Notizen zu dieser Person
Tradition tells us that in the latter part of the 17th century, George Eskridge, who was a young law student, while walking along the shore on the north coast of Wales, studying one of his law books, was suddenly seized by the Press Gang, carried aboard ship, and brought to the Colony of Virginia. As the custom was, he was sold to a planter for a term of eight (8) years. During that time, he was not allowed to communicate with his friends at home. He was treated very harshly, and made to sleep on the hearth of the kitchen. On the day that his term expired, the planter found him tearing up the stones of the hearth with a mattock. Upon being asked what he was doing, young Eskridge replied that a guest's bed was always pulled to pieces upon their departure, and he was doing likewise. He then threw down his mattock and walked out of the house. During the eight years in Virginia, his law book, which he brought away with him, was his constant companion. He made his way back to England, completed his studies, was admitted to the bar, and then sent to the Colony of Virginia as a judge of the King's Bench (there was never such an office in Virginia - Ed.). About 1700, he married. From the year 1702 until 1729 he was granted thousands of acres of land in the eastern part of Virginia. He held several colonial positions. Colonel George Eskridge, of Sandy Point, Westmoreland County, was a successful lawyer and represented his county in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1705, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1712 (twice), 1714, 1718 (twice), 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1730, 1732 and 1734. Col. Eskridge was, the guardian of Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington, from the time she was thirteen until she was married, and it is probable that her great son was named after him. When Col. George Eskridge died in 1735 his estate inventory the names of some 75 black Americans bound in slavery. These 75 persons were subsequently bound out to his children.
William B.
