4 WGW: Reverend Charles Green, 5-28-1755 (to John Augustine Washington); 11-13-1757; (to Sally Cary Fairfax) 11-15-1757; 3-26-1761; 8-26-1761; Reverend Lee Massey, 7-10-1784; Reverend Thomas Davis, 4-7-1793 (to Samuel Hanson); 11-19-1794 (to Lund Washington); 1-17-1796 (to William Pearce); Diaries, 2-22-1799.
5 There are some 30 letters in the WGW from Washington to Reverend Jonathan Boucher, tutor of Jack Custis, Washington’s stepson, 5-30-1768; 9-4-1768; 2-3-1771; 2-20-1771; 4-20-1771; 6-5-1771; 9-4-1768; 1-26-1769; 10-14-1769; 2-3-1770; 5-13-1770; 6-2-1770; 7-30-1770; 12-16-1770; 1-2-1771; 2-3-1771; 2-20-1771; 4-20-1771; 6-5-1771; 7-9-1771; 2-21-1772; 5-4-1772; 5-21-1772; 8-18-1772; 12-18-1772; 1-7-1773; 8-2-1773; 8-5-1773; 10-6-1773 (to Robert Cary & Co.); 2-15-1774; 8-15-1798. Other Washington family Tutors who were ordained clergyman at the time were Reverend Samuel Stanhope Smith, 5-24-1797; 10-9-1797; Reverend Myles Cooper, 5-31-1773 (to Robert Cary & Co.); 12-15-1773; 4-15-1774; 9-24-1782; Reverend Stephen Bloomer Balch, 10-30-1784; 6-26-1785; 11-22-1785; Reverend David Griffith, 8-29-1784; Reverend William McWhir, 12-25-1787; 10-12-1789; 2-17-1793; Reverend Jacob Van Vleck, 12-7-1796; 6-14-1797; Rev Dr. Smith Provost, 12-5-1790 (to George Steptoe Washington). Two other Washington family tutors, Walter McGowan, 10-12-1761 (to Robert Cary & Co.), 5-30-1768 (to Reverend Jonathan Boucher); 7-20-1784 and Zechariah Lewis (7-17-1797; 8-14-1797; 9-28-1798) would later become clergyman as well.
6 There are more than 20 letters either to or that mention Reverend Bryan Fairfax. These letters touch deaths in the family (3-6-1793; 4-9-1793); the conveyance of letters (5-18-1798); news from America while Fairfax was abroad (1-20-1799); surveying questions (5-17-1795; 11-26-1799; 11-30-1799); legal matters of an estate (2-19-1789; 4-6-1789); introduction of Fairfax to friends of Washington’s in England (5-15-1798). Several of them are in regard to an estate problem of Mrs. Charles Green, the widow of Washington’s childhood pastor, Reverend Chares Green. (See note #12.)
7 Reverend Dr. William Smith provided his home for a meeting of Washington’s officers, 8-6-1777, General Orders. Reverend Lebrecht Herman provided President Washington a study in Germantown, during the yellow fever epidemic for several weeks in 1793. Reverend Joseph Eckley was asked to assist in canceling a newspaper (5-10-1786). Reverend Mr. Bracken was given a case of pictures to care for that were to be shipped to Washington (2-27-1785.) Washington declined the offer for help in Europe on any matters before Reverend John Gabriel Gebhard came to America, who was also interested in a possible job in the new government, 5-26-1789.
8 Washington introduced young Bryan Fairfax, traveling to New York to catch a ship, to the Reverend Richard Peters of Philadelphia in1757. Twenty-five year old Washington had clearly become acquainted with the Philadelphia clergyman at some earlier point, perhaps when he had been traveling through Philadelphia to address his issue of the relative authority of rank of an officer with a colonial commission versus a royal commission. Washington wrote, “Permit me to recommend Colo. Fairfax, the bearer of this to your Friendly notice, while he stays in Philadelphia. He is Son of our late President [Col. George William Fairfax] ... and being a stranger in your City wanted Introduction; to whom then can I better introduce him than the agreeable Mr. Peters. I hope in doing this I make use of no unwelcome liberty; if I do, your genteel treatment of myself made me assume it and must plead my excuse.” WGW, vol. 2, 9-30-1757 to Reverend Richard Peters.
