The Whole Truth Trivia Quiz

Answer: Virginia, USA

George Washington's birth was recorded on February 11, 1732, although when the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the British Empire in 1752, the date was realigned. According to the provisions of the Calendar Act 1750, his birthdate was changed to February 22, 1732. Washington's great-grandfather, John, left Sulgrave, England, and emigrated to Virginia in 1657, so his family had been established in Virginia for quite some time.

Answer: Tobacco

Washington's parents are said to have been moderately prosperous members of Virginia's gentry, and were considered to be of the middle class. They owned slaves and grew tobacco, which was an extremely important cash crop in Virginia. The growing of tobacco insured the success of the Jamestown colony in the early 1600s, and is still an important crop today.

As family wealth increased, Washington's father extended his ventures to include iron ore mining and mills.

Answer: Augustine and Mary

Augustine Washington was born in Westmoreland, Virginia, on November 12, 1694. His father, Lawrence, had been a militia captain and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. From his father, Augustine inherited land and slaves. Along with supervising his many properties, he also served as justice of the peace, and county sheriff; he was also active in the Anglican Church. Augustine and his first wife, Jane Butler, had four children.

After Jane died, he married Mary Ball, who was George's mother. Together they had six children.

Answer: Lawrence

Actually, Lawrence was Washington's half-brother. Only two of the children from his father's first marriage reached adulthood. Lawrence was the oldest son and principal heir; he was twenty-five and George was eleven when their father died. Unfortunately, Lawrence was not in the best of health.

He suffered from tuberculosis. In 1751 he and George traveled to Barbados, hoping that the climate would improve Lawrence's health. It was there that George contracted smallpox, which not only left his face scarred, but immunized him against future exposure. Lawrence and his father-in-law, William Fairfax, proved to be important mentors to George as he matured.

Answer: Cherry Tree

The story is that George's father was extremely proud of one particular cherry tree. When he found out what had happened to the tree, he tried to find the culprit, and stated that the tree was such a great favorite of his that he wouldn't have taken five guineas for it. Nobody in the house could tell him what had happened to it.

Answer: Six

The story of the tree comes from Mason Locke Weems' "The Life of Washington", that was published in 1809. He says the story was told to him by an elderly relative who was George's cousin and lived with the family as a young girl. The story says that George's father taught him that "Truth is the loveliest quality of youth".

The book went through eighty-two editions, and was even translated into French and German. The last edition of the book was published in 1927.

Answer: hatchet

George's cousin said that he was "immoderately fond" of a hatchet that he was given, and was constantly going about chopping everything that he could - his mother's pea-sticks, and anything else in her garden. According to the story, his father's cherry tree wasn't chopped down, but pretty much hacked to death.

Answer: His father gave George a hug

According to one story, George's father said, "Glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son, is more worth than a thousand trees..." One source says that his father said "...that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees!"

Answer: Ferry Farm

All of the properties listed did belong to the Washington family, however, Ferry Farm was inherited by George when his father died. This was the estate where George spent much of his boyhood. It was located in Stafford County near Fredericksburg.

Answer: Mt. Vernon

Lawrence inherited Mt. Vernon when Augustine Washington died, and was actually the one who gave it the name in honor of his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon. It was previous known as the Little Hunting Creek property. When Lawrence died in 1752, the property went to George. Lawrence had guaranteed a secure future for his brother in many ways. Mt. Vernon was a prosperous plantation and Lawrence had made other investments as well.

In addition, it was Lawrence who used his connections to the Fairfax family to have George appointed official surveyor for the Culpepper County in 1749, when he was just seventeen years old. George was also noticed by the lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwidde because of Lawrence's position as commander in the Virginia militia, By the time the French and Indian War began, George stood out for a number of reasons that didn't have anything to do with his towering height!