Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
Beebe collection of Washington family papers
RM.710
/repositories/3/resources/20
.5 Linear Feet
1818-1861
1840-1850
English
.
D:5
Arrangement
The collection is organized in date order with undated letters at the end.
Biographical / Historical
John Augustine Washington III was the great-grand nephew of George Washington and the last private owner of Mount Vernon. He was born on May 3, 1821 to John Augustine Washington II and Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington. His young childhood was spent at Blakeley Plantation near Charles Town, WV. After the death of Bushrod Washington and his wife, the family moved to Mount Vernon. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1840 and returned to Mount Vernon to manage it for his mother, eventually inheriting it. However, he had to start encouraging tourism to make money. He tried to sell to the federal or state governments but finally sold Mount Vernon to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1858 for $200,000. The family moved to Waveland plantation. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as an aid-de-camp to General Lee and was killed on September 13, 1861.
Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington was the mother of John Augustine Washington III. When she died in 1855, she left Mount Vernon to her son.
Eleanor Love Selden Washington was the wife of John Augustine Washington III.
Louisa Washington was the daughter of John Augustine Washington III and Eleanor Washington.
Preferred Citation
[Name and date of item], Beebe Collection of Washington family papers, [Folder], Special Collections, The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia.
Related Materials
Related materials can be found in the John Augustine Washington III Family Papers and the Historic Manuscripts Collection.
Content Description
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.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration Form before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain items for preservation purposes.
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861
Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855
Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829
Ford, West, approximately 1784-1863
Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-1927
Letter, Jane C. Washington to John Augustine WashingtonMS-4853/repositories/3/archival_objects/987Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551818 September 30English.11Letter: Jane C. Washington, Wheatland, to John Augustine Washington, Buffaloe, 1818 September 30: 2020-03-04
Scope and ContentsWheatland to Buffaloe. Family matters; relates offer to him to purchase 800 acres of land.
CorrespondenceWashington, John Augustine, 1789-1832Letter, Bushrod Washington to Noblet HerbertMS-4854/repositories/3/archival_objects/989Washington, Bushrod, 1762-18291824 April 24English.12Letter: Bushrod Washington, Philadelphia, to Noblet Herbert, Alexandria, 1824 April 24: 2020-03-04
Scope and ContentsPhiladelphia to Alexandria. Health improving after respiratory illness; returning soon to court.
CorrespondenceHerbert, NobletLetter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington IIMS-4855/repositories/3/archival_objects/990Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 or 1830 February 4English.13Letter: John Augustine Washington III, Richland, to John Augustine Washington II, Mount Vernon, 1829 or 1830 February 4: 2020-03-04
Scope and ContentsRichland to Mount Vernon. Sends good wishes to family.
CorrespondenceWashington, John Augustine, 1789-1832Letter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington IIMS-4856/repositories/3/archival_objects/1473Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 February 8English.14Letter: John Augustine Washington III, Richland, to John Augustine Washington II, 1829 February 8: 2020-03-04
Scope and ContentsRichland. Sends love to all family members; requests ice skates.
CorrespondenceWashington, John Augustine, 1789-1832Letter, West Ford to Bushrod WashingtonMS-4857/repositories/3/archival_objects/1474Ford, West, approximately 1784-18631829 August 27English.15West Ford to Bushrod Washington, Blakeley, 27 August 1829: 2017-11-21
Scope and ContentsA 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.
CorrespondenceWashington, Bushrod, 1762-1829Letter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington IIMS-4858/repositories/3/archival_objects/1475Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 December 4English.16Letter: John Augustine Washington III, Richland, to John Augustine Washington II, Mount Vernon, 1829 December 4: 2020-07-15
Scope and ContentsRichland to Mount Vernon. Has not heard from home; sends love to all; send things he asked for.
