I’ve read a recent biography of Mary Ball Washington (published within the past ten years or so) which you may be able to find in your library system and definitely on Amazon. Mary’s husband died leaving her with kids to raise, incl. George, and a small plantation to run, and as a single mother (widow who never remarried) she successfully raised the kids to adulthood. She didn’t want George to leave her to go to sea, it’s true, but a relative told her George, as a colonial American boy on a Royal Navy ship had little chance of advancement to officer in the Royal Navy where officer positions were bought or awarded based on a family’s influence and the relative told her young George would be used and abused on ship. The impression of Mary by generations of early biographers gave an impression of a controlling, smothering figure which modern biographers say was unjust.
Yup - it was a strange turn of events to be sure. George was 14 at the time and adored his elder brother Lawrence, who encouraged a military career. Yes, George was a colonial but he was coming in under the request and protection of his friend Lord Fairfax, so he wasn’t just any dirty-fingered farmer. How far he’d have gotten in the Royal Navy is pretty speculative. I hear he did OK in the army later in life...