Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-22
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
One of the Days Best Cartoons.

To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-Thc 22d OF February is printed
in red letters on most OF our calendars
and is generally observed "a n ma
tionnl holiday. 1t has close relation
ship To tho birth OF the nation 1T
has led 10 tho erection in Wcst,noreland
County. 20 the memory OF George
Washingtons BIRTH tho most imposiu,,
ana massive monument that has as
Yet marked Il human birthplace on this
continent In these massive ana poll
ishcd blocks OF granite the government
has paid tribute to the place ana day
of Washingtons birth. a yet more
significant ana imposing tribute Is paid
to them by the American people in
their observance OF the day, and the
patriotic love and vcncration in which
il is held
Numerous interesting inquiries are
suggested ANA several uuanswcrablc
Questions in connection with the birth
of George Washington, as a matter of
family history. or the marriage which
preceded this birth by nearly two years
the records are pcrpicNing!y wanting
10 where Ii occurred and by what
company II was witnessed or by whom
performed. No marriage bond or other
legal attcsta,iOn of the interesting ccrc-
mony that made Augustine Washing
ton and Mary Ball man and wife. has
Yet ht'H IpHllt. mol IN INC rGCOflS or
WcStmorcland or Lancaster Counties.
in Virginia. nor in England. has such
document yet come to light. The
record has probably persisted forever
in that unfortunate neglect Of historic
cal data which has SO widely prevailed
among our people.
The romantic story OF the coUrtShip
of this couple In England and their
marriage OH that side OF the ocean.
which was published TWO generations
ago and has been repeated by numcr-
Gus historians and biographcrs. is open
TO grave distrust and doubt Not the
faintcst evidence exists on this side
OF the water that Mary Ball ever trod
foot on English soil though her stu
alton and circumstances for four or
five years prior To her marriage give
some color Of probability TO her having
done so.
At her mothers death. in 1921. she
was placed under tho care of Colonel
George ltskridgc, an eminent lawyer
of Wcstinorcland. living at Sandy
Point. and went to live with her aunt.
Elizabeth ionlim, whose homo was very
near that OF her guardian. There was
very close blood relationship between
Colonel EskridSe and the Bonums. and
Mary I;all found in the first named Il
foster father, ana in her aunt, Eliza
beth, OF the latter. foster mother.
After the death OF Elizabeth Honum's
husband in 1926, there is no record TO
tell that Mary Fall continued to re-
side with her, but her husba nd's tender
references to her in his will. and the
requests which he made to her, strong
~ suggest that she did. If so. ut pre-
c!scly the time Of this residence with
her aunt, Colonel Eskridgc was in fun
practice as the foremost lawyer of the
county, and Augustine WASHINGTON It's
chief magistrate. The records show
that at wcll-nigh every court of this
period the magistrate was present to
decide the causes argued by the at
torncy. 1t requires no effort OF ones
ina gination To perceive how easy n
matter It was between the lawyer with
his opulcnt ward ana the magistrate
now q widowcr. while thus mingling
in suits OF law to cooperate in n suit OF
love. SO it may he assumed that the
parents of George Washington were
married in the Bonum home or that OF
the brides guardian, or pcrchance. In
the parish church--old Ycocomico--
only two miles distant
discard the claim that this mar
rage took place in England, since Au-
rustinc Washington was at MontrosS
as n justice OF Wcstmor"land on August
2S, 1929, and was married on March 6,
1730--datcs which show too short an
interval to admit of his having made
his arrangements. taken ship. made
the tedious journey of those days to
England, prosecuted courtship and
won his bride.
1t is worthy Of note that when Mary
Washington, on February 30, 1889. gave
| birth to son and delibc"ated on the
| name to be given him her mind turned
| TO George Eskvidge. who had been n
| father to her, and she named him
George When again, n year and a few
months later. Il daughter was born to
| her she similarly recalled her foster
mother of the Bonum home, and called
| her Elizabeth.
Many visitors at Mount Vernon have
| observed the portrait OF George Esk-
| ridge, which has for many, many years
hung on its walls. without knowing why
| it had go conspicuous n place in that
| historic mansion. These facts here
| brought to mind by the recurrence OF
| February % will explain it.
1t would pc quite in keeping with
| these references to the birth OF tho
! Father of his Country TO make men
| ton Of tho house in which tho impor-
| tant cvcnt.occurred. which was mark ed
| nearly n century ago by n marble block.
| suitably inscribed. the patriotic gift OF
q. w. Parke Custis OF Arlington. and