The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-05

The historic siIE
The historic spot 10 receive n Will pro
hahlv become the Mecca OF many pa
triOtir pilgrim II is Oh an old fiat farm
sfxtv-fve miles down the Potomac ln
Nes. moroland county. Wa retired.
almost inaccessible location. There, set
back about a hundred yards from the
bank Of Popes creek, wide tributary
of the Potomac. stood Wakefield Man
sion." in which Washington first sa"
the light.
Though IL was styled a mansion" I'm
those Colonial days il was only an ordi-
nary farmhouse even in that primitive
time. II was made OF logs. weather
boarded. and had an enormous chimney
on each end built on the outside.
The building had out one story proper
and an attic under the hip-roof, which
was broken by d0rmcr windows. At the
front was "A wide porch extending the
width Of the house.
ON the right side OF the entrance was
the parlor. and its yawning fireplace was
decorated. after the fashion OF that time,
with blue Dutch tiles Of quaint design.
There were but three other rooms on tho
first floor. the largest being boz the one
story extension al the rear used as
sleeping chamber by Augustine Washing
ton and Mary. his second wife
In that humble room was the greatest
American born. February ~, lia-. There
also were born George Washngton's sis
ter Betty and his brother Samuel
rHrHrRo's WORTHY PARENTS.
Mary Washington, tho hero-mothcr
and her worthy husband lived. accord
ing to tradition. an ideal country life, i'm
tho midst of a prosperous plantation or
90 acres of wood and bottom land. and
dispouged 10 all corners the generous
hospitality characteristic Of the old Viz
cinia families. The chief crop produced
ON the place was tobacco. and tho trad
ing vessels of that day had no difficulty
in mooring close 20 shore and taking on
! their careOcs direct from the fields where
IL had been produced.
Wakefield house was destroyed by fire
on a windy day Bon April 1875. when
! George Washington Was but three years
old The story goes that the slaves We're
burning brush and other spring trash
in the yard when suddenly sparks we're
carried 20 the dry shingles Of the home
roof I'm a few moments the whole struc-
ture was wrapped in flames.
Augustine Washington. The father,
happenod 10 be absent. and Mary, the
mother. took command. Under her eye
the family furniture and valuables We're
removed by the slaves TO a place OF safe
IT, Then the good mother set an hands
20 making up beds and preparing supper
in "a slave cabin at the rear, which had
escaped burning
soon thereafter Augustine washing
ton built another home Of the same style
as the Wakefield Mansion in Stafford
county. across the RappaldnnOck river
from Fredericksburg, Va, where the rest
Of the children We're born. and where
Mary Washington lived as ID widow until
the outbreak Of the Revolution.
Now a SADLY -SfaLYcrID rL,cF.
Nothing now remains OF the Wake
field house but few vestiSes of the old
foundation walls and a little pile OF br0k-
On English bricks. The place is covered
with weeds and grass. and dotted here
and there with ciumps OF Wild-hg bushes
ragged zine trees and old cellars.
On the spot where the old house stood
a fiat stone slab had been placed in lNl5
hy George Washington Parke GUSTS,
Washington's adopted son. with these
words cut into it. Here George Wash
ngton, ON the 22l % February 1892 was
born" Tho stone was still intact as late
as 1S4. but since then 10 has been de-
stroyed and carried of by relic-hunters.
4 few hundred yards from the old site
IS the residence of John T.. Wilson, from
whom the Government recently bought
the ground 10 now owns. Mr.. Wilson is
the husband Of Betty Washington.
whose grandfather was William Augus-
tine Washington. half-nephew Of the
immortal George.
Certain speculative students Of history
have contended that the birthplace Of
Washington is uncertain. and pamphlets
have been written 10 prove that our first
President was born bon England, whore
his parents were married in $780, But
such controversy is set an rest by the
genealogical table Of the family, supplied
hv Washington himself TO an English
heraldrv office. wherein he wrote;
George. oldest SON OF Augustine by Sec
ond marriage. was born in Westmoreland
comfy
WASHINGTON VAULT TO BE RESTORED.
II is the intention Of the authorities I'm
charge 20 enclose the monument with
permanent iron railing and 10 improve
the grounds Immediately surrounding IL.
and also 10 provide a roadway. hanked
with a wire fence. from the wharf ar
Wirt's Landing As a collateral incident
10 the general project 81 is further pro-
posed 10 restore the old Washington
family vault at Bridges creek. close 10
the wharf. In which lie the bones of
Augustine Washington and minor MEM
bers Of the family. Philadelphia Record.