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George was MOST LIKELY sterile after suffering and almost dying from a high fever as a very young man. He alluded to his illness in some of his writings. He seemed to have had an understanding of the disease's "severe and sad" consequences.

To a man in the 18th century, it was considered a "sad" thing not to have sired offspring to inherit all of your property and to have no male to continue YOUR NAME and LINEAGE.

My husband and I consider George Washington to be a hero and a true gentleman in the 18th century sense of the word. My husband and I have been Revolutionary re-enactors for over 25 years and have done research on all aspects of the period.

My husband has extensively researched the Washington Papers for years. My husband and others have concluded that George Washington was not a careless, lewd or frivilous man.

He insisted on civility in ALL matters.

He was not fond of the continuation of slavery and left in his Will, a provision for funds to be spent, after Martha's death, that would be used to set their slaves free and provide funds by which the former slaves could start new and free lives.

I believe that a man who would spend so much money to provide for his former slaves, in a time when that is virtually unheard of, to do so, was NOT a man who take advantage of their circumstances as slaves and abuse his position of power. I believe he respected women and children and would NOT have injured them in any way.

Thomas Jefferson's slaves were sold after his death.

This not an attack on Washington, but just something I've always wanted to know: Did he have a gambling problem?

Oh, and did he get down with Betsy Ross or not?

Interesting historical perspective. I was actually making a joke and didn't expect this level of detail. I was referring to George Jefferson, of course.

I apologize for having injected a bit of confusion into the forum.