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Thomas Posey
Thomas
Posey: An Illegitimate Son of George Washington?
Thomas
Posey lived a life of public service.
Posey rose through the ranks of the military during the Revolution. After the Revolution, Posey rose to the rank
of brigadier general and participated in Indian fighting in the northwest. Posey served as a territorial governor
for Indiana and then as an agent for Indian Affairs until his death in
1818.
According
to family lore, Thomas Posey was the illegitimate child of George Washington. Friends of the family who knew Posey claimed
the physical similarities between the two were striking. For almost two generations historians have argued
the connection between Posey and Washington.
The case appears flimsy. The Posey
family were neighbors of Washington, living six miles away from Mount Vernon,
but the two families were engaged more in business than social endeavors.
Thomas
Posey was born July 9, 1750. Posey described his parentage
as being “respectable.” Posey acknowledged
his financial status as being “without fortune, but of tolerable English
education.” He set forth into the
frontier to find fame and fortune, which he did in Indiana. So why is it that some people believe that Thomas
Posey could have been an illegitimate child of George Washington?
In
1871, the first published story of a possible direct heir to George Washington
was printed in Indiana. The article detailed the family's oral tradition. The article indicated Posey’s mother was a
widow and had an illicit affair with Washington in 1754. Subsequent publications continued to use the
same date as the first article, neglecting to cite the fact that Thomas Posey
was actually born in 1750, four years before the alleged affair.
Mystery writer Andrew Mills has come up with a new twist on this old
story, one that involves murder and mayhem at Mount Vernon.
Mystery Writer: Andrew Mills
A quick historical look at murder most
foul in the Virginia of colonial times and the early Republic. Behind the
facade of graceful mansions and quaint cobblestone streets evil lurks.
1 comment:
Looking for family connections to general Thomas Posey of the revolutionary war have found letters saying his grandfather was one of my forefathers, my name is Thomas Posey as well, our family is from Fairfax county near the Potomac River beside of Mount Vernon as well as Southern Maryland. I'm looking for family, my son's name is also Thomas posey. Thank you for your help. Respectfully Thomas Posey.
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