Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861

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Encloses letter from Magruder Mason. Gives instructions for delivering slaves George, Charlotte and Milly who have been hired out.

Scope and Contents Letter in the hand of Henry P. Hill, likely dictated by Gabriel Johnson from Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria. Gabriel tells his side of the story following an disagreement with Joseph McFarland, John Augustine's overseer at Mount Vernon. According to Gabriel, McFarland threatened to whip him, but Gabriel "told him that he could not whip me as I did not think any person but my master out to do it or at least to authorize it." McFarland tied Gabriel up, but he escaped. When he was recaptured,...

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Leesburg to Mount Vernon. Harrison talks about turning an enslaved woman named Julia into a house servant and hiring out an enslaved man named Bob.

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Leesburg. Harrison writes to Augustine about Julia, an enslaved woman, who has taken "French leave" after Harrison struck her half a dozen times with his horse whip for disobedience. Harrison thinks Julia may have gone to Mount Vernon and asks Augustine to write if he has seen her.

Scope and Contents Letter from Alexandria slave dealer Henry P. Hill of the firm Bruin and Hill writing to John Augustine Washington III about an enslaved man named Gabriel who has escaped from Mount Vernon and is being held at Bruin's Slave Jail. Hill writes, "your man Gabriel by strict measurement is five feet five and a half inches... He is likely and a very good man of his stature and if you are offered more than we priced him at I think if you will excuse a stranger for the expression of his opinion in...

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A.L.S. to Mount Vernon. Jane writes in response to Augustine's letter dated March 7, 1842 that Gabriel Johnson, the enslaved man who ran away from Mount Vernon, has arrived at Jane's plantation. Jane writes, "Please come up without delay." Autograph letter signed with integral address panel.

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Mount Vernon to the University of Virginia. Jane writes to her son about work taking place at Mount Vernon, where she has spent almost all of $800 she brought down with her. She reports that Skidmore has "finished the large room which is now to be plastered and painted." Mr. Ball has nearly finished the stables, and West Ford is still engaged with the enclosures. She writes of Mount Vernon , "The dear old place will be more comfortable and...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed "Jean C. Washington." Jane writes to her son that an enslaved man named George has died. "He was very much reduced, not being able for some time to retian any nourishment. He was delirious, but never violent or ungovernable: fancying he saw lovely angel children near him - and when I read to him, was calm, and apparently pleased, tho' he seldom spoke." She adds, "I shall miss him very much, he was a faithful and affectionate servant - and in traveling watchful and...

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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.

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A.L.S. Mount Vernon to Charlestown. John Augustine writes to his mother about Gabriel Johnson, an enslaved man who has run away. He suspects Gabriel has gone to Jefferson County, where Jane is. Autograph letter signed with integral address panel.

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Mount Vernon to Charlestown. Tells mother of proposing to Nelly; describes horse races; financial matters.

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Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; selling slave; thoughts on banks, family wishes.

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Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; slave repeatedly running off; family matters.

Scope and Contents Letter from Alexandria slave dealer Joseph Bruin of the firm Bruin and Hill to John Augustine Washington III regarding an enslaved man named Gabriel who escaped from Mount Vernon and is now being held at Bruin's Slave Jail. Bruin writes, "I have to inform you of what I am willing to pay for your man now in my Jail we will give you $565 neat for him at this time if the prices should improve we are willing to pay what ever the prices may be but when you come down I am inclined to think we...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed. John Augustine's overseer, Joseph McFarland, writes that he has had "a great deal of difficulty" with the enslaved worker Gabriel Johnson and has had to put Gabriel in Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria.McFarland describes a scene in which Gabriel was "cursing & fighting" against some horses, and then began cursing McFarland when McFarland took the horse whip away from Gabriel. McFarland writes, "I put him with Mr. Bruen at 25 cts a day. Mr. Bruen...

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Autograph letter signed. Leesburg. N. Herbert, a cousin of John Augustine, writes about Alfred, an enslaved man who escaped from Mount Vernon and voluntarily surrendered himself to the Loudon County Jail in Leesburg. Herbert writes that slave traders Joseph Bruin of Alexandria and William Bale of Exeter were inquiring about Alfred but recommends that Augustine keep him.

Scope and Contents A list of property, including enslaved persons, reported to be taken by the 16th New York Regiment from John Augustine Washington III's farm near Mount Vernon. Although John Augustine sold the Mount Vernon mansion and grounds to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association in 1858, he retained property in the surrounding area. The list of slaves includes Jim Mitchell and Edmund Parker, who were later employed by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, and Gabriel Johnson, who had escaped in 1845 and...