WASHINGTON’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT: A WILL WITHOUT WITNESS?
We must now address the question of Washington’s last will and testament. Why did Washington write his will without any express witness to faith in Christ? It did begin with the traditional words of taking an oath: “In the name of God. Amen.” Yet we cannot answer the question of why Washington did not explicitly declare his faith in his will by any statement in Washington’s writings. It is possible that Washington felt that a witness in a will, such as the one he had copied as a youth as a writing exercise, was not the best way to express one’s faith.
Washington’s creed was deeds not words. So while we cannot give an explicit reason in Washington’s writings for why he chose not to mention his faith in his will, we would point out that such an act is not required by the Christian faith. Further, if the absence of such a witness is a proof of Deism, then, on the basis of this argument, Martha Washington was a Deist too, since her will makes no mention of her faith in Christ. But this would be clearly false. No one doubts Martha Washington’s Christian faith. Thus, the argument is a non sequitur. In fact, Washington uses the name of Jesus more often than Martha, since there seems to be no instance where Martha wrote the name of Jesus Christ.
As we saw in the chapter entitled, “Did Washington Avoid the Name of Jesus Christ?” there was a common practice to refrain from using the name of Jesus Christ to honor Christ’s name. This was not intended to be an expression of unbelief. Martha’s not writing the name of Jesus Christ could not be used as a testimony against her faith. It seems that the historic Trinitarian use of “God” as captured by the Anglican tradition of using the Athanasian Creed, along with the sincere Virginian Anglican desire not to profane the name of Christ, kept her, like her husband, from writing the name of Jesus Christ in common or ordinary correspondence.
The point here is clear. If this reticence to mention Jesus in writing proves Deism, then it proves that both George and Martha were Deists. But this is clearly absurd. Thus, the argument is specious and can carry no persuasive force. We believe that George was no more a Deist than Martha. Moreover, Washington’s will was not explicitly Christian, yet it was implicitly Christian, as one considers what he says he wanted done with regard to his slaves, a specially bequeathed Bible, his views of war, and his love expressed to his family.
THE DREAM BEFORE HIS DEATH
As we consider this important question, let us return to Joseph Ellis’ claims that we have already briefly considered. Above, we mentioned that Washington’s writing of his will seems to have been motivated by a premonition. This came in the form of a remarkable dream, which was preserved for history through a letter by Martha Washington. This clearly stands in tension with what Ellis wrote, “The historic evidence suggests that Washington did not think much about heaven or angels.” Ellis apparently was unaware of the letter that Martha Washington wrote relating her husband’s dream about his death that included an angel.
This incident occurred just a few months before Washington’s death. It was this dream that prompted Washington to write his last will and testament, the very document he asked to review on his deathbed as he slipped away in his brief battle for life. Martha wrote:
At midsummer the General had a dream so deeply impressed on his mind that he could not shake it off for several days. He dreamed that he and I were sitting in the summer-house, conversing upon the happy life we had spent, and looking forward to many more years on the earth, when suddenly there was a great light all around us, and then an almost invisible figure of a sweet angel stood by my side and whispered in my ear. I suddenly turned pale and then began to vanish from his sight and he was left alone. I had just risen from the bed when he awoke and told me his dream saying, “You know a contrary result indicated by dreams may be expected. I may soon leave you.” I tried to drive from his mind the sadness that had taken possession of it, by laughing at the absurdity of being disturbed by an idle dream, which, at the worst, indicated that I would not be taken from him; but I could not, and it was not until after dinner that he recovered any cheerfulness. I found in the library, a few days afterwards, some scraps of paper which showed that he had been writing a Will, and had copied it.79 When I was so very sick, lately, I thought of this dream, and concluded my time had come, and that I should be taken first.80 (emphasis in the original)
Clearly this dream had a direct impact on Washington, since it caused him to write his last will and testament.
Washington enjoyed good health for the remaining months before his death—so much so that at the middle of November, Martha and he were invited to attend the dancing assemblies in that town, as they had frequently done. Washington replied:
Mount Vernon, 12th November, 1799.
Gentlemen: Mrs. Washington and myself have been honored by your polite invitation to the Assemblies at Alexandria this winter, and thank you for this mark of attention. But, alas! Our dancing days are no more. We wish, however, all those who have relish for so agreeable and innocent amusement all the pleasure the season will afford them.81
WAS THERE NO CHRISTIAN WITNESS AT WASHINGTON’S DEATH?
