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

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

My Dr. Aunt                                                        Pamocra Septr. 6, 91

I was very sorry to hear of Washington illness sometime ago, by a letter from Bart, as well (for your account as on my) - I hope he is well by this time & that you are enjoying the pleasure of his recovery -

I expected to have heard (illegible) Bart (illegible) in the presidents' Family, from you before this & I now request you to afford me your information on that subject - Bart is very well pleased with his situation I find by his letters, & I hope he will endeavor to please every body he acts for - I trust you will exercise your authority as a relation as well as your advisor to inforce on him a proper sense of his Duty, & to guard him from being led astray by the temptation to idleness & extravagance which surround him -

I now find I shall not be able to raise out of my fathers estate enough to pay all in Debt - The property I had to sell has depreciated in value below any suspicisions, & I have not collected anything due to him in his life, as he kept but four regular accounts & vouchers & those few were burnt in his house - worth £550- paid as security to one (Quarter?) I have also lost as the president perhaps expected that my Mother would be able to pay for the negroes he had lent her hitherto, I have thought it necessary to undeceive him, & I have accordingly write to on the subject - the loan of so many negroes is too much for her to expect, & as she must be reduced to it sometime or other, she had better begin to accomodate herself to the want of them at once - I really thought that I should have been able to buy some of them for her, or I should not have written to you as I did in 1788 - I fear the president may suspect that I meant to deceive him by exciting expectations of payment, which I knew were not well founded: however I assure you, I have till lately been mistaken in my opinion of my Fathers Estate, & I take this early opportunity of informing you & him of it - I would give every farthing I have to my Mother & work myself for the support of her & her little children sooner than I would practise such a Deceit knowingly on any one much less on a benefactor -

We are well except my mother who has still a hectic disorder - The Family join in sending their Love & duty to you the Children Th(?)

I am My Dear aunt yrs.
dutifully & affcty
J Dandridge

Let me hear from you
shortly

Draft

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.

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

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.

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Dear Madam                                                   June 26, 1761

Julious comes for Betty - I hardly know in what manner to return suitable thanks to you and Mr Green for the troble you have taken upon this occasion - it was a near mistake her being Left but as I am persuaded apologies of this nature are altogether unnecessary to the person I am addressing I shall cease to make more.

Mrs Colvill and niece with Doctr Laurie dind hear yesterday and in the evening Mr W-n took his vomit - but it did not worke him well today he has begun with the Barke & and continues it till an ounce is taken.

I gave Patsy the mercury last night it has worked her twice. Our ears are mending very fast.

Our compliments are offered to Mr Green Miss Bolan and am Dr Madam

                                                 Your most Obed
                                                 Martha Washington

Please to send your Ear rings if you so resolved not to have yours now

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Feinstone Collection, David Library of the American Revolution, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. On loan to the American Philosophical Society.

My Dear Sister                                                    April 18 1761

With great concern I bore this disappointment of not coming to you as I promised you, I have pleased myself with coming and would be very happy with you and family but the hooping coughs has put an end to all hopes for some time I have had it so bad that I could not go out of the house this four weeks past, the children are getting well but did not care to carry them so long a jurney and to houses where the coughs had not been and carrying children with so troublesome a disorder is of no pleasure in winter and I considered your dear little girl had not had it, I pray give my love to Mr. Bassett & Betsy and accept the same from dear Nancy, your most

affectionate & loving sister
Martha Washington

Jackey would fain come with Mr. W-n to see Betsy he often talks of her he and patty gives their duty to their uncle and ant &love to their cousin I hope to hear by Mr. W-n you have a nice Boy

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Custis Papers, Virginia Historical Society

The Estate of Daniel Parke Custis
       To James Carter & Co

March 29th               To Worm Purges Boy Anthony                         4
                               To an Astringent Mixture Do                           4

April 1                      To 10 oz Cord Mixture Roger                          5
                                 
                                                                                                  13

       Nov 10th 1760 Recd. the above
for Partner & Self

                                                         W Carter 1760

Autograph Document Signed

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

location unknown

                                                                      (September 29, 1760)

__________ I have the pleasure to tell you my dear little girl is much better she has lost her fitts & fevours both and seems to be getting well very fast we carried her out yesterday in the charriot and the change of air refressed her very much ________________

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Dreer Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Dear sister                                    June 1st 1760 (Mount Vernon)

I have had the pleasure of receiving your very welcome and affect Letters of the 10th of may intended to come by Jack and the 23d by Mr Bassett who I must acknowledge myself greatly obliged to for the favour of his last visit - I shoud not have suffered him to go without a letter to you had I not known of the oppertunity that now offers and hear I must do myself the pleasure of congratulating you very sincerely on your happy deliverence of I wish I could say boy as I know how much one of that sex was diesired by you all - I am very sorry to hear my mammas complaints of ill helth and I feel the same uneasiness on the account that you doe but hope Mr (illegible) perscriptions will have the desired effect - The children are now very well and I think myself in a better state of helth than I have been in for a long time and dont dout but I shall present you a fine healthy girl again when I come down in the Fall which is as soon as Mr W-ns business will suffer him to leave home I am very much pleased to hear Betsy continues to grow a fine hearty child and (missing) Soon will make you happiest in that desirable blessing I also hope you are out of all fear of sore Breasts before this time

Mr Bassett will inform you of the mirth and gaiety that he has seen so I hope I have no occasion to enlarge upon that head in order to induce you to Try Fairfax in a pleasanter season than you did last time I shall now conclude but not till I have desired you to present my Best good wishes to Mrs Dawson and Judy in which Mr Washington desires to join me also beg you will give our Blessing to the dear little children and Each of them half a Dozen kisses and hope you will not imagin that yourself and Mr Bassett is forgot by dear nancy your sincere and Loving sister

                                                       Martha Washington

To Mrs Bassett

Autograph Letter Signed

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

Custis Papers, Virginia Historical Society

Autograph Document Signed