Lawrence Washington (1659-1698)
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Washington was a lawyer and planter in colonial Virginia who was educated in England. He was the paternal grandfather of George Washington
.
(from Essex, England) and Anne Pope. He was born in September of 1659, on his father's estate at Bridges Creek, in Westmoreland County
, Virginia
. He had two siblings: John (c.1660-1698) and Anne (c.1660-1697).
Lawrence was named for his paternal grandfather Lawrence Washington
.
, as was common at the time. As would become tradition within the Washington family, he was sent to England to be educated, where he trained as a lawyer.
Upon the death of his father, Washington inherited two substantial estates on the Potomac River
: Mattox Creek (1,850 acres) and Little Hunting Creek
(2,500 acres) (which would eventually be renamed Mount Vernon
by Lawrence's grandson and namesake Lawrence Washington). He did not add substantially to either property during his lifetime, which suggests that he was more interested in politics and the law than in the plantations.
In 1688, Lawrence married Mildred Warner
, one of three daughters of Mildred Reade and the wealthy Gloucester County
planter Augustine Warner. By her, he had three children: John (1692-1746), Augustine
(1694-1743), and Mildred (1698-1747). Lawrence died at the age of 38 in February 1698, the same year in which his daughter was born.
Following his death, Mildred Warner Washington married George Gale, who moved the family to Whitehaven, England
. Mildred died in 1701 at the age of 30 following a difficult childbirth. Her will stipulated that Gale become the guardian of her children, but in 1704 Lawrence's cousin John Washington successfully petitioned to have custody transferred to him. At that point, the three Washington children returned to Virginia to his care, and they lived near Chotank Creek. He had the use of the lands and personal property they had inherited while he acted as their guardian.
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...
.
Family
Lawrence Washington was the eldest son of John WashingtonJohn Washington
John Washington was an English Virginia planter and politician. He was the immigrant ancestor and great-grandfather of George Washington, first president of the United States of America.-Early life and family:...
(from Essex, England) and Anne Pope. He was born in September of 1659, on his father's estate at Bridges Creek, in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He had two siblings: John (c.1660-1698) and Anne (c.1660-1697).
Lawrence was named for his paternal grandfather Lawrence Washington
Lawrence Washington (1602-1655)
Rev. Lawrence Washington was an English rector, and the great-great-grandfather of George Washington. Rev. Washington was born about 1602 in Sulgrave Manor, Northampton, England, and died about Jan 1652/53 in Little Braxted, Essex, England. Rev. Washington was buried 21 Jan 1652/53 in Maldon,...
.
Life
As the eldest son of the Washington family, Lawrence received the benefits of primogeniturePrimogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, as was common at the time. As would become tradition within the Washington family, he was sent to England to be educated, where he trained as a lawyer.
Upon the death of his father, Washington inherited two substantial estates on the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
: Mattox Creek (1,850 acres) and Little Hunting Creek
Little Hunting Creek
Little Hunting Creek is a primarily tidal tributary of the Potomac River located in Fairfax County, Virginia, USA, not to be confused with Hunting Creek farther north...
(2,500 acres) (which would eventually be renamed Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
by Lawrence's grandson and namesake Lawrence Washington). He did not add substantially to either property during his lifetime, which suggests that he was more interested in politics and the law than in the plantations.
In 1688, Lawrence married Mildred Warner
Mildred Gale
Mildred Gale , born Mildred Warner in the Colony of Virginia, was the paternal grandmother of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America....
, one of three daughters of Mildred Reade and the wealthy Gloucester County
Gloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County is within the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in the USA. Formed in 1651 in the Virginia Colony, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of Great Britain. Located in the Middle Peninsula region, it...
planter Augustine Warner. By her, he had three children: John (1692-1746), Augustine
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:...
(1694-1743), and Mildred (1698-1747). Lawrence died at the age of 38 in February 1698, the same year in which his daughter was born.
Following his death, Mildred Warner Washington married George Gale, who moved the family to Whitehaven, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Mildred died in 1701 at the age of 30 following a difficult childbirth. Her will stipulated that Gale become the guardian of her children, but in 1704 Lawrence's cousin John Washington successfully petitioned to have custody transferred to him. At that point, the three Washington children returned to Virginia to his care, and they lived near Chotank Creek. He had the use of the lands and personal property they had inherited while he acted as their guardian.
Children by Mildred Warner
- John Washington (1692-1746)
- Augustine WashingtonAugustine WashingtonAugustine 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:...
(1694-1743) - Mildred Washington (1698-1747)