9 Reverend H. Addison was assisted in traveling through military controlled areas, 11-29-1780. Reverend William Smith was assisted in securing a reimbursement, 2-18-1784 (to James Milligan). Reverend David Griffith was assisted in securing a loan for a building, 4-5-1786; Reverend Francis Adrian Vanderkemp, a Mennonite minister from Holland who had Unitarian inclinations, was welcomed to visit Mount Vernon as a religious refugee, having been referred to Washington’s good graces by Marquis de Lafayette, 5-28-1788 (also see Washington’s Diaries.) Reverend Belknap was assisted with securing information for his American Biography, 6-17-1798; Reverend Walter Magowan was given a pastoral recommendation in an application for a parish ministry, 7-20-1784; Reverend William West and family were served as Washington acted as an executor of a family estate on their behalf, 2-28-1789. Reverend John Witherspoon had been attempting to assist Reverend James Wilson, a Scotch Presbyterian minister, to find a pulpit and had written to Washington. He responded on 8-23-1786, “You have been misinformed respecting the congregation of Pohick. It is of the Episcopal Church and at this time has an incumbent; of which I give you the earliest notice for the information of Mr. Wilson. A Church above this, formerly under the same Ministry, is, I believe, unprovided; but of what Religion the people thereabout now are, I am unable to say. Most probably a medley as they have had Methodist, and Baptist preachers of all kinds among them.”
10 WGW, vol. 21, 2-13-1781, To Mrs. Susan Blair (wife of Reverend Samuel Blair) et al,.
11 Ibid., vol. 28, 2-17-1785 to George William Fairfax, Mrs. Morton, wife of Reverend Andrew Morton.
12 Mrs. Charles Green, the widow of Washington’s childhood pastor, Reverend Chares Green, married Dr. William Savage, which turned out to be a troubled marriage and left a troubled estate. Washington described the problems of the estate as “an affair which originated in an evil hour, by an injudicious and unhappy marriage, and will end, it is to be feared, in vexation and loss to all those who have had any concern in the affairs of the unfortunate Mrs. Savage.” (to Peter Trenor, 9-6-1794.) To follow Washington’s role in this affair, see 4-25-1767 (to Dr. William Savage); 5-27-1767 (to Dr. William Savage); 8-28-1774 (to Mrs. Sarah Bomford); 10-11-1783 (to Francis Moore); 11-15-1786 (to Mrs. Anne Ennis); 1-6-1790 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 3-18-1792 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 3-19-1792 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 12-25-1792 (to Thomas Newton, Jr.); 3-6-1793 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 9-6-1794 (to Peter Trenor); 9-8-1794 (to Reverend Bryan, Lord Fairfax); 1-3-1796 (to Reverend Bryan, Lord Fairfax); 8-20-1797 (to Reverend Newburgh Burroughs); 4-22-1798 (to George Deneale). The wrangling over the estate of Mrs. Savage prompted Washington to write to Reverend Bryan Fairfax on 3-6-1793, who was also responsible for helping the widow’s estate. “Before I conclude, permit me to ask if anything is done, or likely to be done in the case of Savage. I am extremely anxious to see all matters in which I have had any agency, brought to a close, altho’ the issue therof should be unfavorable, before I quit the stage of life.” Washington’s final word on the matter on 4-22-1798 to George Deneale declared, “...Doctr. Savage while living, and his followers since, have had recourse to all the chicane and subterfuge which could be practiced, to wrong the above Lady and defraud her creditors; of whom I am one for money lent her.” It is perhaps this experience that prompted Washington to say. as he wrote to Burgess Ball. who was helping Washington with the estate of his deceased mother: “I hope you have got through your difficulties on account of your surety-ship for Major Willis, and without loss. When you engaged in this business you neglected the advice of the Wise man, than which no better I believe is to be found in his whole book, or among all his sayings, ‘Beware of surety-ship’” WGW, vol. 30, 1-18-1790.
13 General Washington was favorable to Reverend John Rodgers’ proposal to give to the American Army copies of the newly published and congressionally sanctioned American Bible, 6-11-1783. See the following for examples of Washington’s various charitable gifts: Reverend William Smith, 8-18-1782; 8-25-1784; Reverend John Henry Livingston, 12-24-1789; Reverend Mr. Muir, 2-24-1794; 1-22-1798; 2-24-1794; Reverend Hezekiah Balch, see WGW note on 12-16-1795; Reverend John Rodgers, 11-28-1789; 8-39-1790; Reverend Auley Macauley, 11-14-1791; Reverend William White, 12-31-1793; 1-1-1794;1-2-1794.
