Robert Worthington, my Grandfather was born in the north of England. The name when he left England was Witherington and was afterwards changed as above, (*-1)

He removed to Philadelphia about the beginning of the 18th century, 120 years since (*-2) and was a Quaker’ and came among the Friends who followed William Penn. He settled in Philadelphia, where he was a merchant of moderate capital, which was improved and increased by his care and industry.

His wife died when he was well advanced in age, leaving him 8 children. Some years after, feeling disposed to marry a second time, and, at the same time, determined to do so with the approbation of his children and without injuring them, he performed an act which appears the strongest evidence of the integrity and affection of his heart and the strong sense of justice he felt toward his children. His property was divided into nine equal parts, one of which he kept for himself and to each of his children he gave a part.

He then married a wife much younger than himself and emigrated to Virginia into what was then called Berkeley (*-3) now Jefferson and purchased 3000 acres of land equal to any in the Valley, where he settled near ‘ a marsh, or prairie, which took his name and was called for many years Worthington's Marsh.

He was one of the first inhabitants of the Valley. Knowing the value of good land in England and having seen the rise of lands in the vicinity of Phila., he, no doubt, calculated the like result when he settled, in which he was not disappointed.

By his second wife he had three children, Robert his first, who was my father, and two daughters.

He pursued grazing, as the country was well calculated for raising cattle, and succeeded. Finding the country fine and lands cheap,-for his first purchase was at the rate of five pounds, Virga. currency, per thousand acres,- he determined to purchase a greater quantity and to enable him to do so, he had sold a quantity of cattle at Snowden’ s Iron Works (on the road leading from Washington City to Baltimore-now owned by some of the descendants of the family, tho’ the works have been long since discontinued).

When he went to receive pay, and whilst there, was taken sick. He applied to a person to write his will. I ought to state that he had a grandson named after him. My father was also named after him and at that time about six months old. (*-4) It appears to have been his intention to have given this grandson a small portion of his landed property as a legacy,-I think 200 acres; the same quantity to his two daughters, and the remainder to his infant son.

The writer, however, either misunderstood his intentions or, by a clerical error, gave to his infant son the legacy and nearly his whole landed estate to his grandson (*-5)

This unfeeling grandson, notwithstanding his full knowledge of what was the intention of the testator, took possession of 2400 acres of land, leaving the widow and orphans to shift for themselves, in poverty in a great degree. But as a just Providence never fails to do justice to all, and sooner or later punishes those’ who act unjustly, this same man soon became a drunken and dissipated and ran through his ill gotten property. Light come, Light go is the old adage. I was informed [that] in a drunken fit 400 acres of land were sold for a hogshead of Rum and a few’ blankets by him who had become a confirmed drunkard and in poverty removed westward. (*-6)

So far my information is received from my grandmother, who lived until she was near 85 years old, and died whilst supported by me.

On the death of my grandfather, my grandmother married a man named Brittain, most unfortunately for her and her orphan children, as it appears he was a worthless man and died. leaving her with 2 children by him, having treated his wife’s children very severely, particularly my father, who was bound to a severe master from whom necessity compelled him to depart and support himself in Philadelphia, where he went until he was 23 years old. (*-7)

On his return he took possession of his small patrimony, entirely illiterate, as he could neither read nor write. He seems to have been a man of uncommon resolution and industry for at this time of life he labored very hard all day and employed a schoolmaster in the neighborhood to teach him, in which way he obtained quite a passable English education, as appears by his writing and being appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County and other circumstances give conclusive evidence of his industry and love of country.

In a few years he had purchased from R. Worthington, his nephew, nicknamed Bobby Dunblaen, 700 acres of the land to which in justice he was entitled, and gained a state of affluence and influence which enabled hint to act a useful part in favor of his country, -first in Braddock’s campaign and afterward when the American Colonies asserted their rights, to take part with his fellow citizens in the cause of freedom until his death, which was in the year 1779, aged 49 years.

General Washington and my father were near the same age and in youth were associates (as appears) from letters of his to my father. He, General Washington, commenced life as a deputy surveyor under Lord Fairfax, who had a grant of the country now Jefferson, Berkeley, Frederick, and other Counties, in Virginia. His historians seem (foolishly) unwilling to mention these facts. Nevertheless it is true, and by this association the General acquired a most valuable estate in the Valley.

Of my mother’s family I have been unable to gain scarcely any information. Her maiden name was Matthews and her father, from Ireland, lived near Fredericktown, in Maryland. She died within a year after my father, [1780] leaving six children---Ephraim, Martha, Mary, William, Robert and myself, the youngest, only years old at her death.

My father, it would seem, feeling the want of such an education as was his wish, determined his children should not experience the same difficulty. He employed in his family, and at his own expense, the best teachers the country could afford. My elder brother Ephraim, was sent to the college of William and Mary, at Williamsburg, for the purpose of getting the best education that could be given him, and every pains, as I have before stated, was taken at home.

I can remember well, though not four years old, the anxiety he expressed to hear me read, and for that purpose promised my teacher additional rewards to have me read by a certain time. I succeeded to his satisfaction.

