Tag Archives: Mount Vernon

George Washington’s Boyhood Home: Ferry Farm

Fredericksburg Roots for George George Washington was born on Pope’s Creek, perhaps 45 minutes (today’s drive) from Fredericksburg. When he was four, the family moved to a lovely piece of land along the Potomac River, even closer to Fredericksburg. Originally … Continue reading

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Washington, Lafayette and the Bastille Key

Gentry George The Father of our Country was born into a prosperous Colonial Virginia family in 1732. His father owned substantial acreage plus successful business enterprises, but it paled compared to the thousands of acres of the much wealthier planters. … Continue reading

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Martha Washington’s Secretary

A Lady’s Secretary In the 18th century, a “secretary” was also a synonym for a writing desk. Also, in the 18th century, communication between individuals (if not spoken) was via pen and paper. Specifically quill pen, ink and handcrafted paper. … Continue reading

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Georges Washington Lafayette: Godson 

The Family Lafayette The Marquis Gilbert (plus a slew of middle names) Motier de Lafayette was born in 1757, into one of the wealthiest aristocratic families in France. Orphaned as a toddler, he became a ward of the King, who … Continue reading

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George Washington: The Trouble With Mama

Prof. Emeritus Peter Henriques says it perfectly: Complicated, Very Complicated GW: The Humiliation In 1781, General George Washington received a confidential letter from his old friend Benjamin Harrison V, then-Governor of Virginia. The Governor had quietly advised Washington, who at … Continue reading

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George Washington and Lafayette: The Gifts

The orphaned boy and a childless father. The Orphaned Boy Gilbert de Motier, with a long string of additional names, but primarily the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), was orphaned as a toddler, and inherited a huge estate in Auvergne, France. … Continue reading

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Martha Washington, Lucy Knox and Kitty Greene: Revolutionary Pals

In late fall, 1775, Martha Washington joined her husband in Cambridge, MA. The Continental Army General It was never a secret that the bonds of affection between the American Colonies and Great Britain, the mother country, had been fraying for … Continue reading

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The Death of Jack Custis

Martha’s Kids In 1750, eighteen year old Martha Dandridge married Daniel Parke Custis, twice her age, and one of the wealthiest planters in Virginia. They had sincerely liked each other, and the marriage was happy for seven years. Then Daniel … Continue reading

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George Washington: A Tale of Two Christmases

Christmas Celebrations Circa 1770 Christmas celebrations have been around for centuries. In the 18th century American Colonies, particularly in the South, people decorated their houses with home made wreaths of pine boughs and cones, ribbons and vegetation. It was usually more … Continue reading

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George Washington and the Purloined Packet

Delivering the Mail Written communication i.e. letters, documents, newspapers, etc., was not nearly as common in early colonial times as it would become in later generations. First of all, literacy. A large percentage of people could not read or write. … Continue reading

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