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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Ted and Mary Wendell early American collection, 1721/1826

.5 Linear Feet 14 Sheets

This collection consist of 47 documents, 10 maps, and 1 map slipcase collected by Ted and Mary Wendell. The collection pertains to George Washington and includes 25 documents written, annotated, or signed by Washington. Much of the material concerns the Revolutionary War, western land claims following the French and Indian War, and British and American governmental records. The dates of the material range from 1721-1826.

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Certificate of freedom for James Dusenbury, 1811 1 pages Box 2, Folder 1811.04.29

Certificate of freedom for a man named James Dusenbury in the city and county of New York. This document confirms Dusenbury's free status and provides his physical description as five foot two inches, dark eyes, with gray hair, and a listed age of around 62. His birthplace is listed as Queen's County, NY, and his free status was established in 1798. Signed by Andrew Lawrence as a witness and by Richard Cunningham, an Alderman of New York City. Typescript document signed, with manuscript completions, 1 page.

  1. Series 1. Manuscripts
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Historic manuscript collection, 1601/1933

approx. 60 Linear Feet

This collection of historic manuscripts dates from 1607-1933, with the bulk of materials dating from 1738-1868. The correspondence, journals and diaries, legal and financial records, estate documents, and printed ephemera in the collection primarily relate to the Washington and Custis families, the Revolutionary War, and society life in antebellum Washington D.C. and Virginia.

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Certificate of freedom for Norman Washington, 1811 Box 42, Folder 1811.04.24

Printed form with [manuscript] completions: "City and County of New-York, ss. I [Charles Dickinson] one of the Alderman of the City of New-York, and a Judge of the Court of Common pleas, called the Mayor's Court, ... Do Certify, That on this day [Norman Washington] Residing in the said city a [Black] man exhibited proof before me, reduced to writing, of the freedom of him ... I Do Further Certify that the said [Norman] ... was born at [Mount Vernon] in [the State of Virginia] and that he [was born] free .... Given under my hand, this [Twenty fourth] day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven.]" Includes physical description of Norman Washington; and gives his age as "about Twenty Seven years." 1 page, 20 x 17 cm.

  1. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  2. Manuscripts Box 42, 1809/1811
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence carte de visite, 1863

.03 Cubic Feet 1 letter size folder

This collection contains a carte de visite of Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence, a formerly enslaved child. The caption states "A Redeemed Slave Child, 5 years of Age. Redeemed in Virginia by Catherine S. Lawrence; baptized in Brooklyn, at Plymouth Church by Henry Ward Beecher in May 1963. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1863, by C. S. Lawrence, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York." Photographed by the Kellogg Brothers, Hartford, Connecticut.

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Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence carte de visite, 1863 .03 Cubic Feet 1 letter size folder

This collection contains a carte de visite of Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence, a formerly enslaved child. The caption states "A Redeemed Slave Child, 5 years of Age. Redeemed in Virginia by Catherine S. Lawrence; baptized in Brooklyn, at Plymouth Church by Henry Ward Beecher in May 1963. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1863, by C. S. Lawrence, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York." Photographed by the Kellogg Brothers, Hartford, Connecticut.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Free persons registration for Jerry Scott, 1842

1 Files

The collection consists of single legal registration document for Jerry Scott "a free man of colour (sic)" in Nelson County, Virginia. The document includes a physical description of Jerry Scott and is signed by Spotswood Garland, the county clerk of Nelson County. It includes the county's seal. Free persons of color were required to be registered as "free persons" within their county of residence in Virginia before emancipation. The document notes that Jerry Scott was "born free."

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Free persons registration for Jerry Scott, 1842 1 Files

Garland, Spottswood (Alexander Spottswood), 1777-1850

The collection consists of single legal registration document for Jerry Scott "a free man of colour (sic)" in Nelson County, Virginia. The document includes a physical description of Jerry Scott and is signed by Spotswood Garland, the county clerk of Nelson County. It includes the county's seal. Free persons of color were required to be registered as "free persons" within their county of residence in Virginia before emancipation. The document notes that Jerry Scott was "born free."

University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

James Shop papers, 1780

0.04 Cubic Feet 1 legal sized folder

This collection consists of two documents related to John Shop, a freedman from Connecticut who served in the Continental Army. One item is a Connecticut pay-table committee document authorizing payment to Shop for his army service. This was signed by James Hart on December 15, 1870 in Hartford, Connecticut. The other is a one page letter certifying Shop's service in the 2nd Regiment of the Connecticut line of the Continental Army. In the letter he is identified as a freedman from the town of Woodbury. Marked with Mr. Shop's "X" dated September 25, 1780.

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James Shop papers, 1780 0.04 Cubic Feet 1 legal sized folder

This collection consists of two documents related to John Shop, a freedman from Connecticut who served in the Continental Army. One item is a Connecticut pay-table committee document authorizing payment to Shop for his army service. This was signed by James Hart on December 15, 1870 in Hartford, Connecticut. The other is a one page letter certifying Shop's service in the 2nd Regiment of the Connecticut line of the Continental Army. In the letter he is identified as a freedman from the town of Woodbury. Marked with Mr. Shop's "X" dated September 25, 1780.

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