George Washington, born at Pope’s Creek, near Bridge’s Creek,
Westmoreland County, Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732, was
the son of Augustine Washington and his second wife Mary Ball. His
earliest known ancestor in this country was John Washington, who came
to Virginia from England in 1657. Augustine Washington died when
George was but twelve years of age, leaving to his widow the care of
five children and a large property. George’s education was such as was
afforded by the local schools, but included surveying,--an important
branch at that time. Ever thoughtful of the feelings of others, at
the age of thirteen he formulated for his own guidance a set of one
hundred and ten “rules of civility and decent behavior in company
and conversation.” The next year his half-brother Lawrence obtained
a midshipman’s warrant for him, which he was most anxious to accept,
but gave up because of his mother’s opposition. At the age of sixteen
he was absent from home for several weeks, while surveying for Lord
Fairfax. Delighting in military exercises and outdoor sports, he
grew tall, strong, and well proportioned, and at nineteen was chosen
adjutant-general with the rank of major, to inspect and exercise the
militia of his district. The same year he accompanied Lawrence on a
trip to Barbadoes, the doctor having recommended change of climate
for the improvement of the latter’s health. Having kept a journal of
his surveying trip in 1748, he resumed the record of his life with
great minuteness during this his only sea voyage. Returning after four
months, he soon after received the sad intelligence of Lawrence’s
death, and found himself, young as he was, one of his brother’s
executors and the guardian of his only child. Neither the widow nor
the orphan long survived; and upon their demise, Mount Vernon passed
to George. At this time he joined the Masons. The records of the
Fredericksburg Lodge show the presence of Washington for the first time
“on the 4th of November, 1752.”
“November 6, 1752, received of Mr. George Washington for his
entrance £2 3_s._”
“March 3, 1753, George Washington passed Fellow Craft.”
“August 4, 1753, George Washington raised Master Mason.”
In 1753, the encroachments of the French awakening serious alarm,
Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia selected Major Washington to carry a
demand, in the name of the English monarch, that the chain of forts
along the Alleghany and Ohio rivers should be abandoned. The mission
was both a difficult and dangerous one; and failing in its object,
active preparations were begun in the colonies for the war that was
now unavoidable. In 1754, Washington was appointed lieutenant-colonel
of one of the Virginia regiments, and in July distinguished himself
by his brave defence of Fort Necessity at Great Meadows, which he
was compelled at length to surrender. In 1755, General Braddock, as
commander-in-chief of the royal forces in America, invited Colonel
Washington to act as aide-de-camp during an expedition having for its
ultimate object the reduction of the French forts of Niagara and Crown
Point. Ignorant of the modes of Indian warfare, and disregarding his
aid’s warning and advice, Braddock suffered a terrible defeat, and
lost his life at Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg. The chaplain of the
army being also among the wounded, Washington read the burial service
over Braddock at Great Meadows,--the scene of his own capitulation one
year before. A second expedition in 1757 against the same fort, led
by General Forbes, the advance guard being commanded by Washington,
resulted in its capture and the change of name. On the 6th of January,
1759, he was married to Martha Custis, daughter of John Dandridge, and
widow of a wealthy planter, John Parke Custis. The wedding ceremony was
performed by Reverend John Mossum in St. Peter’s Church, Kent County,
and was one of the most brilliant affairs of the kind ever celebrated
in Virginia.
“The groom’s suit was of blue cloth, the coat lined with red silk
and ornamented with silver trimmings; his waistcoat, of embroidered
white satin; his knee-buckles, of gold; his hair was tied in a
queue and powdered. The bride’s costume was a quilted white satin
petticoat, a rich white silk overdress with diamond buckles and
pearl ornaments.”
Among the guests, who were all in full courtdress, were the governor,
many members of the Legislature, British officers, and the neighboring
gentlefolk. Bishop, a tall negro, Washington’s valet,--to whom he
was much attached, and who had accompanied him on all his military
campaigns,--stood in the porch, dressed in the scarlet uniform of a
soldier of George II. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mrs. Washington
and her three bridesmaids drove from the church to her own home, the
“White house on the Pamunkey River,” in a coach drawn by six horses,
led by liveried postilions; while Colonel Washington and an escort of
cavaliers rode at the side. Having retired from the army, he occupied
himself with the care of his large estate. Elected to the Virginia
House of Burgesses, when he took his seat the Speaker presented him the
thanks of the colony for his former distinguished military services.
Washington rose, stammered, trembled, but could make no fitting
response. The Speaker relieved his embarrassment by saying, “Sit down,
Mr. Washington! your modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the
power of any language I possess!” As a delegate in 1774 to the first
Continental Congress, during the prayer with which Dr. Duché opened the
meetings, Washington knelt while the other members stood. Re-elected in
1775, he was unanimously chosen commander-in-chief on the 17th of June,
his commission reading as follows:--
SATURDAY, June 17, 1775.
To GEORGE WASHINGTON, ESQ.
We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism,
valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute
and appoint you to be General and Commander-in-chief of the army
of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised or to
be raised by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer
their services and join the said army for the defence of American
liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. And you
are hereby vested with full power and authority to act as you shall
think for the good and welfare of the service.
And we do hereby strictly charge and require all officers and
soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders, and
diligent in the exercise of their several duties.
And we do also enjoin and require you to be careful in executing
the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and
order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly
exercised, and provided with all convenient necessaries.
And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules
and discipline of war (as herewith given you), and punctually to
observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time,
as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of these United
Colonies, or Committee of Congress.
This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a
future Congress.
By order of the Congress.