Letter, Joseph McFarland to John Augustine Washington III, 1845 August 3
Scope and Contents
Autograph letter signed. John Augustine's overseer, Joseph McFarland, writes that he has had "a great deal of difficulty" with the enslaved worker Gabriel Johnson and has had to put Gabriel in Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria.
McFarland describes a scene in which Gabriel was "cursing & fighting" against some horses, and then began cursing McFarland when McFarland took the horse whip away from Gabriel. McFarland writes, "I put him with Mr. Bruen at 25 cts a day. Mr. Bruen thinks he would be mighty apt to run away. I did not flog him as Mr. Bruen persuaded me not for it would injure the sale of him." He then adds to Augustine, "Times is very different to what they was when you was here."
Dates
- 1845 August 3
Creator
- McFarland, Joseph (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library’s Special Collections and Archives Registration Form before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain items for preservation purposes.
Extent
From the Collection: 22.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
- Bruin's Slave Jail Subject Source: Local sources
- Johnson, Gabriel, 1820-
- Slaves Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861 (Recipient)
Creator
- McFarland, Joseph (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington Repository
PO Box 3600
Mount Vernon VA 22121
703-799-3600
