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

Massachusetts Historical Society

                                          Cambridge, January the 8th 1776

Mrs. Washington presents her respectfull compliments to Mrs Warren, and thanks her most cordially for her polite enquire, and exceeding kind offer - If the Exigency of affairs in this camp should make it necessary for her to remove, she cannot but esteem it a happiness to have so friendly an Invitation as Mrs Warren has given. In the meanwhile, Mrs Washington cannot help wishing for an oppertunity of shewing every civility in her power to Mrs Warren, at Head Quarters in Cambridge -

The General begs that his best regards may be presented to Mrs Warren, accompanied with his sincear thanks for her favourable wishes for his honour and success; and joins in wishing Mrs Warren - the speaker - and thair Family, every happiness that is, or can be derived from a speedy, and honourable peace

(address leaf)
To Mrs. Warren
at
Plymouth

(Docket)
Mrs Washington
Cambridge 8th Jany
1776

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Mr Devenport                                              Eltham November 5th 1775

I desire you will lett Mrs Bayly, that lives at west point have corn or wheat as she may want it, while her husband is ill and unable to provide for her, you may let her have a barrel of corn and half a barrel of wheat as sends for it and give her a fat hog

I am sir your Hbl
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

Madam                                              Alexandria Virginia Octr 8, 1775

I should have waited on you agreeable to promise but was prevented by the Rain on Friday & Saturday last. I shall set out to morrow morning on my way for New York if you have any Commands - I will Serve you the best in my Power please to Send me a Memorandum of what you would have done & I will Cornply with it. I am Madam your most Obedient Humble Servt

Geo Gilpin

Autograph Letter Signed

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

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress

(September 26, 1775)

Dear Madam                                                                 Westwood

I send the Bearer to inquire after Mrs. Custis's Health, who I hope is long before this recovered, & am sincerely sorry to hear of the loss she has sustained in the Death of her Daughter.

I flatter myself that you have enjoyed a perfect state of health since I had the pleasure to see you last. I shall be glad to know when you heard from the General last, who I hope was then very well.

I have been confined here, upwards of 3 weeks with a Fever, of which I have got the better so far as to be able to ride out; & shall I hope be able to return home in about a fortnight, when I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing yourself, Colo. Bassit & Lady, your Nieces, & Mr Custis at Rippon Lodge in your way down the Country

Believe me to be
Dear Madam
Your respectful humble
Servt
C. Blackburn

26th Septr
1775
To Mrs. 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

A copy Of the Inventory, Refer'd To in Letter to Robert Cary & Co.

Dated June 1, 1774

An Inventory of the Estate of Danl. Parke Custis, Esqr, which came to my hands or the hands of my Attorney under the general Letters of Administration of the said Decedents Estate Granted by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury in the year 1774 Inventories of the Virginia Estate having been returned to the Court in that Colony where Administration was granted to me and the money due from the Merchants in England to that Estate having been also Accounted for to the General Court of Virginia. One Thousand Six hundred and Fifty Pounds in the Bank of England.

(signed)
Martha Washington

Letter Book Copy

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

Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California

Dear Miss                                                         January the 14th 1774

I shall be very much obliged to you to enquire in town if there is black & white (illegible) lustring - and a handsom plain black satten cloak I had reather not have a lace on it if one with a (illegible) or gimp is to be had - 1 shoud have been very glad to have seen you hear this christmas if you coud have spared so much time out of town My compliments to Mr & Mrs Ramsay and all the little Folks

I am Dr. Miss
your most affetionate
Friend
Martha Washington

Your answer a few days
hence will be as well today

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

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

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress

(July 15, 1772)

To - Mrs S Thorpe                                           Milliner in London

I cannt. help writing to you in behalf of my daughter, Miss Custis, who together with myself, Imported some very hard bargains from you last year. Messrs Cary & Co. was wrote to for a handse Suit of Brussels Lace to cost £20 in cons of wch., she reed. from you a pr of tripple Ruffles, a Tucker & Ruff set on plain joing. Nett (such as can be bought in ye Milliners Shops here at 3/6 pr yd) When, if you had ever sent a Tippet & Cap w. ye othr. things I shd still have thot them Dr.- These things have been shewn to sevl. Ladies who are accustomd to such kind of Importns, & all agree, that they are most extravagantly high chargd.

I now sd for a suit at ye price of £40 w. Lappels & ca but if you cant afford to sell a much better bargn. in these, that yo. did in ye last I shd hope yt Mr. Cary will try elsewhere, as I thy her last add. to my own is worth a little pains- and ye. othr. things sent last yr. for myself &ca were 5 gauze Caps. w. Blond Lace bordrs. at a Ga. each, when ye same kd. might have been bot. in ye Country at a much less price.- I have now sent for 2 Caps for M. Custis, & 2 for myself of Mint. lace & wd have ym gent1 but not expens. hers to suit a Person of 16 yrs old mine one of 40 & I cant. help addg. that I thk it neccesy that ye last yrs Suit (wch ought to be retd. if she cd. do witht in ye meanwhile) shd be compld w. a Tippet & Cap, as it is Scae more yn 1/3 a (?).

I am Madm yr Hble Servt
Martha Washington

July 15 - 1772

Letter Book Copy

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

George Washington Papers, Library of Congress

Madam                                                 Annapolis 21 March 1772

The very bad Weather which prevented almost any Communication and my Expectation that the Means left with Miss Custis are not yet expended occasioned my not sending any more so soon as I designed - I now send by the Post a small Phial to be frequently smelt to as Hartshorne or other Drops commonly used to prevent faitiness and a small Bottle of Ointmt to be applied as before directed - the Decoction I left must be taken if Occasion requires it tho' I hope Nature will perform her Office without. I imagine it will be unnecessary to assure Miss Custis that I have the greatest Hopes her Happiness will be much promoted by regular moderate Exercise, temperate living which she may think Abstemiousness and her being attentive to keep her Body cool and open which last may I hope be effectually done and agreeably to herself by the Use of Barley Water and light cooling Food - Frumenty made of Barley or even of wheat wou'd I think be very proper Food is agreeable to many and perhaps might be so at Times to Miss Custis - I hear that Master Custis said in Annapolis she was better I have great Pleasure in it and should be glad to hear more particularly of her State

I am Madam
Your most obedient Servant
John Johnson

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Virginia Historical Society

Sir October the 8th 1770

As Mr Washington is from home, and I do not Expect him so soon as Mr Christian will be going down. I shall be much obliged to you to pay his account against the children and this shall be a reacept

I am Sir your Hble Servant
Martha Washington

November 10th 1770. Received from Hector Ross the Sum of Ten Pounds Current Money by order of Mrs George Washington

F Christian

(Address leaf)
To Mr Ross
in
Colchester
By favour of
Mr Christian

(Docket)
Oct 8 1770
Mrs Washington order to
Christian with her
Receipt

Autograph Letter Signed