Mary Washington House
Encyclopedia
The Mary Washington House, at 1200 Charles Street in Fredericksburg, Virginia
, is the house in which George Washington
's mother, Mary Ball Washington
, resided towards the end of her life.
' home, Kenmore Plantation, and close to the Rising Sun Tavern, owned by her son Charles Washington
. George Washington was a frequent visitor, and came to this house to receive a blessing from his mother before his inauguration. Other frequent visitors included John Marshall
, George Mason
, Thomas Jefferson
, Marquis de Lafayette, and members of the Lee family
. She lived in this home until her death in 1789. Mary's husband and George's father, Augustine Washington
, had died in Fredericksburg in 1743.
The Mary Washington House is located near the college named for her, the University of Mary Washington
.
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, is the house in which 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...
's mother, Mary Ball Washington
Mary Ball Washington
Mary Ball Washington was the second wife to Augustine Washington, and was the mother of George Washington.-Life:...
, resided towards the end of her life.
History
George Washington purchased this house for his mother in 1772 for $275. It was located close to her daughter Betty Washington LewisBetty Washington Lewis
Betty Washington Lewis was the younger sister of George Washington and the only sister to live to adulthood. She was the first daughter of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. She is considered a "founding mother" of America.She was born Elizabeth Washington in Westmoreland County,...
' home, Kenmore Plantation, and close to the Rising Sun Tavern, owned by her son Charles Washington
Charles Washington
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....
. George Washington was a frequent visitor, and came to this house to receive a blessing from his mother before his inauguration. Other frequent visitors included John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
, George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, Marquis de Lafayette, and members of the Lee family
Lee family
The Lee family of the United States is a historically significant Virginia and Maryland political family, whose many prominent members are known for their accomplishments in politics and the military. Through the past few hundred years it was believed that Colonel Richard Lee of Virginia descended...
. She lived in this home until her death in 1789. Mary's husband and George's father, 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:...
, had died in Fredericksburg in 1743.
The Mary Washington House is located near the college named for her, the University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a public, coeducational liberal arts college located in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. Founded in 1908 by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a normal school, during much of the twentieth century it was part of the University of Virginia, until...
.