14 See note #5 on the Washington family’s tutors above.
15 The word “chaplain” occurs in Washington’s writings well over 100 times. Reverend Mr. Doyles, 8-5-1775 (General Orders). In the chapter on “Washington and Prayer,” we discussed Washington’s appreciation for Chaplain Abiel Leonard, 12-15-1775 (to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull.) Reverend Timothy Dwight, Jr. was a chaplain of Parson’s brigade, 3-18-1778 (to Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons). Dwight would later become President of Yale College. Revd. Doctr. Israel Evans, chaplain of the New York Brigade proposed erecting of a public building, which the General approved. Some chaplains required more attention than others: 2-7-1781 (to Maj. Gen. William Heath, “Inclosed is a letter which is one of many I have received upon the same subject from the Revd. Mr. Allen. I refer the matter to you, and if you find that he has the least shadow of right to his claim, pray pay him his demand, or he will write me, and travel himself to death.” Reverend David Jones was involved in a Court Martial wherein he complained that Maj. Murnam took “possession of his quarters”, a complaint which the clergyman lost (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 5-15-1779; 9-21-1780). The General Orders of 2-18-1781 record a Court Martial against a Maj. Reid that included “unofficer and ungentlemanlike conduct” because of the content of a letter he had written about his superior officer to the Reverend Mr. Powers. Reverend William Rogers, 12-13-1778.was written to by Washington about his request for service as a Chaplain, which was referred to Congress. Washington wrote to Congress concerning the Reverend Mr. Tetard, who had “suffered in the extreme,” to present his claim “to a generous notice”, 9-4-1778 (to the President of Congress). Washington addressed questions of the status of chaplains as prisoners of war, the lack of pay of soldiers, the need for horses and land grants for men who served in the military to Reverend John Hurt, Chaplain to the Virginia Brigade, 9-25-1782; 8-28-1789. He wrote on 3-23-1781 to Reverend Jacob Johnson of his inability to appoint him as a chaplain to the Garrison at Wyoming. since he lacked congressional provision, even though he was “disposed to give every species of countenance and encouragement to the cultivation of Virtue, Morality and Religion.” The note of WGW on April 18, 1783 says, “At noon the proclamation of Congress for a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed at the door of the New building, followed by three huzzas; after which a prayer was made by the Reverend Mr. Ganno, and an anthem (Independence, from Billings,) was performed by vocal and instrumental music.”—Heath’s Memories.”
16 Reverend Bishop Samuel Provoost was chaplain in the U.S. Senate; Reverend William Linn was chaplain in the House of Representatives; Reverend. Bishop William White served as Chaplain to the Continental Congress and then again as chaplain to Congress, when the new government convened in Philadelphia. Washington knew each of these men. See Fitzpatrick, Diaries.
17 The best known revolutionary clergyman, who also served as an active military officer, was General Peter Muhlenberg, who we discussed in the chapter on “Washington the Soldier.” An unsung hero in this category was Reverend James Caldwell, chaplain of the Third New Jersey Regiment, but who was also an active military officer serving as Assistant Quartermaster. Reverend Caldwell was killed by a sentinel in November 1781. Caldwell first appears in Washington’s letters on 12-6-1776 with his humorous quote of Reverend Caldwell, written to the President of Congress: “By a letter of the 4th Inst. from a Mr. Caldwell, a Clergyman and a staunch friend to the Cause, and who has fled from Elizabeth Town and taken refuge in the Mountains about Ten Miles from thence, I am informed, that Genl. or Lord Howe was expected in that Town, to publish pardon and peace. His words are, ‘I have not seen his proclamation, but only can say, he gives 60 days of Grace and Pardons from the Congress down to the Committee. No one man in the Continent is to be denied his Mercy.’ In the language of this Good Man, the Lord deliver us from his Mercy.” Writing to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam on 2-3-1777, Washington said about the need to secure forage, “On the success of this business, very much depends; let me therefore, call your utmost attention to it. Doctr. Caldwell will be the best person you can apply to, he will give you every possible Assistance.” Other references to Reverend Caldwell are: 5-13-1778 (to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge); 8-8-1778 (to Brig. Gen. William Maxwell); 8-22-1778 (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan); 10-29-1778 (to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene); 10-31-1779 (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan); 6-13-1778; 8-8-1778; 1-10-1780; 1-21-1780; 2-1-1780; 2-7-1781.
