Lawrence Berry Washington, born 26 November 1811 at “Berry Hill” near Charlestown, Virginia to Elizabeth Conrad Bedinger, daughter of Daniel Bedinger of “Bedford” a Lieutenant of the American Revolution and member of George Washington’s Society of the Cincinnati. His father, John Thornton Augustine Washington, builder of the family mansion, “Cedar Lawn”, of Charlestown, Virginia, declined a military commission and served honorably as a private in the War of 1812. He was a dedicated husband and father of thirteen children, an intelligent farmer and manager of his estate. Lawrence and his siblings had the advantage of education by private tutors; he and his brother were also educated at the nearby Charlestown academy. [i]
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Lawrence, at the age of seventeen, aspiring to a career in the military and to enhance his education, applied for admittance to the U. S. Military Academy. Letters of recommendation for Lawrence were submitted to the Honorable Peter B. Porter, Secretary of War by his father and by his grand uncle Major Henry Bedinger of “Protumna”, Berkeley Co. Virginia.
Major Henry Bedinger (4) accompanied his recommendation with a letter in which he praised his “capacious mind, his irreproachable morals, advance preparatory education and unblemished youth”. And, he suggested that as a descendant of the brother of the “Father of his Country” some consideration and favor should be granted to his application for West Point. [ii]
Major Henry Bedinger (4) accompanied his recommendation with a letter in which he praised his “capacious mind, his irreproachable morals, advance preparatory education and unblemished youth”. And, he suggested that as a descendant of the brother of the “Father of his Country” some consideration and favor should be granted to his application for West Point. [ii]
Protumna (near Martinsburg Berkeley County Virginia) Dec.29th 1828 Sir Lawrence Berry, the son of John Thornton Washington of Jefferson County Virginia, is Very desirous to have his name entered on the books of the War department, as an applicant for admittance into the Military Academy at West Point, to complete his education and receive instructions, on Military tactics there. I can with truth say, he is promising in the highest degree, of Capacious Mind, Morals irreproachable, advanced in preparatory education, his Character as a youth unblemished, and I have no doubts of his ambition, when arrived at Maturity, to walk in the ways of his progenitors;--his father John Thornton Washington, a descendant of a Brother of the “Father of his Country”, is also Very desirous of Gratifying, the laudable Ambition of his son and I, who know all the parties, cannot forbear Suggesting , that some consideration and favor, should be granted in This case, on the Score of Patriotism in the Father and his Patriotic Connection, independent of the merits of the youth – Mr. John Thornton Washington is I believe the only survivor of the Name of Washington, who is of the Old Jefferson, republican democratic school, since the death of his uncle, the late Lawrence Washington. Your attention to this request will gratify the Father and family of this youth as well as that of Me, Obedient Servant Henry Bedinger The Honorable Peter B. Porter Secretary of War |
Lawrence Washington re-applied for admission of West Point in 1829, but again did not receive an appointment to the Military Academy. He continued his education in pursuit of a law degree, probably at the Charles Town Academy, in nearby Charles Town, Virginia.
Lawrence had grown up with a large association of friends and close relatives -- brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles of the families of Bedinger, Washington, Lucas, Ranson, Morgan, and Swearingen. As a young man, a busy social life amongst sporting events, dances, rides, outings, visits, etc. was engaged in with cousins, friends and acquaintances in Charlestown and Shepherdstown. A particularly good friend of his was Henry Bedinger III (45), who although his uncle, was two months younger than himself. We have some excepts from Henry Bedinger's diary that tells of some of the activities the young people engaged in at the time. When Henry made these entries in his journal, he and Lawrence were 21 years of age. Both young men were reading law, in preparation for their law exams. As will be seen in the journal below, Lawrence was in love with a Miss Mary, quite possibly his cousin Mary Morgan. In a later page, we will return to Miss Mary, who is believed to be the person upon whom his character "Mary (Miss Molly) Braun" is based in Lawrence Washington's novel, "A Tale to be Told Some Fifty Years Hence".
Henry Bedinger III Journal [iii]
"March 30th. [1833 ] Sunday. Protumna. Rode to Meeting at Bunker’s Hill with Miss B.[Bedinger], Miss M.[Mary Morgan] and my niece and nephew V. W. [Virginia Washington] and L.B.W. [Lawrence Berry Washington]. We were overtaken by two Misses Briarly, and had a very pleasant ride. Went in to the church with L. B. W. [Lawrence Berry Washington], but we soon came out again, took a long ramble. And carved our names and Miss M’s [Mary Morgan’s] upon a sycamore tree; wonder if we will ever be there together again! Rode to Uncle B’s [Henry Bedinger] with the girls. Found Col. Davenport [Braxton Davenport]. Dined and chatted with Miss M.[Mary Morgan] to the no small torment of my poor lovesick nephew, who had taken me there only to help his cause, - poor fellow, how sad he looked ! (By the way I was as much in love with my fair cousin as he before night.) Took a walk with Lawrence, returned and chatted with Miss V.[Virginia Washington] till dark, and with the old folks till tea. Took tea and gave L.B.W. [Lawrence Berry Washington] the blues by talking to Miss M.[Mary Morgan] again. In truth this was a glorious day to me, but I lost my heart completely, yes, completely. "April 1st. 1833. Monday. Took leave of Miss M.[Mary Morgan] and the family, and came to Bedford with V.[Virginia Washington] and L.[Lawrence Washington]. Dined and walked with Lawrence to see Uncle Jacob [Bedinger]. Poor man! He made Lawrence try on his wedding suit. Came home. Jumped with L.[Lawrence]. Made an uncommon leap, 20 feet at a single spring. Took tea, walked over to see Daniel M.[Morgan?] and Cousin Polly. From there to see Miss Eugenia M. Not at home. Came to town with T. Van Swearingen. L.[Lawrence] talked him dumb, and I chatted with father and mother, Miss M.[Mary Morgan] too fickle for me. T.V.S. [T. van Swearingen] ahead of me again. Then let him stay and be --- I have another Miss M. in my head and heart just now. Came home and went to bed." |
"...my poor lovesick nephew [Lawrence Washington] ..." |
Sources:
[i] Washington, Thornton A, 1891, A Genealogical History beginning with Col. John Washington The Emigrant, and Head of the Washington Family in America, Press of McGill & Wallace, Washington, D. C., 71 p.]
[ii] U. S. Military and Naval Academies, Cadet Records and Applications, 1805-1908
U S Military Academy Cadet Application Papers, 1805-1866, 1828, Images 181-182.
http://interactive.ancestry.com/1299/31638_218050-00009/?backlabel=ReturnBrowsing&dbid=1299&iid=31638_218050-00009#?imageId=31638_218050-00190
[iii] Bedinger and Dandridge Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
[i] Washington, Thornton A, 1891, A Genealogical History beginning with Col. John Washington The Emigrant, and Head of the Washington Family in America, Press of McGill & Wallace, Washington, D. C., 71 p.]
[ii] U. S. Military and Naval Academies, Cadet Records and Applications, 1805-1908
U S Military Academy Cadet Application Papers, 1805-1866, 1828, Images 181-182.
http://interactive.ancestry.com/1299/31638_218050-00009/?backlabel=ReturnBrowsing&dbid=1299&iid=31638_218050-00009#?imageId=31638_218050-00190
[iii] Bedinger and Dandridge Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Lawrence Berry Washington, Continued: Attorney and Counselor at Law