George Washington's Birth Spot

On February 11 (Old Style), 1732—when jasmine and jonquils were beginning to bloom and dark purple berries were forming on the native "cedar" trees—Mary Ball Washington gave birth to her first child, a boy she named George. The time was about 10 o'clock in the morning. At a later date the event was recorded with brevity in the family Bible:

George Washington son to Augustine & Mary his Wife was Born ye 11th Day of February 1731 / 2 about 10 in the Morning & was Baptis'd the 5th of April following Mr. Beverley Whiting & Capt Christopher Brookes godfathers and Mrs. Mildred Gregory godmother.

The date, "11th Day of February," was "Old Style." By the Gregorian calendar, adopted by Great Britain in 1752 and now in use in the United States, the date was February 22, 1732, "New Style."