Charles Washington
Encyclopedia
Charles Washington was the youngest brother of United States President
George Washington
. He was a son of Augustine Washington
and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington
.
Charles was born at Hunting Creek
in Stafford County
(now Fairfax County
) on May 2, 1738. He arrived in present Jefferson County
, West Virginia
between April and October 1780 and founded Charles Town
. Charles married Mildred Thornton, daughter of Colonel Francis Thornton and Frances Gregory around 1761. Charles Washington served as a magistrate in Stafford County, Virginia before the Revolution. In 1766 with his brothers Samuel Washington and John Augustine Washington, he signed the Leetown Resolve to protest the British Stamp Act
. During the Revolutionary War Charles Washington served as colonel of the Spotsylvania County, Virginia militia in 1780.
The home of Charles Washington, Happy Retreat
, was erected in 1780. In 1786, on 80 acres (320,000 m²) of his adjoining land, Charles laid out the streets of Charles Town, naming many of them after his brothers and one after his wife, Mildred. He donated the four corner lots at the intersection of George and Washington Streets for public buildings of the town and county, provided the town become the seat of the county
upon its separation from Berkeley County
. Jefferson County was formed in 1801 as Charles anticipated. The county court house stands on one of these lots, as did the jail until 1919 when it was demolished to be replaced by the post office
.
Charles Washington died sometime between July and September, 1799, only a short while before the death of his brother, George. Charles' and his wife Mildred's grave sites near Evitts Run have recently been located and surrounded by a stone wall.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. He was a son of Augustine Washington
Augustine Washington
Augustine Washington was the father of general and president George Washington. He belonged to the Colony of Virginia's landed gentry and was a planter and slaveholder.-Family:...
and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington
Mary Ball Washington
Mary Ball Washington was the second wife to Augustine Washington, and was the mother of George Washington.-Life:...
.
Charles was born at Hunting Creek
Hunting Creek
Hunting Creek is a cove and tributary stream of the Potomac River between the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County in Virginia. It is formed by the confluence of Cameron Run and Hooff Run. The community of Huntington takes its name from the creek. Jones Point forms the north side. Dyke Marsh is...
in Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
(now Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
) on May 2, 1738. He arrived in present Jefferson County
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat is Charles Town...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
between April and October 1780 and founded Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
. Charles married Mildred Thornton, daughter of Colonel Francis Thornton and Frances Gregory around 1761. Charles Washington served as a magistrate in Stafford County, Virginia before the Revolution. In 1766 with his brothers Samuel Washington and John Augustine Washington, he signed the Leetown Resolve to protest the British Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
. During the Revolutionary War Charles Washington served as colonel of the Spotsylvania County, Virginia militia in 1780.
The home of Charles Washington, Happy Retreat
Happy Retreat
Happy Retreat is an historic property in Charles Town, West Virginia, which was originally owned and developed by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of George Washington and the founder of Charles Town.-History:Charles inherited land in the Shenandoah Valley upon the death of his older...
, was erected in 1780. In 1786, on 80 acres (320,000 m²) of his adjoining land, Charles laid out the streets of Charles Town, naming many of them after his brothers and one after his wife, Mildred. He donated the four corner lots at the intersection of George and Washington Streets for public buildings of the town and county, provided the town become the seat of the county
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
upon its separation from Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
. Jefferson County was formed in 1801 as Charles anticipated. The county court house stands on one of these lots, as did the jail until 1919 when it was demolished to be replaced by the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
.
Charles Washington died sometime between July and September, 1799, only a short while before the death of his brother, George. Charles' and his wife Mildred's grave sites near Evitts Run have recently been located and surrounded by a stone wall.