George Washington

1. George Washington Founding Father, Freemason, Distiller

2. Founding FatherThe Formative Years “Washington is a man too illiterate, unlearned and unread for his station and reputation” John Adams, 1789

3. Washington Family Tree 1602 – 1653 Lawrence – Great Great Grandfather (51) 1631 – 1677 John – Great Grandfather (46) 1659 – 1698 Lawrence – Grandfather (39) 1694 – 1743 Augustine – Father (49) 1731 – 1799 George Washington (68) Because of the history of early death with the men in his family George was resolute in his lack of fear in dangerous situations

4. Augustine • Augustine was 4 years old when his father, Lawrence, died. His mother remarried British Sea Captain George Gale and returned to England. In May of 1700 his mother died and the 3 children were put through English Boarding School until he was sent back to Virginia by Court Order to settle inheritance squabbles. He inherited 1100 acres along the Potomac River including “Little Hunting Creek” farm.

5. Augustine MaryBell Jane Butler Augustine inherits 1750 acres as part of his wife’s dowry George Betty Samuel Lawrence John Augustine Augustine Jr. Charles Jane Mildred

6. 1729 – Augustine travels to England to seal a contract with Principio Iron Works and negotiates 1/12 ownership. While in England his wife, Jane, passes away leaving him with 3 small children. He sends his 2 sons to England for formal education. Within 2 years marries Mary Ball and sires 6 more children, with George being the oldest.Despite the legends, young George did not cut down a Cherry Tree with his new hatchet, this was propagated after his death in 1799 by his first biographer, Mason Weems, in1802, in an effort to build interest and sales in his new book.

7. Two Influential Mentors Lawrence Stepbrother 1st owner of Mt. Vernon Co Founder of the Ohio Company Developer of the Town of Alexandria, VA Major in the Virginia Militia Col. Sir William Fairfax Cousin of the 6th Lord of Fairfax Collector of Customs for the Crown Builder of Belvoir Plantation Member of the House of Burgesses

8. George’s Early Years • 1738 – Lawrence, George’s step brother, returns from England • 1741 – Lawrence is sent to supervise the operations of “Little Hunting Creek” plantation and changes the name of the estate to Mount Vernon • 1743 – age 11 - Augustine dies and George becomes the “Man of the House” • 1747 – age 15 – named as surveyor of Northern Neck Proprietary. • 1749 – contracts malaria while surveying • 1750 – age 18 – buys his first plantation and assumes inheritance of Ferry Farm • 1751 – age 19 – takes Lawrence to Barbados to treat his tuberculosis and contracts smallpox himself. His only trip outside of America • 1752 – age 20 – Lawrence dies of tuberculosis and George takes over management of Mount Vernon • 1754 – age 22 – takes ownership of Mount Vernon • 1789 – becomes first president of the United States of America

9. Freemason Ideals Impact on the Forming of America

10. “George Washington was a man constantly constructing himself”W.W. AbbotProfessor of HistoryUniversity of Virginia “The less people know about me personally, the more I can accomplish publically” George Washington 1798

11. “Freemasonry was created not to mold men but to mold the actions of men”Robert G. Davis33rd Degree2002 In 1996, Michael Kimmel published a definitive study about the culture of “Manhood in America” going back to the latter part of the 18th century during the formation of our country and concluded there were 3 dominant “Ideals of Man”

12. Ideals of Man Genteel Patriarch – defined Aristocrat, upper class code of honor & refined sensibilities and compassion George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or James Monroe Heroic Artisan – tracing their lineage to the Craft Guilds. Independent, Virtuous & Honest with strong work ethic and extremely loyal to his male comrades. Paul Revere Self Made Man – seems to have been born with America, constantly on the go, competitive, restless and aggressive, constantly looking to prove himself and fiercely loyal to his brother man. Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone

13. In Colonial America the Genteel Patriarch would bring work for the Heroic Artisan but would often linger to socialize until the work was completed and then participate in evenings of drink, merriment and ceremony.

14. Masonic Involvement in the Formation of America • 9 Signers of the Declaration of Independence • 9 Signers of the Articles of Confederation • 9 Signers of the Constitution 5 did not sign and 6 signers later joined the Fraternity John Paul Jones, Marquis de Layfayette, Ben Franklin

15. 1730 – 1st recorded listing of a Grand Masonic Lodge in America – Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania1731 – 1st record of Ben Franklin paying 5 months worth of back dues1752 – 1st record of Fredricksburg Masonic Lodge – 2 months later George Washington becomes one of the 1st Entered Apprentices1753 – Washington becomes a Master Mason1788 – Washington serves as Charter Master of Alexandria #391789 – He is reelected to a 2nd termGrand Lodge of PA nominates Washington to be “Grand Master General for the 13 United American States” Washington declines Early Masonic History in America

16. Highlight of Washington’s Masonic career was when he laid the cornerstone to the U.S. Capital with full Masonic Ceremonies.Sept. 18, 1793“So far as I am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I conceive it to be founded in benevolence and exercised only for the good of mankind.”George Washington, 1798

17. How Alcohol Helped Form America “The people of the United States shall not interfere with the operation of the laws of the United States for raising revenue upon spirits distilled within the same” George Washington, President Proclamation against Resistance to the Whiskey Tax - 1792

18. Whiskey Rebellion1791 - 1794 • 1781- Articles of Confederation - ratified by all 13 States but did not give the Central Government the right to impose or collect taxes • 1787 – Constitutional Congress approves the US Constitution forming the new Federal Government and consolidation of Federal and State debts into Federal Debt • 1789 – Washington named 1st President • 1791 – Alexander Hamilton imposes the “Whiskey Tax” • 1794 – Washington becomes the only sitting President to lead troops into confrontation • The Rebellion demonstrated the new Gov’t had the willingness and fortitude to address and suppress resistance to it’s new laws

19. Mount Vernon Distilleryreconstructed in 2006

20. Reclamation and excavation were started in the mid-1990’s and the project was completed in 2006The Distillery was built on the original foundation and to the exact dimensions of the original DistillerySize is 75’ X 30’

21. Only Founding Father to own a Distillery – 1797 ~1808Created by James Anderson, Scottish Overseer & DistillerLocated 3 miles west of Mt. VernonOn 1 of the 5 Farms that make up Mt. VernonPrimary Grains used were wheat and ryeAfter Washington’s death in 1799 the Distillery continued operation until 1808

22. 1797 – Distillery built using 1 Still1798 – Distillery expanded to encompass 5 stillsAt it’s peak the Distillery was producing over 11,000 gallons of Whiskey and turning a profit of more than $7500 per year.Came to be considered the most successful and profitable operation at Mt. Vernon.