John Washington | |
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Member of the House of Burgesses representing Westmoreland County | |
In office 1665–1677 | |
Preceded by | John Lee |
Succeeded by | William Pierce |
Personal details | |
Born | 1633[1] Tring, Hertfordshire |
Died | 1677 (aged 44) Westmoreland County, Colony of Virginia |
Spouse(s) | Anne Pope Anne, widow of Henry Brett Frances Gerard, widow of John Appleton |
Relations | Paternal great-grandfather of George Washington |
Children | Lawrence Washington John Washington Jr. Anne Washington |
Parents | Lawrence Washington Amphillis Twigden |
Occupation | merchant, planter, soldier, politician |
Known for | Founder of Washington family of Virginia |
John Washington (1633 – 1677) was an English-born merchant, planter, politician and military officer. He was born in Tring, Hertfordshire. He later moved to the colony of Virginia, where he became a planter. Washington served in the Virginia militia and owned several plantations. His plantations used a combination of indentured and enslaved labor. Washington also served for many years in the House of Burgesses. He represented Westmoreland County. He was the first member of the Washington family to live in North America. He is also the paternal great-grandfather of George Washington, the first president of the United States.[2][a]
Although estimates of his birth date by modern researchers range from 1631 to 1634, Peter Walne has convincingly argued that John's parents were not married until November 30, 1633 or very soon thereafter. As Walne points out this was the date John's father Lawrence formally resigned his fellowship at Oxford and he had formerly taken an oath to remain unmarried as long as he held the fellowship.