The Revolutionary War destroyed the college at Williamsburg and my elder brother, tho’ he did not finish his education, obtained one which would with a proper disposition of mind and energy, have made him useful and have enabled him to have obtained high standing.

On his return home he was offered the appointment of Aide de Camp in the Regular Army by General Stephens. This he declined, to the great mortification and dissatisfaction of my father. He, however, served as Captain in McIntosh’ s campaign to the west, but did nothing to signalize himself.

I have thought he possessed a temper and disposition different from any I have known; -with a considerable stock of information,- never applied; systematic in little things; stubborn and yet timid; he neglected the best opportunities of being either useful to himself or others. My father appeared sensible of this and had determined, as my sister Mary informed me, not to give him a cent of his estate, nor would he have done so if his will had been written whilst he was in his senses.

It was written, and I have reason to believe, dictated, by an Episcopal Clergyman who was Godfather to my elder brother, who received an equal portion of the estate and, what was most unfortunate for his family, appointed sole executor of my father’s estate. Soon after the death of our parents the family was broken up and as I thought, and still think, most unfeeling. My oldest sister had married a man named Evans before my father’s death, which proved the source of unhappiness through life for her. My elder brother married soon after the death of his parents, to a pretty and very illiterate woman, who made his life miserable.

My sister Mary, with my brothers William and Robert and myself lived in the Mansion House comfortably.

My elder brother obliged my sister to seek a home, put my brother William to a merchant at Winchester, Virga., and took my brother Robert and myself to live with him.

Notwithstanding my father had left a fine estate, unencumbered, Negroes, comfortable, good houses [horses?], stock, &c, when we might have been put to school under the care of our beloved sister Mary, than whom a better woman never lived or died.

I had not felt the loss of father or mother whilst with this dear Sister. To us she was everything and most dearly did I love her. It was only when removed from her I felt her loss. From my brother and his wife I received unkind treatment and night after night did I wet my pillow with tears. It was then for the first time, tho’ my parents had been dead two years that I was sensible of being an orphan and mourned the loss of my more than kind sister.

I would willingly throw a veil over the Scenes that followed, my dear children, did I not feel confident in the hope that I should render you a service in giving you facts which I think will enable you to avoid the unhappiness which results from the course of conduct pursued by others.

My unhappy elder brother paid but little attention either as executor or guardian to his father’s estate or children... His mind seemed to become more contracted and we were [ several words illegible] [denied?] an education . He took no pains to educate us, tho’, as I have before mentioned, means in his hands would have enabled him to do so.

My brother Robert was employed in driving his waggons and I was employed as a nurse to one of his children. He however afterwards sent us occasionally to an English school, where I made very considerable progress and my brother but little, for having found associations with wild, dissipated young men, he was better pleased to Alexandria or Baltimore with the waggons and in this way laid the foundation of his ruin.

I have to say of myself that having no kind friend to direct my steps except my dear sister, and her I saw but seldom, I was wild and, thoughtlessly wicked. It pleased, however, the orphan’s stay, my Blessed Lord and Master, to bring me to the sense of my wicked career at about 12 years old. Never, never, shall I forget the feelings which followed and how sincerely I desired to walk afterward in the right way and it pleased God to enlighten my path so that I can say with a grateful heart that from that time to the present moment I have sincerely endeavored to love my God and His ways, to do His will, and love my fellow mortals and do them all the good in my power. And yet, when I see and feel how little I have done or can do, I feel how poor I am and feel that I am unworthy and unprofitable.

My unhappy elder brother [Ephraim] became intemperate and my treatment continued to be harsh, particularly on the part of his wife. I never had but one pair of shoes a winter allowed me and they were usually worn out in March, when my feet were bare until cold weather. My clothing was coarse and scant and I was, withal, sickly and not well grown.

When about 14 years old [1787] my brother William married. I chose him as my guardian, unwilling to remain with my elder brother [Ephraim] longer, but alas, the change was not for the better. To my astonishment, my brother William also became intemperate and neglected both his and my affairs. To add to my afflictions, my brother Robert was pursuing the same unhappy course. My very soul was afflicted. I have often remonstrated with this last brother, nearest my own age, but have as often been ill treated by him for it.

My brother and guardian lived a year in the Mansion House of my father, which was bequeathed to him with about 300 acres of land and 5 or 6 negroes, all of which he had in possession. He, also, treated me but little like a brother; but, alas, he had learned to forget himself and I could expect nothing better.

He concluded to remove from the County and I was obliged to choose another guardian. I applied to General William Darke, a worthy, honest man, who had been an officer of the Revolution and a special [friend? Missing word] of my father, who kindly took me into his family and the charge of my estate, gave me the opportunity of going to good schools which I thankfully embraced and used to my advantage.

This gentleman was to me a father and his good lady a mother. He had three sons and one daughter who all treated me as a brother and, on my part, I repaid all in my power their kindness. I lived happily and progressed in my studies.

I had long indulged the inclination to go to sea and I took this opportunity of learning the theory of navigation and mentioned my desires to my guardian. He reluctantly assented and on the [Day missing] of May 1791 I bid this kind family farewell, except the youngest son, who would accompany me to Georgetown, of Columbia, where I shipped as a sailor on board District the Brittannia, of port Glasgow, Scotland, requiring no other pay than my food.