Legal documents

Scope and Contents

Autograph document signed in the hand of Bushrod Washington, for the sale of land in Prince William County called Yorkshire Farm.

Scope and Contents

Notice of the sale of the Clifton Land [River Farm] to [George] Washington

Scope and Contents

Agreement for lease of 7 acres of land by John Posey to George Washington.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

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,...

Scope and Contents

Documents detail trial charges of Joseph Stevens. Signed by Zachary Lewis A court document giving outcome of the trial is also included, Feb. 1758. Trial held in Caroline County, Virginia.

Scope and Contents

At court held for Westmoreland County the 31st day of July 1787, the Will and Codicil made 1785 November 19 by John Augustine Washington and under the oath of executors Bushrod Washington and Corbin Washington along with William Augustine Washington was entered into and acknowledged bond with conditions as the law direct. Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate. Signed by James Bland, C.W.C and William Butler, D.C. and noted as 'A true Copy.' Autograph document signed, 1 page.

Scope and Contents

Court decrees that Sale of William Clifton's lands to Thomas Colville and George Johnston to be put aside, and lands are to be sold at public auction to pay off his just debts to Charles Carroll and other defendants. Washington G.W. bought this land at auction, and it became his River farm.

Scope and Contents

Clerical copy of a deed for 1000 acres of land along the south bank of the Potomac River, Westmoreland County (the area became Fairfax County in 1742), Virginia, granted to Giles Brent, Junior. George Washington purchased the tract of land in 1760 and at that time may have acquired and annotated this copy of the 1654 deed. On the verso of the document George Washington's inscription reads, "1 copy, Richard Bennett, esq., grant to Giles Brent for 1000 acs. of Ld. 6th September 1654."

Scope and Contents A.D.S. 9 pages. Deposition in the suit of Thomas Marshall against Samson Darrell. Depositions of William Godfrey, Robert Step[h]ens, Edward Violet, Penelope Osborne, Ann Drakeford, Daniel Ansdale, Thomas, Odford, John Gist, William Brummett, Elias Guess, Thomas Lewis, Bryant Allison, John Sno[w]den, James Halley, Sarah Lewis, John Simpson, and Jeremiah Sparks, in a boundary dispute between Thomas Marshall and Samson [or Sampson?] Darrell involving the line of the original grant to Nichol...

Scope and Contents

D.S. 1 page. Deposition of George Fayette Washington before WIlliam Waters, justice of the peace in Washington, D.C. -- deposer is the only surviving son of George A. Washington, late a Lieutenant in Virginia continental line -- claim for U.S. bounty lands -- his brother Charles A. and sister Anna Maria Thornton are dead, and sister's sons Charles A. ad Churchill J. Thornton to receive half. Document signed, docketed "Memo. May 2d to ex. and Rept. tomorrow," watermark.

Scope and Contents Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts, Robert Treat Paine, signer of the Declaration of Independence, files a complaint against the respondent Margaret Draper, as she "levied war, and conspired to levy War against the Government and people of this Province, Colony, and State; and then and there adhered to the King of Great Britain, his fleets and armies, enemies of the said Province, Colony, and State; and then and there did give them aid and comfort". Partially printed document,...

Scope and Contents

This document divides Lawrence Lewis' slaves between Col. George Lee and the brothers of Lawrence Washington. It is signed by GW, George Lee, Ann Lee, and Aug. Washington. Witnessed by William Fairfax, George William Fairfax, Robert Merrie, John Dalton, Thomas Plummer, John Tuberville, John Carlyle, Sarah Carlyle, and Bryan Fairfax.

Scope and Contents Summary of pleas with case starting on May 18, 1772; other action taken on Feb. 22, 1774, and Mar. 23, 1774 -- final judgement given May 17, 1774-Savage ordered to pay £606.17.6. Document, laminated, watermarks (crown over GR, and crown over heraldic device), docketed "Washington vs. Savage - Record". | [As trustees for Mrs. William Savage (formerly Mrs. Charles Green) Washington and Fairfax were attempting to collect the money which her husband had promised in regular payments. Mason stood...

