Jane (d.1701):
St Nicholas’s Churchyard, Church Street, Whitehaven CA28 7DG
Somewhere under St Nicholas’s memorial garden is a headstone dedicated to Mildred Gale, her infant daughter (also named Mildred), and “her African slave Jane”. The headstone itself would seem to have had an eventful history: by 1886 it had apparently disappeared, but then there is anecdotal evidence that it had been seen in the 1930s, before being buried to prevent theft, and was then seen again in around 1970. Furthermore, the church suffered a catastrophic fire in 1971, leaving just the tower. The churchyard was turned into a memorial garden and it is believed that the headstone probably lies under one of the pathways. Locally, stories are told of two Americans “in big hats” trying to bribe a local gardener to dig it up, and that the stones were all laid face down in an attempt to ‘even up’ the garden at some point in the 1970s.
Mildred Gale’s short life – she was no more than 30 when she died – had also been eventful. She was first married to Lawrence Washington, with whom she had three children, but was widowed in 1698. In May 1770, she married George Gale, who was from a prominent Whitehaven merchant family with links to Virginia’s tobacco industry. Within weeks, the newlyweds and her three children sailed for England. Their first few months in England were traumatic, with much of which we now know coming from the parish register. Jane was baptised on 7th January. On 24th January, pregnant and ill with a fever, possibly typhoid, Mildred Gale made her will “being doubtful of the recovery of my present sickness”. Her fears were prescient and she died in childbirth within hours. Her infant daughter was baptized the following day, and on 30th January, Mildred was interred in the churchyard. Three weeks later, on 20th February, Jane was buried with her, and on 26th May, the baby joined then.
Jane’s history is unknown. The relationship between the two women was said to have been very close, and that Jane had been educated; the parish register refers to her as a ‘negro servant’ rather than ‘slave’.
It’s not known when the headstone was erected or by whom, although 19th century accounts recall a substantial headstone “exactly opposite the fish restaurant on Duke Street”. The references to George’s Washington’s presidency would indicate that at least the latter parts of the inscription were written some considerable time later. The reference to Jane as an “African slave” is jarring, particularly as Washington’s role in the abolition of slavery is lauded just a few lines below.
A modern plaque at the entrance to the gardens states: “Within these grounds lie the remains of Mildred Gale of Virginia. Died Whitehaven 1701. Paternal grandmother of George Washington, First president of the United States of America”. Unfortunately, Jane is removed from history once more.
Inscription:
d 1700, Mildred Gale nee Warner of Warner Hall Virginia, wife of George Gale merchant of Whitehaven. Here also lie with her, her baby daughter and her African slave Jane.
Mildred Gale was the widow of Major Laurence Washington and mother of their three children: John, Augustine and Mildred.
Her grandson, Major George Washington, showed great courage in 1781 when he promised slaves their freedom if they would fight for him against the British.
A lot of them did and he won the battle of Yorktown 1781.
He was the first president of America, eight years later in 1789.
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