59 Ibid., vol. 29, 6-17-1788. My dear Sir: I received your letter of the 25th. of May, just when I was on the eve of a departure for Fredericksburgh to pay a visit to my mother from whence I returned only last evening.” Ibid., vol. 29, 6-19-1788. To Richard Henderson. “Sir: Your favour of the 5th. instant was lodged at my house, while I was absent on a visit to my Mother.”
60 Fitzpatrick, Diaries of George Washington vol. 1, January 1760, “Abt. Noon it began snowing, the Wind at So. West, but not Cold; was disappointed of seeing my Sister Lewis and getting a few things which I wanted our of the Stores. Returnd in the Evening to Mother’s – all alone with herp. 115. Ibid., vol. 27, 2-18-1784. To Annis Boudinot Stockton. “Dr. Madam: The intemperate weather, and the very great care which the post riders take of themselves, prevented your Letter of the 4th. of last month from reaching my hands ‘till the 10th. of this: I was then in the very act of setting off on a visit to my aged mother, from whence I am just returned. These reasons I beg leave to offer, as an apology for my silence ‘till now.” Ibid., vol. 27, 1-22-1784. To Charles Thomson. “We have been so fast locked in Snow and Ice since Christmas, that all kinds of intercourse have been suspended; and a duty which I owed my Mother, and intended ‘ere this to have performed, has been forced to yield to the intemperance of the Weather: but, as this again must submit to the approaching Sun, I shall soon be enabled, I expect, to discharge that duty on which Nature and inclination have a call; and shall be ready afterwards to welcome my friends to the shadow of this Vine and Fig tree.”
61 Returning from Williamsburg, he stopped at his mother’s home. See also vol. 2, April 11, 1773.
62 See Lossing, Mary and Martha, p. 67. WGW, vol. 29, 5-5-1787. To Robert Morris, “Dear Sir; When your favor of the 23d. Ulto. was sent here from the Post Office, I was at Fredericksburg (to which place I had been called, suddenly, by Express) to bid, as I was prepared to expect, the last adieu to an honoured parent, and an affectionate Sister whose watchful attention to my Mother during her illness had brought to death’s door. The latter I hope is now out of danger, but the former cannot long Survive the disorder which has reduced her to a Skeleton, tho’ she is somewhat amended.” WGW, vol. 30, 3-6-1789. To Richard Conway. “I would have done it this day but being to set off tomorrow for Fredericksburg in order probably to discharge the last Act of personal duty, I may, (from her age) ever have it in my power to pay my Mother, it would be very inconvenient for me.”
63 Ibid., vol. 30, 9-13-1789.
64 Ibid., vol. 29, 2-15-1787. “Further, my sincere and pressing advice to you is, to break up housekeeping, hire out all the rest of your servants except a man and a maid, and live with one of your children. This would relieve you entirely from the cares of this world, and leave your mind at ease to reflect undisturbedly on that which ought to come. On this subject I have been full with my Brother John, and it was determined he should endeavor to get you to live with him. He alas is no more, and three, only of us remain. ...Mrs. Washington, George and Fanny join me in every good wish for you, and I am, honored madame, your most dutiful and aff. son.”
65 Ibid., vol. 29, 2-15-1787.
66 Fitzpatrick, Diaries of George Washington, under June 10, 1788, vol. III, p. 366.
67 Humphreys, Life of George Washington p. 24-25.
The success of this campaign having restored tranquility on the frontiers of the Middle States and the health of Washington having become extremely debilitated by an inveterate pulmonary complaint, in 1759 he resigned his military appointment. The tender regret of the Virginia Line & the affectionate regard of their Commander might be illustrated by authentic documents.
His health was gradually restored; he married Mrs. Custis, a handsome & amiable young widow, possessed of an ample jointure; and settled himself as a planter & farmer on the estate where he now resides in Fairfax County. After some years, he gave up planting tobacco & went altogether into the farming business. Before the war he raised [blank] bushels of wheat, in one year. <GW note: I believe about 7,000 Bushels of Wheat and 10,000 bushels of Indian corn which was more the staple on the farm> Although he has confined his own cultivation to this domestic tract of about 10,000 acres, yet he possesses excellent lands, in large quantities, in several other Counties. His judgment in the quality of soils, his command of money to avail himself of purchases, and his occasional employment in early life as a Surveyor, gave him opportunities of making advantageous locations, many of which are much improved.
