This house was built by the brother of George Washington

Harewood - Samuel Washington House, Charles Town West Virginia

Date added: November 03, 2023 Categories: West Virginia House

While surveying land in the Shenandoah Valley for Lord Fairfax, George Washington became favorably impressed with the prospect of farming virgin land. For this reason, he purchased a tract within the present county of Jefferson, West Virginia. This action may have influenced his elder half-brother Lawrence, for he soon bought large areas close to George's property.

In 1752 Lawrence willed 230 acres of his Valley land to Samuel Washington, his half-brother and George's full-brother. On this land Samuel built Harewood, the oldest of eight standing Washington homes in Jefferson County, and the only one presently occupied by family members of the Washington name. The date of construction may be fairly accurately fixed by examination of George Washington's diary. In 1768 George mentions two visits to Samuel's house in Stafford County, Virginia, but in entries for 1770 the same diary mentions visiting Samuel's home in Frederick County which then included the site on which Harewood stands.

Soon after moving to the Shenandoah Valley, Samuel Washington began to amass considerable real estate holdings. At his death in 1781 he owned nearly 4000 acres of good farm land, all of it connected with the original 230-acre tract on which Harewood stands.

Besides being an important land owner, Samuel was also a prominent public servant. He had served as justice of the peace in Stafford County, and he continued to be a judge when he moved to Frederick County. When Berkeley County, now in West Virginia, was formed from a part of Frederick County in 1772, Samuel continued to serve as justice in the new county. In Frederick County he served as colonel of the militia, and he served the County of Berkeley as sheriff and county lieutenant. Poor health forced him to ask for relief from these duties in 1777, and the same ill health prevented his service in the Revolutionary War. He died at age 47 in 1781.

Harewood has had the honor of entertaining many famous people, and was the site of events of historic significance. In 1794, in the paneled drawing room, Dolley Payne Todd was married to James Madison. Reason for the marriage in this home was that Harewood then belonged to Samuel's son, George, whose wife, Lucy, was Dolley's sister.

Other famous visitors include Louis Philippe, later king of France. As noted, George Washington was a frequent visitor, as were undoubtedly such Revolutionary War figures as Generals Gates, Lee, Stephen, and others who lived nearby, Reports of a visit by Lafayette probably arose from his association with the drawing room mantelpiece. Published itineraries of his visits to America include no mention of this area. He is said to have given the mantel to George Washington who placed it at Harewood. Presumably the gift was made during Lafayette's 1784 stay at Mt. Vernon. At this time Samuel Washington was dead and his children were wards of the General. One of the wards, a namesake of his uncle George, was to settle at Harewood in 1793 with his bride, Lucy Payne. Waterman considered the mantel "one of the outstanding marble mantelpieces in Virginia." Obviously imported, it is difficult to imagine a more likely source. "Land poor" Samuel Washington would hardly have indulged in such an extra, nor would this family have reason to invent the story.

The most reasonable conjecture concerning the designer of the house was made by Thomas Waterman. In his Mansions of Virginia he places it firmly among those built by John Ariss. He was misled into stating, on inadequate evidence, that construction took place in 1756. The now well-established date of occupancy in 1770 coincides with Ariss's own move to the area in the late 1760's. Certainly, George Washington kept an eye on the construction during visits to his Bullskin farm, adjoining Samuel's holdings. And his familiarity with the area would have enabled him to suggest the site which is close to a spring near the head of Evitt's run. Diaries covering the period are missing.

Harewood is regularly open to the public during the scheduled House and Garde tours, a feature of Jefferson and Berkeley counties each spring. The present occupants, Dr. and Mrs. John Washington, from time to time, host visits by groups interested in historical architecture. In September 1970, the 200^th anniversary of the house was celebrated by a luncheon attended by over 100 descendants of Samuel Washington.

Building Description

Harewood is approximately three miles west of Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia.

The house is of Georgian style built of native limestone. The original structure consisted of the two-storied main section plus the kitchen wing. In more recent years another wing has been added. This new wing appears to be a planned part of the house, since the door from the main block of the original house to the new wing has always been present even though for 180 years it opened out into space.

The house exterior has been modified to move the main entrance from the east side to the west side. This change affected the appearance of the structure in the design of the wooden porches only. Limestone used for the original structure was quarried locally. It is claimed that Harewood was one of the first homes in the Shenandoah Valley to be built of this material.

Harewood's interior, like its exterior, is designed with a dignified simplicity. The house has a graceful stairway but perhaps its outstanding feature is the paneled drawing room which many authorities have acclaimed as one of the best of the colonial period. Paneling is of native pine, and the original paint is still on the walls of the room. It contains a beautiful marble mantelpiece which tradition says was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette.

Records concerning the house and property are in the courthouses of Frederick County, Virginia, and Jefferson and Berkeley Counties, West Virginia.

Harewood has been continuously in ownership of members of the Washington family; these owners have had great care and taken particular pride in maintaining the property in excellent repair and with due regard for the integrity of the original structure and design.