George Washington for Kids_ His Life and Times with 21 Activities
I n 1752 Great Britain corrected their calendar to catch up with the rest of the world. The change pushed everything ahead by 11 days. So George Washington’s birthday changed from February 11 to February 22. During his lifetime George often celebrated his birthday on both days!
A year after Jane’s death Gus married Mary Ball. Around ten o’clock in the morning on February 11, 1732, Mary gave birth to another Washington son they named George. Mary and Gus’s family grew year by year. George, their oldest child, welcomed a sister named Betty and three brothers, Samuel, John Augustine, and Charles. George’s half sister, Jane, died. When George was three Gus moved the family up the Potomac River to another farm, Little Hunting Creek Plantation. George’s two half brothers, Lawrence and Austin, had left Virginia for school in England.
Home at Ferry Farm Like most Virginians, Gus Washington earned his living as a farmer, or “planter.” But he also worked as a partner in an iron works. Quoits was a popular ring toss game played by children and adults, similar to today’s game of horseshoes. The pin and rings were most commonly made of iron and could be very heavy. Loops of rope were sometimes used in place of iron rings.
