Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Describes different people reading the will. Hopes his brother and family reached Mount Vernon safely. “I think if the ladies attend the Inauguration of our brave honest chief, they had better join Mrs. Madison – who I am sure would be gratified at their so doing, and render their visit much more agreeable.”

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A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Has been anxiously awaiting a reply from him to her letter of a month ago. Wants to know when the monuments would be brought to Mount Vernon and the sum of money to be obtained. Is sending George with barrels containing hams and some apples. Wants him to return with the horses only, leaving the carriage. There was a fire at Hannah’s house which was extinguished.

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A.L.S. Gives much family news. Discusses lower prices for wheat and increasing the salary of the woman who must cook for Mr. Graham and all who are on the farm. Wants his help hiring a new overseer.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. She is waiting to hear from him as to the overseer and waiting to see if Mr. Graham will accept the terms offered. “Richard intends hiring out the hands he employed on the farm hoping to derive more clear profit from the Hires than he has received from the farm.” Questions whether she should do anything about the deed for Mount Vernon drawn up. His sister Maria continues to look quite ill.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Snyder has delivered in mill his rent wheat. Writes that she is sending the deed to Mount Vernon, which has officially been signed over to him. Discusses an interesting trial in Charlestown. “A Negro hired by Anderson … made an assault on Anderson for which he was committed and is today to be tried. The gentlemen all seemed to consider the issue of high importance. It certainly is to the miserable prisoner whose fate will be selling, transportation, or Death!...

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Writes about acquiring copies of the free papers for a formerly enslaved man named William Lyon. He is hoping to travel to Tennessee to visit his parents. Tells him his sister continues to do poorly.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Relates the sending of the deed conveying Mount Vernon to him. Is preparing to have Maria come stay for a while.

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A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Maria has been there for a week and continues to be very ill. Tells him his tenants have not honoured his orders. More family news.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Discusses difficulties with the harvest and procuring labourers. Dr. Alexander hired a tutor for Charlotte who is very well thought of. More neighborhood and family news.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Hopes Nelly will soon be able to travel and recommends she drink a tea (“it can no doubt be had at Stablers”) as the best remedy in her case. “The servants … are very much alarmed in regard to cholera.” Wants him to get some good port and M. Wine. She can get good whiskey in C-town.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. She is very glad of the dividend declared by the Alexandria Bank. They have had severe colds but not cholera.

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A.L.S. Caledon to Mount Vernon. Writing from Caledon and describes journey there. Their trunk did not arrive with them, so they have no change of clothes. Tells stories from the boat trip.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Much family news. Tells him a cousin died shortly after their visit. Richard “seems to be a very happy man, he surely is blest in his wife & eight children.” Dr. A has acquired an excellent housekeeper.

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A.L.S. Blakeley. Tells of Annie ill with scarlet fever and how the doctor has her rubbed with a piece of raw fat bacon. Is now much improved. Was in care of Miss Gantt, the housekeeper, whom she praises highly. Wishes she could have heard Miss Lind sing at Mount Vernon. Describes a sermon. More news about friends and relatives.

Scope and Contents The bulk of this collection is made up of letters from Jane Charlotte Washington to her son, John Augustine Washington III. Also included are letters to Eleanor Love Selden Washington, a few letters to or from John Augustine Washington III to various individuals, several letters from George Mason of Hollin Hall (1797-1870) to John Augustine Washington III, letters by Lackland and Alexander family members (relatives of the Washingtons) and three receipts. The subject matter of most letters is...

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Short letter. Mother [Jane C. B. Washington] is “dangerously ill.” Requests a carpet bag with clean clothes. “Send John [Michum] up tomorrow morning for my Buggy.”

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Instructions to send several servants [enslaved workers?] from Mount Vernon to Alexandria.

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The slave Sarah “had run off from Mr. Taylor and had gone home this morning.” Has not heard from Richmond [regarding sale of Mount Vernon to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association]

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

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Dr. Lloyd’s funeral will take place tomorrow. Requests suit of black clothes.

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Forgot trunk key and requests to have Nelly mail it. Has sent up boxes of silver, white and brown sugar, and soap. Gives instructions regarding a box of stolen sugar.

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Augustine writes he had intended going up to Waveland yesterday but “as I have some little unfinished business here and have not had an opportunity of seeing Cousin H[arriet] I shall wait until tomorrow and accompany them up.”

Scope and Contents This collection contains correspondence, legal documents, financial records, and other documents related to John Augustine Washington III and his son Lawrence, as well as his granddaughters Anne and Patty. The bulk of the correspondence series are letters sent to John Augustine Washington III 1840-1860. They deal with family affairs and the management of various family plantations, including Mount Vernon. The late-nineteenth and twentieth century papers are divided into subject files,...

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The collection contains correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his wife Eleanor Love Selden. The letters begin during the Washingtons’ engagement and continues through eighteen years of marriage, ending with a letter from John Augustine to Eleanor composed the day prior to her sudden death. The letters contain information on family matters, the management of the Mount Vernon estate, and plantation life prior to the Civil War.

Scope and Contents This collection concerns the inheritance, maintenance, and sale of the Mount Vernon estate by its last private owner, John Augustine Washington III. A large majority of the collection is correspondence to or from John Augustine Washington III with a significant portion relating to the purchase of the estate by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Three diaries kept by John Augustine are also included and contain important information about his slaves, agricultural practices, and finances....

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Brief letter. Getting on slowly with work. Will probably not come down tomorrow.

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Sale of Exeter will not take place until spring. Dr. Alexander struggling with debt.

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Mother [Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington] ill. His letter will be taken to Nelly “by two negro men who I have purchased, and by Julia whom I send down. I wish West to set them to getting rails…”

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Relates journey to Blakeley. Was delayed as Turbeville Stuart had typhus or nervous fever. Pneumonia and typhoid fever “prevailing through this neighborhood.”

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Changed route after leaving Nelly. Hopes Nelly recovers from her headaches. Did she get the box from Stabler’s safely?