18 Reverend Samuel Kirkland, 9-28-1775 (to the Massachusetts Legislature); 2-26-1779 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 1-29-1778 (to the Committee of Congress with the Army); Reverend John Carroll, 5-15-1776 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 4-10-1792; Reverend John Ettwein, 3-28-1778; 5-2-1788; Reverend Mr. De La Motte, 12-17-1779 (to the President of Congress); Reverend John C. Kunze, 1-12-1790.
19 Reverend Alexander McWhorter, Chaplain of the Artillery brigade, 10-12-1778.
20 Reverend Charles Green, 11-13-1757.
21 Reverend Dr. John Wheelock, President of Dartmouth College, 12-18-1775 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 6-9-1781; Reverend Mr. Madison, 8-8-1776 (to the President of Congress); Reverend Dirck Romeyn, 11-3-1780.
22 Reverend Thornton Fleming, 1-30-1793; Reverend James Madison, 9-23-1793.
23 Reverend William Smith, 11-15-1780, was thanked as secretary of the American Philosophical Society for Washington’s election to membership in the society. Reverend David Zeisberger, Moravian missionary, provided Washington with a list of Indian words for Marquis de Lafayette, 1-10-1788 (to Marquis de Lafayette). Reverend Jedidiah Morse’s American Geography was discussed, 6-19-1788 (to Richard Henderson). Reverend Morse was also thanked for gifts of his works, 7-17-1793; 6-20-1797. Reverend George Skene Keith’s work on weights, measures, and coins was received with thanks and with the declaration that his “Book is of high importance to society in general, and particularly to the Commercial World”, 6-22-1792. Reverend John Lathrop’s publications of the Humane Society were read with “singular satisfaction”, 6-22-1788; 2-22-1788. He thanked Reverend Joseph Willard for his election as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 3-22-1781. He acknowledged the good work in educating the Indians done by Reverend John Wheelock, President of Dartmouth College. He thanked Reverend Jeremy Belknap for his history of New Hampshire, 1-5-1785. He also thanked Reverend Belknap for his American Biography and promised him that he would assist in the effort to secure additional subscribers, 5-9-1794; 7-12-1798. He thanked and commended Reverend Jonathan Edwards for providing scholarly information on Indian languages, 8-28-1788. Reverend William Maunsell was congratulated for a publication that detailed a new method of cultivating potatoes, 2-20-1795. Reverend Samuel Knox was congratulated on his study on a “Uniform System of Education, adapted to the United States,” 10-14-1798.
24 Reverend Clement Cruttwell was thanked for sending Bishop Wilson’s Bible (published in 1785) and his Works (published in 1781), 7-10-1795. WGW note on this date says, “Reverend Thomas Wilson’s (Bishop of Sodor and Man) Works were published in 1781, the Bishop having died in 1755. Reverend Thomas Wilson, son of Bishop, died in 1784....Washington’s copy of the Bishop of Sodor and Man’s Bible, which accompanied the Bishop’s Works, is now in the Library of Congress.” Washington bequeathed this Bible to his lifelong clergy friend, Bryan Fairfax. Washington’s will says, “To the Reverend, now Bryan, Lord Fairfax, I give a Bible in three large folio volumes, with notes, presented to me by the Right Reverend Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man.” WGW, vol. 37, Last Will and Testament. WGW note says, “Washington’s mistaken recollection that it had been presented to him by Reverend Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man, was due to the fact that it had been bequeathed to him by the son of the bishop, the Reverend Thomas Wilson, Prebendary of Westminster.” We will consider Washington’s endorsement of Reverend Mason Weem’s The Immortal Mentor in a subsequent chapter. See also, WGW, vol. 32, 10-20-1792. To Dr. William Davies Shipley.
25 Reverend Dr. John Witherspoon, President of Princeton, Member of Congress, only Clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence, Presbyterian minister, was written to concerning “partial exchanges” and a written memorial, 10-8-1782; 9-8-1783.
