THE WILL OF GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, TO WHICH IS ANNEXED A SCHEDULE OF HIS PROPERTY, DIRECTED TO BE SOLD
- Alexandria: Printed from the Record of the Courts, Court of Fairfax, 1800
Alexandria: Printed from the Record of the Courts, Court of Fairfax, 1800. 32pp. Stitched [stitching present but broken]. Chipped plain wrapper remnants are present and detached. Occasional blank margin chip. Except as noted, Very Good. First Edition of Washington's Will. Ink ownership inscription of American author William Roscoe Thayer on title page: "Wm R. Thayer / 1918."
"During his lifetime Washington accumulated considerable amounts of land and property consisting of townhouse lots in Alexandria and Washington, D.C., choice tracts of land on the Ohio River, as well as land in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. In his will, Washington's highest priority was to provide for his 'dearly beloved wife Martha,' but he also remembered close and distant relations. His continued devotion is evident in the distribution of his extensive land holdings to his family upon his death. . .
"Washington's second priority in his will was the emancipation, care, and education of his enslaved workers. Although in the early pages of the will Washington states his opposition to slavery and his 'earnest wish' to emancipate those enslaved immediately upon his death, there were complications. About half of the enslaved people at Mount Vernon were 'dower' slaves owned by the estate of Daniel Parke Custis, Martha Washington's first husband. Washington only had the power to free the enslaved people he owned, not those who were part of the Custis estate. Washington was also concerned about Martha's livelihood and in his will, he freed those he could, 'Upon Decease of my wife'... " [online at George Washington's Mount Vernon.]
FIRST EDITION. Howes W145. Evans 39006. Sabin 101763. Trumbull 1564. ESTC W20830.
"During his lifetime Washington accumulated considerable amounts of land and property consisting of townhouse lots in Alexandria and Washington, D.C., choice tracts of land on the Ohio River, as well as land in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. In his will, Washington's highest priority was to provide for his 'dearly beloved wife Martha,' but he also remembered close and distant relations. His continued devotion is evident in the distribution of his extensive land holdings to his family upon his death. . .
"Washington's second priority in his will was the emancipation, care, and education of his enslaved workers. Although in the early pages of the will Washington states his opposition to slavery and his 'earnest wish' to emancipate those enslaved immediately upon his death, there were complications. About half of the enslaved people at Mount Vernon were 'dower' slaves owned by the estate of Daniel Parke Custis, Martha Washington's first husband. Washington only had the power to free the enslaved people he owned, not those who were part of the Custis estate. Washington was also concerned about Martha's livelihood and in his will, he freed those he could, 'Upon Decease of my wife'... " [online at George Washington's Mount Vernon.]
FIRST EDITION. Howes W145. Evans 39006. Sabin 101763. Trumbull 1564. ESTC W20830.
Details
Title
THE WILL OF GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, TO WHICH IS ANNEXED A SCHEDULE OF HIS PROPERTY, DIRECTED TO BE SOLD
Author
Washington, George
Condition
Unknown
Publisher
Printed from the Record of the Courts, Court of Fairfax: Alexandria
Date
1800