A Guide to the Martha Washington letters, 1797 #23876

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
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Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Martha Washington letters, 1797. Accession 23876. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Lent for copying by Gertrude Richards, Richmond, Virginia, 15 October 1952.

Biographical/Historical Information

Martha Washington was born 21 June 1731 in New Kent County, Virginia, to John Dandridge (1700-1756) and Frances Jones Dandridge (1710-1785). She married first Daniel Parke Custis (1711-1757) in 1749. They had four children, only two of whom survived to adulthood. She then married George Washington (1732-1799), 6 January 1759, and they had no children. Martha Washington died 22 May 1802 at Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia, and was buried there, next to her second husband.

Scope and Content Information

Letters, 1797, from Martha Washington (1731-1802) of Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia, to Elizabeth Powell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consisting of: a) a letter dated 1 May 1797, informing Mrs. Powell that the steward the Washingtons had hired was inadequate and asking for help in hiring a new one; and b) a letter, dated 20 May 1797, discussing the appropriate qualities that Mrs. Washington looked for in house servants. Each letter includes a draft written in the hand of George Washington (1732-1799) and a fair copy in the hand of Martha Washington. Original letters are located with the Mount Vernon's Ladies Aid Association.