Austin, 1757?-1794

Person

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1757? - 1794

Biography

Austin was an enslaved man who worked as a waiter at George Washington's Mount Vernon. He was owned by the estate of Martha Washington's first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. He passed away in 1794 after sustaining injuries during travel, trying to cross a river near Harford, Maryland.

Topics

Slavery

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Letter, to Fanny Bassett Washington, 1791 April 19

Item — Box 1, Folder: 1791.04.19

Identifier: RM-530; MS-4497

Scope and Contents

In this letter Martha asks Fanny to send with Austin, her servant, several muslin borders which Charlot was to hem. Also, Martha insists that "you must let me know if you are in a certain way and when the event will happen,..." Expects to be home "about the first of August" and wonders "... is B[etty] Lewis married -".

Dates: 1791 April 19

Found in: Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon / SC-MWC, Martha Washington collection / From Martha Washington

Letter, to William Pearce, 1794 December 28

Item — Box 9, Folder: 1794.12.28

Identifier: RM-490-F; MS-3990

Scope and Contents Fencing the ground at the Mansion house for corn--rotations for Dogue-run, Muddy hole and River farms--putting oats and clover in the ground where buck wheat grew this year--leaving two or three clumps of trees when clearing the wood at No. 5 at Dogue-run--for the purpose of shade and ornament--importance of reviewing old letters--carpenters preparing frames, shingles, etc., for putting in more dormant windows in the back of the stables at Mansion house--Washington hopes that with favorable...

Dates: 1794 December 28

Found in: Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon / SC-GWC, George Washington collection / Series 1. From George Washington