Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855

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A.L.S. 2 pages. Mount Vernon. Encloses stock gilli seed ... will send Polianthus seeds and roots ... planning to board in Alexandria until late Mar ... sons at Howard School ... wants Maria to attend [Benjamin] Hallowell's school ... accepts offer of White fig and passion fruit ... will make every effort to keep up with MV without involving the children's estates ... Autograph letter signed, integral cover.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 3 pages. Mount Vernon to Georgetown. Death of Aunt Blackburn detained her at Blakeley--engaged in having the remains of "our rever'd Uncle and Aunt [Bushrod and Anne Blackburn W-n] my beloved Husband [John A.] and dear Sister Mary Herbert inter'd in the Vault."--shocked at bad condition of some of coffins in vault--Cousin Lorenzo Lewis "had his ... Father laid in a grave immediately within the door-Crosswise"--details of grave she planned--West Ford prepared a coffin for G.C.W.'s...

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A.L.S. 2 pages. The portion of G.W.'s library remaining at Mt. V. is small, and they will not sell it--if necessary later, they prefer National Library--"In respect to the purchase of this place, dear cousin, by the U.S. Government. We still regard it as uncertain."--if G.C.W. and family accompany Eleanor to Bath, stop and see her at Blakeley [Jefferson Cty.] she goes there soon. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, black seal smeared (W).

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 4 pages. Washington. Requests Humphreys to look into the "situation, price and payments of Flore's farm" ... would like to purchase a small farm for daughter, Maria ... brother Bush'd [bro-in-law probably] in Ohio disposing of a tract of her land ... her sister and others in Fredericksburg for corner stone laying of monument to Mary Ball W-n ... Barrows, the, donor, taking care of them ... Name on original manuscript appears as "Jane C." Autograph letter signed, (1 1/2 of text),...

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A.L.S. 3 pages. Mount Vernon to University of Virginia. Jane writes her son on his 18th birthday. She tells him family events that have occurred. Informs him of the death of his neice Louisa. "The work here (Mt. Vernon) is much behind hand and crops the very little that can be seen, looks miserably. I shall endeavour to have the oyster shells hauled from the Shore as soon as they finish planting Corn."

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 and good Father of his Country, called forth and appointed by providence as such. His memory will be best preserved and...

Scope and Contents Letter written by Jane C. Washington from Blakeley near Charlestown, West Virginia at Christmas time to her son John Augustine Washington III at Mount Vernon. Jane worries over John's recent illness with "chill fever" and reminds him "You now have an overseer, and it surely cannot be so necessary for you to go out at the dawn of day, and expose yourself to the inclemencies of weather in attending to farm business."Jane writes "I am now quite alone, dear little John A. left me...

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 and 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 and at all times, be guided by Divine Wisdom." Jane and her son Richard plan to visit John...

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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.

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Autograph letter signed. Jane writes to her son about Clark Mills's proposed statue of Washington, "which out government has at this late but fortunate time, determined on having." She also asks her granddaughter Louisa to write about her acquaintance with Washington Irving.

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Autograph letter signed with envelope. Jane congratulates John Augustine and his wife Nelly on the birth of their son Lawrence Washington. She also writes about the murder of her relative, Thomas Blackburn. Blackburn was fatally stabbed by another student while a cadet at VMI in Lexington.

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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.

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...

Scope and Contents Autograph letter initialed. Janes writes that she is sending down "four large shoulder of Bacon" to Mount Vernon, along with two enslaved men, Willoughby and Gabriel, who she hopes will be "faithful and useful." She writes, "have them comfortably fixed my dear son treat them kindly, and I trust they will both prove valuable servants. Gabriel will require a strict tho kind discipline. Sarah or Milly must wast and mend for them." Jane also writes that she has had a letter from West Ford asking...

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Autograph letter intialed with integral address panel. Jane writes about the baptism of John Augustine's daughter Louisa and other family news, including the sale of Selby by Hannah Lee Washington and the marriage of her son Richard to his cousin Christian Maria. She also writes about crops and finding a good overseer. She adds, "I am very sorry you cannot commence the repairs at [Mount Vernon] this autumn. The buildings are getting in ruinous condition."

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed with integral address panel, with note that the letter was carried by "Mr. W's servant Edmund who is returning home from Jefferson Cty."Jane writes, "I saw no white face on Christmas day." She describes giving out provisions and supplies to the enslaved population, a few of whom assembled to hear her read in the morning and at noon. "They conducted themselves very soberly & orderly." Old Jenny thanked her for the "fine dinner." Jane also describes her...

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Delivered by James Mitchum (Jim Mitchell). Jane writes that Zion Episcopal Church in Charles Town has burned down.

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A.L.S. 4 pages. Mount Vernon to Caledon near Hampstead. Personal letter updating her on family health and affairs.

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A.L.S. 2 pages. Blakely to Mount Vernon. Inquires about family and business at Mount Vernon. "Mr. Skidmore has I suppose been down and repaired the Pillars and Colonades." Reminds him to collect rent from tenants.

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Autograph letter signed. Mount Vernon. Jane writes to her son that she is at Mount Vernon settling accounts. She discusses family news and difficulties with postage.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 2 pages. Mount Vernon to Fort Washington. Has directed the gardener to take over the first peas--hopes they will be acceptable to her and Major Mason--sister is recovering--husband's business kept her from going to her--tomorrow we set off--letter from Augustine [John A. W-n ?]--"boys are all well"--thanks her for inviting Augustine to spend vacation with her son but Mr. W. thinks him too young and volatile to be without parental or teacher's control--respects to Mr. and Mrs. Webb....

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Sparks writes to Jane, "My Dear Madam, I am about to publish a series of American Biographies, and I should be glad to include in it a Life of Lawrence Washington, if the materials exist for writing such a Life. Have not his papers been preserved at Mount Vernon?...” A note on the address panel indicates this letter was forwarded to John Augustine Washington III to respond to.

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Autograph letter signed, 4 p. Mount Vernon. Draft with corrections. Washington responds to a proposal from the Board of Commissioners authorized by an act of Congress to purchase the estate of Mount Vernon as a military asylum. Washington hopes to retain part of the estate as a residence for his family.

Scope and Contents A.L.S. 1 page. Mount Vernon. John Augustine Washington writes from Mount Vernon responding to a 12 September dispatch from G.R.H. Hughes. Washington inquires about the status of financial and legal matters, especially in relation to "my money attached by Ogden in the Marine Bank." He directs Hughes to "direct our interests, and if necessary, employ the best Counsel you can get to assist you. If the case goes against us in the Illinois State Courts, can we throw it into the Federal Courts and...

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...

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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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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. John Augustine writes to his mother about ways of making more money at Mount Vernon, including erecting a tavern at the Gum Spring and allowing a steamboat company to run a ship to Mount Vernon for a fee. This will "avoid the inconvenience of a number of hacks, and having persons tampering with the servants."

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Charlottesville to Charlestown. Needs her permission to take only 2 courses at university; wants to purchase mare, visited Aunt Judy.