26 Clergymen were interested in writing histories of the American Revolution, such as Reverend William Smith, 5-8-1792. But it was especially Reverend William Gordon who pursued the matter, corresponding extensively with Washington throughout the War and after: the note on 9-16-1776 (to the President of Congress); 1-23-1778; note on 4-22-1779 (to Burwell Bassett); 5-2-1780 (to Lt. Col. Alexander Hamilton); 1-20-1786 (to James Mercer); 5-13-1776; 6-29-1777; 1-23-1778; 2-15-1778; 8-2-1779; 5-3-1780; 3-9-1781; 10-23-1782; 7-8-1783; 5-8-1784; 11-3-1784; 12-20-1784; 3-8-1785; 8-31-1785; 12-5-1785; 4-20-1786; 4-10-1787; 1-1-1788; 12-23-1788; 2-23-1789; 2-25-1791; 10-15-1797. Reverend Dr. John Witherspoon had a student named John Bowie who was willing to write the memoirs of Washington’s life, but Washington, at first willing, subsequently declined because, when checking his papers for this project, he “found a mere mass of confusion (occasioned by frequently shifting them into trunks and suddenly removing them from the reach of the enemy)” 3-8-1775, (to John Witherspoon).
27 Reverend Charles Inglis, 12-16-1776 (to Maj. Gen. William Heath); Reverend Jonathan Boucher see note on 5-30-1768.
28 Reverend Jacob Duché, 8-10-1783; Reverend Jonathan Boucher, 8-15-1798.
29 See Lane, Washington Collection, Boston Athenaeum, for a listing of these.
30 WGW, vol. 26, 3-22-1783.
31 Meade, Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia, vol. I, p.22
“ ... When there was no service at the chapel or we were prevented from going, my father read the service and a sermon; and whenever a death occurred among the servants he performed the burial service himself, and read Blair’s Sermon on Death the following Sunday. Of the character and conduct of the old clergy generally I have often heard them speak in terms of strong condemnation. My father, when a young man, was a vestryman in Price George county, Virginia, but resigned his place rather than consent to retain an unworthy clergyman in the parish. Of two clergymen, however, in King George county, – the Stewarts, – I have heard my mother, who lived for some time under the ministry of one of them, speak in terms of high condemnation, as exceptions to the general rule....(Ibid., p.25)
...” I think this a proper time for some notice of the character of the sermons which were preached and the books which were read among the Episcopalians of Virginia. This was the period when the poet Cowper upbraided the clergy of the English Church with substituting morality for religion saying ‘How oft, when Paul has served us with a text, Has Plato, Tully, Epictetus preached!’ In the Church of Virginia, with the exception of Mr. Jarrett and perhaps a few others, I fear the preaching had for a long time been almost entirely of the moral kind.”
The books most in use were Blair’s Sermons, Sterne’s Works, The Spectator, The Whole Duty of Man, sometimes Tillotson’s Sermons, which last were of the highest grade of worth then in use. But Blair’s Sermons, on account of their elegant style and great moderation in all things, were most popular.”
The Washington family possessed Blair’s sermons and bought them from Parson Mason L. Weems. See Lane, The Boston Athenaeum Washington Collection, p. 503.
32 See Stephen DeCatur Jr., Private Affairs of George Washington (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Col, 1933) p. 90. See Custis, Recollections, p. 508.
33 See Lane, Washington Collection, Boston Athenaeum, pp. 498, 502, 503.
34 A careful review of The Boston Athenaeum’s Catalogue of the Washington Collection will show the vast number of printed sermons that were part of Washington’s library.
35 See the chapter on Washington’s education.
36 Thus Parson Mason L. Weems as a book seller, or colporteur, sold sermons to the Washington family, the specific example able to be documented is Blair’s Sermons. See Lane, Washington Collection, Boston Athenaeum, and the Washington Papers of the Library of Congress under Weems.
37 Examples of printed funeral sermons in Washington’s library include Mrs. Samuel Magaw, Benjamin Franklin, Governor James Bowdoin, Lord Pepperell. See Lane, Washington Collection, Boston Athenaeum.
38 WGW, vol. 32, 10-20-1792. To Dr. William Davies Shipley. “Sir: I have been honored with your polite Letter of the 23d. of May, together with the works of your late Right Reverend father Lord bishop of St. Asaph, which accompanied it. For the character and sentiments of that venerable Divine while living, I entertained the most perfect esteem, and have a sincere respect for his memory now he is no more. My best thanks are due to you for his works, and the mark of your attention in sending them to me; and especially for the flattering expressions respecting myself, which are contained in your letter.” Reverend Jacob Duché dedicated “Stand Fast Therefore In The Liberty With Which Christ Has Made You Free” to Washington in 1775. Bishop William White dedicated Sermon on The Reciprocal Influence of Civil Policy and Religious Duty Delivered in the City of Philadelphia, the 19th day of February, 1795, Day of General Thanksgiving by William White, D.D. Bishop of the Episcopal Church, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Ormrod & Conrad.
Dedication to the President of the United States
