Esteemed…

Invoice of Sundry Goods to be Shipped by Robert Cary Esqr. & Company
for the Use of George Washington

A Light Summer suit made of Duroy or by the inclosed measure
4 peices best India Nankeen
2 best beaver Hats plain each to cost a Guinea
1 ps…

Madm                                                      London the 17 July 1759

To our's already wrote you by this Conveyance we Referr, since which your Favour of the 30th April is now before us & your several Drafts to the amount of £1500 we have already Accepted & when due shall punctually be paid-

As the Accot sales & Accot Currt sent p Turner have in all probability miscarried we have now sent the Copy's-

Inclosed is the Charge of Obtaining Letters of Administring to the Receiving the Dividend on the £1650 Bank Stock which Charge £7.7 is to thy Estates Debit - The Bank Directors have as yet not Entered your Power of Atty in their books till they do tho we hope it wont be long we cannot receive the Interest - Mr John Hanbury departed this life the 23d Ulto & while he lived we coud not ask for the Enlargement of your Consignments but now as things are Differently circumstanced we may safely do it & as such we hope in the future to receive all your crops. for it is Evidend the less hands Tobacco goes in the greater Probability there is of keeping up a Living Price & therefore must naturally be productive of our Friends Interest

Are sorry to hear the Crops are so short we hope the Prices will Compensate since little matter for the Difference - We are

                                                      Madm
                                                      Your most Hum Servt
                                                      Copy Robert Cary & Co
                                                      Mrs. Martha Custis

(Docket)
Letter
Cary - 17th July - 1759…

A bill from the sheriff of New Kent County detailing tobacco levies.…

Sir                                                                            May 10th 1759

According to your Command (I have) sent you as near as I am able (mutilated) accot of the nigros and stocks (mutilated) Rest of the (Estate) of Colo. Custis on this Shore Except (in) Smith's 1sland which I omited on accot of its being Rented out -but if meteral may be seen by a leas that Mr Vollentime has in his pirsession heare is som corn which is sold tho not delivered yet and will be about 1000 Bushells

(illegible) am at Command your humble sevt.

                                                                 James Biggs…

Sir                                                     Williamsburg 20 April 1759

Be pleased on the other side to answer the following queries in a full and ample manner and oblige very much, Yr most Obedt Servt.

                                                 Go: W(ashington)

First Does the Law require that all the Personal Estate & (Negroes only excepted) of the late Colo Custis be sold, in order to lay off his widows dower and daughters part.-or can it be done by the Inventory & appraisment - or lastly by dividing the Estate as it stands at this present - Which of these three is the Right Method? - & had Mrs. Washington a claim to one third of the Chattels of every kind whatsoever?

To the first
All such Goods as may be liable to perish or be the worse for keeping are by Law directed to be sold by public auction as soon as conveniently may be after the Debts paid - Yet I am of Opinion a Division may be made of the personal as well as the real Estate by the method hereafter mentioned - Mrs Washington has a clear right to one third of the Chattels of every kind whatsoever.

Second - What steps are necessary to Effect this in either Case? & how is the Money and Bonded Debt to be divided?

To the Second of (illegible) & best method to have Mrs Washington's Dower assigned (illegible) Estate divided will be by a Bill in Chancery to be brought in your & Mrs Washingtons names against the Children upon which Commissioners will be appointed not only to set apart her Dower in the Lands but to divide the money & bonded Debts & every other part of the Estate, one third thereof which belongs to Mrs Washington - and as I am satisfied your chief motive is to have the Children's Shares set apart & ascertained, so that fair & regular Accounts may be kept of the Profits & all Disputes that might be occasioned by a joynt Occupation, avoided, so I am assured the Speaker who is appointed Guardian to prosecute & defend for the Children will agree to any Division that may be for the Ease & advantage of all Persons concerned: and such a Division I am confident will) readily be established by the Court.

Third - Has Mrs Washington a Right to take any part of the Furniture or Personal Estate (negroes excepted as before) at the Appraisment price? - or is she under a necessity or taking the whole or none?

To the third. As it would be very inconvenient either to part with the furniture of the House or expose it to Sale in order to purchase it I make no doubt but the Commissioners will assign you any part of the household furniture you desire at the appraised value & the remainder may be sold.

Fourth - Whether if the Law does not require the whole Personal Estate to be sold, I have notwithstanding a power, or can obtain one (& by what means) to sell such part as I (consider) to be for the Estate Interest?

