Notes from the Archives: The Rector and George Washington

In the August 3, 1905 edition of the Evening Capital is a front page article about the auction of a letter written by George Washington to the rector of St. Anne’s Church, Jonathan Boucher. The letter was dated July 30, 1770 to inquire if Mr. Boucher had received the books he had sent to him.

The Rev. Boucher had been born in Cumberland, England. His father was an alehouse keeper-schoolmaster, and his parents wished him a scholar’s life. At age 21 he became tutor to the sons of a Port Royal, Virginia gentleman. He returned to England in 1762 where he was ordained and licensed for Virginia by the Bishop of London. He then bought a small plantation in Caroline County, VA and established himself as schoolmaster of 30 boys from leading Virginia families.

One of his students was John Parke Custis, known as “Jacky” and son of Martha Custis Washington. George Washington treated his step-children as his own and became friends with his son’s schoolmaster as he showed concern for Jacky. After operating the school for about eight years, Jonathan Boucher received letters of introduction from Governor Eden and presented them to the Vestry of St. Anne’s June 12, 1770. He continued his school in the rectory of St. Anne’s where George Washington stayed when he traveled to Annapolis to check on Jacky’s progress.

Though both men had common concern for Jacky and common interests in the theater, their relationship became strained as Jonathan Boucher remained a loyalist while Washington and others moved to secure independence. In 1771 Jonathan Boucher left St. Anne’s for Queen Anne’s parish and ultimately fled to England in 1775. In that same year Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the colonial army.

In the August 3, 2005 edition of The Capital is a front page story about the monument to George Washington near the site where Washington waited December 19, 1783 for an escort to the State House where he would appear before the Continental Congress to resign his commission as military commander after the American Revolution.

Jonathan Boucher wrote a book entitled “View of the Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution.” He dedicated it to George Washington.

Sources for this article include historical articles from The Capital provided the Archives by Glenn Gibbs and St. Anne’s Annapolis History and Times by William Paynter.

Carol Hjortsberg