Mildred Gale

Mildred Gale, born Mildred Warner in 1671 in the Colony of Virginia, was the paternal grandmother of George Washington, the first President of the United States. She died on January 30, 1701.

**Early Life:**

Mildred Warner was born at Warner Hall in Gloucester County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Colonel Augustine Warner Jr. (1642–1681) and Mildred Reade. Her paternal grandfather was Augustine Warner Sr. She was one of three surviving daughters of her parents; her sisters were Elizabeth Warner and Mary Warner. All three daughters married and had descendants.

**First Marriage:**

In 1685, Mildred Warner married Lawrence Washington, also spelled Laurence Washington. The marriage resulted in three children:

- John Washington III (1692–1746)

- Augustine Washington (1694–1743)

- Mildred Washington (1698–1747)

Augustine Washington became the father of George Washington. Lawrence Washington died in 1698, leaving shares in his estate to Mildred and her children. The estate profits were designated for their education.

**Second Marriage and Death:**

In 1700, Mildred Warner married George Gale, a merchant from Whitehaven, England, known for establishing trade links with Virginia. She settled in Whitehaven and became pregnant. Before her child's baptism, she contracted a fever and made a will. She died on January 30, 1701, shortly after her marriage and before her child's birth.

**Wills and Legacy:**

Her will entrusted the care of the Washington children to George Gale. However, this arrangement was later challenged in Virginia courts by Lawrence's cousin, John Washington, leading to a custody dispute that ultimately favored John Washington. The will also left most of her inherited property from George Gale to him.

**Burial:**

Mildred Gale was buried in the grounds of St. Nicholas's Church in Whitehaven, alongside her infant daughter and a slave named Jane. The precise location of her grave remains unknown due to subsequent church re-arrangements and a fire in 1971. A commemorative plaque exists in the church garden.