The two arguments raised against Washington’s Christian faith that emerge from his family context are that his last will and testament was written without any express witness to faith in Christ, and that when he died, he did not call for a clergyman, and thus did not receive the Sacrament.82 While we have already considered these objections, we now address the second in more detail.
On December 13th, just a month from the date of his note declining the opportunity to attend the dance, Washington rode over his farm on horseback for several hours in a storm of sleet. He sat down to dinner without removing his damp clothing, and during the succeeding night he experienced a severe throat infection that nearly prevented both his swallowing and his breathing. Physicians came, and soon so reduced his strength from blood-letting that he did not have enough strength left to fight the disease. He died near midnight on December 14, 1799. His death was marked by an extraordinary peace and confidence in the face of an unexpected illness and sudden death. This was in itself an expression of an ideal of the Christian faith. (See John 14:27.)
CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF DEATH
Throughout his life, Washington was constantly reminded that he needed to be ready for death.83 He was often afflicted with life-threatening illnesses;84 he had been in danger continually as an officer in combat.85 From childhood on, he saw several members of his family and several of his own friends die. Whether in spite of these struggles or because of them, his last spoken words were filled with confidence, gratitude, and peace. Tobias Lear, Washington’s personal secretary recorded the events as they unfolded, and kept track of many of his statements.86 They include: (as the now-rejected medical procedure of blood letting commenced), he said, “Don’t be afraid. The orifice is not large enough. More, more.” Concerning his swollen throat, he said, “Tis very sore.” He then called for Mrs. Washington and selected one of two existing wills and had one burned. He remarked, “I find I am going, my breath can not last long. I believed from the first that the disorder would prove fatal.”
To Tobias Lear, his secretary, the dying Washington said, “Do you arrange and record all my late military letters and papers. Arrange my accounts and settle my books, as you know more about them than any one else, and let Mr. Rawlins finish recording my other letters which he has begun.” He then asked if Lear recollected anything which was essential for him to do, as he had but a very short time to continue among them. Lear said he recollected nothing, but that he hoped he was not so near his end; Washington observed smiling, that he certainly was, and that it [death] was a debt, the debt that all must pay. He looked to the event with perfect resignation.
As Lear assisted him, he said to him, “I am afraid I shall fatigue you too much.” When Lear said that it was his wish to give him ease, Washington responded, “Well it is a debt we must pay to each other, and I hope when you want aid of this kind, you will find it.” He asked when Mr. Lewis, his nephew, and Washington Custis, his grandson, would return, since they were in New Kent, Virginia. Lear said on the twentieth. At five o’clock Dr. James Craik came again to check on his lifelong friend. Washington said to him, “Doctor, I die hard; but I am not afraid to go; I believed from my first attack that I should not survive; my breath can not last long.”
When the doctors had him sit up, he said, “I feel myself going, I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly, I can not last long.” Lear then heard his last words, “I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the Vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand me?” When Lear said he did, Washington spoke his last words, “Tis well.” Martha Washington had been seated by his bed the whole time with her Bible.87 Lear’s narrative concludes, “He expired without a struggle or a sigh! While we were fixed in silent grief, Mrs. Washington (who was sitting at the foot of the bed) asked with a firm & collected voice, ’Is he gone?’ I could not speak, but held up my hand as a signal that he was not more. ‘Tis well,’ said she in the same voice, ‘All is now over I shall soon follow him! I have no more trials to pass through!’”88
Lear’s account concluded on Christmas Day, 1799: “I this day sent to Alexa. for the Plumber to come down & close the leaden Coffin containing the General’s Body, as Judge Washington [Bushrod Washington, Washington’s nephew and future U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and heir of Mount Vernon] had arrived, and did not incline to see the remains. The Plumbers [those who soldered the coffin shut] came. I went with them to the Tomb—I took a last look—a last farewell of that face, which still appeared unaltered. I attended the Closing of the Coffin—and beheld for the last time that face which shall be seen no more here; but which I hope to meet in Heaven.”89 (emphasis in the original)
Washington’s death was faced with a confident acceptance of the decrees of God, as a debt that all must pay, to be looked upon with perfect resignation.90 Thus he could say to his dear friend, Dr. Craik, “I die hard; but I am not afraid to go” and “I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly, I can not last long.” So he could address his burial and conclude his life with the last words of “’Tis well.” These were expressions of a confident faith.
