Washington family


The Washington family was a prominent colonial American family, who had risen to great economic and political prominence especially in the Colony of Virginia, owning several highly valued Plantations, mostly making their money in tobacco farming. They are best known as the family of the first president of the United States, George Washington, and of his nephew, Bushrod Washington, who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
The family traces its descent from John Washington, born, 1631 in Tring, Hertfordshire, England, who arrived in the Colony of Virginia in 1657 after being shipwrecked. President Washington's immediate ancestry entirely traces back to England, save for at least two lines. A paternal great-great-great-grandfather, Nicolas Martiau, was a Huguenot from Île de Ré, France and naturalized Englishman, who arrived at Virginia aboard the Francis Bonaventure in 1620.

Family roots in England

The Washington family traces its roots to Sir William de Hertburn who was a paternal descendant of the Earls of Northumbria. During the Norman conquest of England by William the Conqueror, William de Hertburn was granted the lordship of Wessyington in northeast England and adopted the name of the estate "de Wessyington" later becoming the surname "Washington". For the next 500 years or so the Washington family would continue to be distinguished members of the County Durham landed gentry. However they were never made members of the English Peerage.
The direct ancestral home of the Washington family from 1180 to 1613 is Washington Old Hall, a manor house located in the centre of the Washington area of Tyne and Wear, England. It is owned by the National Trust. Lawrence Washington, President George Washington's great-great-grandfather, was a notable English rector. His brother, Sir William Washington married the half sister of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.

Family history in Virginia

The Washington family arrived in the Colony of Virginia in 1657, when John Washington, the son of Lawrence Washington and Amphillis Twigden, was shipwrecked. John sailed on the ship the Seahorse. He was a planter, soldier, and politician in colonial Virginia in North America and a lieutenant colonel in the local militia. He settled in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
John Washington married Anne Pope in 1658 and had the following children: Lawrence Washington, John Washington II and Anne Washington. There were two additional children, names unknown, mentioned as deceased when he wrote his will on 21 September 1675. The family, especially Lawrence Washington rose to great economic prominence, especially in regards to real estate, owning servals plantations, mostly for Tobacco cultivation. Anne Pope was the daughter of Englishman Nathaniel Pope and Lucy Fox.

George Washington Family Tree and lineage

This table sets out the ancestry of President George Washington for five generations, numbered according to the ahnentafel genealogical numbering system.

Family coat of arms

Adopted: 12th century, when the Washington family took possession of Washington Old Hall, County Durham, England.
Escutcheon: Argent two bars Gules, in chief three mullets of the second.
Notes: The design has been used since 1938 as the basis for the coat of arms and flag of the District of Columbia. It is also found on the Purple Heart.