This is a view of Popes Creek, along the eastern shore of Virginia, where George
Washington spent his early childhood years. In the far distance, you can see the Potomac
River--the same river along which George Washington's home in later years was
situated some 50 miles further north (near Washington D.C.)
In the foreground of the picture below you can see the outline of the home where
George Washington was born (on February 22, 1732). Washington lived at Popes Creek until
he was three and a half. The family then relocated to Little Hunting Creek Plantation,
now known as Mount Vernon. The family relocated to Ferry Farm in 1738.
His birthplace house was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day in 1779, when Washington
was commander of the Revolutionary Army. George Washington's father died when he
was only 11 years old and after that, during his teens and early twenties, he often
traveled from his mother's home at Ferry Farm to Popes Creek to spend
time with his half brother, Augustine (who had inherited Popes Creek plantation).
Sometimes the visits were for an extended time and other times the visits were brief.
There are numerous letters accounting for George Washington's stay with Augustine at Popes Creek from 1748 to
1753. The historian C. H. Callahan in his book "Washington, the Man and the Mason" states that George Washington
went to live with his half-brother Austin immediately following their father's death for the sole purpose of
attending the Henry Williams School in Westmoreland County. However, others contend that George Washington
may have chosen to leave Ferry Farm, at least in part, to escape the stern ways of his mother, Mary Ball
Washington. There is strong evidence that George Washington did live on a regular basis with Austin from age 11
to age 16 and then in his late teen years visited with regularity (from http://www.nps.gov/gewa/austin&his.htm).
In the background are two replica buildings
from that era. The one on the right is a home built to represent a typically prosperous
plantation home found during the era of George Washington's early childhood. This home
was actually built in 1930 and 1931 on what was believed to be the actual home site.
However, in later years, the edge of Washington's original house was unearthed (as
shown in the foreground) and is now laced with white oyster shells to indicate the
dimensions of the building.
The building on the left is a replica of an "outdoor kitchen," detached from the main home,
which housed a cook (who was a slave or indentured servant) and the cook's family. When
the young servant children were sent to the main house with food, they were expected to
whistle along the way.
Do you know why? Because it was understood that if the children were whistling they
couldn't be eating the food intended for the family in the main house! An interesting
concept, huh?
Below is the writing on a historical marker at Washington's Popes Creek home, which indicates
why the Washington's chose this particular site for their homestead. It reads:
Look at the landscape around you. Augustine Washington's reasons for settling here
in 1718 are apparent. The ground to your left is slightly elevated and well drained--
perfect for farming. Before you, Popes Creek teems with life: fish, crab and waterfowl.
Deer and other game abound in the surrounding forests. Fresh water is abundant from numerous
springs. And a mile to the northeast is the Potomac River, Augustine Washington's
commercial lifeline to the world.
In an economy where crop prices fluctuated and soil was easily depleted, the acquisition of
land meant security and, often, wealth. While Augustine Washington's holdings were moderate,
he aspired to join Virginia's propertied elite. His success depended almost entirely upon
slaves and indentured servants, laboring in tobacco fields, workshops, and in the kitchen
and manor house. The whole operation resembled a small village.
Below is a photo of the entrance to George Washington's birthplace home at Popes Creek,
Virginia.
George Washington's home, during his presidency, was Mount Vernon. The house sits
in a stately manner atop a gentle knoll, as pictured below.
Below is a closer view of the front of Mount Vernon. The back of the house
(not pictured) faces directly onto the Potomac River. The exterior of the building
looks as if it was constructed from white stone. This was no accident but, rather,
was done at the request of Washington himself. It was accomplished by using beveled
wood siding and by mixing sand into the fresh white paint. Letters between General Washington
and his manager, Lund Washington, provided details about the materials and construction.
whlib@viafamily
[This page last updated on 08/11/03]
