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Start Over Names Ford, West, approximately 1784-1863
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Beebe collection of Washington family papers, 1818/1861, bulk 1840/1850

.5 Linear Feet

This collection includes correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his mother and wife, as well as other family members, mostly dealing with family matters and running Mount Vernon.

2 results

Letter, West Ford to Bushrod Washington, 1829 Box 1, Folder 5

A letter written by West Ford to Bushrod Washington at Blakeley, the home of Bushrod's neighbor and nephew John Augustine Washington II. Ford, a former slave of the Washington family who was later freed and employed as overseer of Mount Vernon, reports on arrangements being made at Mount Vernon for a workman to slate a "house for the books and papers." He mentions illnesses in his family and warns Bushrod against buying mules from his neighbor, Mr. Peake.

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Bushrod Washington family papers, 1662/1835

1.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

The Bushrod Washington Family Papers consist of documents gathered by the descendants of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The collection comprises an assortment of correspondence and legal documents documenting the lives and property ownership of several branches of the Washington family. The collection is organized into five series: Correspondence, Legal Documents, Social, Miscellaneous, and Indenture Notices (Land Deeds).

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Bushrod Washington family papers, 1662/1835 1.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829

The Bushrod Washington Family Papers consist of documents gathered by the descendants of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The collection comprises an assortment of correspondence and legal documents documenting the lives and property ownership of several branches of the Washington family. The collection is organized into five series: Correspondence, Legal Documents, Social, Miscellaneous, and Indenture Notices (Land Deeds).

Copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, 1801 8 pages Box 3, Folder 21

A manuscript copy of the last will and testament of Hannah Bushrod Washington, in which she specifies that her body be left out until it putrefies so that she is not buried alive. In her will, Hannah specifies that West Ford, the son of an enslaved woman named Venus, should be inoculated from smallpox, apprenticed to a tradesman, and freed at the age of twenty-one.

  1. Series 2. Legal Documents, 1697/1835
  2. Subseries 2.5. Wills, 1697/1833
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington and John Augustine Washington III correspondence, 1837/1861

5.7 Linear Feet 4 manuscript boxes

The bulk of this collection is made up of letters from Jane Charlotte Washington to her son, John Augustine Washington III. Also included are letters to Eleanor Love Selden Washington, a few letters to or from John Augustine Washington III to various individuals, several letters from George Mason of Hollin Hall (1797-1870) to John Augustine Washington III, letters by Lackland and Alexander family members (relatives of the Washingtons) and three receipts. The subject matter of most letters is family or personal affairs and Mount Vernon business with some discussion of the enslaved people owned by the Washingtons. Inclusive dates are 1837 to 1861.

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George Mason to John Augustine Washington III, 1859 Box 4, Folder 1859.06.29

A.L.S. Spring Bank, Virginia to Mount Vernon. Mason writes describing an incident he had with West Ford on his plantation. This remarkable letter highlights the way Ford, despite being a free man, was still treated like a slave by others: "On the evening of the Monday after Whitsunday, I was about sunset standing at my stable, giving some orders for the morning's work, when there passed within three or four yards of me a Negro man, who I did not know, without touching his hat, or any other recognition of my presence. After he had passed, I called to him asking who he was, and who did he belong to? He walked on, taking no notice, until I repeated the question, when he said 'Washington.' I then said, I suppose you have a name, and can tell me what Mr. Washington you belong to? He replied, 'West Ford.' His manner was insolent and supposing he was drunk, I said to him, there is the road to the gate, go off my place at once… When he got to the corner of the house, he commenced whooping and continued doing so, till he got out of the gate, which I had to send and have closed after him. I said nothing further to him, as he was obviously drunk; but directed one of my servants to go and tell him never to put his foot on the place again… Had he been anyone's servant but yours, I shd. have immediately had him apprehended and flogged for his impertinence; but satisfied that it could only be necessary to report the facts to you, and that you would take measures to prevent his ever coming here again, or repeating it, I have taken no further steps in the matter."

Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington and John Augustine Washington III correspondence, 1837/1861 5.7 Linear Feet 4 manuscript boxes

Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855

The bulk of this collection is made up of letters from Jane Charlotte Washington to her son, John Augustine Washington III. Also included are letters to Eleanor Love Selden Washington, a few letters to or from John Augustine Washington III to various individuals, several letters from George Mason of Hollin Hall (1797-1870) to John Augustine Washington III, letters by Lackland and Alexander family members (relatives of the Washingtons) and three receipts. The subject matter of most letters is family or personal affairs and Mount Vernon business with some discussion of the enslaved people owned by the Washingtons. Inclusive dates are 1837 to 1861.

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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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.

Letter, Bushrod Washington Herbert to John Augustine Washington III, 1847 Box 68, Folder 1847.07.20

Autograph letter signed with integral address panel. Bushrod Herbert writes to his cousin about business and family news. The address panel contains three weeks of diary notes by John Augustine in pencil. He notes on August 27 that he went to Audley, where Lorenzo Lewis was "very ill and died after I left there." On September 2, his wife Nelly was attended to by a dentist named Dr. McCormick. On September 11, John Augustine notes that West Ford paid him "105.00 for 60 cords of wood and 8.23 for fruit and vegetables and 3.50 from Smoot for Louisa's lamb."

