by gwffoundation | Dec 20, 2020 | Historic Kenmore, History of Slavery, Kenmore Enslaved Community Project, Lives & Legacies
“My Dear Brother, I wish you to give Howell some advice how to Proseed in regard to two Negroes that Runaway from me a few days before Christmas…” With those words in the early spring of 1794, Betty Lewis informed her brother, George Washington, of a difficult...
by gwffoundation | Dec 17, 2020 | Archaeology, George Washington's Ferry Farm, Lives & Legacies, Washington family
The story of Mary Ball Washington is one of overcoming a lifetime of adversity. Often overshadowed by her larger than life son George, Mary’s place in history fluctuated from saint to shrew with many historians ignoring the obstacles she faced and...
by gwffoundation | Dec 3, 2020 | Archaeology, George Washington's Ferry Farm, Lives & Legacies
After a delay of five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, archaeological excavations in the Washington house work yard at George Washington’s Ferry Farm got underway in mid-August and finished on October 30. Despite the cancellation of a planned spring field school...
by gwffoundation | Nov 25, 2020 | Archaeology, Behind the Scenes, Lives & Legacies
Like so many of you, in the middle of March this year, nearly all employees of George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore began working from home and did not return to our offices for two and a half months. We expected a lengthy time away and, as such,...
by gwffoundation | Nov 18, 2020 | Foodways, George Washington's Ferry Farm, Lives & Legacies, Washington family
One of the most exciting and important discoveries archaeologists have made at Ferry Farm is a pewter teaspoon baring the initials B.W. It belonged to Betty Washington. This spoon was part of a set that trained her to oversee the extremely important tea ceremony....
by gwffoundation | Nov 4, 2020 | Historic Kenmore, Lewis Family, Lives & Legacies
On walls of the Historic Kenmore’s drawing room hang two large portraits of a man and a woman. The man is an older gentleman in a serene outdoor setting, looking quite dignified and sober in a brownish knee-length jacket, knee breeches and long waistcoat. His...
