This is a cenotaph, a memorial erected to the memory of George Eskridge. His actual burial site is unknown.
Colonel George Eskridge came to America, probably from Lincolnshire County, England. He located near the mouth of the Teocomice River on the banks of the Potomac River, in Westmoreland Co, VA. He was an eminent lawyer, and represented his county in the House of Burgesses for many years. He worshiped at the Old Yeoconice Church.
He married first, Rebecca Bonum, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Phillpot Bonum. -Their children were William, George Jr., Samuel (Volks-Craddock) Forten They had one girl child Elizabeth.George Eskridge was made guardian of Mary Ball, born 1707. Her father died when she was three years of age. Her mother married in 1713, Captain Richard Howes and Mrs. Howes died in 1721. She spent most of her younger years in the home of the Eskridge family and her mother's will which reads, "My daughter Mary Johnson Ball, do I put under the tutelage and government of Colonel George Eskridge". Her son and trusted and beloved friend were appointed executors of her estate. Mary Ball married March 6, 1730, Augustine Washington, and named her first son George, in honor of her old friend and guardian, Colonel George Eskridge. Colonel Eskridge died in 1735.Second married Elizabeth (Vauix) Craddock Porten
Tradition tells us that in the latter part of the 17th century, George Eskridge, who was a young law student, while walking along the shore on the north coast of Wales, studying one of his law books, was suddenly seized by the Press Gang, carried aboard ship, and brought to the Colony of Virginia. As the custom was, he was sold to a planter for a term of eight (8) years. During that time, he was not allowed to communicate with his friends at home. He was treated very harshly, and made to sleep on the hearth of the kitchen. On the day that his term expired, the planter found him tearing up the stones of the hearth with a mattock. Upon being asked what he was doing, young Eskridge replied that a guest's bed was always pulled to pieces upon their departure, and he was doing likewise. He then threw down his mattock and walked out of the house. During the eight years in Virginia, his law book, which he brought away with him, was his constant companion. He made his way back to England, completed his studies, was admitted to the bar, and then sent to the Colony of Virginia as a judge of the King's Bench (there was never such an office in Virginia - Ed.). About 1700, he married. From the year 1702 until 1729 he was granted thousands of acres of land in the eastern part of Virginia. He held several colonial positions. Colonel George Eskridge, of Sandy Point, Westmoreland County, was a successful lawyer and represented his county in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1705, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1712 (twice), 1714, 1718 (twice), 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1730, 1732 and 1734. Col. Eskridge was, the guardian of Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington, from the time she was thirteen until she was married, and it is probable that her great son was named after him. When Col. George Eskridge died in 1735 his estate inventory the names of some 75 black Americans bound in slavery. These 75 persons were subsequently bound out to his children.
Colonel George Eskridge came to America, probably from Lincolnshire County, England. He located near the mouth of the Teocomice River on the banks of the Potomac River, in Westmoreland Co, VA. He was an eminent lawyer, and represented his county in the House of Burgesses for many years. He worshiped at the Old Yeoconice Church.
He married first, Rebecca Bonum, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Phillpot Bonum. -Their children were William, George Jr., Samuel (Volks-Craddock) Forten They had one girl child Elizabeth.George Eskridge was made guardian of Mary Ball, born 1707. Her father died when she was three years of age. Her mother married in 1713, Captain Richard Howes and Mrs. Howes died in 1721. She spent most of her younger years in the home of the Eskridge family and her mother's will which reads, "My daughter Mary Johnson Ball, do I put under the tutelage and government of Colonel George Eskridge". Her son and trusted and beloved friend were appointed executors of her estate. Mary Ball married March 6, 1730, Augustine Washington, and named her first son George, in honor of her old friend and guardian, Colonel George Eskridge. Colonel Eskridge died in 1735.Second married Elizabeth (Vauix) Craddock Porten
Tradition tells us that in the latter part of the 17th century, George Eskridge, who was a young law student, while walking along the shore on the north coast of Wales, studying one of his law books, was suddenly seized by the Press Gang, carried aboard ship, and brought to the Colony of Virginia. As the custom was, he was sold to a planter for a term of eight (8) years. During that time, he was not allowed to communicate with his friends at home. He was treated very harshly, and made to sleep on the hearth of the kitchen. On the day that his term expired, the planter found him tearing up the stones of the hearth with a mattock. Upon being asked what he was doing, young Eskridge replied that a guest's bed was always pulled to pieces upon their departure, and he was doing likewise. He then threw down his mattock and walked out of the house. During the eight years in Virginia, his law book, which he brought away with him, was his constant companion. He made his way back to England, completed his studies, was admitted to the bar, and then sent to the Colony of Virginia as a judge of the King's Bench (there was never such an office in Virginia - Ed.). About 1700, he married. From the year 1702 until 1729 he was granted thousands of acres of land in the eastern part of Virginia. He held several colonial positions. Colonel George Eskridge, of Sandy Point, Westmoreland County, was a successful lawyer and represented his county in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1705, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1712 (twice), 1714, 1718 (twice), 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1730, 1732 and 1734. Col. Eskridge was, the guardian of Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington, from the time she was thirteen until she was married, and it is probable that her great son was named after him. When Col. George Eskridge died in 1735 his estate inventory the names of some 75 black Americans bound in slavery. These 75 persons were subsequently bound out to his children.
