The 52nd Annual Meeting of the National Society of the Washington Family Descendants was held October 20 - 22, 2006 in Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia, commemorating the 225th Anniversary of the Victory at Yorktown and our independence from England. Eighty descendants and guests attended the meeting and toured many historic places.

 

Friday night, we had authentic colonial fare at Washington's favorite, Christiana Campbell's Tavern and Christiana actually spoke to us. She told us that George Washington partook of at least 99 dinners at her fine establishment. We were also greeted on the porch, as we arrived, by Thomas Jefferson, who enjoyed meeting the General's cousins.

 

After a comfortable night 's rest at the Woodland's Hotel, we boarded buses on Saturday for Yorktown, located 11 miles along the Colonial Parkway, where we saw bald eagles on the James and York Rivers.

 

Our Memorial Service was held at Grace Episcopal Church (circa 1697). We honored our deceased members of 2006 at the graves of our ancestors, Nicolas Martiau  (1591-1657) and Thomas Nelson, Jr.(1738-1789). The Martiaus' were the great, great grandparents of George Washington. We placed a flower for each member who had passed away in 2006, at the grave of Thomas Nelson Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence and second cousin of George Washington. We toured the Georgian Home (circa 1730) of Thomas Nelson, Jr. and saw where cannon balls had hit the brick walls.

 

We also toured :

The Victory Monument (given to us by the French)

The Custom House (first in the nation- circa 1620), owned by the Comte de Grasse Chapter of the DAR. We were shown Washington's vest and a lock of his hair.

York Hall, site of the first court house

The 1607 Godspeed ship from Jamestown, down at the docks on the York River

 

A delicious picnic lunch was served in the walled garden of the Custom House. Our distinguished speaker, Mr. John Quarstein, Director of the Virginia War Museum, gave a dynamic talk on " Washington at Yorktown ". We also had a surprise visit from the General Washington himself, interpreter, James Renwick Manship.

 

The afternoon was spent at Redoubts 9 and 10, where the last fighting took place. We talked with English, French and Continental troops at their encampments, saw cannons firing and the  Fife and Drums Corps of Yorktown marching and Surrender Field, where the actual surrender by the British took place. We also saw and walked into Washington's original field headquarters tent, set up as it would have been during the siege.

 

We all dressed in festive attire, from cocktail dresses, tuxedos and dinner jackets to even a kilt, for a sit-down dinner in the Cascades Ballroom at the Woodlands Hotel, over looking a beautiful waterfall. Our speaker, Mr. Tom Morr, an authority on the life of George Washington, gave a very inspirational talk on " George Washington, Still First in our Hearts ".

 

Our beloved President General, Mrs. Mary Shaffner presided over the business meeting..

 

Sunday A.M., October 22, 2006, we attended services and were honored at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church (circa 1723). Some had the honor of being seated in Washington's pew. A delicious luncheon was held at the King's Arms Tavern, where we all said our goodbyes to family and friends until October 2007, when we will meet again at Mount Vernon.

 

Hope to see you there,

 

Submitted by:

Peggy and Jim Mathis, 2006