The Washington Family

Young Nelly Custis, George Washington’s step-granddaughter, liked to show off her artistic side by painting and drawing.

John Augustine Washington III was the great-grand nephew of George Washington and the last private owner of Mount Vernon.

Venerated as “The Mother of Washington” by groups in the 19th century and vilified by some historians in more recent years, Mary Ball Washington was an undeniably influential figure in the life of the first president.

Throughout his life, Washington had the family’s heraldic crest applied to such diverse personal belongings as silverware, wax seals, horse-drawn carriages, walking sticks, and interiors of buildings including Mount Vernon, where the coat of arms was featured in the middle of the wooden fireplace mantel in the front parlor.