In the interval that took place, from the War between Great Britain & the House of Bourbon which ended in 1763, to the civil war between Great Britain & her Colonies which commenced in 1775, he cultivated the arts of peace. He was constantly a Member of the Assembly, a Magistrate of his County, & a Judge of the Court. He was elected Delegate to the first Continental Congress in 1774, as well as to that assembled in the year following.
68 Littell, Washington: Christian “Washington was married by the Reverend David Mossom, who, though born in London, is called on his epitaph the first American ever ordained to the priesthood. Bishop Meade and Washington Irving say that the marriage took place at “White House” the residence of the bride’s family, but Bishop Tucker in 1896 said that the evidence points to St. Peter’s Church, New Kent. In 1903 were published the views of Mrs. Pryor and Woodrow Wilson, both favorable to the Church at New Kent. Dr. Wilson said: “He was married to Martha Custis on the 6th of January, 1759. The sun shone very bright that day, and there was the fine glitter of gold, the brave show of resplendent uniforms, in the little church where the marriage was solemnized. Officers of his Majesty’s service crowded there, in their gold lace and scarlet coats to see their comrade wedded; the new Governor, Francis Fauquier, himself came, clad as befitted his rank; and the bridegroom took the sun not less gallantly than the rest, as he rode, in blue and silver and scarlet beside the coach and six that bore his bride homeward amidst the thronging friends of the country side. The young soldier’s love of a gallant array and a becoming ceremony were satisfied to the full, and he must have rejoiced to be so brave a horseman on such a day.”
69 WGW, vol. 2, 5-1-1759. “Gentln. The Inclos’d is the Ministers Certificate of my Marriage with Mrs. Martha Custis, properly as I am told, Authenticated, You will therefore for the future please to address all your Letters which relate to the Affairs of the late Danl. Parke Custis Esqr. to me, as by Marriage I am entitled to a third part of that Estate, and Invested likewise with the care of the other two thirds by a Decree of our Genl. Court which I obtain’d in order to strengthen the Power I before had in consequence of my Wiles Administration.”
70 Ibid., vol. 2, 9-20-1765.
71 See John Corbin, The Unknown Washington: Biographic Origins of the Republic (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1930), pp. 51-75. Corbin says, “Every record of Washington’s married life bespeaks affection and happiness, a loyal and unflagging co-operation in the high art of living—but also bespeaks, though in the highest sense of the word, a marriage of convenience.”
72 Ibid., A few examples: vol. 2, 8-18-1769. Ibid., vol. 3, 2-20-1771. Ibid.,, vol. 32, 10-7-1792. Ibid,., vol. 35, 11-28-1796.
73 Ibid., vol. 29, 10-25-1786. p. 170
From John Parke Custis, Mount Airy August 21st 1776
“My dearest Mamma
... She is now thank God as well as can be expected and the pleasure of her Daughter give Her compensates for the Pain She suffered. ...that the General may obtain a compleat Victory over his Enemys, which I sincerely pray God may be the Case.
... I wrote to the General the last two Posts. I shall write you again next Post, and ask Him to stand with yourself for my little Lady. ...
In the summer of 1775 a belief persisted that he (Governor Dunmore) intended to sail up the Potomac and capture Mrs. Washington, but nothing came of it.”
21. p.183
To Burwell Bassett, Mount Vernon July the 18th 1780
“...we were sorry that we did not see you at the Camp – there was not much pleasure thar the distress of the army and other difficultys th’o I did not know the cause, the pore General was so unhappy that it distressed me exceedingly. MW”
32. p.223-224
To Mercy Otis Warren, New York December the 26th 1789
“...for you know me well enough to do me the justice to beleive that I am only fond of what comes from the heart....
