OF major, of the northern district of Vir-
GINA, under regular salary. He had George
with him whenever il was practicable, and did
much to advance his interests and develop his
manly character.
LAURENCE wAsHINGToN's WILL
Laurence Washington died at Mt. Vernon
July 26, 1852. aged thirty-four years, and his
remains rest in the great vault Just behind
those of General Washington and his wife.
Martha Washington. In his will. after making
ample provision for his wife and his infant
child Sarah, the only child living. during their
lives, he conditioned that in the event of the
death of his child Ito whom Mt Vernon was
Left without issue. that then the Mt.Vernon es-
tate should become the property of his flowing
brother. George Washington" His will bears
date June 20, 1852. and was proved in court
September 26. 1852. George being named one
OF the executors. His child Sarah died shortly
after its father. George Washington. there
fore, inherited, under his half-brother's will.
the Mt Vernon estate before he was twenty-one
years of age. Laurence Washington's widow
married Col. George Lee. uncle of Arthur and
Richard Henry Lee, patriots Of the Revolution.
Gen. Washington was unable to give active
supervision to his Mount Vernon estate until
after the fall of Fort Duquesne and the driving of
the French out of the Ohio region. as his mill
tary duties engrOssed most of his time But
after his marriage. January 6. 1853 he resided
there and gave close attention to the improve
ment of his estates and of his large landed
interests in the shenandoah region and the
Ohio valley. He brought Mount Vernon to be
one of the best cultivated and most highly I'M
proved plantations in Virginia. He added
largely to its bounds until 1T embraced TO- OCC
acres and had a river frontage OF 10 miles. lie
enlarged the mansion house repaired or erected
new outbuildlngs and kept the whole estate in
every particular, land, fencings. roads and all
in first class condition.
The natural quality of the soil of this planta-
ton was never first class. indeed il is surprising
that 80 good a farmer and Judge of productive
lands could have reconciled himself to cult.
yate them to the extent he did. His lands il
the valley of Virginia and on the Ohio rivel
were vastly more productive than those on tn,
Potomac. But he seems never to have faltereC
IN his love for his Mount Vernon home. al
though he was aware that no profit came from
its cultivation, yet he preferred 1t to any othel
place. Its associations were dear to him and ht
had strong attachments for his friends and In,
planters who resided in the vicinity and wht
frequently visited him. and whose calls he re
turned.
wAsHISGToY's NEIGHBoRS.
Among these were the Alexanders, Barnses
Blackburns, Browns, Calverts, Dades, Digs
Elzys, Hunters, Masons, McCartys, Manleys
Paynes, PoSseys, Speaks, Stones. Triplets
Vests, Wagners, and many others residing il
Maryland and Virginia within aradius of tfteer
miles. As years rolled by his fame as a gen.
eneral and statesman was not confined to IN
county and state, or indeed to his country. bu
was worldwide. And Mount Vernon. after tn,
Revolution and the propri retirement
from the presidency of the United States. was
frequently visited by gentlemen eminent in ia,
various professions and walks of life. to pay
their respects to the founder of the American
republic. They were always received in mos
| courteous manner and Hospitality entertained
public service and the expensive domestic es
adjustment he maintained, accumulated con
siderable fortune for the period in which b,
lived. 1t was varied i'll character and widely
distributed as to locality, but he had scheduled
| 1t with care and estimated its approximate mar
ket value as may be seen in his published will
He having had no child born to him to inherit
his property, and being mindful that life Wal
| uncertain and that it was a duty to dispose o
the goods which Providence had intrustcd hin
with in as judicious manner as possible for
the benefit of those nearest of kin. he prepared
a will which he wrote with his own hand, anC
in which he made specific disposition of hi
whole estate.
HOW HE LEFT MOUNT VERNON.
The clause of his will referring to and dis
posing of the mansion house and Mount Yer
non estate properties is in the following words
ITO my nephew, Bushrod Washington. anC
his heirs (partly in consideration of an intima
ton to his deceased father while we were
bachelors, and he had kindly undertaken Il
superintend my estate during my military ser
vices in the former war between Great Britain
and France; that if l should fall therein Noun
Vernon then less extensive in domain than a
presently should become his property, / Civ,
and bequeath all that part thereof which i
comprehcnded within the following limits viz
Beginning at the ford of Dogue run. near M
mill. and extending along the road. and
bounded thereby as 1t now goes, and ever Ia,
gone since my recollection of it, to the fore
of little Hunting creek at the Gum spring
until it comes to a knoll opposite to an ole
road, which formerly passed through the lowel
field of Muddy Hole farm, at which, on tn,
north side of the said road are three RED
Spanish oaks marked as q corner and a STONE