Historic Photos

History of Happy Retreat | Family Portraits | Washington Family Homes

Historic Photos

Alfred Waud sketch dated 1862

Our first known glimpse of Happy Retreat – Alfred Waud sketch dated 1862 – Union Troops had set up camp in Charles Town. At this time Happy Retreat was owned by Francis W. Drew and still called Mordington. Although it was often referred to as “The Drew Farm”.

Happy Retreat for Sale

Photo/drawing copied off of Virginia Mitchell’s sales brochure. House sold to Magnus Conklyn November 1920.

1925 (the post card was mailed in 1931)

Conklyn era abt. 1935

1955 Postcard

This postcard was posted in 1955.The photo is most likely from the Conklyn era and has been dated 1929 in a John Wayland photo.

Mitchell era 1874 – 1920

Conklyn era 1920 – 1945

Intersection in front of Happy Retreat around 1945

Front of Happy Retreat 1945

Happy Retreat about 1945

Rear of Happy Retreat 1945

West side front of Happy Retreat 1945

East side front of Happy Retreat 1945

Rear of Happy Retreat 1945

West side of Happy Retreat looking toward front 1945

West side of Happy Retreat looking toward back area 1945

Photos Compliments of John Fairbairn

1950 – 1960 era

Happy Retreat Foyer before 1920 – Mitchell era

Happy Retreat Foyer 2015 – FOHR era

Inside Happy Retreat’s right (West) Parlor 1914 – Mitchell era

Inside Happy Retreat’s right (West) Parlor before 1920 – Mitchell era

Family Portraits

Col. Charles Washington 1738 – 1799 by James Alexander Simpson 1855 – Courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

Charles Washington

Founder of Charles Town, West Virginia, and President George Washington’s youngest brother.

For roughly two decades Charles Washington’s attentions were focused on the life he made for himself in the town of Fredericksburg and the surrounding area. In 1757 Charles married his cousin Mildred Thornton, daughter of a prominent Spotsylvania County family. According to John Wayland, noted 20th-century historian of the Shenandoah Valley, by 1759 Charles had acquired land in Spotsylvania County, and two years later he purchased two valuable lots in the neighboring town of Fredericksburg. It was one of those lots that became the site of the famous Rising Sun Tavern. It was the later sale of the Fredericksburg lots that provided the funds to begin the construction of Happy Retreat.

Mildred Thornton Washington

Mildred Thornton Washington wife of Charles Washington and daughter of Col. Francis Thornton. She was born in Westmoreland County in June of 1736. She married Charles Washington in March of 1758. Mildred and Charles had four children. George Augustine Washington, Frances Thornton Washington-Ball-Peyton, Mildred Gregory Washington-Hammond and Samuel Washington. Mildred Thornton died on October 28, 1804 at Happy Retreat.

Mildred Gregory Washington Hammond 1777 – 1805 Daughter of Col Charles and wife Mildred Washington Courtesy of JCHS and George Washington Fredericksburg Foundation

Mildred Gregory Washington Hammond

Mildred Gregory Washington Hammond, the daughter of Charles and Mildred Thornton Washington, was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia on October 2, 1772. Mildred G. had come to Charles Town with her parents in 1780 as a young girl. She met and Married Capt. Thomas Hammond in April of 1797. Mildred and Thomas had three children who died in infancy. Mildred Gregory died on December 8, 1804 a short time after her mother.

Frances Bassett Washington 1767 - 1796 by Robert Edge Pine - Courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

Frances Bassett Washington

Frances Bassett Washington was the daughter of Burwell Bassett and Anna Marie Dandridge, sister to Martha Washington. She was born in 1767 in New Kent, Virginia. After the death of her mother Anna Marie, Frances came to live at Mount Vernon where she met and married George Augustine Washington the son of Charles and Mildred. Frances and George Augustine had three children. Anna Marie Washington-Thornton, George Fayette Washington and Charles Augustine. After the death of George Augustine, Frances married her Uncle George Washington’s secretary Tobias Lear.

Friends of Happy Retreat is appreciating a personal donation given to us by a descendant of Charles and Mildred Washington. This sewing machine belonged to Francis Washington, Jr. and his wife Lucy Walters Washington and their daughter Edith Ona Washington Erwin. Francis Washington, Jr. was their great grandson through their son Samuel. Wonderful to have something belonging to the Charles Washington Family. Thank you Janet Miller and son Kenn Miller.