William
[middle name?]
Washington
Born February 28, 1752
[place of birth?]
Son of
Bailey Washington and
Catherine Storke
Brother of
Henry Washington, Bailey Washington and Mary Washington [add sibling]
Husband of
Jane Elliott
(Married in
[location?] [marriage date?])
Father of
Jane Ancrum and William Washington [add child]
Died March 6, 1810
[place of death?]
About William Washington
William was highly educated with his parents hoping he would become a minister. However, with the Colonies in Rebellion he selected to serve in the military starting in 1775 as Captain in Stafford Co., VA Minutemen then in 1776 transferred to the 3rd VA Regiment.
His Infantry Battles -- In Battle of Harlem Heights where he was wounded.
Battle of Trenton, fought against Hessian troops, captured cannons and wounded in the hand.
Then transferred to Cavalry troops - Jan. 1777 made a Major with the 4th Light Dragoons then to the 3rd Light Dragoons. There was a near massacre of that group in New Jersey in Sept. 1778. William was promoted to LT. Colonel and in command of the 3rd Light Dragoons in Nov. 1778.
Transferred to the southern colonies and to do battle with the formidable British Lt Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Green Dragoons in March 1780 in South Carolina. Through May 1780 it was battle after battle pushing each side. Through December 1780, Washington and Tarleton battled. After a strong victory at Hammond’s Hill by Washington and General Morgan, Tarleton was ordered to chase them down at all costs.
Battle of Cowpens on Jan. 27, 1781 would be major. An attack on Tarleton caused him to retreat but Washington and his forces chased them. A personal hand to hand sword battle between Tarleton and Washington occurred. Tarleton’s hand was cut and Tarleton’s pistol shot gazed Washington’s knee and wounded his horse.
By March and April 1781, a couple additional defeats of Major Greene and Lt. Colonel Washington. The Sept. 8, 1781 Battle of Eutaw Springs would be William Washington’s last. His horse was shot from under him. While laying under the horse a British soldier bayoneted him. As a captured Lt. Colonel, he remained a British prisoner for the remainder of the war in Charleston, S.C. until about Dec. 1782 when the British left Charleston.
After the war William settled in South Carolina, became a farmer and horse breeder. He served in the state legislature from 1787 to 1804.
Later served on the staff of George Washington in 1798 as a Brigadier General and helped to protect South Carolina and Georgia.
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On November 15,
Alice Luckhardt
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