Fields, Joseph E. 'Worthy Partner': The Papers of Martha Washington. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994.

Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, PA.

My Dear Sir                              Mount Vernon December 22d 1777

I doe most sincearly lement and condole with you, on the loss of our dear departed Friend she has I hope made a happy exchange - and only gon a little before us the time draws near when I hope we shall meet never more to part - if to meet our departed Friends and know them was scertain we could have very little reason to desire to stay in this world where if we are at ease one hour we are in affliction days

Lett me beg of you my Dear Brother to consider your one indisposition and indevor to be a comfort to your friends that are now about you - nothing in this world do I wish for more sincerly than to be with, but alass I am so situated at this time that I cannot leve home - my dear sister in her life time often mentioned my taking my dear Fanny if she should be taken away before she grew up - If you will lett her come to live with me, I will with the greatest plasure take her and be a parent and mother to her as long as I live - and will come down for her as soon as I come from the northward, - the General has wrote to me that he cannot come home this winter but as soon as the army under his command goes into winter quarter he will send for me, if he does I must go, if he does not, I will come down as soon as Nelly Custis gets well she is hear and Expect every day to be brought to bed - is the reason I cannot come down at this time - my Dear sister for the last three or four years of her life could have but very little pleasure her health was such that must render her life a misere to herself and a very great affliction to her friends - which I hope will in some measure reconcile you to your very great loss of her, - I must one to you that she was the greatest favorite I had in the world - it will always give me the greatest pleasure, if I could be useful1 to you or the children in any thing - be pleased to let me know - I have often wished that fortune had plased us nearer to each other - and particularly at this time when I should have it in my power to take care of the Dear children - I hope Mrs Stith or Mrs Aylett will stay with you for that purpose at least for a sort time - I sincearly wish your recovery and pray god to enable you to support yourself under your great affliction - and bless your children - I am with love to them and all inquiring Friends

My Dear Brother your ever
affectionate
Martha Washington

Autograph Letter Signed

Fields, Joseph E. 'Worthy Partner': The Papers of Martha Washington. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994.

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress

My Dear Mama,                               Kings-College July 5th (1773)

I have at length the Pleasure of informing you that I am settled in every respect according to my satisfaction. There has Nothing been omitted by the Professors, which could be in any means condusive to my Happiness, & contentment during my residence at this place, and I believe I may say without vanity that I am looked upon in a particular Light by Them all, there is as much distinction made between me & the other students as can be expected. I dine with them (a liberty that is not allow'd any but myself) associate & pertake of all their recreations, their Attention to my Education keeps pace with their other good offices, and from their Words as well as Actions. I have reason to form the most pleasing Hope of Pleasure & Satisfaction entertainment in the pursit of my Studies. It does not become me to Speak much in praise of my own attendance but I assure you that I have done as much or more in 2 months than in the eight Months before, and I flatter myself you will never hear anything but what is agreable from Doctor cooper or any other of the Professors. It is now time to give you short plan of my apartments, and of my way of living. I have a large parlour with two Studyes or closets, each large enough to contain a bed, trunk and couple of chairs, one I sleep in, & the other Joe calls his, my chamber and parlour are paper'd with a cheap tho very pretty Paper, the other is painted; my furniture consists of Six chairs, 2 Tables, with a few paultry Pictures; I have an excellent Bed, and in short every thing very convenient &clever. I generally get up about Six or a little after, dress myself & go to chappel, by the time that Prayers are over Joe has me a little Breakfast to which I sit down very contented after eating heartyly. I thank God, and go to my Studys, with which I am employed till twelve than I take a walk and return about one dine with the professors, & after dinner study till Six at which time the Bell always rings for Prayers they being over college is broak up, and then we take what Amusement we please.

Things My dear Mother were going on in this agreable Manner, till last Thursday, the day I receiv'd Pappa's melancholy letter, giveing an account of my dear & only Sister's Death. I myself met the Post, & brought the sad Epistle to Doctor Cooper who I beg'd to open his Letter immediately, the Direction I did not know, but the Seal I knew too well to be deceived. My confusion & uneasiness on this occasion is better conceiv'd that expresst. Her case is more to be envied than pitied, for if we mortals can distinguish between those who are deserveing of grace & who are not, I am confident she enjoys that Bliss prepar'd only for the good & virtuous, let these considerations, My dear Mother have their due weight with you and comfort yourself with reflecting that she now enjoys in substance what we in this world enjoy in imagination & that there is no real Happiness on this side of the grave. I must allow that to sustain a shock of this kind requires more Philosophy than we in general are (possest) off, my Nature could not bear the shock, (illegible) sunk under the load of oppression, and hindered me from administring any consolation to my dear and nearest relation, this Letter is the first thing I've done since I received the malancholy News, & could I think my Presence wou'd be conclusive to the Restoration of your Tranquillity neither the distance nor the Fatigue of traveling could detain me a moment here. I put myself & Joe into deep Mourning & shall do (all) Honour in my power to the Memory of a deceas'd & well belov'd Sister, I will no longer detain you on a subject which is painful to us both but conclude with beging you to remember you are a Christian and that we ought to submit with Patience to the divine Will and that to render you happy shall be the constant care of your effectionate and dutiful son

John Parke Custis

Mrs Washington
New- York
July 5th 1773

McCallister, Ellen. "This Melancholy Scene." Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Annual Report, 1981, 13-15.

