Washington, Martha, 1731-1802

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed with integral free franked address panel with seal of John Adams. Abigail Adams, Philadelphia, to Martha Washington, Mount Vernon. Condolence letter written by Abigail Adams to Martha Washington on the death of George Washington.

Scope and Contents

"An Acct. of Mrs. Washington's Expences from Virginia to my Winter Quarters & back again to Virginia according to the Memms. and accts. which I have received from her & those who accompd. her"--expences amounting to £1064.1

Scope and Contents

Receipt signed "Daniel Lecock" for payment received by the hands of James Anderson on behalf of Martha Washington for 790 bushels of corn on 2 May 1800.

Scope and Contents

List of items purchased by Martha Washington from Macleod & Lumsdon, dated at the top 18 February 1800, Alexandria. The accounts, dated 8 July and 9 August, include entries for 47 panes of glass, oil, paint for 30 mahoghany chairs, paint for a wine cooler, varnishing, picture frame gilding, and glazing. Signed by Macleod & Lumdsdon at the bottom, noting that the above money was received in full 9 October 1800.

Scope and Contents

Accounts dated February 13, March 11, and April 12, 1800 for newspaper advertisements and handbills purchased by Martha Washington from Ellis Price, printer of The Columbian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette. Items Martha purchased include 26 advertisements for a house to rent, an advertisement about the Mount Vernon fishery, 23 advertisements about the donkey Knight of Malta, and notice about the runaway slave Marcus.

Scope and Contents

A list of clothing purchased by Martha Washington from William Jones of Alexandria. Includes suits purchased for enslaved workers Daniel, Marcus, Christopher, and Frank. According to notes on the verso, payments were received from James Anderson on 12 April 1800 and 15 May 1800.

Scope and Contents

Accounts dated 23 April-23 September 1800 for weaving yards of cotton, wool, and other fabrics. The payments are marked as having been paid "By balance due the Estate of General Washington," by cash, by 41 gallons of whiskey, and barrells of herring. The final payment is marked as received from James Anderson on 10 November 1801.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection consists of papers collected by various members of the Peter families. It includes letters from George Washington, letters of condolence to Martha Washington after George Washington’s death, estate documents, Major George Peter’s military papers, land plats and surveys, photo albums, letterbooks, and notebooks that tell of the life of this prominent family in Virginia and the City of Washington.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Condolence letter written by Ann Huntington, New London, Connecticut, to Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, on the death of George Washington.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed. A condolence letter from Auguste Belin, Secretary of the Loge Française l’Aménité of Philidelphia, a freemason lodge of French and Saint-Dominguen émigrés. Belin writes that he is inclosing copies of a funeral oration performed at the lodge in honor of George Washington's death.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection contains letters to and from Martha Washington that have been acquired by the MVLA since 1858. For more information, see content note for individual items. The collection grows organically as new items are acquired.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed with integral free franked address panel. Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., New York, to Martha Washington, Mount Vernon. Bartholomew Dandridge Jr. writes his aunt inquiring about letters sent to him from Washington before his death that Dandridge never received.

Scope and Contents

For china items amounting to £19.17.6--included are china dishes, plates, soup plates, dessert plates, Nankeen china, wash basin and bottle, chamber pot, etc. Receipted by John Rich for James Chrystie, Sept. 2, 1790.

Scope and Contents

Partially printed bill of exchange charged to the estate of Daniel Parke Custis and signed by Martha Custis.

Scope and Contents

Sale of eleven mules, three sheep, eight oxen, one cow and calf, two heifers, three cows, one riding horse, a quantity of plank, scantling and barrel staves and all the plantation [ ] Farm called Dogue Run, standing property lately sold to Lewis, amounts to $1279.40; Lewis to pay yearly sum of $90 till her death then either return it or pay George Washington's executors the above amount.

Scope and Contents

Payment from Thomas Law to Griffith Coombs for repairs to Martha Washington's townhome in the District Columbia occupied by Henry Dearborn. Payment marked by Coombs as received in full from Thomas Peter on August 23, 1802.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Bushrod Washington, Walnut Farm, to Martha Washington, Mount Vernon. Bushrod writes to Martha about purchasing corn from Colonel Washington.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

The Historical Photograph Collection is largely comprised of materials created by or for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Photographers primarily include staff members and contract photographers. The collection spans the 1930s to the 2000s and includes analog material made up of a variety of sizes of film negatives providing a visual history of the Mansion, outbuildings, tombs, grounds, events, visitors, collection objects, personnel, restoration, and changes throughout the estate.

Scope and Contents

Three calling cards handwritten "Martha Washington" with note.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed. Condolence note written by Charles Humphrey Atherton, Amherst, New Hampshire, to Martha Washington after the death of George Washington. Atherton writes that he is enclosing a funeral oration delivered at the request of the citizens of Amherst, New Hampshire in Washington's honor.

Scope and Contents

Copy of letter. George Washington writes to Martha regarding the "American cause" and his need to go "to Boston to take upon [him] the command". He mentions his possible death and will.

Scope and Contents

copy letters.The letter dated 1775 June 2, George Washington writes to Martha Washington as he departs Philadelphia for Boston and he does not know when he will be able to write again. He hopes to have a "happy meeting with you [Martha] sometime in the fall". The letter dated 1778 June 18, George Washington writes to Martha Washington regarding the "American cause" and his need to go "to Boston to take upon [him] the command". He mentions his possible death and will.

Scope and Contents

Partially printed on card from President Washington and Mrs. Washington--not filled out.

Scope and Contents

Written by Martha Parke Custis Peterfor Martha Washington, at Mount Vernon. Martha Washington’s Great Cake recipe yields a massive cake requiring forty eggs, four pounds of butter and five pounds of flour, plus fruits and spices. Its large dimensions made it perfect for serving the many family and visitors who flocked to Mount Vernon during the holiday season.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed "John Lemayere." Jean Pierre Le Mayeur, Sweet Springs, was George Washington's dentist during the Revolutionary War. He writes his condolences to Martha on the death of Washington, apologizing that his servant lost the first condolence letter he had written on February 24.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter signed. Condolence letter from Elias Boudinot, New Jersey Congressman and Director of the United States Mint, Philadelphia, to Martha Washington on the death of George Washington.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection contains letters to and from Martha Washington that have been acquired by the MVLA since 1858. For more information, see content note for individual items. The collection grows organically as new items are acquired.

Scope and Contents Manuscript titled "A List of Negroes belonging to Mrs. Washington." A list of 121 enslaved persons who were Martha's dower slaves. Unlike the slaves owned by George Washington, Martha's slaves were not freed after her death and were inherited by the Custis descendants. Men, boys, women, and girls and listed in separate columns, each further broken down into the places where they worked: Mansion house, River Farm, Muddy Hole, and Union Farm. Five women - Amy, Alice, Peg, Agnes, and Old Judy -...

Scope and Contents

Accounts from 1802 for furniture and household goods purchased by George Washington Parke Custis from the Estate of Martha Washington. The final payment was made in 1826, and the account is signed by Thomas Peter, executor of the estate.

Scope and Contents

A list of the household belongings sold by Thomas Peter from the personal estate of Martha Washington. Includes a listing of who purchased each item and the price it sold for.