Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-08-21


81 where George Washington
b passed his boyhood, where he
~ cut down the cherry tree,
broke the neck of the untamed
colt and threw a silver dollar across
the riVer-so run the olden stories
perpetuated by the venerable Parson
Weems. This farm is on the Kappa
hammock river. opposite the colonial
town Of Fredericksburg, Va. The farm
is in Stafford county. the town is
Spottsylvania. The farm is much re-
duced In size, but that which is still
called the Washington farm contains
$50 acres. surrounding the site Of the
old Washington dwelling house, on the
foundation of which has been built the
house shown in the picture. People
who live roundabout will point out
whore the historic cherry tree stood
and assure one that the present cher
~ trees are descended from the trees
that grew there when Washington was
a child They will point out the pas
ture where the unruly colt was killed
and the spot where young Washington
hurled the coin across the river.
Though these feats are apochryphal.
yet each was easily possible. Many
a child has hacked cherished tree or
shrub Many colt has been manned
or killed in breaking A good base
ball thrower could send the sphere
across the Rappahannock at that
point, though the river is somewhat
narrower now than it was then.
Record incomplete.
Because of the incompleteness OF
the land records OF Stafford county.
there Is no continuity of title OF this
land from the time the Washingtons
bought it. There is a proposition that
this farm be taken over by one Of the
ancestral patriotic societies. 1t was
not long after Washington's birth, on
the Pope's Creek farm on the Po-
tomac river in Westmoreland county,
Virginia. that Washington's parents.
his elder half-brotheF Lawrence, and
perhaps his eldest half-brother Angus
tine, also removed to the farm across
from Fredericksburg. city named for
Prince Frederick, the father of George
ILL., The date of the removal of the
Washingtons from the Potomac to the
Rappahannock farm is uncertain, but
was between 1875 and 1740. The Rap
pahannock farm had for several years
been owned by Augustine Washington
(the father) and being close to city,
while his other holdings were distant
from one. it is judged that the Wash
en- uyigh 81 Of hsr "a
This farm has been called variously
pine Grove" and the Ferry Farm"
the latter name being due to the farm
being opposite the lower Fredericks-
burg ferry Whether George Washing
ton knew this place as Pine Grove is
questionable. In this connection it is
worth recalling that George Washing
ton never knew his birthplace as
Wakefield, yet all the books set 1t
down that he was born at Wakefield.
George Washingtons father died
April IL, 1743, leaving large landed
possessions. The old home farm on
the lower oPtomac he bequeathed to
his eldest son Augustine. TO his son
Lawrence he left the farm on the Po-
tomac between Dogue creek and HuntA
ing creek, which Lawrence subse-
quently called Mount Vernon. To
George, when he should become OF
age, he bequeathed the Rappahannock
farm. OF this Fredericksburg farm
Washington Irving. who visited all the
Washington places in Virginia, says:
Meadow His playground.
Not long after the birth OF George
his father removed TO an estate in
Stafford county. The house was sim
liar In style to the one on Bridges
creek Cor Pope's creek, and stood on
rising ground overlooking meadow
which was his playground and the
scenes of his early athletic sports. But
this home, like that in which he was
born, has disappeared; the site is only
to be traced by fragments OF bricks,
china and earthenware.
This house was occupied by Mary
Washington until Il was destroyed by
fire at time after George had
change his place of living to his
half-brother's home. Mount Vernon.
After the fire Mrs. Washington moved
into a small frame cottage in Fred
ericksburg, in which She died on
August rs. 1859. This cottage is stand
ing, and is owned and utilized as q