Mary Ball Washington

Mary Washington, née Ball, was born approximately between 1707 and 1709, in either Epping Forest, Lancaster County, Virginia, or near the village of Simonson, Virginia. She was the sole child of Colonel Joseph Ball (1649–1711) and his second wife, Mary Johnson Ball (1672–1721). Her paternal grandfather was William Ball (1615–1680), who emigrated from Britain to Virginia in the 1650s. William's wife, Hannah Atherold (1615–1695), arrived later with their children, including Joseph Ball, Mary's father, who was born in England.

Following her father's death in 1711 when she was approximately three years old, and her mother's death when she was twelve, Mary was placed under the guardianship of George Eskridge, the brother of Jane Washington.

In 1731, Mary Ball married Augustine Washington, a Virginia planter, after his return from England where he had visited his sons and conducted business. The marriage took place on March 6, 1731, when Mary was around 23 years old. At the time of their marriage, she was considered wealthy, bringing at least 1,000 acres of inherited property. They had several children, including George Washington (1732–1799), Elizabeth "Betty" Washington (1733–1797), Samuel Washington (1734–1781), John Augustine Washington (1736–1787), Charles Washington (1738–1799), and Mildred Washington (born and died in 1739).

Following her husband's death in 1743, when her son George was eleven, Mary Washington did not remarry, which was uncommon for widows in Virginia during that period. She managed the family estate and 276 acres of Ferry Farm until her son George reached adulthood.

Her son George Washington later commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution and became the first President of the United States in 1789. Upon his election as president, George Washington traveled to Fredericksburg to visit his ailing mother, who was suffering from breast cancer and believed to have died shortly after their meeting.

Mary Washington died on August 25, 1789, from breast cancer at her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was buried in an unmarked grave near Meditation Rock on the grounds of the Kenmore plantation, home to her daughter Betty and son-in-law Fielding Lewis. The precise location of her grave is unknown. The Kenmore plantation is now preserved as a historic house museum operated by the George Washington Foundation.

Regarding her political beliefs, contemporary accounts do not support claims that she was opposed to her son's revolutionary activities or a Loyalist sympathizer. Her other sons served in the Virginia Militia, and her son-in-law, Fielding Lewis, managed gun manufacturing operations supporting revolutionary efforts. During the war, Mary Washington had a known friendship with Marquis de Lafayette.

There is no credible evidence of her petitioning the Virginia government for reimbursement for her contributions to the war effort, despite rumors. In her later years, her son George purchased her a house in Fredericksburg, where she resided from 1772 until her death. She left her lands and belongings to him in her will.

Her descendants include Bushrod Washington, her grandson through her son John Augustine Washington, who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1798. Charles Washington, her son, is the namesake of Charles Town in West Virginia.

Multiple monuments and honors commemorate Mary Washington. A monument erected in 1833 was dedicated by President Andrew Jackson and later completed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, with President Grover Cleveland officiating at its 1894 dedication. The University of Mary Washington and Mary Washington Hospital, both in Fredericksburg, are named after her. In 2019, the Fredericksburg Nationals introduced a female-themed logo referencing her, marking a historic first in baseball branding.