Charles Washington

Charles Washington (born May 2, 1738, near Hunting Creek in Stafford County, Virginia; died between July and September 1799) was an American planter and politician known for founding the town of Charles Town in present-day Jefferson County, West Virginia. The town was named in his honor shortly after his death and the death of his eldest brother, George Washington.

Family and Early Life:

Charles was the son of Augustine Washington (1693–1743), a Virginia planter and businessman, and Mary Ball Washington (1708–1789), an orphan and heiress of Colonel Joseph Ball of Lancaster County, Virginia. At the time of his birth, the family residence was located near Hunting Creek in what is now Fairfax County, Virginia. Following his father's death when Charles was five years old, his eldest half-brother, Lawrence Washington (1718–1752), returned from England and assumed responsibility for managing the family estate and caring for Charles and his other younger siblings. Lawrence also served as the colony's Adjutant-General and as a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

In 1757, upon reaching legal age, Charles married Mildred Thornton, daughter of Colonel Francis Thornton and Frances Gregory. Together, they had four children: George Augustine Washington, Frances Washington, Samuel Washington, and Mildred Gregory Washington.

Education and Property:

Charles received a private education appropriate for his social class. He inherited 750 acres of land in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, from his father's estate. In 1761, he purchased two lots in Fredericksburg, the county seat of Spotsylvania County, where he built a residence that is now known as the Rising Sun Tavern. In 1773, he expanded his landholdings with an additional 200 acres in Spotsylvania County. Due to his status as the youngest son of his family, he inherited significant property in Frederick County, Virginia, especially after his eldest half-brother Lawrence died without offspring and his widow's subsequent death in 1761.

Career:

Charles operated farms on his inherited lands, utilizing enslaved labor. By 1780, he relocated to the Shenandoah Valley and developed additional farmland there, also employing enslaved labor. Before his move, he resided in Fredericksburg and engaged in local civic roles, including serving as a vestryman for the Episcopal Church.

Settlement of Charles Town:

Between April and October 1780, Charles arrived in the area of present-day Jefferson County, West Virginia, and established his residence, known as Happy Retreat. In the same year, he founded the town of Charles Town, laying out its streets on an 80-acre tract of land adjacent to his property. Many streets were named after his brothers or his wife, Mildred. Additionally, he donated four corner lots at the intersection of George and Washington Streets for public buildings and the county courthouse, anticipating the future formation of Jefferson County, which was established in 1801.

Death and Legacy:

Charles Washington died between July and September 1799, approximately three to five months before his brother George Washington's death on December 14, 1799. His son George Augustine Washington had predeceased him but left behind heirs, including George Fayette Washington, Charles Augustine Washington, and Maria Washington. Charles was survived by his widow, who died in 1804, and their daughters, Frances Washington Ball (wife of Burgess Ball) and Mildred Hammond (wife of Thomas Hammond). His burial site, located near Evitts Run, has been recently identified and marked by a stone wall.

Ancestry:

Charles Washington was part of the prominent Washington family, with his lineage tracing back to colonial Virginia families through his mother, Mary Ball Washington, and his father, Augustine Washington.