Washington who started out as an orphan was a self-made man who made his own career at a time when there were few opportunities for a backwoods landless farmer. He learned horsemanship and surveying. These were two very useful skills at the time. He gained the confidence of wealthy and successful Virginians. He gained a command during the French and Indian War.
Washington foresaw the growth of the country and the value of land in these areas. He founded the Potomac Company which later became the C&O Canal. He negotiated with the powerful families in Virginia and Maryland to help bring this about. He married Martha Custas a widow who was wealthy when he was not to help assure his financial security.
I'm not sure he “cheated” his F&I war veterans. Cash was very scarce at the time and undeveloped land was extremely plentiful. Values are not so easy to determine today.
The fact that Washington's encounter with the squatters on his land led to his putting down the Whiskey Rebellion so forcefully is an interesting theory. I'm not certain this is the case but it is an interesting point.
Have you ever been to Mt. Vernon? It is a great place to visit and gives insight into how Washington lived.
No, in one of the Washington-Crawford letters I referenced above, he clearly stated to his buddy Crawford what he wanted to do and to be sure to keep it a secret.
Yeah, I sure have. I spent several years of my life research and writing about Washington, and so I've been to all the historic sites associated with him.
The man was human and lived in a difficult and dangerous world in which a certain amount of ruthlessness was required to get ahead.