Slavery
Found in 163 Collections and/or Records:
Account book, tobacco book, negros the property of Robert Peter taken November, lots in the city of Washington, 1784-1797
Book of tobacco sales, list of enslaved persons belonging to Robert Peter, and lots of Robert Peter in the City of Washington with division by squares for the Commissioners and how they are disposed. The bound volume is made up of 178 pages. Pages 52-147 are blank. At some point the volume is flipped and entries are begun at the back of the book from pages 178-154. For viewing purposes those pages have been reoriented and reordered.
Account of George Peter for burial expenses, 1813-1814
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.
Accounts of James Sewall Morsell with Thomas Corcoran, 1797-1804
Accounts for shoes, boots, and repairs, including shoes for enslaved people.
Accounts of Martha Washington with William Jones, 1800 February 4
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.
Articles of agreement, house carpenter and joiner, 1793
Contracts services for one year-house carpenter and Joiner should conduct themselves soberly, honestly and deliberately-duties: superintend Negro carpenters, use proper care with tools, keep an account (in a book) of needs and things done, should set a good example, and will remain at work from light to dark-pay is 10 pounds a month- George Washington will provide: meat and meal or flour, tools, quarters, and will pay taxes.
Benjamin Dean, Alexander Gibson, and William [?], 1825 December 26
Promises return of hired Negro, along with two suits of clothes.
Bill, Dr. John Sutherland to Mary Washington, 1751-1752
A.D.S. 1 page. Bill for June 14, 1751-April 3, 1752 for medical care, including one entry "Jan 10 [1752] To a large box antiscorbutick Ointm. for Mr. George Washington." Also includes entries "a Visit to yr Negro wench," and "Drawing a tooth for yr Negro." Autograph document signed, laminated, docketed "Rect. Doctr. Sutherland April 27th 1752 1.6.9.," badly charred. Receipted on April 27, 1752 for Dr. Sutherland by [ ] Peyton.
Bill of sale, John Scrivenor to Richard Miles and William Scrivenor, 1789 December 2, 1795 September 8
The Resurvey of Brandy and transfer of several named enslaved people.
Bill of sale, Robert Lewis to Lawrence Lewis, 1822 December 1
Bill of sale for female slave.
Bill, William Augustine Washington to the estate of Richard Muse, 1784 February 23
A.N. 1 page. A bill from William A. Washington (1757-1810; George Washington's nephew) to the estate of Richard Muse for the hiring of "negro Ceasar" by Muse's overseer William Smith.
Bond, Robert Fulton to Fanny Bassett Washington, 1798 January 14
D.S. 1 page. Bond. Fulton agrees to pay Mrs. Washington, widow of George Augustine Washington, thirty-five pounds "... upon the first day of January next ensuing [1799] ... for the hire of a Negro Man named Reuben for one year ..." Frances Bassett Washington (Lear) died in 1796 so it is unclear who this document is really intended for, or if the date is incorrect.
Book, Overseer's Account book, 1785-1798
This ledger includes a list of slaves at the Mount Vernon Plantations, clothing alloted to them each year, inventory of cattle, Nov. 15, 1785, accounts with the several plantations, accounts with shoemakers, overseers, and bricklayers. With other Accounts (including ones from George Augustine and Lawrence A. Washington, Tobias Lear, John and H. Fairfax, and Anthony Whiting).
Bushrod Corbin Washington, Norristown, to Bushrod Washington, Philadelphia, 1823 April 12
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.
Bushrod Washington Herbert to John Augustine Washington III, 1860 January 5
Prospect Hill to Mount Vernon. Autograph letter signed, regarding the sale of an enslaved woman named Milly.
Charles Carter to Lawrence Lewis, 1819 November 30
Culpeper to Woodlawn. Asking for money to buy more enslaved workers. Payment of amount owed by Judge [Bushrod] Washington.
Columbian Centinel, Boston, MA, 1796 March 26
Newspaper ad by George Washington advertising the rental of 4 Mt. Vernon farms--not including Mansion House Farm. Detailed descriptions, are included. Also lists for sale lands on the Ohio River, on the Miami, and in Kentucky. Deals with decisions Washington was making regarding establishment of a source of income for himself, the management of farms, and to find a solution to the burdens of his slave ownership.
Copies of the last will and testament of John Augustine Washington, 1785 November 19
Copy of the last will and testament of Bushrod Washington, 1830 February 12
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.
Copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, approximately 1801
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 putrefies 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.
Copy of the last will and testament of John Augustine Washington II, 1833 June 24
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.