Date of Birth: 1708, Lancaster County, Virginia. Date of Death: 1789, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Laid to rest in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Library of Congress The story of George Washington’s birthplace could not be told without Mary Ball Washington. Born in Lancaster County, Virginia, Mary was the only child of Colonel Joseph Ball and his second wife, Mary Johnson Ball. She was orphaned at a very young age, as both of her parents passed away before she turned thirteen. Following their deaths, she lived with relatives, and her legal affairs were managed by her guardian, George Eskridge. At the age of 22, Mary Ball married Augustine Washington on March 6, 1731. Their first child, George Washington, was born the following year. Although Mary later had a daughter, Betty, and three additional sons—Samuel, Charles, and John Augustine—she first learned the responsibilities and expectations of motherhood on the shores of Popes Creek with George. Augustine Washington died in 1743, leaving Mary in charge of their children and property. She chose not to remarry, a somewhat unusual decision for a woman in the 18th century. By remaining unmarried, she took on the responsibility of managing the plantation and providing for the family, while also protecting her children’s inheritance. Throughout her life, she witnessed her first son rise to prominence as the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later become the first President of the United States, just four months before her death. Mary Ball Washington passed away on August 25, 1789, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after an extended illness. In April 1789, while on her deathbed, George Washington visited his mother for the last time. He later wrote to his sister about her passing, stating, "Awful and affecting as the death of a parent is, there is consolation in knowing that Heaven has spread ours to an age beyond which few attain." |
Last updated: May 8, 2025