The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-02-16

Weems' statement and he may nave known of
the patriotic action of Custis. He followed ne-
Their his first edition Weems, but cautiously
gave the birthplace as near the banks of the
Potomac, in the county Of Westmoreland" The
next standard Life is that of Washington Irving,
who states that George was born in the home
stead on Bridges creek" meaning Popes creek,
for like GUSTS he confused the two creeks. Re-
cent writer's are not in agreement.
The first land owned by the Washingtons on
the Popes Creek Bridges Creek peninsula
purchased of David Anderson in 1864 by John
Washington ID, the emigrant and great-grand-
father of George On this tract which contained
$50 acres and which lay on the southeast side
of Bridges creek, John established his home and
graveyard. When he died in 1877, John CID, one
of his sons, inherited the Anderson tract or
home plantation. Twenty years later it passed to
the wife of John CID at his death, and at her
death to their son John CID.
On the death of John (D another son, Law
renee, grandfather of George, inherited lands
near the Potomac miles northwest of
Bridges creek. In 1895 Lawrence purchased of
the heirs of David Lston 400 acres on the north
west side of Bridges creek adjoining the lands
of his brother John CID. On Lawrence's death
in 1893 the Liston tract and other nearby lands
fell to Capt. Augustine Washington, father of
George.
Augustine was married in 1715 and his first child
was born in the following year. In 1717-171S he
purchased Of Joseph Arlington 80 acres Of the
Popes Creek Bridges Creek peninsula, lying on
the northwest side Of Popes creek and including
the site of the recent improvements at Wake
field. The tract may have had residence on
1t, for the purchase included "all houses. ed-
fees, buildings, tobacco houses, fences, orchards
(and) gardens"
1 have discovered no document stating what
improvements. If any, Augustine made on the
Arlington tract giving the date Of his re-
moval to it. That he was living there on Febru-
airy %, 1726, we know certainly by "deed Of
uses" of that date made by himself and his
wife, Jane, of the one part, and Lawrence But
Ter and George Eskridge, of the other part, in
which occurs the clause, whereas the aforesaid
Augustine Washington is seized in fee simple of
one PARCEL and tract of land, being the land
where he now lives, which land he the said Au-
gustine purchased of one Joseph Abingdon"
Six years before the birth of his illustrous
son he is therefore known to have been living
in house the Popes creek side of the penin-
sula. He is also known to have spent the last
years of his life first the Hunting creek Mount
Vernon) plantation in Prince William county
and later on the Strother plantation near Fred
ericksburg. Three of his children were born after
he left Westmoreland county. Almost every year
between 1888 and 1889 has been given as the
probable date of his removal. have established
vember 49, 1885 1t is therefore conclusive that
Augustine was living in house near Popes creek
between 1925 and 1885; his son, George, was
born in 1892 The early maps locating Georges
birthplace near Bridges creek and the numerous
writer's locating it elsewhere than near Popes
creek are certainly erroneous.
After his purchase of the Arlington tract Au-
gustine Washington continued to increase his
holdings on the peninsula In 1725 he bought 215
IN 10 riy In
of lots, islands. and marshes at the mouth of
Popes creek. In 1742 by an exchange of lands
with his cousin, John (IV), he obtained a tract
on the southeast side of Bridges creek which in
Guided the graveyard and the ancestral home
site, and for the first time all of the Popes
Creek-Bridges Creek peninsula in the pos
session of single Washington
The ancestral domestic at Bridges creek.
therefore, could not have been the birthplace Of
George. since his father did not own it until
1742. The date of its abandonment as an ances-
trail residence is not known.
On the death of Capt. Augustine Washington,
April II. 1743. the Popes Creek-Bridges Creek
plantation fell to his son Col. Augustine, who
lived and died there
George Washington, who regarded the geneal-
ogy of his family as of very little moment"
wrote of Col. Augustine, his half brother, that
he "lived at the ancient mansion seat in West
moreland county, where he died, and was In
tered in the family vault"
Col. Augustine represented his county In the
House of Burgesses from 1855 Tor 1854 to 1858.
On his death his widow Anne (Aylett) Washing
ton and her children, including her eldest son,
William Augustine (1757-1S10). who inherited
the plantation, continued to occupy its residence.
The widow is described by her illustrious
brother-in-law as an "heiress" and In May, III,
when he visited her, as Of "Pope's Creek" thus
locating her residence as on or near that creek
William Augustine Washington was living In the