The Atlanta constitution., 1898-08-01
TIE ANCESTRAL LINE
OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Edltor Constltution-In answer to Ques-
IONS as to the ancestry of George Wash
lnGton. l can but do so by repeating. as
follows, a previous letter on that subject:
Permit me to correct some of the errors
of Cleveland Moffett's article on The
Washingtons." in The Constitution of July
3rd.
He goes far astray, chronologically.
when he makes Lafayette one of the ad-
mirer5 of Mary Ball. The rose OF Fpping
forest She was married to Augustine
Washington and was the mother of many
children before Lafayette was born. He
did not come to America until after her
son, George, was the commander in chief
of the American armies
He treats words Of very different mean
ing as synonyms. when he says that 500 to
LOCO claim to be Iineal descendants of
George Washington, in spite of the fact
That he died chidIess. Many rightfully
claim blood relationship; no one claims
llneal descent from him.
He says: Washingtons father had
brother and sister who left issue, but the
line Of This descent has never been fairly
traced, and has been the subject of much
dispute
NO lineage IS more clearly traced or less
open to dispute than the lines of descent
from the brother and sis ,cr here alluded TO.
John and Mildred To those unacquaiut-
ed with the family. or its history, there may
have been some confusion caused by there
being so many Of the same baptiSmal
names before the time Of George; several
Johns. LaWrencrs and Annes, and especi-
ally two Mldrcds, cousins, one the daugh-
ter of John and the other of Lawrence,
who We're in succession. the second and
third wives Of Henry Willis.
The name George in the Washington
family was derived from George Reade.
who came to Virginia in 1881 He was a
younger son of a noted family in England;
his brother Robert Rcade, being seCre-
tary in the cabinet of Sir Francis Winde-
banke, secretary of state to the first Charles
Of England, appears by letters published
in the Life and Times of Charles l. and
in 'Sansburgs Calendar of State Papers,
15S4-1G60 on his arrival in the colony he
was the hOnOrcd guest of the governor.
John Harvey During Richard kemD's alb
sence in Eugland--l6,0Al-ihe acted as sec
retary of the colony, He was burgess Of
James city from 649 to 1886, and from 1851
10 1860 he was member Of the royal coun-
ell. But his chief American distinction Is
that he was the great-grc@t- t-grandfath of
General Washington, who was named Tor
him at baptism, his aunt. the aboVe-meh-
toned Mildred then Mrs. Gregory, acting
godmother.
George Reade left four sons, Robert,
Francis. benjamin and Thomas and
daughter, Millred Mildred Reade married
Augustine Warner, whose baptismal name
first appeared in the Washington family III
the person of his grandson, the father OF
George
"Augustine Warmers career was bril-
liant, but brief. Born in Gloucester county
Virginia, October 20th, 1912. he died June
18th, 1851. Educated in London and at Cam
bridge England. and returning to Virginia,
he was elected to the house of burgesseS III
1866 and soon became famous as Speaker
Warner Colonial tradition describes him
having been in person as beautItul
as Apollo and mentally as gifted filS Sis
ter, Mary. was ancestress OF LlSht
Horse Harry Lee and of General Robert
l.. Lee
"Colonel Augustine and Mildred Nteade)
Warner had sons who have transmitted the
name of Warner, and three daughters. Mil
dred Mary and Eli2abe
The cdest daughter, Mildred Warner.
married Lawrence, son of John Washing
ton, who, with his brother, Lawrence,
came to Virginia in 1868, or. some con-
tend in 1857. They were royalists and
church of England men, to whom the
domination of Cromwell had become in
tolersble: well educated. having fair es-