To the fourth. The Cattle must be kept on the Heirs Lands for his benefit & at his Risque. Except they are too numerous in which Case part of them may be sold. One third of the Cattle belongs to Mrs Washington & the Heir will be answerable to his Sister for one Half of the appraised value of (the oth)er two thirds. The (real) & the personal Estate that will not (be for) the benefit of the Estate to keep (missing) may be sold.

Fifth - Is Mrs Washington obligated to render (an acco)unt of every thing Inventoried & appraised? I mean Household goods that perhaps are broke or worn out, - Plantation Utensils that are lost or used - Liquors &ca that may have been Drank - and if she is, what sort of an acc't is required by Law? - and whether that account shoud be previous to a Division of the Estate?

To the fifth Mrs Washington is accountable for everything inventoried and appraised but ought to have Credit for such things as have been used or worn out about the Plantation: an account of which will be properly made us before the Commissioners.

Sixth -Has she not a Right to have her Expenses of every kind borne, as well those which may Relate to her particular self, as Housekeeping &ca in general? Does that Right still continue till a Division be made, or does it cease upon her Marriage?

To the sixth I also am of Opinion that she must be at the whole Expense of housekeeping since the Appraisment, but as she accounts for the Profits of her Children's Estates she is entitled to a liberal Allowance for their Maintanance.

Seventh Whether it is necessary to get appointed guardian, and Manager of (the) Estate & (of the) Children - or do I become so as Husband (illegible) obtaind the administration? But (missing) that some (one other than myself) shoud be choose Guardian till a Division (of) the Estate & a Settlement be made.

To the seventh Mrs Washington is by Law entitled to the Guardianship of her Children till they attain fourteen years of age, when they may choose their own Guardians but it is by all means advisable that a Division & Settlement be made before you undertake the Guardianship in her right. When that is done you must undertake it, or some other Guardian, must be appointed, as the Speaker will have nothing to do with their Estates.

Eighth -If Dunbar obtains his Suit at Law against Colo Custis's Estate how far will Mrs Washington's Dower be liable?

To the eighth. As Dunbar's Claim is against GenI Parke's Estate that alone is liable, consequently no other Part of mrs Washington's Dower than what she holds of that Estate can be affected by Dunbar's Recovery.

Ninth - If the Money and Chattels which in any other case woud have become my absolute property, should be made liable - am I accountable for the Principal & Interest, of what I may now receive - or the Principal Only?

To the ninth. So none of the money or Chattels you receive can be liable Should the Court adjudge Parke's Lands & Negroes to be so. I am of Opinion they will adjudge that Mrs. Washington's Dower of that Estate should contribute in proportion to her Interest therein which is only for Life.

                                                           J Mercer…

A financial document detailing a variety of purchases and transactions with Bartholomew Dandridge from 1756 to 1759.…

Mrs Martha Custis                                   Madera 29th March 1759

Madam                                            Leverpoole Feby 21st 1759

I have before me both your esteemed Favours of 6th June that you had been pleased to favour me wth. The Consignment of Sixteen hhds. Tabo p the Gildart wch Am much oblighed to you & please to be Assured no Pain shall be Spaired in Selling them for your most advantage. as yet there is only 4 of them sold. At 3 p 3 3/4 & 4 P. I am sorry to tell you they are not near of so fine a Quallity as formerly. the many factors that has ever had them knew I had the Honr of being Aployed by the Family would not this year take them unless I would let him pick Wch I refused which was luckey as they have since Advanced and are now from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 p. you have Inclosed Invoice of Goods to your Order wch hope will be delivered you Safe & to your Satisfaction as every thing is of the best and on the most reasonable terms. Your Bill In favour of Mr. Barthow Dandridge for two hundred Pounds has (illegible) & is to your Debt.

Capt Mulloy has Persuaded me not to send him till the Fall. therefore that I may not loose such of my Friends favours on York River that are inclineable to Ship have ordered Capt. Gaweth of my ship the Johnson to Waite on them. I hope by him to Receive a Share of your favours, which I shall greatly esteem. & am

Madam
Yr most Obliged Hum Sert
Jam Gildart

(Docket)
J Gildart
Feb.21.1759…

The appraisal of the estate of Daniel Parke Custis. The inventory appraises the Custis Estates in New Kent, King William, James CIty, York, Northampton, and Hanover counties. According to Fields, the only extant copy is in the account book of…