The Coolidge examiner., 1934-02-16

KfkN il because OF the tinkeTiug that man
uEExl has done with the calendar down
VMlA through the ages. without going into
w nli the technical details OF the cRl.
endar's early history. suffice II 20
say that In 1852 the Julian calendar year tesiab-
llshed By Julius Caesar and modified somewhat
by Augustus Caesar) vas ten days ahead OF the
true solar year. So Pope Gregory XVIII ordered
that October ; be regarded as October T. thus
dropping out 10 days. and also made some
changes In computing leap years
But u was not until 1852 that the CreEorian
year was adopted by Great Britain and her colo.
niles. Then II days were dropped between Sep.
temher and September IL. Twenty years before
this boy. 10 whom had been given the name of
George Washington. was born IN Engiand's col
ony of Virginia In North America. That event
had actually taken place on February II under
the old calendar system but when the Gregorlan
calendar applied and the calendar pushed NJ
II days Il made his birthday February -. So
that Is why celebrate on that date
Where vas George Washington borni Just as
be had two birthdays 80 did be have two
h!Fthplaccs--that Is. II We listen 10 the asser.
tions OF dlrercn: "aufboriiles~-and just q
matter % II days Of time separates bis two
hlrihdayS- does = matter Of approximately
mile of distance separate his two blrihplaceA"
Back In 1913 there organized IN Wash
Rust. a descendant % John Washington. the orig
lnal Washington emiErant TO this country. and
by other Interested persons an association known
as the Wakefield National Memorial association
which was Incorporated under the laws % Vir-
Flnla for the purpose Of restoring Wakefield the
house In which Washington was supposed 70
have been born.
Through the generosity Of John y. Rockefeller.
Jr. and other donors large part OF the piania-
ton of Capt. Augustine Washington was pur-
chased and improvements made on IL. Ia 1880
the federal government appropriated $4,000 for
the removal of the granite shaft. erected In 1896
20 mark the site Of washlngtons birthplace. and
for the construction OF n replica OF Wakefield
and the Improvement Of the grounds All Of this
was established as the George Washington Birth
place National Monument and placed under the
jurisdiction OF the national park service.
But during this time there was advanced the
disturbing theory By several specialists In Wash
ineton that the association had improved the
wrong site as the birthplace of the Father OF
His Country lie was not born 1T Wakefield on
the northwest bank OF Popes creek. so they said.
but more than a mile away near the southeast
bank of Bridges creek. where the Washington
family graveyard Is located. The association was
positive enough that II was right 10 20 ahead
with It's work and the federal government seemed
satisfied But az the same time that disturbing
theory would not die.
II has remained FOR Or. Charles o. Paullln Of
the division OF historical research in the Car
negie Institution of Washington to make a search
In coutempornneuus documents and 90 uncover
evidence which seems 10 settle the question CON
clnslvely and to prove that the Wakefield site
actually was the birthplace OF Washington.
The story Of the investigation which Doctor
Paullin made the evidence which he found and
the conclusions which he reached from them are
contained in Il recent press release from the
Carnegie Institution. upon which the remainder
OF this article Is based. lie says, In part:
The first land owned by the washIngtons on
the Popes Creek-Bridges Greek peninsula was
purchased OF David Anderson In 1904 ty John
Washington ID. the emigrani and greatgrand-
father az George. On this tract which contained
80 acres and which lay on the southeast side
OF Bridges creek. John established his home and
graveyard. when he died In lG7T. John CID one
OF his sons. Inherited the Anderson tract or
home plantation. Twenty years later 1t passed to
the wife OF John CID at his death. and at her
death 10 their son john IIl).
on the death OF John I'd another son. Law
renee grandfather OF George, Inherited lands
near the Potomac some miles northwest of
Bridges creek In 1925 Lawrence purchased OF
the heirs OF David Liston 400 acres on the north
west side OF Bridges creek adjoining the lands
OF his brother John CID. On Lawrence's death
in l60S the Liston tract and other nearby lands
fell 20 Capt Augustine Washington. father OF
George.
Augustine was married In IT'S and his first child
was born In the following year. In I717-171s he