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Davis, Betty, active 1792- (Spinner)

 Person

Biography

Betty Davis also known as Betsy Davis was enslaved; was owned by the estate of Martha Washington's first husband, Daniel Parke Custis; and worked as a spinner. She was maried to Dick, a slave living at Mrs. Lund Washington's "Hayfield," near the Dogue Run Farm.

Topics

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Letter, to William Pearce, 1794 July 20

 Item — Box 8, Folder: 1794.07.20
Identifier: RM-490-F; MS-3968
Scope and Contents Frequent rains, not too heavy or too long, will be the making of the corn and buck wheat--directions for plowing wet fields--examine the shocks of wheat frequently--inquires of the quantity and quality of oats--timothy--clover--give John the gardener a dollar on the last day of every month, provided he behaves well--is glad to hear that Pearce's daughter is feeling better--wants to know why Betty Davis and Doll are more than half their time on the sick list--care of grass seeds--little...
Dates: 1794 July 20

Letter, to William Pearce, 1795 March 8

 Item — Box 9, Folder: 1795.03.08
Identifier: RM-490-F; MS-3999
Scope and Contents

Wheat on the ground is in so unpromising a way--inquires to the look of the barley--roller--French's Paul--pains taken to apprehend and bring him to punishment--Dick--Betty Davis--Sarah, possibly a spinner at the Mansion, in childbed--purchase of one thousand yards of German oznabrigs--lucern seed to be had in Alexandria--new overseer at Mansion house--Allison--inquires about the price of flour in Alexandria--both superfine and fine are up again in Philadelphia.

Dates: 1795 March 8

Letter, to William Pearce, 1795 March 22

 Item — Box 9, Folder: 1795.03.22
Identifier: RM-490-F; MS-4001
Scope and Contents

New overseers are turning out well--Grove--Allison--Washington has received twenty pounds of lucern seed--eight pounds of lucern and the like quantity of clover mixed to the acre--grasses ought to be sown on clean and well prepared ground--Betty Davis and Pearce's having difficulty distinguishing between real and feigned sickness--Paul--Mr. Dulany--artichokes.

Dates: 1795 March 22