A section of the last installment (RHB154) discussed the black family of Jesse Washington (1846-1921) who are buried at remote edges in the Little Egg Harbor (LEH) Friends' Burial Ground. Some more details about the Washington family have come to light and are presented in this article. ¹

Jesse's wife Harriet (Lockwood) Washington's (1848-1936) obituary appeared in the Press of Atlantic City in 1936: ²

Mrs. Harriet Washington

TUCKERTON, Dec. 21 - Mrs. Harriet
L. Washington, 89, died at her home
here following a prolonged illness.
She was the widow of Jesse Washington
and had lived here since her early
youth, having occupied the home in
which she died for more than 70 years.

She was for many years a member of
the M. E. Church and attended regularly
as long as her health permitted.

She is survived by two sons, Harvey
Washington, of New York, and Winslow,
of Pittsburgh.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday
afternoon from her home with the Rev.
DeWitt C. Cobb officiating. Burial will
be in Friends Cemetery.

This shows that at her death, and "many years" before that, she was a member of the Tuckerton M. E. Church. It is possible that earlier she and her family had attended the Friends' Meeting, and that is why her family began to be buried there. And upon her death in 1936, it would make sense, no matter how that had been decided, even though she was then a member of the M. E. Church, that she would be buried with members of her family in the Friends' Meeting Burial Ground, even though the Tuckerton Old Methodist Cemetery began burials in 1787 (see in RHB092 w/r/t Jacob Falkinburg's suicide).

Washington family burials in the LEH Quaker Friends Burial Ground show two burial plots, one of four burials 1873-1894, and one of five or six burials 1898-1945. The first plot has four children of Jesse and Harriet "Hattie" Washington who died young, aged roughly 9 days, 4, 10, and 19 years. The second plot was first used in 1898 for their child Helen L., about age 15, and thereafter. We can only conjecture why a separate Washington family plot began to be used. (also, this ignores the unknown sixth stone in the Washington burials). FindAGrave currently shows nine Washington FindAGrave burials in the LEH Quaker Friends Burial Ground.

For curiosity's sake, some genealogial research on the Washington family was pursued. A brief summary of some of the interesting results are presented here:

1880 US Census shows ³ Jesse Washington (35) occupation Servant, wife Harriet (33), Martha (9), Alice (5), Harvey (4), and Winslow (2). Martha may be in error. From the 9 graves above, both of Alice's younger siblings, Joseph H. and Ida B. had died, in 1874 and 1873, respectively. Further research on Martha would be in order.

1900 US Census shows Jesse Washington (54) renting a home on Green Street, apparently between Church and Main Streets from margin notes. It shows Jesse and Harriet (52) can read and write. Children living at home: Harvey (23), Winslow (22), and Jessie F. (10). Jesse's occupation is given as Day Laborer, none for Harriet, Harvey as Hostler, ⁴ Winslow as Cook at L.S. [Life Saving] Station, and Jessie F. (daughter) At School. From the gravestone death dates, the following children had passed away by 1900: Ida B. (1873-1873), Joseph H. (?-1874), George Edward (c.1881-1891), Alice V. (c.1875-1894), and Helen L. (c.1883-1898).

1905 NJ Census shows Jesse Washington (58) owns a home, free and clear, no mortgage. His occupation is Laborer. Interestingly, it says Jesse and Hattie (57) both cannot read or write, at odds with the 1900 US Census, and most likely incorrect. Living at home are Harvey (28) and Jessie F. (15), both can read and write. Margin notes by the census taker indicate the house is on North Green Street (a margin note on second census page for the family). The ownership is also at odds with the 1900 US Census.

1910 US Census. Shows them living on Wood Street, owning a home, mortgage free. Jesse's occupation is a Steam Rail Road Laborer. Jesse (63), Hattie (62), and Jessie F. (20).

1915 NJ Census. Jesse L. (75 incorrect), Harriet L. (67), Jesse Florence (26). Jesse's occupation is Railroad Watchman, and Owned home. Margin notes appear to say on North Wood Street. Jesse's birth year is incorrectly recorded as 1840, which would make him be 75, too old by about 5 years.

1920 US Census. Jesse (75), Harriet (71), and daughter Jessie F. (30). Occupation: Section Hand, Railroad. A margin note says Green Street, and the census indicates that they are renting. It seems they may have given up ownership of the house on Wood Street and gone back to renting on Green Street.

1930 US Census. Jesse's son, Winslow Washington's address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is 100 Woodland Road, he is married to a Stella. Ages: Winslow (50) Chauffeur, wife Stella (49), son-in-law George Price (37) a Porter for a Bakery, daughter Ethel P. (Washington) Price, and grand-daughter Clarice Z. Price (9).

Further study of this census page indicates that Winslow and his wife and family are living in one of three homes designated as 100 Woodland Road, all three owned by Charles M. Brown (50), no occupation. Charles' two sons, Charles, Jr. (30), and James (27), are a Steel Company Salesman and General Practice Attorney, respectively. The Brown home houses the two sons, a daughter-in-law, a grand-daughter, three daughters, and two servants (a Chamber Maid and a Cook). All occupants of this house are White. The third home houses Ernest C. Edmonds, his wife and daughter, a Black family. Ernest is also a Chauffeur for a private home.

100 Woodland Road is on the property where Chatham University is today. It appears that Winslow Washington and his family lived at a three home complex there (mansions?) owned by a wealthy family who employed and housed their servants.

1940 US Census, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania shows Winslow Washington (62) married to Lucy [--?--] (40), house is owned, his occupation Chauffeur, her occupation Maid, for a Private Family. It appears that his first wife likely died, and he married again, is still a Chauffeur for a private family. He has now moved, and now owns his home. His death certificate in 1944 gives his address as 7344 Hermitage Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ⁵ His 1942 World War II draft registration also gives this address.

Winslow Washington's FindAGrave entry is here.

Two human interest newspaper stories turned up:

Tuckerton. [1898] Mrs. Jesse Washington is visiting her
old home in Virginia for the first time in fourteen years.6

TUCKERTON, June 3 [1928] - Harvey Washington, of New
York City, is visiting his mother, Mrs. Jesse Washington.7

There are sparse records for Harvey Washington. His burial stone gives his year of death (1945), and the above reference says he lived in New York City. No record of a spoouse, and no records in New York have shown up yet.

These additional details ⁸ about the Washington family are interesting, but they do not answer the question of why these two Washington plots are at the remote edges of the burial ground, or even if the family, or some members of it, actually worshiped as Quakers, at least for part of their lives. But it is an interesting look into history.