Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855

Scope and Contents Letter from Jane C. Washington to her son that she learned of the conditional sale of Mount Vernon to a company from the newspapers. She expresses her hope that, if the estate cannot stay in the family, that it may become "the honored & cherished property of the United States Government." At the end of the letter, Jane adds that she is "Earnestly praying my beloved son that you may in all things & at all times, be guided by Divine Wisdom."Jane and her son Richard plan to...

Scope and Contents Letter written by Jane C. Washington from Blakely near Charlestown, West Virginia a few months before her death to her son John Augustine Washington III. Jane tells John she was "much interested and amused at your correspondence with the Richmond and Manchester Ladies. They no doubt are inspired by sincere and noble feelings of admiration and gratitude to the truly great & good Father of his Country, called forth and appointed by providence as such. His memory will be best preserved...

Scope and Contents Letter written by a sixteen-year-old John Augustine Washington III in Alexandria, Virginia to his mother Jane C. Washington at Blakeley plantation near Charlestown, West Virginia. The address on the back page of the letter notes that the letter was delivered by Jim Mitchell ("Jim Mitchum") with a note from John Augustine that says "I let Jim have $1.00 for his expenses." Jim Mitchell, who was later employed by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, was enslaved by the Washington family at the...