The Washington Family's Rise in Colonial Virginia

The Washington family

Emigrating from England in the mid-17th century, the Washington family established itself as a prominent member of Virginia's landed gentry. Through tobacco farming, strategic real estate purchases, and public service, they built substantial wealth and political influence across generations. Their plantations, including Mount Vernon, became regional hubs of economic activity. The family's growing prominence within colonial governance and military affairs laid a strong foundational legacy that ultimately propelled George Washington into leadership during the American Revolution.

People

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Birth Death Origin Age (Death)

1633
1642
1694
1718
1732

Timeline

Category
Element

Year	The Washington family
1630	Birth and Childhood in Tring
1633	Birth of John Washington (Period: Circa 1633 (Exact date unknown), Location: Tring (present-day Hertfordshire, England))
1640	Enrollment at Charterhouse School
1642	First English Civil War Birth of Augustine Warner Jr. (Period: June 3, 1642, Location: Around Gloucester)
1650	Formation of Relationship with Nathaniel Pope Participation in Colonial Trade as a Merchant
1656	Immigration to Virginia (John Washington)
1658	Studying Abroad in London (Augustine Warner Jr.) Accusation of Murder Against Captain Prescott Marriage to Ann Pope Marriage (John Washington, Ann Pope)
1660	Active as a Planter in Gloucester County Active as a Colonel in the Gloucester County Militia Establishment of Large-Scale Landholdings
1661	Appointment as Vestryman of Appomattox Parish (John Washington) Appointments as County Coroner and Justice of the Peace (John Washington)
1664	Settlement at Bridges Creek (John Washington)
1665	Marriage (Augustine Warner Jr., Mildred Reade) First Election to the Virginia House of Burgesses (John Washington)
1670	Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel of Militia
1672	Became a Member of the House of Burgesses Representing Gloucester County
1675	Wars and Conflicts with Indigenous Peoples in 1675 Clashes with the Doeg and Susquehannock Tribes
1676	Bacon’s Rebellion Plundering of Plantation During Bacon’s Rebellion Appointment as Speaker of the House of Burgesses of the Colony of Virginia (Augustine Warner Jr.) Marriage (John Washington, Frances Gerard) Occupation and Plundering of Warner Hall
1677	Death of John Washington Appointment to the Virginia Governor’s Council (Augustine Warner Jr.) Courts-Martial of Rebels After Bacon’s Rebellion Death of John Washington (John Washington) and Estate Settlement Death of John Washington and Estate Settlement
1678	Damage Claim Against William Byrd I
1681	Death of Augustine Warner Jr. Death (Augustine Warner Jr.) and Burial at Warner Hall Death and Burial at Warner Hall
1690	Childhood in England
1694	Birth of Augustine Washington Sr. (Period: 1694 (Exact date unknown), Location: Around Montross (present-day Westmoreland County, Virginia))
1698	Death of Father Lawrence Washington (Augustine Washington Sr.) and Inheritance Issues Surrounding Guardianship of the Washington Family Death of Father Lawrence Washington and Inheritance
1715	Formal Inheritance of Father’s Estate Marriage (Augustine Washington Sr., Jane Butler)
1716	Appointment as Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland County (Augustine Washington Sr.)
1718	Birth of Lawrence Washington (Period: 1718 (Exact date unknown), Location: Around Westmoreland County (present-day Westmoreland County, Virginia)) Land Purchase at Pope’s Creek
1720	Investment in the Accokeek Iron Works
1723	Construction of the Wakefield Estate
1725	Ironworks Business Contract with the Principio Company
1726	Land Acquisition at Little Hunting Creek (Augustine Washington Sr.)
1729	Studying Abroad in England (Lawrence Washington)
1731	Marriage (Augustine Washington Sr., Mary Ball)
1732	Birth of George Washington (Period: February 22, 1732, Location: Around Colonial Beach, in present-day Westmoreland County, Virginia)
1735	Family Relocation to Little Hunting Creek (Augustine Washington Sr.)
1738	Management of Little Hunting Creek Plantation Acquisition of Ferry Farm (Augustine Washington Sr.)
1740	War of Jenkins’ Ear Commissioning as Captain in the Virginia Forces
1741	War of Jenkins’ Ear, Expedition to Cuba Battle of Cartagena de Indias
1743	Appointment as Adjutant General of the Virginia Militia (Lawrence Washington) Naming and Renovation of Mount Vernon Death of Augustine Washington Sr. Death of Augustine Washington Marriage (Lawrence Washington, Anne Fairfax)
1744	Election as Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses (Lawrence Washington)
1747	Founding of the Ohio Company
1748	Passage of the Act Establishing Alexandria Promotion of the Founding of Alexandria Beginning of Activities as a Surveyor
1749	Medical Examination in England Recuperation at Bath Springs Alexandria’s First Land Auction
1751	Health Trip to Barbados Recuperation Trip to Bermuda
1752	Commission in the Virginia Militia Death of Lawrence Washington Death of Lawrence Washington (Lawrence Washington) Death of Lawrence Washington
1753	Despatch as Envoy to the French Forces
1754	French and Indian War Battle of Jumonville Glen Battle of Fort Necessity
1755	Braddock Expedition
1758	Election as Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses (George Washington)
1759	Marriage (George Washington, Martha Dandridge Custis)
1774	Participation in the Virginia Conventions and Continental Congresses
1775	American Revolutionary War Assuming Position as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (George Washington) Appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
1776	New York and New Jersey Campaign Crossing of the Delaware River and Attack on Trenton
1781	Yorktown Campaign Victory at Yorktown and Cornwallis’s Surrender
1783	Recognition of American Independence via the Treaty of Paris Return to Mount Vernon Resignation as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (George Washington)
1787	President of the Constitutional Convention
1789	Inauguration as the First President of the United States (George Washington)
1791	Whiskey Rebellion
1794	Conclusion of the Jay Treaty
1796	Publication of the Farewell Address (Retirement (George Washington) Speech (George Washington))
1797	Retirement from the Presidency (George Washington)
1799	Death of George Washington Death at Mount Vernon (George Washington) Death at Mount Vernon
Unknown	Establishment and Naming of Washington Parish (Period: During John Washington’s Lifetime, Late 17th Century, Location: Westmoreland County, Virginia Colony) Marriage (John Washington, Anne, Period: After Ann Pope’s Death, Date Unknown, Location: Virginia Colony)

Map

Category
Element

United States World

Group	List
New England	Governor Leader The Addams Family Indigenous People
South	Colonial settlement Bacon's Rebellion The Washington family North Carolina Early Settlers Virginia politician

People Timeline

The Washington Family's Rise in Colonial Virginia