Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She has been anxious at not hearing from him. Wants him to send the rent check for $500 as soon as possible. Wants him to send the fish via the Misses Moore’s boats on the canal. Mentions the subject of Julia’s purchase. Family and friend news. Additional page following receipt of his letter. Sorry the fishery has been unsuccessful. Due to drought the strawberries gave poor yield.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She received the check from him. His carpenter is unwilling to go to Mount Vernon before late next autumn due to the climate there. Has tried to find out why the fish and shingles he was to send have not been found on the wharves for the Misses Moore’s boats to bring.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She is glad he was able to go to Philadelphia. Mentions the death of the wife of Lewis Washington. His sister was with her at her death, and Jane was there through the funeral. Is anxious about Charles’ daughter Catherine who was sent via stage to Mrs. Page who did not want her after all and seems unwilling to pay the stage driver for her passage. Discusses the hiring of a German gardener for Mount Vernon. Wants him to send a shoe she left at Mount Vernon and...

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She is busy with pork business and will send two barrels of hams and one of lard. Complains about his brother and his wife coming without replying to her as to when they would arrive. Says her health is very infirm.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Thanks him for the articles send, including oysters and ducks. Discusses sale of corn and is keeping some back to get a better price in the spring. Gives family news and that Captain Symington “is stationed at H.F. where the government intends having erected barracks for him.” Discusses the benefits of religion. Wants him to give a “piece of old bacon/shoulders to West, Jenny and Phill.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Lengthy discussion of the purchase of a house by Dr. Alexander and his sister. The finances of this are described.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. She is “sorry to hear of the disturbances among the negroes, especially poor Alfred. I think you had better sell him. Perhaps you might do it advantageously to some one in Richmond, who wants a capable and trustworthy servant. I am told Jim is very much distressed at parting with his son. If the purchaser of Alfred is willing to take Jim and he wishes to go, I have no objection to it.” Discusses various crop prices. Reports the death of one child from scarlet fever...

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. Discusses a few financial matters. “Hannah was sick & soon gave birth to a still born infant a boy. It was a mercy the event occurred for decomposition had commenced.” People are still getting sick with scarlet fever.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Describes the symptoms and illness with scarlet fever of Julia. She will be unable to attend Jane Davis’s wedding. “I have been in a most unsettled state for a long time. It seems difficult to get my family matters and business settled into any regular method again.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Julia Alexander died from scarlet fever. Others are also ill. She will not come to Mount Vernon for fear of bringing the disease with her and wants him to collect rents due her and pay various bills from that and send the rest to her.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Discussion of finances and sale of stock. Gives medical advice to him for various people. Tells of recent election – not more than half of either party voted. Uncle Bushrod is going to Maryland to attend a meeting of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She has “the severest attack of Influenza I have had for two years.” Kitty has discarded Lt. Hooe due to his poor conduct. Describes drought conditions badly affecting crops.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Have had much sickness. “Thompson, Jerry and Mingo laid up; in consequence of which George is driving the wagon… Am now endeavoring to save what apples remain on the trees and prepare winter clothing for the servants.” Wants him to come visit.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Have had an unusual degree of sickness. “Poor old Mingo is thought to be dying!... Berkeley, Jerry, and Thompson are still on the sick list.” Tells of death of a neighbor who shot himself by accident as he was mounting his horse. Is unable to bring the wheat to the mill as the mill was “dangerously full.” Describes a difficult journey by his aunt. At end “Mingo is Dead.”

Scope and Contents A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She was still too ill at Christmas to visit others. “We have still four or five cases of typhoid fever at the quarters. Charlotte among them she is still very sick. The Dr. hopes a favourable change has taken place in Selina, Saul and Jerry. Mary came out today. I have taken Sophy home and hope to be able to get on with her under Fanny’s superintendance.” Other descriptions of moving enslaved people around. Relates episode of Julia having escaped from Cousin...

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. Tells him Col. and Mrs. Davenport intend to visit him at Mount Vernon. Wants them to entertain them well. Discusses politics – “the great question of Annexation.” Mr. Rivers’ speech was a great production. “He feels as we do, the waning power of our once great & noble state.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. She returned from a ride feeling quite well again. Describes a beautiful snowfall. “I am sorry to hear you have still sickness among your servants. It is also the case here, new cases constantly occuring. The Dr. has been a daily visiter with the exception of two or three days. Milly’s youngest child is now ill.” Describes the death of his cousin. Other family news.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Describes her journey home from Mount Vernon, visiting friends on the way. “Richard … is going Missouri and wishes to purchase Negroes to take with him. He has yet made no offer for Caroline, tho’ we understand he wishes to get her. She I am told is averse to going.” Describes a sermon and exhorts him to read the Bible. Family information. “Excuse this blotted ill written scrawl. Read and burn it.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Discusses the naming of his new baby girl. Nelly wanted to name her after Jane, but she thought she should be named after Nelly’s recently deceased grandmother. Tells of financial difficulties of Dr. A. and the prices of crops. After her signature – “Destroy this letter.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Writes to discuss ways to assist Dr. A. “out of his present difficulties.” Wants him to come visit soon with the family.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Has yet to hear back from him in answer to her letter about Dr. A. Tells him of what she wants to do for him. Gives instructions as to how he should travel to visit her with the family.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. Tells him of money placed in bank “for servants sold… (Humphrey, Shedrack, Thompson, Caroline, Little Daniel, Margaret, and John).” “I am not well and feel a good deal agitated at the sale tho’ I believe it will be better for all concerned but it is distressing to break up families by sales.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Sending notes to him and hopes he will return as soon as he arranges this business. Nelly and the girls are well, though Lou has still a cough.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. Describes family members’ travels. Not a good wheat crop. Discusses the estate of Mr. Foote and how it treats his wife. Talks about the American B.S. and its efforts to bring the Bible to 10,000 families who have none. Asks him to pay some bills for her.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. To Mount Vernon. Congratulates him on getting much ice stored in his ice house as “it is a luxury, essential to health, and economy in domestic management.” “I believe slaves will become less and less valuable; and unless we keep them in the hope of being able to liberate and provide for them: for pecuniary interest, it is best to own, only as many as are necessary for the ordinary work of our farms.” Many hams were spoilt, so they cannot offer any.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Tells of various charges Richard made on his behalf. The weather has badly affected the crops. Wants to travel to Chicago in the summer. “Richard has purchased West’s little farm… West intends going West.”

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Sorry to hear about his return of chills. Their diet has been quite poor with a lack of vegetables and fresh meat. Thanks him for the check he sent, but he forgot to sign it. Describes another sermon. Requests him to send cypress shingles as soon as possible as the house leaks when it rains.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Congratulates him on the birth of another daughter. Gives news of Richard.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley. Nelly is recovering from childbirth, and the baby thrives. Nelly wishes him to remind Miss Entwisle about the dresses.

Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Blakeley. Gives prices of bushels of wheat from Mr. Burns and Mr. Snyder.