Betsy Fauntleroy

Did you know that an ancestor of Thomas Fauntleroy once rubbed shoulders with George Washington? Elizabeth “Betsy” Fauntleroy was the daughter of William Fauntleroy (1713-1793). Born June 26, 1736, Elizabeth was known as “The Lowland Beauty” of Virginia. Around 1752, a young George Washington proposed marriage to Betsy. For reasons unknown, Betsy Fauntleroy rejected his proposal. George Washington, in a 1752 letter written to Betsy’s father, refers to Betsy’s rejection as a “cruel sentence”. This letter can be read in full on the National Archives website. With the gift of historical hindsight, one has to wonder if Betsy Fauntleroy might have changed her answer to young Washington’s proposal if she had only known what was to come in the years ahead.