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

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

My Dear Sister                                        November the 18th 1777

I have the very great pleasure of returning, - you your Boys as well as they were when I brought them from Eltham - They have had the small pox exeeding light and have been perfectly well this fortnight past- Mr. Claiborne came up with us and had the small as light as they had, he has been here ever since I came up - his going down determined me to send your sons with him as I think he will be a guide to them on the road and better than they should goe so far by themselves, they have been exeeding good Boys indeed and I shall hope you will lett them come to see me when ever they can spare so much time from school - they have been such good Boy that I shall love them a great deal more than I ever did - I have paid the Doctors £ 9 for them. - and £ 8 for two Hatts [?] which could not be got for less [?] 9/9

I have given to Mr. Claiborne to bare thare expens down - and five seven Dollar Bills I inclose in this letter which is all that is owed - the Doctor's charge is very high but I did not say a word - as he carred the children so well through the small pox -

The last letter I had from the General was dated the 7th of this month - he says he says nothing hath happend since the unsuccessful attack upon our forts on the Dalaware, - the Boys bring the last papers down with them -

Nelly Custis has be over the river this three week - Jack is just come over, he tells me that little Bet is grown as fat as a pigg - Nelly is not well her self -

I was glad to hear that you had got the horse and hope you have before this found great benefet from riding everyday - I have often wished for my dear sister and Fanny, as the small pox was so trifleing with the Boys - believed that it would have been as slight with them I have had all thare cloths washed and rinsed several days - and do veryly believe that they can bring no infection home with them - if you are afraide lett some one who has had the small pox put out thare cloths to air for a day or two in the sun - an Thomas has also been washed and his cloths changed - his cap & shoes he did not ware, when he was sick - I shall be glad you will let me know how the Boys gett down - by Peter who set off today with Jacks mares & colts to carry them down to his quarter in New Kent -

Jack joins me in love to Mr. Bassett your self Dear Fanny and all Friends - I am my Dear sister your sincearly affectionate

Martha Washington

I was sorry to find that I had given away all the Blew satin but this piece Please do give the piece of muslin to Mrs Dangerfield with my Compliments - my compliments and good wishes to Mrs Davis & Mrs. Newman - I hope John Davis has got well of his indisposition - all the Boys Cloths are sent

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.

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Dear Madam                                                           Decr 18th 1761

I fear it will not be in my power to be at Mr Wests as Mr W-n intends to send his man to Williamsburgh this week but shall be extreemly glad to see you and Mr Green at Mount Vernon in your way thare & at your return, if you have any Commands to Williamsburg shall be very glad to oblige you Our Compliments to your self Mr Green & Miss Bolan I am much obliged to you for your kind wishes
and am Dear Madam your

most sincear & Hble servant
Martha Washington

Autograph Letter Signed

Dalzell, Robert F., and Lee Baldwin Dalzell.  George Washington's Mount Vernon:  At Home in Revolutionary Virginia.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1998.

Chappell, Edward A., and Julie Richter.  "Wealth and Houses in Post-Revolutionary Virginia," Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, vol. 7 (1997):  3-22.

Niemcewicz, Julia Ursyn. Under Their Vine and Fig Tree: Travels Through America in 1797-1799, 1805, with Some Further Account of Life in New Jersey. Elizabeth, N.J.: Grassmann Publishing Co., 1965.

5/21/1798: "I then went up to Mrs. Washington. She is the same age as the G[enera]l…, small, with lively eyes, a gay air and extremely kind. She had on a gown, with an even hem, of stiff white cotton, fitting very tightly, or rather attached from all sides with pins. A bonnet of white gauze, ribbons of the same color, encircling her head tightly, leaving the forehead completely uncovered and hiding only half of her white hair which in back was done up in a little pigtail. She was at one time one of the most beautiful women in America and today there remains something extremely agreeable and attractive about her….” (85)

journal

Thomas Boylston Adams Diary, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Massachusetts Historical Society

pamphlet

Latrobe, Benjamin Henry. The Journal of Latrobe; Being the Notes and Sketches of an Architect, Naturalist and Traveler in the United States from 1796 to 1820. New York: B. Franklin, 1971.

July 1797: “[July 1797]…Upon my return to the house [Mount Vernon], I found Mrs. Washington and her granddaughter, Miss Custis, in the hall. I introduced myself to Mrs. Washington as a friend of her nephew, and she immediately entered into conversation upon the prospect [view] from the lawn, and presently gave me an account of her family in a good-humored free manner that was extremely pleasant and flattering. She retains strong remains of considerable beauty, seems to enjoy very good health, and to have a good humor. She has no affectation of superiority in the slightest degree, but acts completely in the character of the mistress of the house of a respectable and opulent country gentleman….” (57)

journal

Cadou, Carol Borchert. The George Washington Collection: Fine and Decorative Arts at Mount Vernon. Manchester: Hudson Hills Press, 2006.

Pogue, Dennis J. "The Domestic Architecture of Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon." Winterthur Portfolio, 37 1 (Spring, 2002): 3-22.