Ford, West, approximately 1784-1863
Biography
West Ford was born approximately 1784 at Bushfield Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was enslaved, owned by George Washington’s brother, John Augustine Washington. Ford came to Mount Vernon in 1802 when Bushrod Washington inherited the property. Ford continued to work for the Washington family after he received his freedom in about 1805. He took care of William Lee, George Washington's enslaved valet. When Bushrod Washington died in 1829, he left West Ford over 100 acres of land in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ford later sold that plot to buy a larger property nearby, which became the nucleus for a free black community called Gum Springs.
Topics
Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:
Beebe collection of Washington family papers
This collection includes correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his mother and wife, as well as other family members, mostly dealing with family matters and running Mount Vernon.
Copy of the last will and testament of Bushrod Washington, 1830 February 12
A copy of Bushrod Washington's will in the Fairfax County Court. Includes instructions for the division of the Mount Vernon property, library, and enslaved population, with instructions that land should be given to West Ford.
Copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, approximately 1801
A manuscript copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, in which she specifies that her body be left out until it putrefies so that she is not buried alive. In her will, Hannah specifies that West Ford, the son of an enslaved woman named Venus, should be inoculated from smallpox, apprenticed to a tradesman, and freed at the age of twenty-one.
John Augustine Washington III, Mount Vernon, to Eleanor Love Selden Washington, 1846 September 30
West [Ford] has taken sick this morning. “The stockings and socks for the negroes are nearly done…The coat patterns are eaten up by the rats…”
Judith B. Alexander to John Augustine Washington III, 1842 February 8
Judith B. Alexander, Caledon, to John Augustine Washington III. Judith writes that she is suffering from melancholy and writes of religious matters. She also writes, “I observed with pleasure you have forbidden the intrusion of stages and omnibuses.” She asks that she be fondly remembered to Aunt Jenny, “my poor old Joe Mitchum,” Phil, West, Eliza, and Sarah.
Letter, Bushrod Washington Herbert to John Augustine Washington III, 1847 July 20
Letter, Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington to John Augustine Washington III, 1841 March 15
Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Jane writes about John Augustine's studies and mentions that some of the family attended the inauguration of William Henry Harrison, where they were kindly received and "surprised and charmed with the grace and agreeableness of young Mrs. Harrison." She writes that the city was "swarmed with office seekers." She also writes that she received a "woful letter" from West Ford about the lack of long forage at Mount Vernon.
Letter, Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington to John Augustine Washington III, 1838 November 1
Letter, Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington to John Augustine Washington III, 1837 December 22
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Dennis Johnston, 1844 December 22
Retained copy of letter written by John Augustine Washington III to Fairfax County magistrate and landowner Dennis Johnston. In the letter, John Augustine states that based on a conversation with West Ford he believes Johnston is misinformed about the terms of Johnston's contract for cutting, hauling, and cording wood on the Mount Vernon estate.
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Blackburn Washington, 1837 November 23
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Blackburn Washington, 1841 December 13
Letter from John Augustine Washington III to his mother mentioning his poor health, West Ford, an enslaved woman named Betty, and the state of affairs at Mount Vernon. A note to "Dearest Mother" is added on at the end of the letter by John Augustine's sister, Anna Maria Alexander.
Letter, West Ford to Bushrod Washington, 1829 August 27
A letter written by West Ford to Bushrod Washington at Blakeley, the home of Bushrod's neighbor and nephew John Augustine Washington II. Ford, a former slave of the Washington family who was later freed and employed as overseer of Mount Vernon, reports on arrangements being made at Mount Vernon for a workman to slate a "house for the books and papers." He mentions illnesses in his family and warns Bushrod against buying mules from his neighbor, Mr. Peake.
Letter, West Ford to John Augustine Washington III, 1842 August 27
Washington family's emancipated slave West Ford writes to John Augustine Washington III, regarding wool, barrels of fruit, sweet potatoes, flock of sheep, sale of wheat, and weather. Autograph letter, signed.
Letter, West Ford to John Augustine Washington III, 1844 September 6
Memorandum, List of slaves belonging to John Augustine Washington, 1787 July 25
Division of slaves from the estate of John Augustine Washington amongst Bushrod Washington, Corbin Washington, and Hannah Washington. "West" Ford, "Billey", "Betty", and "Venus" are listed under slaves to Hannah Washington. 1 sheet, 2 pages of text.
Pencil sketch, undated
This collection includes correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his mother and wife, as well as other family members, mostly dealing with family matters and running Mount Vernon.