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The Mary Washington mystery: Just who was George's mother?
Date published: 12/17/2003
THE MOTHER OF George Washington--much in the news lately because of the college that bears her name--has been subjected to excessive criticism by some historians and excessive sentimentality by others. Since she spent more than half a century in our neighborhood, we have a particular responsibility to improve our acquaintance with her and to portray her justly. Married to a man who departed from the customary occupations of the gentry and caused the family's relocations, Mary was widowed at 35 and reared their five young children alone. And although she was fortunate to have inherited land and some personal possessions from her own family, still her life on the Rappahannock farm can probably be characterized as Spartan. She was a stern but kind parent, according to a young visitor in her home. We do have a pleasant recollection by a Falmouth merchant "who lately had the honour to dance with her." Mary was a simply educated woman. Only six of her brief letters survive, but there were more. She signed herself to her children, "Your loving and affectionate mother." Her son George, in his early career, signed a letter to her "Your most affectionate and dutiful son." Do we really know Mary Washington? Women in colonial times received so little attention that we must assemble our impressions from brief references. But there are several clues to her character. The first words that come to mind are "independence of spirit." We know that when her son George was 14, she declined to let him go to sea, facing down the opposition of two gentlemen with the rank of esquire who considered her objections "trifling." We know also that while George was still in his teens, Mary consulted with her brother Joseph in London about building a house for herself on her own land at Little Falls Run so that the Rappahannock farm could be her son's residence. His inheritance of Mount Vernon made the move unnecessary, but her intent was clear.
Date published: 12/17/2003
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