Lawrence Berry Washington
After being admitted to the bar he probably practiced law at Charlestown. We know at some later time he was affiliated with the law office of his brother Benjamin Franklin Washington, ten years his junior, who practiced law in Charlestown. In the 1830’s Lawrence undertook an expedition to Mason County west of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, now West Virginia, to inspect some 640 acres of land in the Kanawha Valley owned by his father. We assume he was to inspect the land have it surveyed and evaluate its suitability for agriculture and stock raising or other development and to begin the work of clearing land and building a house for shelter. He probably also traveled to nearby Ohio where he had relatives.
Lawrence’s mother Elizabeth Conrad (Bedinger) Washington died in 1837 followed four years later by the death of his father, John Thornton Augustine Washington. By the will of John T. A. Washington, his three older sons, Daniel Bedinger, Lawrence Berry and Benjamin Franklin, who had reached the age of adulthood were each willed 200 acres of land in the Kanawha Valley of Mason County, Virginia. His older sons were also were to receive slaves. Lawrence was willed the acreage but not slaves. His father referred to the fact that Lawrence had taken a slave to the Kanawha Valley, sold him there and did not return the proceeds of the sale to his father. He absolved Lawrence and his other sons of any indebtedness they may have had to him. Benjamin Franklin Washington was made guardian of his minor siblings, four daughters and one son who ranged in age from seven to seventeen. Two of John T.A.Washington’s daughters were eighteen years or older; they and the five younger children were to receive their legacies when the youngest, a daughter, reached the age of 18. [i]
Lawrence Washington returned to the Kanawha Valley in 1844. He established a law office in Buffalo, Putnam County, Virginia near the family property in Mason County, Virginia. He advertised in the Spirit of Jefferson, Charles Town as an attorney and counselor at law to act as agent for persons who had lands in the Virginia Military District in Ohio.[ii] In August 1845 he advertised for sale 640 acres of land in the Kanawha Valley. The ad placed in the Spirit of Jefferson was written as an appeal to people in Eastern Virginia in search of fertile lands for crops and grazing and seeking to better their condition and establish a home in new country and yet in their beloved Old Dominion. Interested parties were directed to the offices of Lawrence B. Washington in Buffalo or Benjamin F. Washington in Charles Town. [iii]
In the spring of 1843 Lawrence B. Washington was back in Jefferson County and active in politics. Although his brother, B.F. Washington was also active in politics, the two brothers were members of different political parties. Benjamin Franklin Washington was a Democrat, as his grandfather Daniel Bedinger and great uncle Henry Bedinger, had been. Lawrence Berry Washington was a Whig. The March 3, 1846 issue of the Spirit of Jefferson, the Charles Town newspaper, published articles on both the Democratic and Whig Party meetings regarding selection of candidates for the election to the State Legislature. The Democratic party, due to diversity of opinion, despite propositions offered by six persons including his brother B. F. Washington, was unable to commit the party to pursue any future action toward nomination of candidates. The Spirit of Jefferson, true to its editorial bent, exercised a bit of acerbic wit in reporting "Though the Democrats as yet, have presented no candidates for the Legislature, the canvass in this County promises to be one of no little interest. The Whig party, notwithstanding their professed abhorrence for office, never fail, when an occasion offers, to find a host who are willing and anxious to serve the people. Of this, however, we do not complain. It may serve to illustrate the fable of the frog -- Sport for the Democrats, but death for the Whigs." Accordingly, the Whig Party passed a resolution placing in nomination L. B. Washington among a host of seven candidates. The resolution providing that should Democratic candidates hereafter appear, the Whig party nominations would be reduced to two candidates.[iv]
