The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-02
HEIRS To ESTATE
OF WASHINGTO
LAWRENCE WASHINGTON CLAIMS
TO BE LEGAL DESCENDANT
OF FIRST PRESIDENT.

l. NAOIllAN0 tONs IL. C.-SDeciai-
Lawrence Washington, employed ar
the Congressional Library. who as
serts he is a legal descendant OF
/ George Washington's family. vester-
day talked Interestingly of the fight
whlcn the heirs of the Father of His
country are making in an effort to
induce Congress to allow a claim of
/ $SO5,OOO, with interest. Mr. wasbinP
ton says he is confident the House
committee on Public Lands will this
week report favorably on the claim.
Between 500 and 400 persons are
ueeply interested in the action OF the
committee, even though Mr.. Wash
hhgIon is the only one who has ap-
Peareu oetore the committee to pre-
sent mis- claim. Mr.. Washington is a
descendant OF Corbin Washington, son
or John Augustine Washington, BROTH
er OF the first President of the United
States.
OF the many who will share in this
great estate, provided. of course, ia
vorable action is taken, there are
three other Washingtonians, The Rev.
9. Freeland Peter, assistant pastor of
/ the Church of the Epiphany: Arthur
Peter, lawyer and professor at George
washington University, and Miss n. b.
Washington. The Rev. Mr.. Peter and
Arthur Peter are descendants of Mar
I that Park Peter. Nearest in point Of
descent to Americas great general is
Richard b. Washington, who at the
age of eighty-seven is residing at
Charleston, Jefferson county, w. va.
1t is estimated the heirs will receive
| anywhere from 500 to $4,000 each
according to the number in the fami-
| lies of the descendants.
How VIII Divides Estate
In his Will General Washington di-
Vides his property to the residuary
legatees in twenty-three parts as fol-
lows: William Augustine Washing
ton, Elizabeth Spotswood, Jane Thorn
ton, heirs of Ann Ashton and sons
and daughters of Augustine Washing
ton, one part each; Fielding Lewis
George Lewis, Robert Lewis, Howell
Lewis, Betty GUSTS, sons and daugh-
ters of Betty Lewis. one part each;
George Augustine Washington, Law
renee n Washington, Harriet Parks
heirs of Thomas Washington and sons
and daughters of Samuel Washington
one part each; Corbin Washington.
| heirs of Jane Washington, sons and
daughters of John a. Washington, one
dred Hammond, Frances Ball, sons
and daughters of Charles Washington:
George Fayette Washington, Charles
a Washington, Maria Washington,
sons and daughters of G.. A. Washing
ton, one-third of a part each; Eliza
| beth Park Law Martha Park Peter.
! Eleanor Park Lewis, one part each
and Bushrod Washington. Lawrence
| Lewis and George Washington Park
| Custis, one-third of a part each.
The present administrator of the
viii is Robert Z. Lee, Jr., son Of the
lateRW. II. Lee and a grandson of
the Confederate general, Robert L.
Lee, and himself one of the benefi-
Charles under the will. No counsel is
| being employed by the heirs, Mr. Lee
acting in that capacity in order to
straighten out the Iong-standing tan
gle without any cost to those con-
| cerned.
Land Located i'm Ohio.
The claim of the heirs of General
Washington is for land which he had
| located on the territory northwest Of
the Ohio River, in Hamilton and Cler-
mont counties. Ohio, by virtue OF
| warrants which Americas first Presi~
| dent had purchased. Under the laws
| of Virginia Washington was entitled
to about $4,000 acres of land for mill
tary service, but he declined to take
any. The S,051 acres of land the
| heirs now seek restitution for were
| purchased from soldiers who had &C
| cepted the land. According to the
| testimony given before the House
committee a few days ago, tax on
| the land was paid by the Washington
| estate until 1880, at which time IL was
jumped" by man named Kerr. AZ
| terward the courthouses of the coun-
ties interested burned down, the re-
cords for the land were lost. and since
that time the Government has made
| use of the property.
Nelson w. Evans. of Portsmouth
o., appointed by the State of Ohio
some years ago to look after its in
terests in the military lands, discov-
cred the Washington tract, and noti-
| fed the heirs.
Old Records Unearthed.
Evidence has been unearthed of
acts passed at the Ninth Congress,
showing that the land was the prop
erty of the Washington estate, as pc
titions were sent to Congress asking
that second location on the land be
| declared void.
The original fight to secure a set
Element from the Government by the
heirs was begun in 1907, and bill
was introduced at the second session
of the Sixtieth Congress to reimburse
the estate of General George Wash
| ington for certain lands owned by him
in the State of Ohio, lost by grants i'm
properly made by the United States
The committee at that time concluded
its report in this manner:
The committee is of the opinion
Following the action of previous Con-
crosses, in the act of March 8, 1907.
in the three acts for the relief of the
Virginia locaters between Ludlow and
Roberts lines. that the claim is Just
and that the bill should be paid"
npCnnn own Or, Uyoworr