Established by John Washington, the founder of the Washington family in
Virginia, the family burying ground is located about 1 mile north of the
granite shaft. In his will, John, the great-grandfather of George, asked
"to be buried on ye plantation wheire I now live, by the side of my wife
yt is already buried." In the years that followed, members of succeeding
generations of Washingtons found final resting place in the ancient
cemetery. Here the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of George
Washington, together with 29 other early members of the family, are
interred. In 1906 the Colonial Dames of Virginia made some improvements
at the burying ground. In 1930, under the auspices of the Wakefield
National Memorial Association, the burying ground was enclosed by a wall
of handmade bricks. Five new tablestones were erected and the area was
appropriately landscaped. A parking area is located about 300 feet east
of the burying ground.
The tract of land surrounding the burying ground was purchased by John
Washington in 1664 from David Anderson. The site of his home is in the
vicinity of the burying ground.