THE LETTERS OF CONSOLATION TO MRS. WASHINGTON
As we conclude our discussion of Washington’s view of immortality, it is significant to note that he not only wrote of his belief in immortality, but those who wrote to Martha and to whom Martha then answered all affirmed their belief in Washington’s salvation and entrance into eternal life.
Martha, grieving at the passing of her illustrious husband, was ministered to with words of encouragement such as the following from Theodore Foster, a Rhode Island political figure,
...For he was so universally belovd that his Eulogy is now and will continue to be a delightful Theme, for the good, the Sentimental and the ingenious in all future Time. That Almighty God may preserve you, in Health, console you by the Supporting Influence of his Spirit, and bestow on you all possible Happiness is the sincere Prayer...91
On behalf of Martha, family secretary Tobias Lear wrote him back:
While these evidences of respect and veneration paid to the memory of our illustrious Chief, make the most grateful impression on the heart of Mrs. Washington, she finds that the only source of Consolation is from that Divine Being who sends Comfort to the Afflicted, and has promised to be the Widow’s God. Your prayers for her health and happiness are received with gratitude, and reciprocates with sincerity.92
Meanwhile, Martha herself replied to acquaintance Catherine Garreston with the following,
The kind sympathy which you expressed for my affictive loss – and your fervent prayers for my present comfort and future happiness, impress my mind with gratitude. The precepts of our holy Religion have long since taught me, that in the severe and trying scenes of life, our only sure Rock of comfort and consolation is the Divine Being who orders and directs all things for our good.
Bowing with humble submission, to the dispensations of his Providence, and relying upon that support which he has promised to those who put their trust in him, I hope I have borne my late irreparable loss with Christian fortitude. To a feeling heart, the sympathy of friends, and the evidences of universal respect paid to the memory of the deceased,—are truly grateful.—But while these aleviate our grief, we find that the only sense of comfort is from above.
It gives me great pleasure to hear that your good Mother yet retains her health and faculties unimpaired,—and that you experience those comforts which the Scriptures promise to those who obey the Laws of God.—That you may continue to enjoy the blessings of this life—and receive hereafter the portion of the Just is the prayer of your sincere friend & obt Serv.93
CONCLUSION
Washington lived his life with a hope for the approval of heaven.94 Those who corresponded with him became convinced that he wrote as a Christian.95 In the minds of Washington’s family and friends, George Washington died as he had lived—as a Christian with the hope of eternal life. It only stands to reason that those who knew him personally are better qualified to testify as to his faith and attitude toward life and death than modern scholars two hundred years later, some of whom seem to have a point to make: that Washington was a Deist.
So, note what Washington’s own contemporaries said about him after his death. The Earl of Buchan wrote,
I have this day received from my brother, at London, the afflicting tidings of the death of your admirable husband, my revered kinsman and friend.....He was one of those whom the Almighty, in successive ages, has chosen and raised up to promote the ultimate designs of his goodness and mercy, in the gradual melioration of his creatures and the coming of his kingdom, which is in heaven.... His course is finished...in the hopes afforded by the Gospel of pardon and peace! He therefore, Madam, to continue my parallel, may be accounted singularly happy, since by dying according to his own Christian and humble wish expressed on many occasions, while his credit was nowise impaired, his fame in all it splendor, his relations and friends not only in a state of comfort and security, but of honor, he was probably to escape many evils incident to declining years. Moreover, he saw the government of his country in hands conformable to our joint wishes and to the safety of the nation, and a contingent succession opening, not less favorable to the liberties and happiness of the people.96
Washington’s close confidant, David Humphreys (Washington’s only chosen biographer), wrote,
I know you were ever exposed to listen to the voice of friendship, reason, and religion....he has gone before us from these mutable scenes of trouble to the mansions of eternal rest. We too, are hastening to follow him “to that undiscovered country from whose Bourne no traveller returns.”
...and may you not derive some rational comfort from the recollection that the great and good man whom we now mourn as having been subject to the lot of mortality, has faithfully discharged every duty in life; from a belief that he has now entered upon a glorious immortality; and from a conviction that, after having rendered to his country more important services than any other human character ever performed, his example will continue to be a blessing to mankind so long as the globe shall exist as a theater for human action?97
