Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-06-24
ONLY THE FOUNDATION.
ALL THAT REMAINS OF A HIS
TORIC HOUSE.
A Pile OF Bricks Mark tho SPOT Where
Washington Was Born-A Cluster
of Trees and Few Bushes
Surround the Site.


been prominent in the early or late
history OF this country. Westmoreland
county. lying on the Potomac river
sixty-five miles below Washington.
claims the honor of being the birth
place OF threw ashington Monroe
and X + Lee-says the Washington
Star.
Wakefield is situated in the north
ern part OF this county, just three
miles below the summer resort { olo-
NAL Beach and in full view OF that
place. 1t is large plantation OF 1900
acres. bordering on the river for one
half mile and running back some dis
lance between the histor. Pope and
Bridge creeks The spot where the
home OF Washington stood is 100
yards from the bank of Pope creek
and some distance up from the river
Nothing remains OF the Original
dwelling, which was a plain house OF
four rooms on the lower floor and
several in the attic except the bricks
that formed the foundation of the
house. Up to a few years ago a lone
chimney stood, marking this historic
place. but now nothing remains save
cluster OF trees. few big bushes
and a pile of broken brick.
The owner OF Wakefield is John +.
Wilson. formerly of Maryland. but
who has for nearly forty years been
residing upon the place. He married
Miss Bette Washington. whose grand
father was William Augustine Wash
ington. the half nephew OF General
Washington William A. Washing
ton used TO live on Kalorama Heights
in this city. was the owner of this
property and IL was while he lived
here that he entertained Fulton and
lent him invaluable assistance while
he was perfecting his plans for his
steamboat invention. The table used
by Fulton while making his drawing
for his steamboat was the one used by
General Washington mother. and
can be seen now at Wakefield. 1t is
owned by Mrs. j. T. Wilson.
Although the civil war lett Tide
Water. Va. in crippled condition.
this northern neck OF Virginia is most
| fayorably situated and the people to-
day live well and in no country will
you find more hospitality. more refine
ment or culture than along these two
great rivers the Rappahannock and
the Potomac.
The first OF Washington's ancestors
that came to this county were two
brothers. Lawrence and John. who
settled in 1869 at Bridge Creek The
name of the old home was changed III
n,,f1 haN II
Wakefield. Lawrence afterwards
moved to what is now Essex county
and there died early in January 1917:
In Tippahannock the county seat OF
Essex county. is recorded the will of
Lawrence Washington. and in the
court house of Westmoreland county
is recorded the will OF his brother
John. 1t is from John Washington
that George is descended General
Washington's father was Augustine
Washington, who was the son OF Law
renee who was the son OF John Wash
ington who emigrated 10 America
Washington's father grandfather
and grcat-grandfather lived all or part
of their lives at Bridge Creek. now
Wakefield and were all inferred in the
family vault. This vault is only a
short distance from the birthplace but
nothing remains except a group OF
trees and a few marble slabs. with in
scriptions on them almost extinct
To rescue from Oblivion this historic
place by marking the place where
stood the original house with suit
able monument congress has already
taken action
For this purpose, on June IL. 1879,
by joint resolution. So 900 was ap.
propriated. In the spring OF 1880
I William M. Evarts then secretary OF
state, made visit to the birthplace
and on May 24,. 1880 wrote letter
TO Samuel j. Randall. speaker of the
house. and suggested that the dosig-
nation OF the paternal home in which
Washington was born and that tho
preservation OF ali that time had left
of it should shape the architecture of
the monument to be erected. He es-
timated that such a structure would
cost $50. 600. After thi /, on February
26 1881, the original appropriation
OF SO. 600 was increased TO that
amount and the expenditure of the
money was left in the hands OF the
secretary OF state. AS the land to be
occupied by the monument had first
to be purchased with public right OF
way thereto to the river after the
passage of this joint resolution appro-
priating $50 600 Hon. L. Il. Freling-
huysen sent an officer OF the state de-
partment with Judge l.. L.Lewis then
district attorney, to see the property.
! Upon examination OF the title and
after due surveys were made. proper
deeds were prepared by these gentle
men and executed by John +. Wilson
and Bette Wilson, his wife and the
purchase money promptly paid. Thus
came into possession of the United
States that portion OF Wakefield that
contains the early home OF Washing
ton.
Kept Quiet.