This is a cenotaph, a memorial erected to the memory of George Eskridge. His actual burial site is unknown.
Colonel George Eskridge came to America, probably from Lincolnshire County, England. He located near the mouth of the Teocomice River on the banks of the Potomac River, in Westmoreland Co, VA. He was an eminent lawyer, and represented his county in the House of Burgesses for many years. He worshiped at the Old Yeoconice Church.
He married first, Rebecca Bonum, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Phillpot Bonum. -Their children were William, George Jr., Samuel (Volks-Craddock) Forten They had one girl child Elizabeth.George Eskridge was made guardian of Mary Ball, born 1707. Her father died when she was three years of age. Her mother married in 1713, Captain Richard Howes and Mrs. Howes died in 1721. She spent most of her younger years in the home of the Eskridge family and her mother's will which reads, "My daughter Mary Johnson Ball, do I put under the tutelage and government of Colonel George Eskridge". Her son and trusted and beloved friend were appointed executors of her estate. Mary Ball married March 6, 1730, Augustine Washington, and named her first son George, in honor of her old friend and guardian, Colonel George Eskridge. Colonel Eskridge died in 1735.Second married Elizabeth (Vauix) Craddock Porten
Tradition tells us that in the latter part of the 17th century, George Eskridge, who was a young law student, while walking along the shore on the north coast of Wales, studying one of his law books, was suddenly seized by the Press Gang, carried aboard ship, and brought to the Colony of Virginia. As the custom was, he was sold to a planter for a term of eight (8) years. During that time, he was not allowed to communicate with his friends at home. He was treated very harshly, and made to sleep on the hearth of the kitchen. On the day that his term expired, the planter found him tearing up the stones of the hearth with a mattock. Upon being asked what he was doing, young Eskridge replied that a guest's bed was always pulled to pieces upon their departure, and he was doing likewise. He then threw down his mattock and walked out of the house. During the eight years in Virginia, his law book, which he brought away with him, was his constant companion. He made his way back to England, completed his studies, was admitted to the bar, and then sent to the Colony of Virginia as a judge of the King's Bench (there was never such an office in Virginia - Ed.). About 1700, he married. From the year 1702 until 1729 he was granted thousands of acres of land in the eastern part of Virginia. He held several colonial positions. Colonel George Eskridge, of Sandy Point, Westmoreland County, was a successful lawyer and represented his county in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1705, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1712 (twice), 1714, 1718 (twice), 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1730, 1732 and 1734. Col. Eskridge was, the guardian of Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington, from the time she was thirteen until she was married, and it is probable that her great son was named after him. When Col. George Eskridge died in 1735 his estate inventory the names of some 75 black Americans bound in slavery. These 75 persons were subsequently bound out to his children.
Colonel George Eskridge came to America, probably from Lincolnshire County, England. He located near the mouth of the Teocomice River on the banks of the Potomac River, in Westmoreland Co, VA. He was an eminent lawyer, and represented his county in the House of Burgesses for many years. He worshiped at the Old Yeoconice Church.
He married first, Rebecca Bonum, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Phillpot Bonum. -Their children were William, George Jr., Samuel (Volks-Craddock) Forten They had one girl child Elizabeth.George Eskridge was made guardian of Mary Ball, born 1707. Her father died when she was three years of age. Her mother married in 1713, Captain Richard Howes and Mrs. Howes died in 1721. She spent most of her younger years in the home of the Eskridge family and her mother's will which reads, "My daughter Mary Johnson Ball, do I put under the tutelage and government of Colonel George Eskridge". Her son and trusted and beloved friend were appointed executors of her estate. Mary Ball married March 6, 1730, Augustine Washington, and named her first son George, in honor of her old friend and guardian, Colonel George Eskridge. Colonel Eskridge died in 1735.Second married Elizabeth (Vauix) Craddock Porten
Tradition tells us that in the latter part of the 17th century, George Eskridge, who was a young law student, while walking along the shore on the north coast of Wales, studying one of his law books, was suddenly seized by the Press Gang, carried aboard ship, and brought to the Colony of Virginia. As the custom was, he was sold to a planter for a term of eight (8) years. During that time, he was not allowed to communicate with his friends at home. He was treated very harshly, and made to sleep on the hearth of the kitchen. On the day that his term expired, the planter found him tearing up the stones of the hearth with a mattock. Upon being asked what he was doing, young Eskridge replied that a guest's bed was always pulled to pieces upon their departure, and he was doing likewise. He then threw down his mattock and walked out of the house. During the eight years in Virginia, his law book, which he brought away with him, was his constant companion. He made his way back to England, completed his studies, was admitted to the bar, and then sent to the Colony of Virginia as a judge of the King's Bench (there was never such an office in Virginia - Ed.). About 1700, he married. From the year 1702 until 1729 he was granted thousands of acres of land in the eastern part of Virginia. He held several colonial positions. Colonel George Eskridge, of Sandy Point, Westmoreland County, was a successful lawyer and represented his county in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1705, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1712 (twice), 1714, 1718 (twice), 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1730, 1732 and 1734. Col. Eskridge was, the guardian of Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington, from the time she was thirteen until she was married, and it is probable that her great son was named after him. When Col. George Eskridge died in 1735 his estate inventory the names of some 75 black Americans bound in slavery. These 75 persons were subsequently bound out to his children.
