Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
PO Box 3600Michele Lee, Special Collections Librarian. Updated by Katherine Hoarn, Special Collections Librarian. Updated by Samantha Snyder, Reference Librarian, August 2020.
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.
[Name and date of item], Esther Maria Lewis Chapin Collection of Washington family documents, [Folder], Special Collections, The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia.
Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis (1779-1852): Eleanor was born on March 31, 1779. She was the youngest granddaughter of Martha Washington and the step-granddaughter of George Washington. After her father John Parke Custis' death in 1781 and her mother, Eleanor Calvert Custis' marriage to Dr. David Stuart, Eleanor and her brother George Washington Parke Custis began living with the Washingtons. In 1799, Eleanor married Washington's nephew, Lawrence Lewis. Of their eight children, only one son and three daughters lived to maturity. Eleanor and Lawrence remained at Mount Vernon until Martha Washington's death in 1802 and subsequently moved to Woodlawn Plantation upon its completion in 1805. Throughout her life, Nelly regarded herself as the preserver of George Washington's legacy. She died at Audley Plantation on July 15, 1852 and is buried at Mount Vernon in the family tomb.
Lewis, Lawrence (1767-1839): Nephew of George Washington, born on April 4, 1767, in Fredericksburg, VA to Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington Lewis, the sister of George Washington. In 1797 he became personal secretary to Washington and married Eleanor Custis, a granddaughter of Martha Washington, on February 22, 1799. He was the primary executor of Washington's will and was given 2,000 acres of land by him on which he built Woodlawn. They moved to Audley Plantation in 1830 on land he had purchased from Washington's holdings. He died on November 20, 1839 and is buried in the vault at Mount Vernon.
Washington, Bushrod (1762-1869): Bushrod was the son of Hannah Bushrod and John Augustine Washington, the younger brother of George Washington. Upon the death of George Washington, Bushrod inherited the Mount Vernon estate. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, Bushrod served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was joined on the Supreme Court by his long-time friend, John Marshall. Justices Washington and Marshall had met while attending law lectures given by George Wythe at the College of William and Mary. Bushrod and his wife, Julia Ann Blackburn, had no children of their own, but raised three of their nephews. One nephew, John Augustine Washington (1789-1832), would inherit Mount Vernon from Bushrod.
Scope and Content: This collection was originally assembled by Esther Maria Lewis Chapin, who inherited some of the Washington and Custis papers but was also an avid collector. She reassembled family materials that were being dispersed nationwide, much of which was purchased at Anderson Galleries, sale 22001, 28-29 November 1927. The collection contains correspondence, legal documents, and financial records related primarily to the Custis and Lewis families. Much of the financial and legal materials focus on the construction of the New Tomb at Mount Vernon, as well as settling George Washington's estate.The dates of the material in this collection ranges from 1743-1852, with the bulk of the material dating between 1818-1829.
The collection is divided into four series: Correspondence, Financial and Legal Materials, and Research Files. The folders are arranged in chronological order within each series. The undated material is listed at the end of each series, in alphabetical order by folder title.
Series 1. Correspondence Series 2. Financial and Legal Materials Series 3. Research Files Series 4. Bound Volumes
Bushrod Washington Family Papers ; Elizabeth Bordley Gibson Collection ; George Washington Collection ; Historic Manuscript Collection ; Lawrence Lewis Papers ; Martha Washington Collection ; Peter Family Papers
Two books were transferred to the rare book collection:
Washington's farewell address to the people of the United States (Newburyport : Published by W. and J. Gilman, 1812). [A-1421] Robert E. Lee : a character sketch by H. H. Smith ([Richmond], [Williams Print. Co.], [1925]). [A-1421]
Autograph letter signed. Washington orders a new suit, to be made for a slender man about six-feet tall.
Autograph letter signed, regarding the sale of property.
Autograph letter signed, discussing the settlement of George Washington's estate.
Autograph letter signed, discussing financial transactions. Mentions John Marshall.
Autograph letter signed. Discusses suit with Samuel Washington and Kanawha lands.
Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, with additional page of accounts.
Autograph letter signed, with list of names on verso (possibly of enslaved persons).
Autograph letter signed, about renting Rock Hall.
Autograph letter signed, likely to Lawrence Lewis, about settling account books
Autograph letter signed, about selling city property and settling accounts.
Autograph letter, signed, likely to Lawrence Washington, about lands in Kentucky and lots in the Federal City.
Autograph letter signed. Bushrod writes that he "highly approves" of Lewis's "plan for the future settlement of the free negroes."
Autograph letter signed, giving instructions for dealing with Mr. Alexander. Bushrod writes about Lawrence's plan to resettle the "free negroes."
Autograph letter signed, with list of all the legatees of George Washington's estate and their addresses.
Autograph letter signed, discussing Mr. Alexander's financial problems.
Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, about the sale of Rock Hall.
Autograph letter signed, about the sale of Rock Hall.
Autograph letter signed, about the sale of Rock Hall.