Scope and Contents D.S. 3 pages. Conveys "All that plantation now in possession of the said Penelope French called the Dogue Run plantation in Fairfax County, and adjoining the land of the Immortal George Washington and a number of slaves thereon" for an annual rent of "One hundred and thirty six pounds Gold and Silver, Dollars at six Shillings and half Joes at forty eight shillings ..." Document signed, laminated, docketed "A Lease from Penelope French and Benjamin Dulany to John Robertson January 1st 1784,"...

Scope and Contents

Henry Trenn binds himself to pay £50 unless he "make or cause to be made unto the above sd. Lawrence Washington ... a Lease for the Term of nine hundred ninety & nine Years of all the Land which is at this present overflowed by the sd. Washington Mill Dam included within the sd. Trenn Bounds on Dogue Runn ..."

Scope and Contents

George Washington grants his nephew, George Augustine Washington, power of attorney during the former's absence from Mount Vernon. George Washington was preparing to take office as first President of the United States, and George Augustine Washington acted as manager of Mount Vernon during George Washington's first term. Witnessed by Tobias Lear and John Fairfax.

Scope and Contents

Autograph letter, signed. "Bush. Washington" writes to Charles Lewis Esq, regarding a possible arbitration or suit. Letter mentions Mr.Thomas Swann, Mr. Robert I. Taylor, and Mr. Walter Jones. Handwritten note at the bottom.

Scope and Contents

This printed document is a patent for a method of controlling tides, signed by George Washington as President, Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, and Edmund Randolph as Attorney General.

Scope and Contents

Petition from Ebenezer Dayton to the Executive Council of Pennsylvania. Dayton confesses how he did "flee from there [New York] as a refugee, leaving his lands in the power of the enemy", and petitions to acquire a "whaleboat". William Floyd, Dayton's neighbor, certifies Dayton's claims. Floyd is a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Autograph , signed, 2 pages.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection of historic manuscripts dates from 1607-1933, with the bulk of materials dating from 1738-1868. The correspondence, journals and diaries, legal and financial records, estate documents, and printed ephemera in the collection primarily relate to the Washington and Custis families, the Revolutionary War, and society life in antebellum Washington D.C. and Virginia.

Portions of this collection have been digitized, as noted in the item-level descriptions.

Scope and Contents

The son of George Washington's sister, Lawrence Lewis authorizes Thomas Griggs to bring back a slave named Shadrach and his brother Arlington who ran away separately from Lewis' farm near Battletown.

Scope and Contents

Quit claim deed written on handmade laid paper in the hand of George Washington. The quit claim is by John Carney to George Washington for 200 acres of land at Cliftons, formerly Piscataway Neck, which later became part of the Mount Vernon River Farm. Signed by John Carney (his mark), Lund Washington, Walter Magowan, Eno Williams (his mark), and Thos. Bishop.

Scope and Contents

A.D.S. 1 page. Summons to the Washington Family pertaining to a lawsuit.

Scope and Contents Manuscript copy. D. 3 pages. Washington leaves his wife, Frances (Fanny Bassett), 1/4 of his plantation and stock. To son George Fayette, part of a tract in Berkeley County; 1000 acres of land "situated in the district set apart for the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on the Ohio River;" and his gold watch. To son Charles Augustine, the remaining land in Berkeley Co. and 1000 acres of the above land on Ohio River. To daughter [Anna] Maria, 666 2/3 acres of the Ohio River land, a...

Scope and Contents

A.D.S. 4 pages. Including codicil, Nov. 19, 1785. Will of John Augustine Washington of Bushfield, younger brother of George Washington.

Scope and Contents

Three copies of the will of John Bushrod of Westmoreland County with notes by Bushrod Washington for the case Washington vs. Fauntleroy.

Scope and Contents Francis Hopkinson, Esq., Judge for the Courts of Admiralty for the State of Pennsylvania, directs Clement Biddle Esq., Marshall for the court, to "sell at public venue the sloop or vessel called the Polly her guns, tackle, apparel, furniture and all and singular the goods, wares and merchandise laden and found on board her at the time of her capture and that after deducting the costs and charges of the trial condemnation and sale out of the monies arising from the said sale you divide the...