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WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799), President. Autograph letter signed ("G:o Washington") to his half-brother John Augustine Washington (1736-1787) at Fredericksburg; Mount Vernon, 21 December 1772.
3 pages, 4to, 3 pages, 4to, integral address leaf, browned, dampstains old repairs in places, affecting a few letters and costing several words, fold separations.
"I AM UNDER THE HAND OF NECESSITY": WASHINGTON'S INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SLAVES AT FERRY FARM AND MOUNT VERNON. In an unpublished letter to Jack, Washington sends instructions for "Powell," an overseer, evidently supervising a party of Washington's slaves at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, where George's mother, Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789) had until recently resided. He directs Powell "to bring the two young Fellows, & the Wench Silia up with him, and as they may have some of their clothes and other things to bring, he might bring the Cart along with him provided there is [sic] Oxen provided to draw it after. Powell has got two of them away. He must be very carefull nor to overload the Cart...not to lose any of the stock by the way... Whatever expense he is at upon the Road for the stock I will pay. The Negroes may bring their own provisions along with them. The Wench Pat[ty] to go down to Powell's; so is Toney, but he should stay at the upper place to take care of the Houses & Plantation till Col. Lewis rents or does something with it...I should be much obliged to you also for disposing of what Corn there is to spare...and the Fodder....
Washington asks John to "dispose of the Porke for me, taking an Acct. of what my mother has. The smallest...of the Hogs, may be set a part for the overseers share. What Hogs will still remain please to order Powell be added to those which Powell now has & kept there for the use of his plantation -- let Powell also keep 3 or 4 Cows to supply himself & the Negroes with milk; and also keep a Bull with them; after which please to order Ned Jones to set of[f] with all the remaining Cattle, the Sheep, and Oxen, for this place." Washington is "sorry to give you so much trouble, but I am under the hand of necessity."
In a postscript he adds "...If Powell should dye...write to me word of it immediately, and when ever my Mother will consent that those [--] should be moved up now as I had rather do this than look for another overseer at that place [Ferry Farm?] where I am sure of sinking money every year that I intend to work it. The Plantation may, I suppose, be rented, or I could keep it enclos'd for the sake of the wheat that is sow'd although no Negroes should remain thereon." Not in Papers, and apparently unpublished. Provenance:
3 pages, 4to, 3 pages, 4to, integral address leaf, browned, dampstains old repairs in places, affecting a few letters and costing several words, fold separations.
"I AM UNDER THE HAND OF NECESSITY": WASHINGTON'S INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SLAVES AT FERRY FARM AND MOUNT VERNON. In an unpublished letter to Jack, Washington sends instructions for "Powell," an overseer, evidently supervising a party of Washington's slaves at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, where George's mother, Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789) had until recently resided. He directs Powell "to bring the two young Fellows, & the Wench Silia up with him, and as they may have some of their clothes and other things to bring, he might bring the Cart along with him provided there is [sic] Oxen provided to draw it after. Powell has got two of them away. He must be very carefull nor to overload the Cart...not to lose any of the stock by the way... Whatever expense he is at upon the Road for the stock I will pay. The Negroes may bring their own provisions along with them. The Wench Pat[ty] to go down to Powell's; so is Toney, but he should stay at the upper place to take care of the Houses & Plantation till Col. Lewis rents or does something with it...I should be much obliged to you also for disposing of what Corn there is to spare...and the Fodder....
Washington asks John to "dispose of the Porke for me, taking an Acct. of what my mother has. The smallest...of the Hogs, may be set a part for the overseers share. What Hogs will still remain please to order Powell be added to those which Powell now has & kept there for the use of his plantation -- let Powell also keep 3 or 4 Cows to supply himself & the Negroes with milk; and also keep a Bull with them; after which please to order Ned Jones to set of[f] with all the remaining Cattle, the Sheep, and Oxen, for this place." Washington is "sorry to give you so much trouble, but I am under the hand of necessity."
In a postscript he adds "...If Powell should dye...write to me word of it immediately, and when ever my Mother will consent that those [--] should be moved up now as I had rather do this than look for another overseer at that place [Ferry Farm?] where I am sure of sinking money every year that I intend to work it. The Plantation may, I suppose, be rented, or I could keep it enclos'd for the sake of the wheat that is sow'd although no Negroes should remain thereon." Not in Papers, and apparently unpublished. Provenance: