In 1717-18 Augustine Washington bought from Joseph Abbington 150 acres
of land on Popes Creek--a beautiful tract overlooking the tidal creek
and the Potomac River. Popes Creek, running along the east side of the
tract, was approximately one-half mile wide, and joined the Potomac
half-a-mile away. From Augustine's land the river could be seen clearly,
as it was over 5 miles wide from the Virginia side to the distant
Maryland shore. Augustine's historic piece of property is described in
_Westmoreland Deeds and Wills_:
All that one hundred and fifty acres of lands scituate in the said
County of Westmoreland aforesd and bounded Viz. Beginning at a marked
hiccory on the head of the dancing marsh and so running down the said
line to Popes Creek thence up the said Creek to the line of Nathaniel
Washingtons and then up that line to include the aforesd One hundred
and fifty acres of land which was given to Lawrence Abbington & his
daughter Lydia Abbington together....
The tract probably included Joseph Abbington's home, for the purchase
covered "all houses, edifices, buildings, tobacco houses, fences,
orchards, and gardens."