The story of the Washington family plantation in Westmoreland County, Va., where George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, may be divided into 3 main parts. The first relates to the activities of the early Washingtons who lived on the plantation during the latter third of the 17th century and fourscore years of the 18th century—a period covering 115 years. During that time the plantation between Bridges Creek and Popes Creek grew; successive members of the Washington family became prosperous planters, acquired large landholdings, and attained important civic and political offices in their county and colony. The climactic year of this first period was 1732—the 6th year in the reign of King George II and the 125th year in the history of the colony—when George, the son of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington, was born. The period ends during the American Revolution when the home in which George first saw the light of day accidentally caught fire, burned to the ground, and was abandoned as a homesite. The second period spans a hundred years—a century when the birthplace site was neglected, and was all but forgotten by a growing nation which showed little or no interest in preserving the birthplace of its great military leader and first president. Wild honeysuckle and bramble thickets covered the foundations of the burned home; the place was forgotten for so many years that knowledge of the exact location and use of many of the plantation buildings became lost. [Illustration: PATERNAL ANCESTRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON] PATERNAL ANCESTRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON Col. JOHN WASHINGTON Born 1632, founder of Washington family in Virginia, 1656-57. Died Sept. 1677. ANNE POPE Daughter of Lt. Col. Nathaniel Pope. Married 1658, died 1669. Capt. LAWRENCE WASHINGTON (1) Born Sept. 1659, Westmoreland Co., Va. Died 1698. MILDRED WARNER, GEORGE GALE (2) Daughter of Augustine Warner. Married 1690, died 1701. Capt. AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON Born 1694. Died 1743. (1) JANE BUTLER Born 1699. Married 1715. Died 1729. Butler, died young. Lawrence, of Mt. Vernon. Augustine, inherited Wakefield. Jane. (2) MARY BALL Daughter of Joseph Ball. Born 1708. Married 1731. Died 1789. GEORGE WASHINGTON Born February 11, 1732 (Old Style); or February 22, 1732 (New Style). Married Jan. 19, 1759. Died Dec. 14, 1799. MARTHA (DANDRIDGE) CUSTIS Widow of Daniel Parke Custis. Elizabeth. Samuel. John Augustine. Charles. Mildred. [Illustration: _Wine bottle seal found near homesite of John Washington, and drawing of a bottle of the period._]