Slavery

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Includes a $5 charge on 23 October 1813 for a coffin "for a black man." On 9 February 1814, Peter was charged $50.00 for a lined coffin covered with black cloth, among other expenses, possibly following the death of his first wife, Ann Plater Peter, or one of their young sons.

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Accounts of Mr. James Dunlop with Thomas Peter, for horses, ploughs, and an enslaved woman named Peg. Peg is likely one of the slaves Martha Parke Custis Peter inherited from the Custis estate.

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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.

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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.

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3 sheets of accounts between the estate of Robert Peter and James Dunlop, including the sale of "5 negroes willed Mrs. Peter." These are some of Martha's dower slaves inherited by Martha Parke Custis Peter. One additional sheet lists accounts between the heirs of Robert Peter and John Hicks, dated 1809-1811.

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The list of articles sold includes an enslaved man named Ned, 1 black horse, 1 mare and mare colt, and 3 beds and furniture.

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Bill of sale for female slave.

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Bushrod Corbin Washington writes his uncle that he is on the trail of Charles and Nathan, two of Bushrod's enslaved workers.

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Autograph letter signed, regarding the sale of an enslaved woman named Milly.

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Asking for money to buy more enslaved workers. Payment of amount owed by Judge [Bushrod] Washington.

Content Description From the Collection: The Bushrod Washington Family Papers consist of documents gathered by the descendants of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The collection comprises an assortment of correspondence and legal documents documenting the lives and property ownership of several branches of the Washington family. The collection is organized into five series: Correspondence, Legal Documents, Social, Miscellaneous, and Indenture Notices (Land Deeds).The Correspondence series,...

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A copy of Bushrod Washington's will in the Fairfax County Court. Includes instructions for the division of the Mount Vernon property, library, and enslaved population, with instructions that land should be given to West Ford.

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A manuscript copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, in which she specifies that her body be left out until it putrifies so that she is not buried alive. In her will, Hannah specifies that West Ford, the son of an enslaved woman named Venus, should be inoculated from smallpox, apprenticed to a tradesman, and freed at the age of twenty-one.

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A "true" manuscript copy made from the original, which is dated July 8, 1830. In his will, John Augustine gives his wife Jane the power to dispose of any of his enslaved workers who are disobedient to her after his death. He also stipulates that his children may sell the Mount Vernon estate to the government if Congress wants it.

Content Description From the Collection: The Bushrod Washington Family Papers consist of documents gathered by the descendants of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The collection comprises an assortment of correspondence and legal documents documenting the lives and property ownership of several branches of the Washington family. The collection is organized into five series: Correspondence, Legal Documents, Social, Miscellaneous, and Indenture Notices (Land Deeds).The Correspondence series,...

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Has had money to pay his uncle back, but enslaved workers have been so cheap he decided to invest money there.

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A copy from the County Court of Fairfax of the division of the slaves and stocks from the estate of Bushrod Washington amongst his nephews. Includes a list of the names of the enslaved persons that went to each nephew, with their values.

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Delivery and payment of wheat. Louisa is well. Christian Washington already named her daughter Elizabeth. Old Mr. [John] Sinclair died and his slaves are to be sold.

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Gives preserving instructions for slaves Sarah and Matilda. Secret engagement of Andrew Kennedy. Asks about having the dining room fixed. Anne is sick with dysentery.

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Louisa’s health. “I was really gratified to hear you did not find it necessary to sell Gabriel.” Louisa has “several times mistaken persons down the street for you…”

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Boat landed with 50 or 60 visitors. Susan, a slave, prefers being sold.

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Encloses letter from Mr. Davis. She is visiting Richard and Christian. Asks Augustine to bring the “baby’s sucking bottle.” Gives instructions for the slave Sarah to make a brine to drop the butter in.

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“Mrs. Byrd and Mrs. Alsbone… appear very nervous about the state of our slaves. They think the negroes hate the whites so much, that we are in constant danger.”

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Steamboat quite full today with sixty or seventy persons. Tomorrow is Louisa’s birthday. Spoke to Susan [a slave] and “she prefers being sold.”

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With a list of slaves in pencil on verso in John Augustine’s hand.

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Harrison writes to Augustine about Julia, an enslaved woman, who has taken "French leave" after Harrison struck her half a dozen times with his horse whip for disobedience. Harrison thinks Julia may have gone to Mount Vernon and asks Augustine to write if he has seen her.

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Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Harrison talks about turning an enslaved woman named Julia into a house servant and hiring out an enslaved man named Bob.

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Hannah writes that her creditors are harassing her. She will have to sell Ben, an enslaved man, to be able to pay Mr. Sadler. “I am not extravagant either in livery or dress.” She really values his advice.

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Autograph document in the hand of John Augustine Washington II, 20 pages. Includes a list of enslaved workers and household goods listed by room, with some notes on to whom they were bequeathed.