Washington was descended from Renald Rene Laforce I ("Rene I") who came to this country as part of the Huguenot exodus from France in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Washington is descended from Rene I's son, Renald Rene Laforce II ("Rene II"), though his exact line of descent is unclear.

Most researchers place Washington as the son of Robert William Laforce b ca 1774 and d. 1810 ("William Jr.") However, census reports and other contemporaneous records throughout his life place Washington's birth about 5-7 years after William Jr's death. (between 1815 and 1817). William Jr. died before March of 1810 when various transfer deeds were recorded in Clark Co., KY naming his estate. His widow Jane is referred to in these deeds as either "Jane Leforce, executrix of William Leforce" or "Jane Laforce (administrator of estate of William Leforce)" There are seven heirs named in these deeds: William R., Nancy R., Patrick W., Hannah G., David, George L. and Felix all "minors under age 21". There is no mention of an heir by the name of Washington. (See Clark Co. Deed Bk. 6, p. 622; Deed Bk. 7, pp. 431-432 and 443; Deed Bk. 9, pp. 128-129) (Also, see further discussion under Robert William Laforce Jr. #195782583 for his lineage.)

Based on this evidence, it is unlikely that Washington could have been the son of William Jr. Even if Jane was pregnant at the death of William Jr, most records place Washington's birth at least 5-7 years after William Jr's death.

What we do know is that Washington grew up in the same household as William Jr's children, and lived close to them throughout his. So if he was not William Jr's son, he most likely was his grandson.

While the exact parentage of Washington remains a mystery, there is little doubt that one way or another, he is a descendant of Rene I.

Washington LaForce was born in Clark County Kentucky on the LaForce family farm, and sometime between 1830 and 1840 his family moved to Boone County, Missouri. There they acquired land and started farming.

It was in Boone County that Washington met Pheraba Wright and in 1840 they were married. Washington and Pheraba established their own farm in Boone County, and between them they had 10 children, eight of whom survived to adulthood.

By 1870 Washington and Pheraba had moved to Mexico, Missouri (Audrain County) with their seven surviving children, ages 7 - 30. Six years later, Washington died. His wife Pheraba survived him by twenty years, and on her passing in 1896, was buried beside her husband in Elmwood Cemetery, Mexico, Missouri.