The Yorktown-Washington Mulberry Tree; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 13, No. 4

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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                      THE YORKTOWN-WASHINGTON MULBERRY TREE.

                                        (Communicated).

   "The tree is there - what remains of it; so at least say those who have long dwelt under
the shadow of its offspring, which has grown out of the parent stump.  During a visit to
Yorktown before the celebration (the Centennial, 1881), the writer was curious to fix the
site of Washington's headquarters, which, with the plans of the siege and hte aid of an
officer of the United States Engineer Corps, it was not difficult to do.  The site has always
been known as "Washington's Lodge", where a house stands, whose occupant, Mr. Jones, assured
us that a fine old mulberry tree adjoining the premises was the lineal continuation of the
other one under which Washington slept, as stated.  This tradition in his family comes straight
down from his grandfather, who was a Virginia militiaman at the siege.  The original house
which Washington soon made his quarters, and in front of which he also pitched his marquee,
was burned down during the late war, only the kitchen chimneys of the historic building re-
maining.  Irving had heard and states that the tree was a mulberry.  It stands two and a half
miles back of Yorktown, undisturbed, unvisited, unphotographed.

   The Magazine of American History, Vol. VIII., Part I., New York, 182, p. 205.

Page 247.

   This letter is a reference to Mr. Winthrop's speech at Yorktown on the 19th of October,
1881.

   I have been to the house when it was owned and occupied by Mr. John Allen Jones.  One of
his sons is in the Valentine Museum in Richmond.                    G.