  1. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  2. Manuscripts Box 68, 1846/1848

Letter, Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington to John Augustine Washington III, 1837 Box 62, Folder 1837.12.22

Autograph letter initialed. Janes writes that she is sending down "four large shoulder of Bacon" to Mount Vernon, along with two enslaved men, Willoughby and Gabriel, who she hopes will be "faithful and useful." She writes, "have them comfortably fixed my dear son treat them kindly, and I trust they will both prove valuable servants. Gabriel will require a strict tho kind discipline. Sarah or Milly must wast and mend for them." Jane also writes that she has had a letter from West Ford asking for the money she owes him. She instructs John Augustine to pay her pew fee and then pay Ford.

  1. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  2. Manuscripts Box 62, 1837/1838
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

John Augustine Washington III and family papers, 1789/1994

approx 4 Linear Feet 15 boxes

This collection contains correspondence, legal documents, financial records, and other documents related to John Augustine Washington III and his family, especially his son, Lawrence, as well as his granddaughters, Anne and Patty. The bulk of the correspondence series are letters sent to John Augustine Washington III and concern family affairs and the management of various family plantations, including Mount Vernon.

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Jane C. Washington to John Augustine Washington III, 1843 2 pages Box 2, Folder 1843.03.25

Letter from Jane C. Washington to John Augustine Washington III concerning family matters such as the recent death of Mr. Selden and a discussion about whether Washington should assume administration over the estate. An enslaved woman named Julia is sick. Includes her hope that West Ford will mail this letter today from Mount Vernon, with a postscript message from Ford to Washington about recovering a loan. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, with integral address panel.

  1. Series 1. Correspondence, 1797/1969
  2. Subseries 1.1. John Augustine Washington III, 1835/1861

John Augustine Washington III and family papers, 1789/1994 approx 4 Linear Feet 15 boxes

Alexander, Hannah Lee Washington, 1811-1881

This collection contains correspondence, legal documents, financial records, and other documents related to John Augustine Washington III and his family, especially his son, Lawrence, as well as his granddaughters, Anne and Patty. The bulk of the correspondence series are letters sent to John Augustine Washington III and concern family affairs and the management of various family plantations, including Mount Vernon.

Judith B. Alexander to John Augustine Washington III, 1842 Box 1, Folder 1842.02.08

Judith B. Alexander, Caledon, to John Augustine Washington III. Judith writes that she is suffering from melancholy and writes of religious matters. She also writes, "I observed with pleasure you have forbidden the intrusion of stages and omnibuses." She asks that she be fondly remembered to Aunt Jenny, "my poor old Joe Mitchum," Phil, West, Eliza, and Sarah.

  1. Series 1. Correspondence, 1797/1969
  2. Subseries 1.1. John Augustine Washington III, 1835/1861
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

John Augustine Washington III and Eleanor Love Selden correspondence, 1842/1860

0.5 Linear Feet

The collection contains correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his wife Eleanor Love Selden. The letters begin during the Washingtons' engagement and continues through eighteen years of marriage, ending with a letter from John Augustine to Eleanor composed the day prior to her sudden death. The letters contain information on family matters, the management of the Mount Vernon estate, and plantation life prior to the Civil War.

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John Augustine Washington III and Eleanor Love Selden correspondence, 1842/1860 0.5 Linear Feet

Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861

The collection contains correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his wife Eleanor Love Selden. The letters begin during the Washingtons' engagement and continues through eighteen years of marriage, ending with a letter from John Augustine to Eleanor composed the day prior to her sudden death. The letters contain information on family matters, the management of the Mount Vernon estate, and plantation life prior to the Civil War.

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon and MVLA Ephemera, 1858/2022

0.5 Linear Feet 1 Hollinger box

This artificial collection combines individual accessions or acquistions of ephemera pieces related to Mount Vernon or the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA). Items often concern the visitor's experience or tourism, such as railway timetables, menus, and souvenirs. Several documents were created by the MVLA for guests, and were made to represent or commemorate their visit. Other items include Christmas cards, souvenir maps, and information leaflets or brochures. The inclusive date range covers the entire period of the MVLA's ownership of Mount Vernon, ca. 1860 to present.

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Mount Vernon and MVLA Ephemera, 1858/2022 0.5 Linear Feet 1 Hollinger box

This artificial collection combines individual accessions or acquistions of ephemera pieces related to Mount Vernon or the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (MVLA). Items often concern the visitor's experience or tourism, such as railway timetables, menus, and souvenirs. Several documents were created by the MVLA for guests, and were made to represent or commemorate their visit. Other items include Christmas cards, souvenir maps, and information leaflets or brochures. The inclusive date range covers the entire period of the MVLA's ownership of Mount Vernon, ca. 1860 to present.

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