GEO. WASHINGTON, THE SURVEYOR by Eldon D. Schock, 32° Spokane, Washington

The following quotation from Webster well befits the opening of this research on George Washington, the Surveyor.

If we work upon marble, it will perish. If we work upon brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble into dust. But, if we work upon men's immortal minds and impress on them high principles, the just fear of God, and love for their fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something which no time or element can erase, and which will brighten all eternity.

It is doubtful if George Washington could have engaged in any career that would have provided him with finer training for the course he was destined to follow than that of a surveyor. As we study his early life, we find every part of it was a very definite preparation for what seemed a destined life. Yet, neither his family nor the boy, himself, thought that surveying was an appropriate profession for a gentleman's son to follow.

The lad, George Washington, was fortunate in having a cultured father who desired to have his children educated. Further, he had a good home training from his mother. For a first teacher George had an English convict, at least he was so considered by English law.

He was a transported political exile, a well educated gentleman by the name of William Grove, who was nicknamed "Hobby."

Washington’s educational instruction at school was limited to reading and writing the English language, a little geography and a little arithmetic. Financial handicaps in the affairs of the family and the death of his father prevented his having the advantages of his older half brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, who were fortunate to have finished their education in England.

While living with his half brother, Augustine, Washington attended the Henry Williams School, where he received his first instruction in surveying. It was here that his natural aptitude for figures was developed. The study of surveying was continued when he returned to his mother's home and attended the school of Reverend James Marye at Fredericksburg. At the age of 15 his formal schooling ended. He had gained only a very small amount of scholastic culture, which probably led him in later years to have a keen appreciation of the values of formal culture and education.

Since he was definitely faced with the necessity of earning a living, he went to live with his half brother, Lawrence, who, according to the law of inheritance, was living on the Mt. Vernon farm. It was decided in a family conference that George should become a surveyor, although his mother felt that this was not a suitable occupation. Because of their financial need, her objectives were overcome. Surveyors in the new country were few in number and their earnings were exceptionally good.

In a manuscript volume of Washington's which is deposited at Cornell University and entitled Book of Surveys 1746, it is recorded that he made some surveys at the age of 14. The Library of Congress has a book of his dated 1745 which contains mathematical data, definitions and exercises, the Art of Measuring Land.

In his journal there is a record of his buying a "gunter," which is a chain used in the measurement of land. There is also a plan of Major Lawrence Washington's turnip patch dated February 27, 1747, at which time George was attending the Henry Williams School.

While George was residing with his half brother, Lawrence, he came to know Lord Fairfax. Lawrence had married Anne Fairfax, the sister of Lord Fairfax. In addition, George met many other notables and influential friends at Lawrence's home. Lord Fairfax was greatly attracted to George because of his good sense, courtly manners, good horsemanship, fearless sportsmanship, courage and poise. He was instrumental in having George appointed an assistant to James Genn, the Prince William County surveyor.

In his work as assistant surveyor, George aided in surveying the Fairfax holdings in the Shenandoah Valley west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the spring of 1748 the members of this surveying expedition included Genn, George and William Fairfax - all of whom were experienced wilderness surveyors – and George Washington.

A few of the latter's entries in his diary note his observations and experiences. He made reference to the richness of the soil and the abundant growth of the crops. In one of his experiences he noted that, after a hard day's work, the work party turned in at Pennington's. They had a good meal and were then shown to their beds. George stripped off his clothing and went to bed, which was only matted straw, with an insect-ridden bearskin as a blanket. He was glad when morning came and made a promise to himself that in the future he would sleep in the open by the campfire, rather than endure another such night.

A more pleasant experience he records was at Frederick Town where they had feather beds and sheets. Still another experience was where their bedding caught fire. Besides these, the party had the opportunity of viewing an Indian war dance, where the Indians had just returned from a battle, bringing one scalp with them.

The difficulties, dangers, hardships and adventures were enough to try a seasoned wilderness adventurer, but to George Washington this was a period of blood tingling excitement, pleasure and satisfaction. The experience and knowledge that he gained proved of value to him for later land surveys and purchases. Also, the dangers he met, the hardships and privations he endured, challenged his love of adventure and sharpened his perception for greater confrontations.

