The Washington herald., 1921-08-23
Gives Facts Concerning
Washington Family.

To the Editor, The Washington Herald:
wish to deny in person severai
statements made in an article which
appeared recently in a Washington
newspaper concerning me. This ar
ticle stated that !, Mrs. Frances
Berger Moran. Dragged of witness
ing the execution of John Brown.
and that | had made the statement
in the presence of my recent guests.
Post Wheeler. the diplomat, and his
wife. Halle Erminie Rives, the au-
thOress. was also quoted as hsv-
ing hesitated over the story because
the date of the execution of John
Brown convicted me of having ac-
cumulated numerous years, wish
to say right here that | glory in my
age. and my gray hair is my
crown"
The first statement in the article
referred to is absurd on the face Of
IT. The execution of John Brown
took place in 1859. There were by
law only twelve persons present at
the execution. The entire popula-
ton OF the town, during the execu-
tion. shut their houses, closed the
windows and remained indoors until
his cart had gone forth to the burial
ground. No Washington or black
burn would have witnessed tho eA-
ecution of any human being. They
wero kindly Christian ladies anc
/ gentlemen in their generation and
as family today they desire me
TO deny the statement in the article.
The second statement in the arti-
Gle gives the impression that Mr..
and Mrs. Post Wheeler. my guests,
heard me tell this story. At the
time the author refers to. when
was requested at melting of tho
Pen Women's League, to tell some
thing of the customs and traditions
Of our family. particularly during
the period just preceding the civil
war, Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler were
not even in the city. Mrs. Wheeler,
therefore. could not have made the
remark attributed to her.
As the author of the article
seems to be entirely ignorant OF the
history of the families referred TO
in his story. l will take the trouble
to enlighten him on the history Of
the families of Washington, Black
burn and Lee.
George WashinCton's stepbrother,
Lawrence. left Mount Vernon TO
him. upon his death. The other
brothers were never at Mount
Vernon. The estate was left by
Gen. Washington in his will 10
Justice Hushrod COrbin Washington,
his favorite nephew. the son of John
Augustine WASHINGTON. the gen.
erals own brother.
Annie Blackburn. my great-aunt,
married Justice Corbin Washington
and was mistress Of Mount Vernon
for several years. She is buried in
! the tomb by the gene. AIS side. The
two other brother. Charles and
Samuel. and the second Lawrence
and Betty Washington, the sister
owned an immense tract Of land
upon which Charles Town. W. Va
was built. Charles Town was built
on the portion falling to Charles
Washington, and was named in his
honor. He presented the land so
long as Charles Town was the seat
of Jefferson County. When il
ceases to be the county scat, the
land reverts to the descendants of
the family. This was done in his
will, and il stands on record today.
Col. Blackburn's daughter. Annie
married Justice Washington. She
had no descendants. His nephews
married her nieces and one of them
Jane Blackburn-was owner OF
i Mount Vernon and mother of John
Augustine Washington. who lived
at Mount Vernon until it passed
into the hands of the association oi
women.
Again. my two sisters, Katherine
and Ellen Blackburn, married great
great-nephews Of Gen. Washington
their two cousins. Bushrod Corbir
Washington and Thomas Blackburn
Washington.
In this era 1t is not popular &c
sneer at the Washington family
They glory in their birthright. They
own the property on which they
live. Blakley. Claymont Court. anc
Braddock were the country seats OF
these descendants of the Washing
ton family and they spent theii
summers there, as it was impossible
to live at Mount Vernon during the
heated months.
| As this is a statement of facts
regarding the distinguished Wash
ington family, 1 am pleased to sigr
my name.
JANE w. BLACKBURN MORAN
(Mrs. Frances Berger MoranI
Washington, D. c.