Search

Inventory, draft. A.D. 64 pages. Inventory by room of articles at Mount Vernon, with appraised values -- includes contents of mansion house, kitchen, office, storehouse, washhouse, gardeners house, salt house, black smith shop, etc. -- also inventory of livestock, and farm equipment on each of the farms, the distillery, mill -- on the mansion house farm, inventory of articles in barn, greenhouse, lost, fish house, etc., paint cellar -- lists of gardeners tools, linen, etc., and plated ware, etc. -- list of books and pamphlets in library by case, with some marked "Taken by B[ushrod] Washington" and "Mrs. Lewis's property," "taken by G. Washington", and "To Mrs. Washington," -- maps, charts, etc. -- includes number of Negroes owned by George Washington in his own right, "which Mrs. Washington intending to liberate at the end of the present year, can only be valued for the service of the working negroes for one year." Autograph document, draft, in unknown hand, entitled "An Inventory etc. of Articles at Mount Vernon with their appraised value, annexed." watermark. Date on original catalog card appears [1800?], but an entry on page 59 enumerates the slave population "which Mrs. Washington [is] intending to liberate at the end of the present year." Since she signed a deed of manumission for her deceased husband's slaves in December 1800, the date of this estate inventory would seem to be 1800.

Letter, 3 pages. London. Contains Wests comments on proposed reinterment of George Washington in the Federal city and monument to be raised to him -- recommends triangle or pyramid as most durable monument -- should be in prominent place, planted with trees -- monuments should be hollow -- rotunda, and brass pedestrian statue of Washington -- work to be of "monumental simplicity" -- 4 doors and stone coffin. Letter, marked "Copy of a letter from one West=the celebrated American artist in London to Rufus King, Esq. our Minister at that Court on the subject of a "Monument" to be erected to the memory of that illustrious citizen - George Washington, was obligingly handed us by a gentleman for publication - From Gazette of the United States and Daily Advertizer, Dec. 22, 1800". [Appended is a copy of "A Resolution of the Old Congress," describing the type of monument to be erected to Washington.]

A.L.S. 1 page. Simms answers questions put by them [see letter of Jan. 20, 1800] as executors of George Washington's estate -- among other things, he assures them they can dispose of personal property and wheat at private sales, but an account must be kept of articles disposed of in this way, and must be included in the estate inventory. Autograph letter signed, integral cover, laminated, watermark. Name on original manuscript appears as "Ch. Simms."

A.L. 4 pages. Dryburgh Abbey. A letter on slavery and the life and character of GW; mentions Lear, Franklin and Adams. Autograph letter, incomplete.

A.L.S. Philadelphia. Send copy of GW's will and also "The box made of the oak that sheltered the Great Sir William Wallace ..." At bottom of letter is note from Buchan, dated Aug. 16, 1800, bequeathing box to "Washington's University in Columbia." Autograph letter signed, in hand of [Bushrod Washington].

A.N.S. 1 page. Regarding a survey plat. Date on original catalog card appears 1800 (?) Feb. 27.

A.L.S. 2 pages. The writers request answers to several specific questions about their role as executors of Washington's will -- they require Simms's professional advice because Judge Bushrod Washington (another executor) hasn't arrived yet. Autograph letter signed, in hand of George S. Washington (?,) laminated, G.W.'s watermark.

A.L.S. 1 page. Mount Vernon. Concerning the collection of funds due George Washington's estate in Philadelphia. "What ever money you may receive please credit the Estate of Genl. Washington with it as also any money that may be paid you by Judge Bushrod Washington, a statement of which please forward me at this place." Autograph letter signed, integral cover.

A.L.S. 1 page. Philadelphia. S. Lyman writes that Doctor James Craik "wrote a Gentleman in this City, that the General [Washington], with his own Fingers, closed his own Eyes in Death -- this circumstance is a little remarkable, and it showed that he had his reason, and a spirit of resignation ... such was the Death of this great man...."