William Washington to George Washington

The following letter, which will appear in a future volume of the Presidential Series, announces the death of Royal Gift, GW’s Spanish donkey. It’s the typed transcript without notes. For clarification, “farcy,” as defined by the Collegiate dictionary, refers to “cutaneous glanders”; the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as an […]

George Washington Parke Custis to George Washington, 17 June 1798

In response to George Washington’s letter of 13 June 1798, Custis hastened to assure his grandfather that the danger was past. The original manuscript copy of this letter has not been found, but it is included in Custis’s Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington. The “young lady in question” was […]

Martha Washington to Frances “Fanny” Bassett, 29 Sept. 1794

After the death of her husband George Augustine Washington, a nephew of George Washington, in 1793, Fanny Bassett subsequently married George Washington’s secretary and close friend Tobias Lear. Before she accepted Lear’s proposal, Fanny sought the advice of George and Martha Washington. Although Fanny’s letter of 24 Sept. 1794 has […]

George Washington to Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, 21 March 1796

The following letter, which will appear in a future volume of the Presidential Series, was first published in George Washington Parke Custis’s Recollections of Washington (Philadelphia, 1861), pp. 41-44. It was reprinted in John C. Fitzpatrick’s Writings of Washington, vol. 34, pp. 91-93. Both sources date the letter as 16 January 1795, but […]

George Washington to Charles Carter, 14 Dec. 1787

This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “George Washington and the Making of the Constitution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original manuscript images of Washington’s letter to Carter at the Library of Congress: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | […]

George Washington to Francis Dandridge, 20 Sept. 1765

Letter from George Washington to Francis Dandridge, Martha Washington’s uncle, about the challenges faced by the colonists due to the increased financial demands of the British crown. This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “The Road to Revolution” page. Please also see related […]

List of George Washington’s Slaves, 1786

This list was entered by Washington on Saturday, February 18, 1786. The entire entry for that day is included in the digital version followed by the list of slaves, separated by farm location. Total numbers are listed at the end of the “Muddy Hole” list. To see detailed maps of […]

George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 20 Sept. 1765

Washington complains of the lowered value of tobacco and other impositions of purchasing goods that he has encountered in result of the Stamp Act. This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “The Road to Revolution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original […]

George Washington to George William Fairfax, 31 May 1775

Washington corresponds to Fairfax regarding payments and account transactions, as well as engagement between British soldiers and Massachusetts colonial forces. This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “The Road to Revolution” page. Please also see related documents below. Original manuscript images of Washington’s […]

George Washington to Capel & Osgood Hansbury, 25 July 1767

George Washington corresponds about some of his economic ventures and also gives insight to his feelings about the Stamp Act. This letter is part of a series; more information can be found on the “The Road to Revolution” page. Please also see related documents below.