John Washington

John Washington (c. 1633 – 1677) was an English-born individual involved in commerce, agriculture, politics, and military service in the Virginia Colony. Born in Tring, Hertfordshire, he was the son of Lawrence Washington, who served as a rector, and Amphillis Twigden. His early life included education at Charterhouse School in London, although he did not attend the school. His father, Lawrence Washington, had been a fellow at Oxford University before resigning to become a rector. During the English Civil War, Lawrence Washington lost his clerical position and later served as vicar in Little Braxted, Essex, where he died in 1652. Following his mother's death, John Washington became an administrator of her estate in 1655.

Washington emigrated to Virginia in the mid-1650s, with his initial involvement in the colonial economy including serving as a Master's Mate on a tobacco ship. In 1656, he invested with Edward Prescott in a merchant vessel transporting tobacco to Europe. He subsequently sailed as second mate on Prescott's ship, the Sea Horse of London, but chose to remain in Virginia after a storm in 1657 caused the vessel to run aground near the Potomac River. Washington's financial dealings with Prescott were complicated by disputes over wages and debts involving beaver skins.

In Virginia, Washington initially resided at the home of Colonel Nathaniel Pope and married Anne Pope in 1658 or early 1659. They had a son, Laurence Washington, born in October 1659. Through marriage, Washington became connected to the Pope and Washington families of the region. Pope granted him land on Mattox Creek as a wedding gift, and Washington acquired additional landholdings near the Potomac River, notably on Bridges Creek.

As a planter, Washington relied on enslaved Africans and indentured servants for tobacco cultivation on his large landholdings, which by 1668 encompassed around 5,000 acres. His landholdings and status positioned him within the colonial gentry. He served as a vestryman for Appomattox Parish, a trustee for Westmoreland County estates, a guardian of children, the county coroner, and a judge in the county court by 1662.

Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses representing Westmoreland County in 1665, holding this position until his death. His military career included appointment as major of the militia in 1662, with a promotion to lieutenant colonel in 1672, amid ongoing conflicts with Native American tribes. In 1675, he participated in retaliatory campaigns during the tensions that led to Bacon's Rebellion, supporting Governor William Berkeley's efforts. During the rebellion, his estate was plundered by forces aligned with the rebels. The following year, Washington remained active in colonial affairs but died in late 1677, shortly after attending a meeting concerning taxes and the aftermath of the rebellion.

Washington married three times. His first wife, Anne Pope, bore him several children, including Laurence Washington and John Washington Jr. His second wife was a widow named Anne, whose maiden name is unknown; they had no children together. His third wife was Frances Gerard, whom he married around 1676; she was a widow of several men, including Thomas Speke and Valentine Peyton.

John Washington was buried near present-day Colonial Beach, Virginia, at the George Washington Birthplace National Monument. His death was finalized after his will was probated on September 26, 1677, which documented his holdings exceeding 8,500 acres of land. He was the first member of the Washington family to settle in North America and was a paternal great-grandfather of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The parish of the Anglican Church in the region was subsequently renamed Washington in his honor.