George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 9 Oct. 1774

Washington wrote this letter in response to McKenzie’s letter of 13 Sept. 1774, in which McKenzie denounced Boston’s actions. Washington replies by voicing his strong opinion of the state of the colonies, especially Massachusetts, and the strict laws and abuses imposed by British Parliament. This letter is part of a […]

George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 25 March 1775

Washington conveys his full support for the American cause to his brother. 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.

List of George Washington’s Slaves, 1799

The list of Mount Vernon slaves which GW drew up, probably some time in June 1799, included those slaves owned by him outright, those who were controlled by him as part of Martha Washington’s dowry, and a number who were rented by him in 1786 by contract with Mrs. Penelope […]

Mary Katherine Goddard to George Washington

Mary Katherine Goddard (1738-1816) was born in Connecticut and was the sister of the well-known printer and newspaper publisher William Goddard (1740-1817). The Goddards were the children of Dr. Giles Goddard of New London, Conn., and his wife Sarah Goddard (d. 1770), the daughter of Ludowick Updike of Rhode Island. […]

George Washington to George William Fairfax, 10-15 June 1774

Washington discusses the Virginia House of Burgesses meeting after the governor had dissolved the Assembly in response to its adoptions of resolutions opposing the Boston Port Act and Townshend Acts. He expresses his opposition to the British policies imposed on the colonies as well as his concern in the rising […]

Appraisement of Slaves Sent to the Dismal Swamp, 1764

At its first meeting on 3 Nov. 1763, the Dismal Swamp Land Company agreed that each member should contribute five slaves by 1 July 1764 for “the work of draining Improving and Saving the Land” (Dismal Swamp Land Company: Minutes of Meeting, 3 Nov. 1763). In his accounts with the […]

George Washington to Thomas Law, 10 Feb. 1796

When Betsey Custis wrote her grandfather to announce her engagement to Thomas Law, an enterprising businessman with two children, Washington gave his “approbation” of the marriage, although the unexpected announcement came as a “Surprize” to him. Betsey’s letter, written on 1 February 1796 and received by Washington on Saturday, 6 […]

George Washington to Elizabeth “Betsey” Parke Custis, 10 Feb. 1796

When Betsey Parke Custis wrote her grandfather to announce her engagement to Thomas Law, an enterprising businessman with two children, Washington gave his “approbation” of the marriage, although the unexpected announcement came as a “Surprize” to him. Betsey’s letter, written on 1 February 1796 and received by Washington on Saturday, […]

George Washington to Elizabeth “Betsey” Parke Custis, 14 Sept. 1794

Washington gave cautionary advice on selecting one’s marriage partner to teenage granddaughter Betsey in the following letter, saying in part “Do not then in your contemplation of the marriage state, look for perfect felicity before you consent to wed. Nor conceive, from the fine tales the Poets & lovers of […]

George Washington to Lund Washington, 20 Sept. 1783

In 1783 Eleanor Calvert Custis, the widow of Martha’s son John Parke Custis, contemplated marriage to Alexandria physician David Stuart. Mrs. Custis sought to acquire the thoughts of her former in-laws on the subject but did so indirectly with the assistance of Lund Washington, the manager of Mount Vernon and […]