The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-22

of their adherence to the house of Stu
art and because of the attempt at a gem
eraI Instruction in 1855 they incurred
the dispIeasure and probably the ven
geance OF Cromwell Many at that time
sought refuge in other lands. whether
they shared in the conspiracy or not This
may have been the case with John ar
Andrew Washington. two brothers. great
grandsOns of Laurence Washington the
grantee OF Sulgrave- These two brothers
arrived in Virginia IN 1857 and purchased
lands in WestmoreIand county, between
the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.
John Washington married a Miss Anne
Pope and became an extensive planter and
a member Of the House Of Burgesses. We
find him. as Colonel Washington. exhibit
ing the old military spirit OF the family
leading forces against a band of Seneca
Indians who were rayishing settlements
along the Potomac.
His estate continued IN the family
through his son Lawrence and grandson
Augustine. who was born on the estate IN
1894. Augustine was twice married his
first wife being Jane Butler, to whom he
was married April 20, 14f5 and who bore
him four children, only Two sons, Law
renee and Augustine, surviving the years
of childhood Their mother died Novem-
Der "a, 1928. and was buried in the family
vault on Bridge Greek. which for genera
lions was the family burying- place.
The second wife of Augustine Washing
ton was Mary Ball 10 whom he was mar
ried March 6, 1880. By her he had four
sons and two daughters. The eldest sen
of this union was George Washington, who
was born on February II, 1872, according
10 the old style OF reckoning time. which
would correspond with February %, ac-
cording to the new style. The change
from the old style, or Julian calendar, to
no s+yyIa or sresorfau calendar
not occur in England or her colonies I'M
til September, 1852, more than twenty
years after George Washington was born
The Calendar Amendment act, called
also Lord Chesterfield's act, an English
statue providing for the adoption Of the
GTeg0Tian amendment Of the Julian caleR-
dar. which was passed in ISL, enacted that
the day following September 2, 1852, should
be called September Il, 1852. No such
days therefore as September the Sd to the
18th, inclusive, in the year 1852, ever &C
Cured Although we celebrate February
e as WashingtOns Birthday he was in
fact born on February II, as record Of
his birth would show.
Birth of Washington.
The birth Of George Washington occur
red in the homestead on Bridges Greek in
the parish Of Washington. Westmoreland
county, Va. The parish was named Wash
ingtoE in honor of Col. john Washington,
the great grandfather of George. The
house in which Washington was born was
burned during his early CHILDHOOD. Not a
Festige Of it remains. a stone placed there
by George ". Gusts marks the site of the
house, and an inscription denotes its be-
ing the birthplace OF Washington.
After the burning of this house the
Cayher removed to another estate inherited
from his paternai ancestors, situated in
Stafford county on the north bank of the
RapI 3hann0ck. opposite Fredericksburg.
where he died in 1743 when George was
but eleven years OF age. This was the
home Of Georges bOyhcod; but this homo
has also disappeared. Nothing but frag-
ments Of brick, china, and earthenware
remain 10 mark the site
Little is known OF the early years OF
Washington. The weIl-knoWn anecdotes
Of his boykcod in connection with his faith
er's teachings, among them the story of
the Ratchet and the cherry tree, so IA
mi;iar to all. cannot be accepted with any
degree Of confidence They rest exclu-
sively Qpau the statements Of one eccen-
tric biographer. So far as authentic his
tory is concerned We do not know that
George Washington ever had g Ratchet or
his father a cherry tree. We do know,
however, that the chilG's mind was i'm
pressed with high maXims Of religion and
- SlA-i- -DAEtA WIN tit spin II u JUS
tice and generosity and a scrupulOus love
of truth
The father, Augustine Washington. dis
tributed by viii his large possessions
among his children. The house and lands
On the RappahauAock which were the pa
teTnaI residence were deyisd TO George to
take effect when he becs.ae of age He with
the other minor children. was left under
the guardianship Of the mother. II is said
that ne inherited from her high temper
and . spirit Of command, but her early
precepts and example taught him 10
restrain and govern that temper and to
square his conduct on principles CT equity
and justice.
1.-The large estate on the Potomac, after
ward known as Mount Vernon. was devised
10 the Oldest brother Lawrence Washing
ton, who in turn devised il 10 his infant
daughter. and, il the event Of her death
without issue, to George. Upon the death
of the child and the wife of Lawrence
George took by devise the estate together
with much other property left him by his
brother
This estate was given the name OF
Mount Vernon by Lawrence Washington.
in honor Of Admiral Vernon. OF the British
Navy, under whom Lawrence when but
twenty-five years Of age had served with
distinction as Captain in the West Indies
campaign against the Spaniards in I740,
and for whom he had acquired great ad1ni-
ration.
George had seen his brother Lawrence
wfO was fourteen years older than him
self fitted out for the wars and had heard
from him much of his war experiences
All Georges aInusements took a military
turn He made soldiers Of his school
mates and was coInmander-in-ch of the
school
Here we have the secret of that mill
tary spirit which was displayed by Wash
ington in his later days. he reverenced
his oldest brother Lawrence. who was an
accomplished gentleman with noble spirit
and pure mind. The paternaI care mani
Tested by him fer his younger brother
George and the influence his own charac-
ter and conduct had upon him in his
youth should eHdear the name Of Law
renee Washington to every American who
revcres the name of Washington
Through the influence of his brother
Lawrence, who sun haC uuca C the 1aIiI-
tary spirit and inclination remaining
being at a suitable age, was on the point
of entering the British Navy. thing he
had desired from the time he became four
teen years old. IN fact a midshpEnan's
warrant was obtained and it is said that
the luggage OF the youth was actually on
board Of a man-0I-War, anchored in the
river just below Mou-at Vernon. The
mother had hesitatjusI.r given her con-
sent but at the last moment her heart
f2le-cd ard At her u cent request The
project was abandoned.
At the age Of sixteen Washington was