.... it is owing to this kindness of our numerous friends in all quarters that my new and unwished for situation is not indeed a burden to me. When I was much younger I should, probably, have enjoyed the inoscent gayeties of life as much as most my age; - but I had long since placed all the prospects of my future worldly happyness in the still enjoyments of the fireside at Mount Vernon-
I little thought when the war was finished, that any circumstances could possible have happened which would call the General into public life again. I had anticipated, that from this moment we should have been left to grow old in solitude and tranquility togather: that was, my Dear madam, the first and dearest wish of my heart; - but in that I have been disapointed; I will not, however, contemplate with too much regret disapointments that were enevitable, though the generals feelings and my own were perfectly in unison with respect to our predilections for privet life, yet I cannot blame him for having acted according to his ideas of duty in obaying the voice of his country. The consciousness of having attempted to do all the good in his power, and the pleasure of finding his fellow citizens so well satisfied with the disinterestedness of his conduct, will, doubtless, be some compensation for the great sacrifices which I know he has made; indeed in his journeys from Mount Vernon – to this place; in his late Tour through the eastern states, by every public and by every privet information which has come to him, I am persuaded that he has experienced nothing to make him repent his having acted from what he concieved to be alone a sense of indespensable duty: on the contrary, all his sensibility has been awakened in receiving such repeated and unequivocal proofs of sincear regards from all his country men. With respect to myself, I sometimes think the arrangement is not quite as it ought to have been, that I, who had much rather be at home should occupy a place with which a great many younger and gayer women would be prodigiously pleased. – As my grand children and domestic connections made a great portion of felicity which I looked indemnify me for the Loss of a part of such endearing society. I do not say this because I feel dissatisfied with my present station – no, God forbid: - for everybody and everything conspire to make me as contented as possable in it; yet I have too much of the vanity of human affairs to expect felicity from the splendid scenes of public life. – I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experianence that the greater part of our happiness or misary depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances; we carry the seeds of the one, or the other about with us, in our minds, wherever we go.
I have two of my grand children with me who enjoy advantages in point of education, and who, I trust by the goodness of providence, will continue to be a great blessing to me, my other two grand children are with thair mother in Virginia. –
...I wish the best of Heavens blessings...MW”
45. p.371
To Janet Livingston Montgomery, Mount Vernon, April 5th
“... your affliction I have often marked and as often have keenly felt for you but my own experience has taught me that griefs like these can not be removed by the condolence of friends however sincere—If the mingling tears of numerus friends – if the sympathy of a Nation and every testimoney of respect of veneration paid to the memory of the partners of our hearts could afford consolation you and myself would experience it in the highest degree but we know that there is but one source from whence comfort can be derived under afflictions life ours To this we must look with pious resignation and with that pure confidence which our holy releigion inspires. ...but as you justly observe it is certainly a consolation and flattering to poor mortality to believe that we shall meet here after in a better place.”
87. WGW, vol. 33, 9-25-1793. “My dear Sir: I have not written to you since we parted, but had just set down to do it when your letter of the 13th. instt. was brought to me from the Post Office in Alexandria.
“It gave Mrs. Washington, myself and all who knew him, sincere pleasure to hear that our little favourite had arrived safe, and was in good health at Portsmouth. We sincerely wish him a long continuance of the latter, that he may always be as charming and promising as he now is, and that he may live to be a comfort and blessing to you and an ornament to his Country; as a testimony of my affection for him, I send him a Ticket in the lottery which is now drawing in the Federal City; and if it should be his fortune to draw the Hotel it will add to the pleasure I have in giving it. Note: Lincoln Lear.
“We remained in Philadelphia until the 10th. instr. It was my wish to have continued there longer; but as Mrs. Washington was unwilling to leave me surrounded by the malignant fever wch. prevailed, I could not think of hazarding her and the Children any longer by my continuance in the City the house in which we lived being, in a manner blocaded, by the disorder and was becoming every day more and more fatal; I therefore came off with them on the above day and arrived at this place the 14th. without encountering the least accident on the Road.
