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The Old Tomb
At ten at night on
December 14, 1799, George Washington, fearing premature burial, requested of
his doctors to be “decently buried” and to “not let my body be put into the
Vault in less than three days after I am dead.” In his last will he expressed the desire to be buried at Mount Vernon. George Washington was entombed in the existing family vault (seen
above), now known as the old Vault on December 18, 1799. Visitors wrote that the tomb was, “A low,
obscure, ice house looking brick vault,” which “testifies how well a Nation's
gratitude repays the soldier's toils, the statesman's labors, the patriot's
virtue, and the father's cares.” In his
last will, George Washington directed the building of a new family burial vault
in the following words: "The family Vault at Mount Vernon requiring
repairs, and being improperly situated besides, I desire that a new one of
Brick, and upon a larger Scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly
called the Vineyard Inclosure.” In 1831,
Washington’s body was transferred to the new tomb. A French visitor wrote that Mount Vernon had
become, “like Jerusalem and Mecca, the resort of the travelers of all nations
who come within its vicinity.” Visitors were filled with “veneration and
respect,” leading them “to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of patriotism and
public worth…”
The New Tomb
George Washington’s
nephew, Bushrod inherited Mount Vernon from his uncle. The marble obelisks in
front of the Tomb were erected to the memory of Bushrod Washington and his
nephew, John Augustine Washington, who in turn were the masters of Mount
Vernon. Both are buried in the inner vault together with many other members of
the family. Bushrod Washington
was the favorite nephew of President George Washington. In 1802, upon the death
of his aunt, Martha Washington, he inherited Mount Vernon. Bushrod Washington
spent thirty one years as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and died in
1829. When Bushrod Washington died
he left Mount Vernon to his nephew John Augustine Washington who
survived Bushrod by just three years. In 1850, his widow
Jane conveyed Mount Vernon to their son John Augustine Washington, Jr.,
who was the last private owner of the estate.
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