Lawrence Washington (1659–1698)

Lawrence Washington (1659 – February 1698)^[1][2][3] was a lawyer and planter in colonial Virginia who was educated in England. He was the paternal grandfather of George Washington.

Family

Lawrence Washington was the eldest son of John Washington (from Essex, England) and Anne Pope. He was born in September 1659, on his father's estate at Bridges Creek, in Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia. He had two siblings: John (c.1660–1698) and Anne Wright (c.1660–1697).

Lawrence was named for his paternal grandfather Lawrence Washington.

Life

Lawrence was sent to England to be educated, where he trained as a lawyer.

As the eldest son of the Washington family, Lawrence received the benefits of primogeniture, as was common at the time. 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)^[4] (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.^[5][6] In notable pursuit of these occupations, Lawrence served as Sheriff of Westmoreland County, and was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1685.^[6][7]

In 1688, Lawrence married Mildred Warner, one of three daughters of Mildred Reade and the wealthy Gloucester County planter Augustine Warner, Jr.^[6][8] 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.^[5][8] 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.^[5]

Children by Mildred Warner

• John Washington III (1692–1746)
• Augustine Washington (1694–1743)
• Mildred Washington (1698–1747)

References