Earlier this week I was in Fredericksburg, VA for work. As I was driving around I noticed a large obelisk from a distance. Thinking it was a civil war monument I was surprised when I walked up and saw this sign:





I'd be lying if I said I knew a lot about Mary Washington, I didn't. Within the last year I listened to an audio book about the life of her son, which mentioned her quite often. She was a constant presence in her famous sons life and she was quite a famous in her own right in her day. She was quote opinionated and some sources say she remained a loyalist sympathizer to the crown to her dying day. She lived to the ripe old age of 80 or 81. Needless to say she's an interesting woman and an important part of our countries history.







Across from where Mary Washington rests there is a statue of a dashing solider, sword brandished, gazing down the street.



This is a monument to Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer. We've all heard of George Washington, Henry Knox, Benedict Arnold, or the Marquis de Lafayette. But what about Hugh? Born in Scotland, this man studied medicine, fought in the Jacobite army, battled the French and Indians in the Seven-Years war, befriended a guy named George and became a Brigadier-General in the Continental Army. Against the British he fought in numerous engagements (some say it was his idea to cross a river and surprise some Hessians at Trenton), finally being mortally wounded in Princeton, New Jersey.

He died leading 350 men against two British regiments and mounted troops. After having his horse shot from underneath him, he fought dismounted, saber in hand. Outnumbered he was beaten with musket butts and bayoneted repeatedly and left for dead. Supposedly he was mistaken as being General George Washington himself, thus why he was so brutally handled after refusing to surrender. Legend says he was found with a bayonet still impaling him, but refused to leave the field of battle or his men. He was set under an oak tree to rest. He died from his wound nine days later.





He deserves to be recognized and remembered.

Across lawn is a small stone structure with a plaque honoring George Rogers Clark. This man was a Virginia native who explored what was considered the Northwest of our country at the time, Kentucky and Indiana. He was an Indian fighter and a Revolutionary War hero. He fought the British and their Indian allies, essentially besting them at every engagement. He was appointed a Brigadier-General by Thomas Jefferson himself, then Governor of Virginia. Unfortunately General Clark died heavily indebted, suffered from alcoholism and numerous strokes. Historians say his victories in the Northwest territory with his meager resources tied down important British manpower and resources and was instrumental in the British ceding the Northwest territory per the Treaty of Paris, essentially doubling the size of the original 13 colonies.

Remarkable woman for sure. Her son Charles founded Charles Town WV. Her grandson Bushrod was a Supreme Court Justice and good friend of John Marshall.

Just across the river is Ferry Farm which was Mary Washington's property. The obelisk is on what used to be her daughter's property.

There is also a Confederate cemetery just south of where that monument is.


Looking through a few of the associated Wiki pages, it seems that my paternal grandfathers family is very Washington family adjacent. Very fun to speculate how/when the families branched and how some families prospered while others ended up penniless.

Thank you very much for this presentation of history I knew little about.

Hugh Mercer was a BAMF but sadly doesn't seem to be known by many. Guy took on dozens of Redcoats with just his saber and fought until he couldn't any more.

General George Patton is a notable descendant of Mercer!

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania was named after him and was the birthplace of PA's only President; James Buchanan.

Wow thanks for posting
I never knew about either one of those
I worked in Spotsylvania for three years and had to go to the Hospital there numerous times but I never saw any of these monuments/markers.

Fascinating people/lives and history

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mrapteam666,

Thank you for posting

This is real history and should never be cancelled.

To me that is one of the great things about living in the Commonwealth is the history.

When you get some time explore around Hanover county. Scotchtown which was a home of Patrick Henry is an interesting place, not to mention the old Hanover Courthouse (still in operation) where Henry argued the Parsons Cause Case.

There is a group called the Parsons Cause foundation http://www.parsonscause.org/ does some reenactments and other history related shows at the old courthouse on Saturdays during the summer.

I agree with 95flhr 100%.

Wow, the last few weeks I have learned so much from members the members on this site. I am grateful that they are gracious enough to take pictures and post what they learned.

The Commonwealth has such a rich and varied history, there is something for everyone ranging from the days of the Native Americans to the Present day.

That is one of the reasons I stayed in VA for so long. (In fact way too long when I could not find work and was going broke.) This is also one of the reasons I want to return to some part of Virginia.

Another great place is The Hanover Tavern. It is one of the oldest taverns in the United States. Plus the courthouse across the street is the third oldest still in use in the United States. The tavern used to have dinner/theater and it was a big hit. Now this was pre-covid.

Also in Fredericksburg is a trail that follows the historic Sunken Road and passes through Marye’s Heights, finishing at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Sunken Road is a prominent site of the Battle of Fredericksburg, and one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The wall protected Southern soldiers fortunate to stand behind it. Behind the wall, only around 300 Confederate soldiers were shot. By contrast in front of the wall, approximately 8,000 Union soldiers were hit

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania was named after him

As was Mercer County, NJ.