William Jefferson
Young People and Children
Although most of George Washington’s formative years were spent at the Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock River, across from Fredericksburg, Virginia, little is known about them. Mike L. Apocryphal attempts to fill a glaring gap include Weems’ stories about the hatchet and cherry tree and young Washington’s distaste for battle. He attended school irregularly from his seventh to his fifteenth year, first with the sexton of the nearby church and then with a schoolmaster by the name of Williams. Some of his old schoolwork is still with him.
He had a solid background in applied mathematics, including gauge work, various mensurations, and surveying-related trigonometry. He studied geography, read a bit of The Spectator and other English classics, and perhaps even took a little Latin. When he was 14 years old, he kept a copybook in which he recorded a set of moral principles known as the Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. But the best education he received came from real-world people and outdoor work, not from books.He had learned enough about surveying by the time he was in his early teens to map the fields nearby. He was an expert at raising livestock and growing tobacco.
Before the American Revolution, George Washington’s military and political career.
Prior Service in the Military
Lawrence Washington’s references to his time in the military and tales of John Washington’s exploits as an Indian fighter served to bolster George’s desire to join the military. Soon after Lawrence’s demise, Lieut. Gov. George was appointed adjutant for the southern Virginia district by Robert Dinwiddie in November 1752, receiving a salary of £100 annually. In 1753, he was chosen to serve as adjutant of the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore. Later that year, Dinwiddie thought it necessary to warn the French not to encroach on the lands in the Ohio Valley that the crown had asserted.
After sending one messenger who was unable to complete the task, he was determined to send Washington. Washington left for the French outposts the day after receiving his orders, on October 31, 1753. He traveled with a Dutchman to serve as an interpreter, the expert scout Christopher Gist as a guide, and two other individuals who had previously conducted trade with Indians. France and Great Britain were believed to be at peace. In truth, war was coming, and Dinwiddie’s message was a warning that the French should leave immediately.
Mount Vernon’s location
On January 6, 1759, Washington wed Martha Dandridge, the widow of the recently deceased Daniel Parke Custis. She was a few months older than him, had one of Virginia’s large fortunes, had two living children and two dead children. Washington had met her in March of the previous year and asked for her hand prior to his campaign with Forbes. Despite the absence of overt signs of romantic love, the marriage united two people with complementary personalities and turned out to be successful. A responsible housewife, fun to be around, and a gracious host, Martha was. Like many wealthy women of the time, she had little formal education, and Washington frequently helped her write important letters.
Martha and George Washington
Although some estimates of the wealth this marriage brought him have been overstated, it did include some slaves and about 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares), much of which was valuable due to its proximity to Williamsburg. Washington gave his two stepchildren, John Parke (nicknamed “Jacky”) and Martha Parke (nicknamed “Patsy”) Custis, who were six and four years old, respectively, at the time of the marriage, more attention. He lavished them with love and affection, worried a great deal about Jacky’s misbehavior, and was heartbroken when Patsy died just before the Revolution. When Jacky perished in the war, four kids were left behind. Two of them, a boy and a girl, were taken in by Washington, who then adopted them both. In his letters, he even used the phrase “your papa.”. He wasn’t a parent himself, so he had a real family.