George was educated by his father.  After his father died in 1743, George's older half-brother Lawrence took over his education.  George liked math and he used his math skills to become a surveyor, a job that was in demand in this new land.

In 1751, George accompanied his half-brother Lawrence to Barbados.  Lawrence was ill with tuberculosis and hoped that the climate would cure him.  While on this trip, George acquired a case of smallpox.  He recovered and became immune to the disease.  This would help him survive later in life when many men in the colonial army would become sick with this disease, (continued.)