From Farm House to the White House: The life of George Washington, his boyhood, youth, manhood, public and private life and servicesThayer, William Makepeace
History
From Farm House to the White House: The life of George Washington, his boyhood, youth, manhood, public and private life and services
Thayer, William Makepeace
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Washington, George, 1732-1799
"Nov. 4, 1751.--This morning received a card from Major Clarke,
welcoming us to Barbadoes, with an invitation to breakfast and dine with
him. We went--myself with some reluctance, as the small-pox was in the
family. We were received in the most kind and friendly manner by him."
That he took the small-pox when on this friendly visit is evident from
the entry in his journal for Nov. 17, as follows:
"Was strongly attacked with the small-pox. Sent for Dr. Lanahan, whose
attendance was very constant till my recovery and going out, which were
not till Thursday, the 12th of December."
We ought to state that in February of 1752, as there was no perceptible
improvement in Lawrence, Dr Lanahan decided that he should remove to
Bermuda in the early spring. This would prolong his stay, and it was
agreed that George should return to Virginia, and accompany Mrs.
Washington and children to Bermuda, where she would meet her husband.
George returned, reaching Mount Vernon about the 1st of April. But
Lawrence continued to fail in health, which modified his plans, so that
he relinquished the idea of going to Bermuda, preferring rather to
return to his native land and die. His wife remained at home to await
his coming, about the 1st of June. He lived but six or seven weeks after
reaching Mount Vernon, and died on the 26th of July, at the age of
thirty-four. Conscious that his speedy death was inevitable, he made
every arrangement necessary for the sad change. He had large
possessions, which he left to his wife and only child, though he showed
his strong attachment to George by a liberal legacy. In the event of his
child's death, the Mount Vernon estate would revert to George. The child
did not long survive, whereupon this valuable estate came into George's
possession. Although he was but twenty years old when his brother died,
he was the chief executor of his will.
Mr. Everett says of him: "George was appointed one of the executors of
his will, by which, in the event of the daughter's decease, Mount Vernon
was bequeathed to him. Although the youngest of the executors, in
consequence of his more thorough knowledge of his brother's affairs, the
responsible management of his extensive estates devolved upon him. He
did not, however, allow these private engagements to interfere with his
public duties. As the probability of a collision on the frontier
increased, greater attention was paid to the military organization of
the province. On the arrival of Governor Dinwiddie from England in 1752,
it was divided into four military districts, and Washington's
appointment was renewed as adjutant-general of the northern division,
in which several counties were included. The duties devolving upon him
under this commission, in attending the reviews of the militia and
superintending their exercises, were performed with a punctuality and
zeal, which rapidly drew towards him the notice and favor of the
community."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account