Lease deed, between Penelope French and George Washington for Dogue Run Plantation and enslaved African Americans

Containers:

Box 21, Folder 1786.10.18

Extent:

3 pages

Scope and content:

This agreement between George Washington and Penelope French secured for his use the last piece of property he added to his Mount Vernon estate, a parcel that would become part of Union Farm. French, who had a life in interest in the land and buildings, also leased to Washington the use of twenty-one enslaved people including "Will, Paschal, Paul, Abraham, Sabine, Rosanna, Daphne, Lucy, Delia, Grace, Tom, Isaac, Robert, Moses, Julius, Spencer, Nancy, Celia, Nell, Mitty, and Lett", and three young children not named. The agreement stipulated that Washington must ensure the enslaved were "clothed and fed in the same manner as slaves usually are within this commonwealth and shall not be removed and worked out of the said county of fairfax", and is "unreasonably worked or neglected in sickness or treated within humanity", they would be returned to French.

Language:

English .

Physical facet:

Three pages, bifolium. In good condition with some damange to first leaf that affects a few words of text and is repaired with laid paper. George Washington's edits and additions are interlineated on page 2, and the body of the document concludes with 18 lines of his writing.

Dimensions:

37 x 23 cm

Subjects:

Real property
Slavery
Deeds
Lists (document genres)

Names:

Washington, George, 1732-1799
French, Penelope Manley, approximately 1739-
Washington, Lund, 1737-1796
Washington, George Augustine, approximately 1759-1793
Triplett, William
Washington, George, 1732-1799
French, Penelope Manley, approximately 1739-
Washington, Lund, 1737-1796
Washington, George Augustine, approximately 1759-1793
Triplett, William

Places:

Dogue Run Farm

Access and use