Lawrence’s mother Elizabeth Conrad (Bedinger) Washington died in 1837 followed four years later by the death of his father, John Thornton Augustine Washington. By the will of John T. A. Washington, his three older sons, Daniel Bedinger, Lawrence Berry and Benjamin Franklin, who had reached the age of adulthood were each willed 200 acres of land in the Kanawha Valley of Mason County, Virginia. His older sons were also were to receive slaves. Lawrence was willed the acreage but not slaves. His father referred to the fact that Lawrence had taken a slave to the Kanawha Valley, sold him there and did not return the proceeds of the sale to his father. He absolved Lawrence and his other sons of any indebtedness they may have had to him. Benjamin Franklin Washington was made guardian of his minor siblings, four daughters and one son who ranged in age from seven to seventeen. Two of John T.A.Washington’s daughters were eighteen years or older; they and the five younger children were to receive their legacies when the youngest, a daughter, reached the age of 18. [i]
Lawrence Washington returned to the Kanawha Valley in 1844. He established a law office in Buffalo, Putnam County, Virginia near the family property in Mason County, Virginia. He advertised in the Spirit of Jefferson, Charles Town as an attorney and counselor at law to act as agent for persons who had lands in the Virginia Military District in Ohio.[ii] In August 1845 he advertised for sale 640 acres of land in the Kanawha Valley. The ad placed in the Spirit of Jefferson was written as an appeal to people in Eastern Virginia in search of fertile lands for crops and grazing and seeking to better their condition and establish a home in new country and yet in their beloved Old Dominion. Interested parties were directed to the offices of Lawrence B. Washington in Buffalo or Benjamin F. Washington in Charles Town. [iii]
In the spring of 1843 Lawrence B. Washington was back in Jefferson County and active in politics. Although his brother, B.F. Washington was also active in politics, the two brothers were members of different political parties. Benjamin Franklin Washington was a Democrat, as his grandfather Daniel Bedinger and great uncle Henry Bedinger, had been. Lawrence Berry Washington was a Whig. The March 3, 1846 issue of the Spirit of Jefferson, the Charles Town newspaper, published articles on both the Democratic and Whig Party meetings regarding selection of candidates for the election to the State Legislature. The Democratic party, due to diversity of opinion, despite propositions offered by six persons including his brother B. F. Washington, was unable to commit the party to pursue any future action toward nomination of candidates. The Spirit of Jefferson, true to its editorial bent, exercised a bit of acerbic wit in reporting "Though the Democrats as yet, have presented no candidates for the Legislature, the canvass in this County promises to be one of no little interest. The Whig party, notwithstanding their professed abhorrence for office, never fail, when an occasion offers, to find a host who are willing and anxious to serve the people. Of this, however, we do not complain. It may serve to illustrate the fable of the frog -- Sport for the Democrats, but death for the Whigs." Accordingly, the Whig Party passed a resolution placing in nomination L. B. Washington among a host of seven candidates. The resolution providing that should Democratic candidates hereafter appear, the Whig party nominations would be reduced to two candidates.[iv]
Sources:
[i] Washington, John T. A. Jefferson County [Virginia, now West Virginia] Will Book, pp. 13-15
[ii] Spirit of Jefferson. (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, November 08, 1844, Image 4, link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov./lccn/sn84026788/1844-11-08/ed-1/seq-4/
[iii] Spirit of Jefferson., August 29, 1845, image 3, link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov./lccn/sn84026788/1845-08-29/ed-1/seq-3/
[iv] Spirit of Jefferson, (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) March 20, 1846, p. 2, c.1, West Virginia GeoExplorer Project,
link: http://www.wvgeohistory.org/Portals/0/newspapers/Spirit%20of%20Jefferson%201846_03_20.PDF
[i] Washington, John T. A. Jefferson County [Virginia, now West Virginia] Will Book, pp. 13-15
[ii] Spirit of Jefferson. (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, November 08, 1844, Image 4, link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov./lccn/sn84026788/1844-11-08/ed-1/seq-4/
[iii] Spirit of Jefferson., August 29, 1845, image 3, link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov./lccn/sn84026788/1845-08-29/ed-1/seq-3/
[iv] Spirit of Jefferson, (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) March 20, 1846, p. 2, c.1, West Virginia GeoExplorer Project,
link: http://www.wvgeohistory.org/Portals/0/newspapers/Spirit%20of%20Jefferson%201846_03_20.PDF
Continued: Mexican War, 1846-1848, Part I