| Page 3 of 3 < |
Founded With Links to the Founding Fathers
Siblings Ruby and Joseph Saunders. "There was no place for blacks anywhere, but we had this," Ruby Saunders said of segregated times.
(By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Middleton, who is white, said he likes the history and ethnic mix of Gum Springs. "Our real estate agent said this was a historic area, but coming from California, we didn't know Gum Springs from Mount Vernon. But now we do, and we feel we are connected to a special place."
At least one aspect of that history is in dispute. A number of West Ford's descendants, as well as other residents with long ties to Gum Springs, say that George Washington was Ford's father. They base their argument on the preferential treatment Ford received throughout his life and on generations of oral histories.
"We had a community of eyewitnesses. My grandmother would tell us. She used to say we had a lot to be proud of," Saunders said.
Mount Vernon staff disagree with this oral history.
"All of the privileges bestowed on him . . . came from the Bushfield branch. There is no indication that George Washington even knew West Ford," Wood said.
There is no argument that Ford was of special interest to the Washington family and others connected to Mount Vernon. In 1858, when the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association assumed ownership of the estate, West Ford continued in his employment. When he became old and infirm, the association took care of him until his death in 1863.
According to information provided by Wood, researchers at Mount Vernon believe Ford is buried at the estate, possibly in the area where other slave graves are located.
After his death, at least one of Ford's children went to work at Mount Vernon. From time to time, descendants have continued to hold jobs there.
Saunders, who helped clean Mount Vernon during her teen years, said she never discussed her family lore with the tourists.
"We very seldom spoke about it. People thought you were crazy," Saunders said.
Gum Springs residents remain connected to the community that Ford founded. "The camaraderie, the family, the history -- it's a sense of strength for me," Chase said. "It's home."
