Proclamation 003-08BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
PROCLAMATION
IN HONOR OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S
FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
MARCH 16 -22, 2008
WHEREAS, On March 11, 1748, George William Fairfax and young George Washington, together
with several others, left Belvoir for the Shenandoah Valley to complete some surveys for Lord Fairfax.
Washington and Fairfax traveled about 40 miles and arrived at George Neavil's Ordinary around sunset
where they spent the night.
WHEREAS, On March 12, 1748, the surveying party under the leadership of James Genn, the
county surveyor of Prince William County, left at dawn for the Shenandoah Valley. They crossed the Blue
Ridge Mountains by way of Ashby's Gap arriving at Capt. Ashby's home and ferry by evening where they
spent the night on the east side of the Shenandoah River.
WHEREAS, On Sunday, March 13, they spent with Lord Fairfax and then on the next day, March
14, they sent their baggage to Yost Hite's who lived and ran an inn at present day Bartonsville while the
surveying party went about 16 miles down the Shenandoah to "lay off some lands on Cates Marsh and
Long Marsh."
WHEREAS, On March 16, 1748, George Washington's Diary entry stated "We set out early and
_ finish'd about one oclock and then Travell'd up to Frederick Town." So on this day, George Washington
"Took a review" of the site of the town of W inchester for the first time, and spent his first night there in one
of her inns.
WHEREAS, On August 14, 1755, Governor Dinwiddie appointed George Washington Command -
in -Chief of all the Forces raised for repelling the hostile Invasions of the French and their Indian Allies, and
required him to make Winchester his headquarters.
WHEREAS, On May 18, 1761 George Washington was elected to serve in the House of Burgesses
from Frederick County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors does
hereby proclaim the week of March 16 -22, 2008 in honor of George Washington's first journey into the
Shenandoah Valley, which in 1748 was Virginia's frontier.
ADOPTED this 12th day of March, 2008.
V� ��
Richard C. Shickle
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
County of Frederick, Virginia
PROCLAMAT[ON NO.: 003 -08
:• Yw:
Consultant
� -
Education Specialist
March 10, 2008
Mr. Richard Shickle, Chairman
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
Frederick County Office Building
107 Kent Street
Winchester, VA 22601
Dear Dickie,
134 Country Club Circle
Winchester, Virginia 22602
Telephone: (540)662 -2939
i/y��� -;ja .ape, ��r
r.� .
�^ "�,;\
� ''a`.,
{:,
j R
c
n�
n �� �
� � �/
�Y "/
,%
It is my pleasure to be working with the Frederick County Public School System with a 4"' grade
unit on George Washington's life especially the ten years (1748 -1758) he was here on the frontier
of Virginia. Would you be so kind as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to proclaim the week
of March 16, 2008 in honor of George Washington's first journey into the Shenandoah Valley?
Could you please have it ready for me to pick up on Thursday morning, March 13, so I can take it
with me to Senseny Road Elementary School next week?
Sincerely,
Patriciaour
134 Country Club Circle
Winchester, Virginia 22602
6�.c.
3- �z -