William and Mary College at Williamsburg had jurisdiction over the Surveyor General's Office and had the privilege of appointing surveyors for Virginia. The Surveyor General's Office also had the privilege of keeping one-sixth of all fees received by county surveyors in the laying out of land grants. A county surveyor was usually appointed by the faculty of the College after some preliminary examination to ascertain that the applicant was equipped in a practical way to perform his work satisfactorily. Painstaking work and carefully prepared surveys brought George Washington his commission upon taking the surveyor's oath.

He was inducted into his first public office as a county surveyor for Culpeper County. This made him a servant of the Government and an officer of the Colony at a salary of 50 pounds per year before he was 21 years of age. Soon after receiving his commission he was busily engaged in laying out more tracts of land in the Shenandoah Valley.

His county surveying was interrupted in 1754 when he was ordered to the frontier. Here his surveying knowledge and mathematical abilities were of value in hacking out roads to the building site of Fort Necessity.

Along with Washington's commission as a surveyor, there came another commission from Williamsburg. Governor Dinwiddie appointed him District Adjutant of the Militia. With his surveying as a base, his military engineering began to unfold.

Some idea of the confidence imposed in this young man is shown by an appropriation of 20,000 pounds by the Virginia Assembly to construct and equip a chain of forts covering a distance of 400 miles to the west. Along with guarding the frontier, a great responsibility rested on Washington to secure tools, materials and workmen, as well as to establish locations and then make plans for the forts. The road west of Cumberland is to this day called "Washington's Road" because of his meticulous layout end judgment. His sketches and plans may be found in the Library of Congress.

He had several locations or depositories where he kept his equipment and records. One was in a one-story shop or workroom on the Rappahannock Farm. Another was on the grounds of Greenway Court, built just for his convenience in handling the surveys of the Fairfax estate. Most of his records and drawings were placed in a building in Winchester, Virginia, for safekeeping and ready reference. He also had offices in Perryville and Alexandria. In Georgetown he had an office he shared with Major L’Enfant, who was laying out the future capitol of the United States.

It was due to his own surveying and engineering knowledge that George impressed upon the Continental Congress the disadvantages under which an army labored when there was a lack of accurate maps. Makeshift sketches were the only geographical guides that the army had.

In promoting and encouraging such programs as the founding and development of the Dismal Swamp Company and Potomac Company, and the James River Improvement, his surveying knowledge and experience were most useful. Also, with L'Enfant and the commissioners, he reviewed the plans and surveys for the grounds of the Federal City, its streets, buildings and beautification.

George Washington’s diaries have records of surveying done on his own Mt. Vernon home and lands, some during the last year of his life in 1799. It was in that year, in spite of bitter cold, that he spent days surveying his land at Four-Mile Run, near Arlington. Later, the survey of the Dogue River Farm did not satisfy him so he spent three days in the June summer heat making a re-survey. As close to his death as November 1799 he surveyed the land on Difficult Run, south of the Potomac Falls.

In each project there was given the same careful attention to details as when Washington trudged over the Blue Ridge Mountains in his first survey work for the Fairfax Estates.

Although Washington was actively engaged in surveying for only five years (1747-51), he found the knowledge of his profession useful in the varied activities of his life. As we review his life as a surveyor, we find it was the precise use of the English language, the accuracy in his mathematical calculations, the meticulous care and thought given in his judgments, whereby the results of his works have endured. His perseverance in the wilderness and his love of the land portrayed the honesty of his work. His courtesies to and respect for people were values which gained him favor and a rightful place in organizations and government. His keen observations and judgments, backed by his experience, brought the people to rely upon him. People placed their trust and confidence in him and he never let them down. The activities and events of his early life were a foundation for the part he seemed destined to fill in the organization of the country.

George Washington- surveyor, engineer, man of forethought, man of foresight, chosen man of God, and man of destiny for the betterment of mankind.

Credit: "New Age Magazine (now the Scottish Rite Journal)."  (with permission)