Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-27
wAsHINeroN's DESCENDANTS.
some Published Errors Corr-ctsd a., Dr
John Il. Cotton, OF Charl.sto, W y.

some fobhshsd Errors Corrected nv Dir
John 4. Cotton, OF Charleston. w. Va.
Spee'ai Correspondents Of ne Reei.te,.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, April 2s-Tbe
artleie published recently 10 The REGISTER
taken from the Nagd-ine Of american Has
tory and headed ''The Neaiest Relatives of
Washlu gton," contaics ~ many errors
mls'eadirg IN their tendency that your
correspondent deems II important, lust at
this time, TO correct them, and in order to do
so and learn something of the history Of the
ismlly, your representative called on DIR.
john I. Cotton, Of this city. The Doctor
mad read the article, and in reply to my
question, said: 1t is interesting to note
AZ this centennial epoch, says the writer,
OF the srticle referred to, that
the nearest living relatives of the illus.
triOus Washington are not OF the name"
From the hsit-brOihers Of orr fret Presi-
dent are descended the WashiOgtons who
repr sent the Washington family OF 10 day.
BIT The numerous descendants Of the cid
est sister, Bette, who married Col Field
ing Lswis, are the nearest of kin "
Now the truth is, said DR.. Cotton, Gen.
Washington had but two half-brotbers,
Lawrence and Augustine The children OF
Lawrepcs all died in their infancy, leaving
none to survive him; ard Augustine had
but one son and three daughters; while, en-
the other hand, Washiugton's own brothers
by the same mother, Charles, Samuel,
and John Augustine were blessed with
mauy children whose descendants, bearing
the name OF Washington, ere now living
IA az least six States of the Union. For
instance, in Jefferson county, W. Va,
there now reside BushrOd Washington and
Others Of the same pahOnymics, the great
grandchildren Of Charles and Samuel
Washington. Ia Newport, Ky, Col
George Washington, aud also Mrs John
& Taylor, descendants of Samuel Wash
iDgt0n, reside In Memphis, TeDne ssee,
resides Mr. J. F Washington, still an
other descendant from the came ancestor.
When first came to the Kauawha val
ley, in 1915, Samuel Washington. one Of
the five nephews to whom Gen Washing
ton in his will bequeathed his five swords,
WIS living fifteen miles below Charleston;
but soon afterwards, with his Sons, moved
TO Texas. In the will hequeathing these
swords occurs that striking Injunction so
often quoted: Not to unsheath them for
the purpose OF shedding blood except 1t be
IN self defense or IN defense of their cOun-
Try and its rights. aud in the latter case 10
keep them unsheathed and prefer falling
with them in their hands to the relinquish- /.
ment thereof" II was whilst living IN Ka
nawha that Samuel Washington presented /.
this sword 10 the Congress of the United /.
States, upon which occasion George w. |
Summers, the matcbless orator OF West
delivered that celebrated speech |
20 often deolaimed by school boys in their
public exercises.
The neerest living relatives of Washing /.
ton are the grandchildren Of bis favOrlte
niece, Harriet The public can hardly so
'Oon have forgotten the interesting CORE
pcudence published but q few years since
in HlrDsr'S Magazine. between this lady /.
and her illustrious uucle and guardian on
the eve her wedding. The General laid /
aside the cares of State for few days and !
came from Philadelphia 10 MOunI Vernon /
10 be present aud 10 give away his ward I
and niece in mariiage 10 young merchant
If Baltimore named Andrew Parks From /
this union came DR.. John Parks, who died /
only q few weeks ago az MaldeD. in this
county, leaving two children, Albert and
Anns. Msi0r Andrew Parks, who died in
in the year 1852, was also a
,on of Harriet Parks His only dau hter
Mrs. Theodore Talmsge, is now residing IN
City. Another grandchild OF
Harriet Parks is Mrs. Nicholas Fiizhugh, !
now living in RavenswoOd, W. Va.
These are undoubtedly the nearest liy-
.rp relatives of General Washington.
Nv own children, Nettie Q. Wilson,
wife of Gov. Wilson, Mamie NJ. Wood
man. wife of Frank WoOdman, Sallie A
Donneilv. wife of W B. DOnnelly, and
John Cotton are descended from Angus
tine Washington. and still hold IN pos
session Washington lands, situate in add
sb1ut Ravenswood on the Ohio river, IN
heri'ei from their grandmother, Henrietta
5. Fuzhugh, to whom they were devised
in Washinqton's will IS one Of 1.-THE heirs
Of Anne Ashton" the youngest daughter
OF Augustine Washington. Mrs. Fitz-
hugh. Who survived until the ninety frs,
wear Of her age was the most charming OF
raconfsuYss and nothing could possibly
exceed in interest her many vivid de-
scriptiops Of scores and incidents IN the
home life OF Washir gtcD, ~ Mount Yer
Don. "reminiscences of her early glrihood'
visits 10 that delightful place.