Betty Washington Lewis

Betty Washington Lewis
Portrait belongs to Mount Vernon Ladies Association

Monday, October 18, 2010

The National Society of the Washington Family Descendants

George Washington Had A Sister?

Not only did George Washington have a sister, he was the fifth child of Augustine Washington (born 1694 and died 12 April 1743). Augustine Washington’s first marriage to Jane Butler (born 24 December 1699 and died 24 November 1729) produced four children: 
            Butler Washington (born 1716 and died before 1739)
            Lawrence Washington (born 1718 and died 22 July 1752/3)
            Augustine Washington (born 1720 and died 1762)
            Jane Washington (born 1722 and died 17 January 1754/5)
Lawrence Washington as oldest surviving son inherited the property that he later name Mount Vernon. It was half-brother Lawrence Washington who mentored George Washington after the death of their father. George Washington was barely twelve years old when Mary Ball became a single parent of five. The bond between George Washington and his older half-brother resulted in George Washington inheriting Mount Vernon when Lawrence Washington’s widow died without heirs.

The second marriage of Augustine Washington to Mary Ball (born November 1708 and died 25 August 1789) after the death of his first wife produced six children. Thus, George Washington not only had a sister, Betty Washington, sixteen months his junior, but he had five additional siblings. Augustine Washington and Mary Ball were the parents of:
            George Washington (born 11 February 1731/2 and died 14 December 1799)
            Betty Washington (born 20 June 1733 and died 31 March 1797)
            Samuel Washington (born 16 November 1734 and died 26 September 1781)
            John Augustine Washington (born 13 January 1735/6 and died 17 February 1787)
            Charles Washington (born 2 May 1738 and died 16 September 1799)
            Mildred Washington (born 21 June 1739 and died 23 October 1740)
Although George Washington had no children of his own, those individuals who can trace their lineage to Washington family members are eligible to apply for membership in a family organization called The National Society of the Washington Family Descendants. The members gather once a year for fellowship and a weekend focused on activities to gain a better understanding of the family heritage.

18 comments:

  1. Monica,
    So excited to be able to read about your research!
    Cindy

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  2. Thank-you for this blog. I am a direct descendant of Betty Washington and Fielding Lewis through Howell Lewis,Sr., Howell Lewis,Jr., George Lewis, Harry Howell Lewis
    (my grandfather), Lucille Lewis Wood (my mother), Lucille Helen Wood Willis (me)

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    1. Lucille:

      I am very interested in communicating further. Since my main focus has been the research on Betty Washington Lewis in hopes of publishing a book very soon, I have not given the attention that a blog requires. Please forgive my delay in responding.

      The information I have for your line stops with George Lewis (born 27 October 1832 Mason, Fairfax County, Virginia, and died 8 July 1883 White Spring, Nye County, Nevada) who married in 1874 Martha Catherine Moon (born 7 May 1848 Mahaska County, Iowa, and died 10 September 1921 Ely, White Pine County, Nevada). The two children that I currently have listed are E. Lewis, a daughter, and George Washington Lewis. Please feel free to contact me directly at monpesek@aol.com. In the meantime, I will do more of a search of vital records.

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    2. I too am apparently a direct descendent of Howell Lewis Sr. through his daughter Virginia Lewis. She married into the Hereford family and my maternal grandfather is a Hereford

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    3. So that would make us 5th cousins once removed

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  3. Part of the motivation for the research project was that so little information was available about Betty Washington Lewis and her children! I wanted to minimize that void. I am delighted to share! You are the second person since I set up the blog last Sunday to reach out regarding genealogy for the family. There is also a Lewis family group that started last year as well. I am still learning how to set up a blog that is MORE user friendly so bear with me while I work out the kinks to facilitate communiction in a safe manner.

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  4. Not related to the Washingtons but I came across the last will and testament of Samuel Lewis son of George Lewis nephew to George Washington.This letter is dated 1842 and has great content.

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    1. Your post is greatly appreciated. What is your interest in the Washington family...I am curious...

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  5. I am one of Betty Washington Great x 4 Grandsons. My Great Grandfather x 3 is Betty's youngest son Howell. Whom was married to Ellen Hackley Pollard my Great Grandmother x3.

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    1. I very much appreciate your posting to the blog site! I am starting to have more time to share research findings as I seek permissions to utilize letters written between family members and objects belonging to Betty Washington Lewis. I do hope you will contact me directly at monpesek@aol.com so we can communicate further.

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  6. I am a descendant of Betty and Fielding Lewis. ( I love reading about her marvelous sense of humor). I believe the relationship must be 7 generations removed. My late uncle, Fielding Lewis Wright, was my father's brother. I know his connection is well-recorded.
    wrght65608@gmail.com

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    1. Looking forward to additional communication! I have noted your email and will contact you directly to share information!

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  7. My Grandfather was Sampson Edward Ball, nephew of Mary Ball. This is on my Parentage Papers, members of my Family have served this Country. My Grandmother always gave me a dollar for my birthday.I would ask her, Why? She just smiled and said that I would find out, when i was older.Her name was Florence Edgar Ball Cole.Edward Marshall Balls youngest Daughter.

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  8. Your story is heart warming on this day as we celebrate George Washington's birth! I posted after reading your family account as it motivated me to update this blog. I hope to improve communication and share information with Washington-Lewis-Ball descendants as we do have an impressive number with not all having an interest in joining lineage organizations as well as other interested individuals. Last year, I set up a non-profit as a vehicle to assist with education and outreach. I hope you will contact me directly at monpesek@aol.com.

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  9. To The Washington Family, My Research has brought me to understand William Bartholomew Ball, was my G.G. Grandfather.Edward Marshall Ball was his first born child.of W.B.B. Sampson Edward Ball was his half brother. Sorry, should have done Research first.

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  10. I am so excited that they are finally looking at his mothers Family, because i think my Ancestors would really appreciate it, thank you and God Bless All.

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  11. It is always interesting and fun to learn about and meet new family members. I have been researching my family genealogy off and on for over 40+ years now and thoroughly enjoy it. I descend through Nicholas Martiau, George Reade and Augustine Warner, Sr. Much love to all, and May God Bless you.

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  12. If I join the National George Washington Society of Descendants will I receive a certificate, and what does it look like? I can find nothing on it...

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