Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-16
The GRANITE SHAFT
atWAKEF1LLD

known as Popes creek or the farm
creek" or 1.-The home on Popes creek. "
In the writings of Washington he notes
a visit to his brother John A. Washing
ton at Nomini about fifteen miles from
Popes creek). to the widow of his broth
er Augustine at POpeS creek, and to his
brother Samuel at ChOptank near
Matthias point in King George county,.
There is never any mention of Wake
field 1t is believed that the name Wake
field was given the place by William Au-
gustine Washington. who was George
Washington's nephew. being the son OF
Washington's brother Augustine, who in
herited the Popes creek farm. In the
will of this William Augustine Washing
ton he bequeathS Wakefield to his son
George Corbin Washington This is the
first reference of record of Wakefield.
The birthplace of George Washington.
as we'll as thousands of acres of old
Washington and Pope lands, are today
owned and titled by collateral descend
ants of George Washington. who are nu-
merous in that historic region as well as
in King George county, which is the
county north of Westmoreland. vast
tracts of these lands have never been
out of the possession of the Washingtons.
though the birthplace has seen many
changes of ownership.
This farm. from the time of its pur-
chase by the immigrant remained in the
family for a number of generations. First,
there was the Immigrant John. He left
it to his son Capt. Lawrence Washing
ton. He left il to his son Augustine
Washington. the father of George Wash
ington. Augustine Washington died
April II. 1143 TO his son Lawrence he
left farm on the Potomac river between
Hunting creek and Dogue run, which
Lawrence later called Mount Vernon. To
his son Augustine Washington he left
the Popes creek homestead. To George
Washington when he should come of age
he bequeathed the farm on the Kappa
hammock, directly across from F'redericks-
burg. All the other children were well
provided for.
At the death of Georges brother Au-
gustine the Popes creek farm passed to
his son. William Augustine Washington.
and then to his son, George Corbn Wash
ington. In 1913 George Corbin Washing
ton sold the farm TO John Gray of Stat
ford county, Va, who gave it to his son,
Atchison Gray. 1t was next sold to Dan
iel Payne. who did not want the place.
but took it in connection with some other
property and owed a balance on it of 3d.
600. He sold the farm. subject to this
debt to Henry Il. Garrett, who moved
away to Alabama.
= =
Garrett sold il to Charles G. Jett, who
did not lift the mortgage on it. Daniel
Payne dying, the place was sold at
trustees sale, the executors of Payne
buying il in and making it part of
the Payne estate. Payne's heiress,
Betty Payne, became the wife in 1S45
of DR. William Writ, son of William
Writ, who was Attorney General under
President Jackson. The year after her
Nlrnly iala sol Iahv,
r. Wilson of Anne Arundel county,
Md. and he settled his son. John r.
Wilson on the farm. This John Z. Will
son married Betty Washington, grand
daughter of William Augustine Wash
ington, and the farm at Pope's creek
came back to the Washington family
John f. Wilson lived to a ripe age, a
splendid example of the gentleman, and
died two or three years ago. His
widow. who was Betty Washington,
lives on the farm today Among the
children of Mrs Betty Washington
Wilson are Latney Wilson, William
Lawrence, Augustine, James Janet and
Bessie. Another daughter. Miss Susan
married an Episcopal clergyman, who
had charge of the little church at Oak
Grove Westmoreland county. but the
memory of the writer fails to recall his
name.
The writer has long been familiar with
this Washington country in the northern
neck of Virginia, and has the honor ia
count as his friends all the WaShlnstons
and Wirts living down there. Among his
notes lie has preserved memoranda of a
conversation with Mr.. John T.. Wilson
had several years before that good mans
death. concerning the site of the Wash
ington birth house. Mr.. Wilson said:
II remember the Gusts marker II
was put in position in 1913, while Mr.
Custis was living at Arlington. 1t was
a big bowlder of Potomac bluestone an6
was probably quarried just above Wash
ington, ID. c. 1t WAS taken down the
river by schooner and set on the site OF
the Washington homestead, then clearly
indicated by the chimneys which We're
standing. The stone was in position
when l came into possession of Wake
field in the 40s. A few years before
the civil war some colored persons build
ing their quarters in the neghborhoOd
carried off this big stone and nut il in