Bed, Acc.# 1, Cat.# 385
Bed Spread, reproduction
Chest, Acc.#32, Cat.# 544.
History
This bed was made for George Washington's nephew William Augustine Washington at Popes Creek Plantation in 1790. It represents the 5th generation of Washingtons that continuously lived at this plantation. William Augustine was the owner who lost the birth home to fire in 1779. He is buried at Mount Vernon.
The bed spread is a reproduction hand crafted by a dedicated volunteer, Mrs. Brent Walker, using a crewel work style (wool thread) of the original donated to George Washington Birthplace National Monument by Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire, England. Due to environmental concerns, the original is properly stored. This bed spread was completed in 1630 by George Washington's great, great, great grandmother Amphylis Washington at Sulgrave Manor. Ampylis completed the spread sometime during the English civil war in which King Charles I would abdicate power to Oliver Cromwell. This led to a loss of land and position for the Washington family. This may be the reason why Amphylis's son John would seek his fortune in the Americas. He married Anne Pope and acquired land through her father. This bed spread links the site to John Washington, the first Washington to inhabit Virginia in 1650. It represents the first generations of Washingtons at this plantation.
take a closer look Mrs.Washington's crewel designs.
The chest at the foot of the bed was given as a gift to Washington Birthplace. It dates to 1740.
