Introduction: In this article – to help celebrate America 250 – Katie Rebecca Merkley begins a series about our Founding Fathers. Katie specializes in U.S. research for family history, enjoys writing and researching, and is developing curricula for teaching children genealogy. She has a website: krgarnergenealogy.com

Newspapers are a window into the past. Whether or not your ancestors were specifically mentioned, historical newspaper articles can show you what their lives were like. Just as we see news articles about politicians today, so did our ancestors in their day. For ancestors who lived during the Revolutionary era, those politicians would have included the Founding Fathers of this nation. I searched for some of them in GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday. This installment is about George Washington (1732-1799).

George Washington

Before the Revolutionary War, George Washington greatly increased his own considerable land holdings by marrying the wealthy widow Martha (Dandridge) Custis on 6 January 1759. In 1767, he posted an advertisement to rent two plantations near Williamsburg, Virginia, “which he holds in right of his wife.” The ad gave detailed descriptions of the property. The plantations were a mile or two from Williamsburg and collectively held 1000 acres. Some of the land was “firm hard marsh, supporting a numerous flock of cattle winter and summer,” and some of the land was swamp, “already cleared and ditched.” George Washington declared in his ad:

“The conveniency of this land, and advantages resulting from plantations so contiguous to a ready market, are too obvious to render description necessary.”

George Washington also posted in the newspapers during the Revolutionary War. In August 1776, the city of New York was under threat from the British, so George Washington urged people to leave the city.

The official request, “By His Excellency George Washington, Esq., General and Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of North-America,” reads:

Whereas a bombardment and attack upon the city of New-York, by our cruel and inveterate enemy, may be hourly expected: And as there are great numbers of women, children, and infirm persons, yet remaining in the city, whose continuance will rather be prejudicial than advantageous to the army, and their persons exposed to great danger and hazard: I Do, therefore, recommend it to all such persons, as they value their own safety and preservation, to remove with all expedition, out of the said town, at this critical period – trusting, that with the blessing of Heaven upon the American arms, they may soon return to it in perfect security. And I do enjoin, and require, all the officers and soldiers in the army under my command, to forward and assist such persons in their compliance with this recommendation. Given under my hand, at Headquarters, New York, August 17, 1776. –George Washington.

The United States won the Revolutionary War, of course, and began governing itself. On 4 February 1789, George Washington was elected as the new nation’s first president.

Washington was held in high regard, and some supporters published tributes to him in their local papers. For example, this poem was published praising him upon his return to his Virginia home, Mount Vernon, in 1783 after the war.

This poet calls Washington the “Genius of America.” The poem uses a lot of imagery and personification to convey themes of ending war, living in peace, and being free of tyrants. The poem contains references to Roman history, placing George Washington with the old heroes of liberty. The references to Roman history seem appropriate when considering how ideals shaped in that time influenced the U.S. Constitution. George Washington was labeled “immortal” for his legacy.

Another tribute was a speech given by Dennis Ramsay, the mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the townspeople. The speaker acknowledged that George Washington was coming out of retirement to serve his country again, as president. He wasn’t leaving Mount Vernon for any selfish reason or for glory. The people he was leaving behind were losing a great citizen, yet they knew he had a greater cause. “Farewell! – Go – & make a grateful people happy.” The speech concluded with a prayer that Washington would return to them when he’d finished his business:

“To that being who maketh and unmaketh at his will, we commend you; and after the accomplishment of the arduous business to which you are called, may he restore to us again the best of Men, and the most beloved Fellow Citizen.”

When George Washington died at the age of 67 on 14 December 1799, fewer than three years after retiring from the presidency, his funeral was announced in all the newspapers.

This article reports:

On Wednesday last the mortal part of Washington the great – the Father of his country and the friend of man, was consigned to the tomb, with solemn honors and funeral pomp.

His funeral was at Mount Vernon, his last residence. Despite the beauty of the scene with the groves, avenues, and noble mansion, there was sorrow at the loss. Washington was gone, and only his corpse was there. People paid their respects and said their farewells.

The article listed the inscriptions on his coffin. Guns were fired. A band played mournful music. The funeral procession consisted of cavalry, infantry, guard, music, clergy, Washington’s horse, pallbearers carrying Washington’s coffin, mourners, masonic brethren, and citizens. The pallbearers were Colonel Simms, Colonel Ramfay, Colonel Payne, Colonel Gilpin, Colonel Marsteller, and Colonel Little.

The procession went to the family vault near the Potomac, where the church conducted the funeral services and the guns were fired again.

The article concludes:

The sun was now setting. Alas! The son of glory was set forever. No; the name of Washington – the American President and General – will triumph over death – the unclouded brightness of his Glory will illuminate future ages.

Even in this century, George Washington is remembered for his leadership during the Revolution and as the first U.S. president. Let us remember him as we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.

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Note on the header image: America’s 250th Anniversary. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html