From Thomas Law to his son John Law, 5/23/1802

“I have been detained here near three weeks a painful witness of Mrs. Washingtons [sic] sufferings under a fever which terminated her well spent life yesterday at 12 oclock PM—from the beginning she prepared for death, gave advice to her grandchildren sent for the Clergyman & took the sacrament, & at last directed a white gown to be brought which she had previously laid by for the last dress—Fortitude & resignation were display’d throughout, she met death as a relief from the infirmities & melancholy of old age—all she valued in life had been take [sic] from her—I feel unfeigned grief at this loss for marked attention & numerous little kindnesses had created a sincere affection. This melancholy scene conveys a serious lesson to all of us; I fear there is too much truth in the observation of Johnson that Life protracted is protracted woe…On Tuesday I join a real mourner the solemn procession & then bid adieu to this mansion under whose hospitable roof I beheld examples of rectitude & beneficence….our little girl [Law’s daughter Eliza, then about 5 years old] has silently walked about shedding tears & has shewn [sic] real sensibility by never mentg. her Grandmama, who doated [sic] upon her….” (15)

From "Diary of Mrs. William Thornton, 1800-1863" (vol. 10, 1907, of the Records of the Columbia Historical Society). “[Saturday, 8/2/1800]…We set off again about eleven Oclock…& we got to Mrs Washington’s about two Oclock….Mrs Washington is much broke since I saw her last—Her Grandson Washington Custis, in whom she seems quite wrapt [sic] up, was indisposed, and she seemed very anxious on his account.—She is a very polite & amiable old Lady. The same order & regularity is observed as when the Genl was living….[Wednesday, 11/19/1800]…Mama & I—went to Mrs Peter’s—found Mrs Tingey there—they were all going to George Town & then to wait on Mrs Adams.—We waited on Mrs Dexter, then went to some Stores & returned to Mrs Peter’s & waited till she returned—Mama then went home in our Carriage & in Mrs Tingey’s to Mrs Adams’s.—Mrs A. is a short lady; in person something like Mrs Washington—has a sensible look….” (174,213)

diary

Thornton, William. Harris Charles M. and Daniel Preston, eds. Papers of William Thornton. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1995.

From William Thornton to John Marshall, 1/2/1800: “[re: the plan to put George Washington’s body in the Unites States Capitol]…But in fulfilling this duty there is another which will give great comfort to her who enjoyed the felicity of being the partner of his life. She expressed, in her affliction, the hope of soon lying in the same humble vault prepared for his family, and considered it as the last temporal consolation. The body of her beloved friend and companion is now requested and she does not refuse the national wish—but if an intimation could be given that she should partake merely of the same place of deposit it would restore to her mind a calm and repose that this acquiescence in the national wish has in a high degree affected. You, who know her, are not unacquainted with her high virtues, and know that her love for the departed would be the only reason why such a wish could be entertained. She cannot be more honoured than she has been and, were it possible, the nation would give a still further proof of sensibility on this melancholy occasion, by a resolution in favour of her who possessed the heart of the late Friend of Man. I presume not to dictate any mode; but you will with liberality pardon the suggestion of a private individual. If a secret vote of the House were to be taken, and the result only made known to herself or friends, and be publickly [sic] declared after her death, it would appear, in my opinion, to the whole world, not only as a high mark of respect, but peculiarly delicate. That I write this is unknown to any of the family, and I hope you and they will excuse the liberty I take….” (527)

letter

Smith, Daniel Blake. "Mortality and Family in the Colonial Chesapeake." Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 8 3 (Winter, 1978): 403-427.

Obituary of Martha Washington, Alexandria Advertiser and Commercial Intelligencer, May 25, 1802.

Library of Congress

5/25/1802

“On Saturday the 22nd of May at 12 o’clock P.M. Mrs. Washington terminated her well spent life…..She was the worthy partner of the worthiest of men, and those who witnessed their conduct could not determine which excelled in their different characters, both were so well sustained on every occasion. They lived an honor and a pattern to their country, and are taken from us to receive the rewards—promised to the faithful and the just.”

newspaper

• John Tennent . Every man his own doctor, or, The poor planter's physician: prescribing, plain and easy means for persons to cure themselves of all, or most of the distempers, incident to this climate, and with very little charge, the medicines being chiefly of the growth and production of this country.  Williamsburg, Rockefeller Library, RC81.T42 1736a, rare books and special collections.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

book

Bill from George Heath, 1758. Custis Family Papers, Mss1C9698 a. Virginia Historical Society