Autograph letter signed, about the sale of Rock Hall and complaints about Mr. Alexander.
Autograph letter signed, about settling various accounts.
Autograph letter signed, with details of amount to be paid to Dr. Turner from Washington's estate.
Autograph letter signed, about settling the estate of George Washington.
Autograph letter signed. Bushrod writes that he purchased 10 barrels of corn to give to the "free negroes."
Autograph letter signed, regarding legal matters in Alexandria.
Autograph letter signed, regarding the suit of the estate of George Washington against Thomas Lee and Gerard Alexander of Pendleton County.
Letter discussing judgements in the Superior Court of Fairfax County.
Autograph letter signed, regarding judgement against Mr. Lee.
Autograph letter signed. Bushrod writs that Lawrence needs to meet Mr. Lee in Alexandria about settling debt.
Autograph letter signed, about recovering money and selling wheat crop.
Autograph letter signed, about Mr. Alexander and hiring Reuben to build a brick chimney.
Autograph letter signed, about buying clothes, meat, and corn for a poor woman.
Autograph letter signed, about claims made by Mr. Hammond and Mr. Peter. Bushrod writes that his health has been poor.
Autograph letter signed, about payment for corn and house in Alexandria.
Autograph letter signed, about signing an agreement with Doctor Peale.
Autograph letter signed, about financial matters.
Autograph letter signed, encloses check for corn and timothy.
Autograph letter signed. Bushrod invites Lawrence to dine at Mount Vernon so they can discuss Dismal Swamp shares.
Autograph letter signed, about debt.
Autograph letter signed. Bushrod writes that he has looked through a bundle of General Washington's letters and his letterbook and found one letter to Dr. Jenifer regarding the sale of tobacco.
Autograph letter signed, about financial matters.
Autograph letter signed. Custis writes that he has paid all of his debt to Peyton.
Lengthy letter thanking Lewis for sending the scent bottle that once belonged to George Washington. Rivinus writes about how great Washington was and send news from the city of "brotherly love," including the death of Bushrod Washington and various engagements.
Autograph letter signed. Describes Lawrence Lewis's visit to Woodlawn and writes that she made a purse for Lorenzo, among other family news.
Letter about selling parcels of land.
Letter discussing family news.
Letter discussing family news.
Autograph letter, telling of the death of their granddaughter from whooping cough. Nelly describes the treatment given to the child and writes that she will be interred at the vault at Mount Vernon.
Autograph letter, grieving the loss of their granddaughter. Their daughter is pregnant again. Nelly also writes about financial concerns.
McLean writes that he is enclosing a check for $100 to the estate of George Washington.
Account of taxes owed on properties owned by the estate of General George Washington in Alexandria.
Prentis writes about paying taxes and the Dismal Swamp lands.
Page writes that he wants to meet Lewis in Norfolk to discuss property.
Prentis writes about tax payments, with enclosed receipts to the Sheriff of Nansemond County.
Letter about selling Ohio lands and claims that cannot be paid.
Autograph letter signed. Nelly sends best wishes to her "dearest niece" on her upcoming wedding.
Moore writes that Mr. Hammond's court case is almost settled.
Framed.
Autograph document, 5 pages. Certified by Harry Turner, County Clerk, Westmoreland County.
Receipt for money paid in Pennsylvania currency for land owned by Samuel Chase.
Autograph document in the hand of George Washington, 12 pages, folio, bound in morocco. Washington's personal copy of official documents made by Nathaniel Walthoe, clerk of the council, of all land grants applied for from 1745-1769 for lands lying between the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
Autograph document signed, 13 pages. Stitched manuscript pamphlet in hand of the collector of rents in King George County. Includes rent paid by Mary Washington on 700 acres.
Promissory note for 12 gallons of oil and a patent brush. With a distillery sketch on verso.
Copy of agreement related to renting land.
Copy of agreement related to renting land.
Autograph document signed.
Signed by Lewis as executor of the estate of George Washington.
7 receipts dating from 1832-1836 related to the estate of George Washington.
Receipt for repairs to the vault door at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for barrels of lime for the new tomb at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for the delivery of 5000 bricks from the new tomb at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for hauling bricks and sand to the vault at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for six days work on the new tomb at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for laying bricks at the new tomb at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for covering the vault of the new tomb at Mount Vernon.
Receipt for work on the new tomb at Mount Vernon, including a note from the contactor that he has an "aversion" to putting a price on his own work.
Receipt for plastering the vault at Mount Vernon.
Autograph document signed, 1 page.
Autograph document, 2 pages.
Docketed "L. Lewis Papers."
Receipt for payment from James Hunter for the account of Col. William Aylett. Framed with provenance information on verso.
Draft invoice, docketed by Charles Worthington. Framed.
Receipt for renting a house in Georgetown for one month. Framed.
Document titled "Papers for the Lili Chapin Book" with assorted envelopes.
With letters from Ernest Dressel North to Mrs. Chapin regarding the sale.