CorrespondenceWashington, John Augustine, 1789-1832Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4859/repositories/3/archival_objects/1476Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611839 September 17English.17Letter: John Augustine Washington III, Charlottesville, to Jane C. Washington, Charlestown, 1839 September 17: 2020-07-15
Scope and ContentsCharlottesville to Charlestown. Needs her permission to take only 2 courses at university; wants to purchase mare, visited Aunt Judy.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4860/repositories/3/archival_objects/1477Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611840 December 1English.18Letter: John Augustine Washington III, University of Virginia, to Jane C. Washington, Charlestown, 1840 December 1: 2020-07-15
Scope and ContentsUniversity of Virginia to Charlestown. Discusses possible appointment of new professor who does not have JAW's vote.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4861/repositories/3/archival_objects/1478Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611842 October 18English.19Letter: John Augustine Washington III, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Charlestown, 1842 October 18: 2020-07-15
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Charlestown. Tells mother of proposing to Nelly; describes horse races; financial matters.
Mount Vernon (Va. : Estate)Enslaved persons -- DiseasesWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, Jane C. Washington to Eleanor L. WashingtonMS-4862/repositories/3/archival_objects/1479Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551844 April 11English.110Letter: Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, to Eleanor L. Washington, Mount Vernon, 1844 April 11: 2020-07-29
Scope and ContentsBlakeley to Mount Vernon. Relates ill health of various family members and other family news.
CorrespondenceLetter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. WashingtonRM-710 ; MS-4863/repositories/3/archival_objects/1585Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611844 July 1English.111Letter: John Augustine Washington, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1844 July 1: 2020-01-20
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; selling slave; thoughts on banks, family wishes.
Mount Vernon (Va. : Estate)Enslaved personsCorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4864/repositories/3/archival_objects/1586Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611845 February 18English.112Letter: John Augustine Washington, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1845 February 18: 2020-07-29
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; slave repeatedly running off; family matters.
Fugitive slaves -- VirginiaCorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Mrs. AlexanderMS-4865/repositories/3/archival_objects/1587Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601845 October 31English.113Letter: Eleanor L. Washington, Mount Vernon, to Mrs. Alexander, Charlestown, 1845 October 31: 2020-07-29
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Charlestown. Sending various flower cuttings; family news.
CorrespondenceLetter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4866/repositories/3/archival_objects/1588Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611845 November 29English.114Letter: John Augustine Washington, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1845 November 29: 2020-07-29
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Illness is past; wants her to visit; concerned he might have offended aunt; other visits.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4867/repositories/3/archival_objects/1589Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 January 27English.115Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1846 January 27: 2020-10-12
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Relates travels home; landscape descriptions; family greetings.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4868/repositories/3/archival_objects/1590Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 February 13English.116Letter, John Augustine Washington III, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1846 February 13: 2020-10-12
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Family illnesses; Alexandria returning to Virginia; discusses selling Mount Vernon to government.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4869/repositories/3/archival_objects/1591Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 June 9English.117Letter, John Augustine Washington III, Mount Vernon, to Jane C. Washington, Blakeley, 1846 June 9: 2020-10-12
Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Blakeley. Visitors to Mount Vernon; family matters.
CorrespondenceWashington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4870/repositories/3/archival_objects/1592Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601847 February 9English.21Scope and ContentsMount Vernon. Storm damaged trees; family matters.
Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-1855Letter, John Augustine Washington III to "My Dear Sir"MS-4871/repositories/3/archival_objects/1593Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611848 February 4English.22Scope and ContentsMount Vernon. Legal concerns.
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to "My Dear Sir"MS-4872/repositories/3/archival_objects/1594Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611848 October 7English.23Scope and ContentsWants to meet in Alexandria about legal matters.
Letter, Jane C. Washington to Louisa WashingtonMS-4873/repositories/3/archival_objects/1595Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551850 July 29English.24Scope and ContentsBlakeley. Much family news and love sent.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "Sister Mary"MS-4874/repositories/3/archival_objects/1596Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601854 September 30English.25Scope and ContentsSunnyside. Louisa was sick; drought; family matters.
