‘TOUCH BOX’ PROGRAM: Washington’s Ferry Farm, 268 Kings Highway (State Route 3 east), Stafford. This new program enables the blind and visually impaired to explore LO CA L the history of Washington’s boyhood home. Braille and large-print maps also available. Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; adults, $5; ages 6–17, $3; under age 6, free. 540/370-0732; ferryfarm H I STO RY .o rg . 6 TOWN & COUNTY FREDERICKSBURG, VA. SATU R DAY, APRIL 4, 2009 THE FREE LANCE–STAR MARY BALL: President’s mother leaves the farm at last

FROM PAGE 5 OTHER GLIMPSES OF and she would leave it MARY WASHINGTON reluctantly in 1772 to move to Fredericksburg, where she would spend “I was often there [at the farm] with George, his the last 17 years of her playmate, schoolmate, and young man’s compan- l i fe. ion. Of the mother I was ten times more afraid than I ever was of my own parents. She awed me E P I LO G U E in the midst of her kindness for she was indeed, truly kind. I have often been present with her sons, After the death of her proper tall fellows too, and we were all as mute as husband in 1743, Mary mice; and even now, when time has whitened my Washington remained locks . . . I could not behold that remarkable at the farm to rear their woman without feelings it is impossible to des- children. Her principal cribe. Whoever has seen that awe-inspiring air resource was her 600- and manner so characteristic in the Father acre tract near the Princi- pio Mine, which was of his Country, will remember the matron.” mined by tenants. She —A reminiscence of Lawrence Washington, also retained the 400 one of George Washington’s Chotank cousins acres at Little Falls Run that she had inherited In March 1755, George Washington at the age from her father, Joseph of 23 received an offer of a place on Gen. Ball. Braddock’s staff and was on the way to join Her stepson Lawrence the general as his aide de camp. This was the inherited the Washington beginning of Washington’s military career. tract at Little Hunting He accepted his mother’s offer to help at Mount Creek (on which he built Vernon while he was absent. Mount Vernon). PRESERVATION VIRGINIA “I hope you will spend the chief part of your time Lawrence married into the prominent Fairfax Mary Washington spent the last 17 years of her life in this modest cottage at Mount Vernon as you say, where I am certain at Charles and Lewis streets in Fredericksburg. everything will be order’d as much for your family, which opened the door to his half brother satisfaction as possible, in the Situation we are soon after his marriage to mother. But she remained Lewis’ new suburb of- in . . . Yr. Most Affect. And Dutiful Son” George for opportunities as a surveyor. George the wealthy widow on the farm—the village fered the perfect time and —Letter from George Washington to his mother also gained experience Martha Custis, he bought of Falmouth with its place to bring Mary as a military leader in Mount Vernon outright. prosperous Scottish across from the farm. “My dear Brother I am sorry to inform you My By 1758, all of Mary’s merchants supplied her Washington advanced Mothers Breast still Continues bad. . . . She is the Virginia militia while serving in the back children had moved on, w a n ts . Lewis money for the pur- sensible of it & is Perfectly resign’d . . . she wishes but she elected to remain With visits to his chase of the two lots on to here [sic] from you, she will not believe you are country in the contest against the French and at the farm. The first to mother at the farm—and Charles Street, and Lewis well till she has it from under your Hand . . . Yo u r marry had been her 17- with Fielding and Betty agreed to construct a Relations all Join me in love and Good Wishes to Indians. Contrary to the conjec- year-old daughter, Betty, Lewis relieving him of cottage. But they reck- You and Sister Washington, Your Affect. Sister who wed her second duties he would other- oned without “the old Betty Lewis” tures of many historians that Mary was at odds cousin Fielding Lewis wise have faced as head lady,” as she was now —Letter to George Washington, July 24, 1789 with her wealthy stepson, in 1750. of the family—George referred to in family cir- there is evidence that Lewis was developing Washington enjoyed cles. She declined to leave “I do not believe the Genl’s mother ever had her they were on cordial a suburb on his extensive Fredericksburg’s lively the farm, where she likeness taken by any one—and certainly if it ever terms. And she surely lands on the west side town life with kinsmen, remained for another had been taken, her children and not strangers would have appreciated of Fredericksburg. There veterans and merchants d e ca d e. would have possessed it. The Genl. was her eldest Lawrence’s many kind- were children in the as he passed through en In December 1771, son, Mr. Lewis’s mother her only daughter—both nesses to her children. Lewis household, not route to Williamsburg as she evidently endured a favorites and both devoted to her. When Lawrence died only Betty’s own grand- an elected burgess repre- lengthy illness under the “She resembled the Genl. very much. She was young (in 1752) and with- children but also those senting Frederick Coun- care of the Lewises and always remarkably plain in her dress. [She] died in out heirs, George was of Fielding’s deceased ty . Dr. Hugh Mercer, while 89 or 90. I was in mourning for her in New York; given the opportunity for first wife, another Wash- Mary Washington’s the cottage in town was had a likeness of her been above ground, it must a lifetime lease on his ington cousin. (Mary had health, however, was evi- being prepared for her have been in her children’s possession at that brother’s estate. His served as godmother.) dently beginning to de- occupancy—the very one t i m e.” mother helped with its The new town lots sold cline. George took the she had refused a decade —Letter written by Nelly Parke Custis Lewis, widow management while he well. George Washington matter up with his broth- ea rl i e r. of Lawrence Lewis, March 16, 1851 was on military duties in purchased two on Charles er-in-law as they traveled There she spent the the West. Then in 1759, Street intended for his together to Williamsburg. SEE MARY BALL, PAGE 7