“You will learn from Mr. Greenleaf, that he has dipped deeply, in the concerns of the Federal City. I think he has done so on very advantageous terms for himself, and I am pleased with it notwithstanding on public ground; as it may give facility to the operations at that place, at the same time that it is embarking him and his friends in a measure which although it could not well fail under any circumstances that are likely to happen; may be considerably promoted by men of Spirit with large Capitols. He can, so much better than I, detail his engagements and the situation of things in and about the city that I shall not attempt to do it at this time.
“Mrs. Washington having decided to let Nelly Custis have her watch and chain, is disposed to receive substitutes in lieu thereof at about 25 guineas price; and leaves the choice of them to you. The plainness of the watch &ca. she will not object to. 120 dollars in Bank notes are inclose[d] for the purchase of them.”
88. WGW, vol. 15, 5-28-1779. To Lt. Col. Nicholas Rogers. Dear Sir: A few days ago I was hond. with your polite and obliging favor of the 6th. Instt. accompanied by a Miniature picture of Mrs. Washington. I wish it was in my power to express as forcably as I feel, the lively sense I have of the repeated instances of your polite attention to her and myself. Such tribute as unfeigned thanks afford, is presented to you with much sincerity; and, if I knew how to make a more acceptable offering it should not be wanting.
Note: The miniature was of a size to fit a ring and, according to Roger’s letter of Apr. 6, 1779, in the Washington Papers, showed Mrs. Washington in an Elizabethan ruff and hood.
“Difficult as it is to strike a likeness on so small a scale, it is the opinion of many that you have not failed in the present attempt. The dress is not less pleasing for being a copy of antiquity, it would be happy for us, if in these days of depravity the imitation of our ancesters were extensively adopted; their virtues wd. not hurt us. Mrs. Washington joins me in a tender of best wishes for you and with much esteem etc. 91. WGW, vol. 3, 2-3-1771. To Reverend Jonathan Boucher. Rev’d. Sir: Colo. Robert Fairfax, with whom I have often talk’d, and who much approves, of Jacks intended Tour for Improvement, purposes to leave this on his return to England sometime in March; before his doing of which he is desirous of seeing Jacky and has instructed me to say, that he shou’d be very glad of seeing you with him. The warmth with which he has made a tender of his Services, and the pressing Invitation to make use of Leeds Castle as a home, in vacation time, are too obliging to be neglected; I shou’d be glad therefore if it cou’d suit you both to be over sometime before the last of this Month, or as soon, after the loth. of March as may be, as I expect to be in Frederick, indeed am obli’g to be so, from the first of the Month to that time and, I do not know but Mrs. Washington may accompany me to my Brothers. His Horses shall attend you at any appointed time.
“Company, and the suddeness of the oppertunity, prevents my enlarging, or taking notice of the contents of your last Letter further than to say, that it never was my Intention that Jacky shou’d be restrained from proper Company; to prevent as much as possible his connecting with Store boys, and that kind of low loose Company who wou’d not be displeas’d at the debauchery of his Manners, but perhaps endeavour to avail themselves of some advantages from it, is all I had in view.
“Mrs. Washington requests the favour of you to get her 2 oz. of the Spirit of Ether, if such a thing is to be had in Annapolis, for Miss Custis, and send it by Price Posey. Our Love and best Wishes attend yourself and Jacky and I am Dr. Sir, etc.”
74 See WGW, vol. 12, 9-23-1778. To John Augustine Washington. WGW, vol. 3, 7-27-1775; vol. 6, 9-22-1776. ; vol. 7, 7-4-1778. vol. 37, 4-2-1799. To Samuel Washington. WGW, vol. 36, 8-12-1798. To Thomas Peter.
75 Fields, Worthy Partner. p. 163 To Mr. Devenport Eltham, November 5th 1775 “I desire you will lett Mrs Bayly, that lives at west point have corn or wheat as she may want it, while her husband is ill and unable to provide for her, you may let her have a barrel of corn and half a barrel of wheat as sends for it and give her a fat hog.”
p. 165 Washington paid ?39 –9d to Dr. John Witherspoon, president of The College of New Jersey, for the school of young Ramsay. See supra January 14, 1774, n. 4; Ledger B folio 47, The Papers of George Washington, DLC:GW
p.236 From Anonymous