Letter, Louisa Washington to John Augustine Washington IIIMS-4875/repositories/3/archival_objects/1597Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-19271857 August 25English.26Scope and ContentsCharlestown. Family matters.
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Louisa WashingtonMS-4876/repositories/3/archival_objects/1598Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611861 May 8English.27Scope and ContentsHeadquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond. Tells of army life and waiting to engage enemy; send horse.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington, to "My Dear Sister"MS-4877/repositories/3/archival_objects/1599Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.28Scope and ContentsRequests various plants; family matters.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington, to "My Dear Sister"MS-4878/repositories/3/archival_objects/1600Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.29Scope and ContentsSending the children for Easter; wants dresses made to her specifications.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister"MS-4879/repositories/3/archival_objects/1601Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, April 18English.210Scope and ContentsMount Vernon. Misses her children; inviting others to visit.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister"MS-4880/repositories/3/archival_objects/1602Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.211Scope and ContentsWritten in the winter as talks about sleighing; wants her to visit.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister Mary"MS-4881/repositories/3/archival_objects/1603Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, September 20English.212Scope and ContentsCave Farm to Warwick, VA. Family news from her visit; preacher's sermons very dull.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Jane C. WashingtonMS-4882/repositories/3/archival_objects/1604Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, October 1English.213Scope and ContentsMt. Ida to Blakeley. Much sickness at Mount Vernon; family greetings.
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Mrs. AlexanderMS-4883/repositories/3/archival_objects/1605Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, November 15English.214Scope and ContentsMount Vernon to Walnut Farm. Very busy with sewing clothes for children; family visits and greetings.
Eleanor L. Washington, Cave Farm, to Mrs. Lippitt, WarwickMS-4884/repositories/3/archival_objects/1606Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860[?] August 10English.215Scope and ContentsVery crowded there – many children; many family greetings.
Eleanor L. Washington, to John A. Washington, Ferry LandingMS-4885/repositories/3/archival_objects/1607Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.216Scope and ContentsSorry to hear of his illness; wants him to come up.
Eliza A. Lloyd, to NellyMS-4886/repositories/3/archival_objects/1608Lloyd, E. A.undatedEnglish.217Scope and ContentsMuch family news; concerned about sale of Mount Vernon.
Letter, Lou to Fontaine LippittMS-4887/repositories/3/archival_objects/1609Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-1927undated, April 30English.218Scope and ContentsWaveland to Halltown. Family visits and greetings; John A. Washington gone to Richmond to join General Lee's staff.
Pencil sketch/repositories/3/archival_objects/1610undatedEnglish.219Pencil sketch, undated: 2020-11-25
GeneralNote on folder: "The enclosed picture was always said by Mrs. R.P. Chew to be of West Ford."
Drawings (visual works)Ford, West, approximately 1784-1863 -- Portrait3 packets of seedsMS-4888/repositories/3/archival_objects/1611undatedEnglish.220GeneralEnvelope labeled in John Augustine Washington's handwriting, said to have been found on his body after his death on 13 September 1861
Cake and calf head soup recipes, (in the hand of Eleanor L. Washington)MS-4889/repositories/3/archival_objects/1612Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.221Benjamin Dean, Alexander Gibson, and William [?]MS-4890/repositories/3/archival_objects/16131825 December 26English.222Scope and ContentsPromises return of hired Negro, along with two suits of clothes.
SlaveryClothing and dressCopy of list of slaves owned by John A. WashingtonMS-4891/repositories/3/archival_objects/1614undatedEnglish.223Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861Copy of John Augustine Washington's willMS-4892/repositories/3/archival_objects/16151861 October 30English.224Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861Copy of eulogy of Col. John Augustine Washington, from the Richmond DispatchMS-4893/repositories/3/archival_objects/1616undatedEnglish.225Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-1861