Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Washington Family Papers, Accession #317, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from C. J. Carrier of Bridgewater, Virginia in 1939.

Scope and Content Information

The papers consist chiefly of correspondence and documents related to the Washington family residing near Winchester, Virginia.

The papers include household accounts, 1770-1772, of Ann Washington; a petition, 1 June 1784, of landowners in Lexington, Va., for a year's extension to complete construction of buildings delayed by the Revolutionary War; a letter, 22 October 1784, to Benjamin Stoddert, Georgetown, D.C., regarding shipping concerns; and correspondence, 1787-1791, of William Fleming, regarding the settlement of a friend's estate, including a letter from Caleb Wallace.

There are also miscellaneous papers, 1784-1842, of the Washington family, regarding financial matters; trade between the United States and Great Britain; household accounts, including rent due to George William Fairfax; claims for military service; and land for sale near Red Sulphur Springs, Va. (i.e., W. Va.).

The collection also contains papers, 1790-1805, of William Augustine Washington, including accounts for household supplies and shipping costs, and a receipt; an appointment, 19 February 1791, signed by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, of Arthur Simkins as judge for Edgefield County, S.C.; a letter, 22 March 1794, to Bushrod Washington, regarding the disputed ownership of a slave; and a letter, 2 October 1795, to Etienne Dutilh, Philadelphia, Pa., regarding cargo shipments from London.

The papers also contain a waxen seal, 1799, of the State of Georgia; a letter, 18 December 1800, from George S. Washington to James Madison, regarding the impact of the Hessian fly on wheat crops; a letter, 23 December 1800, from David Holmes, Washington, D.C., regarding the election of Thomas Jefferson as President   of the United States; and a letter, 26 June 1803, from Henry Lee while at Botetourt County, Va., regarding business matters.

Also an unsigned letter 27 July 1814, regarding campaigns around Buffalo, N.Y. during the War of 1812; a letter, 1 February 1819, to Samuel McDowell Reid, Lexington, Va., regarding legislation to improve navigation on the James River; a letter, 1 June 1820, from William H. Cabell, Richmond, Va., regarding financial matters; papers, 1826-1828, regarding 202 acres land in Troup County, Ga., granted to John McDowl; and a letter, 4 November 1837, from George Corbin Washington, regarding financial matters.

Also a letter, 29 December 1837, from F.W. Pickens to his father, regarding Southern politics, family matters, and the health of his slaves; a letter, 3 April 1839, from David Campbell, Richmond, Va., to William C. Rives, Albemarle County, Va., regarding appointing an agent to secure foreign loans for the James River and Kanawha Company; and aletter, 30 September 1841, to A.P. Upshur, Washington, D.C., soliciting a naval appointment.

Also a letter, 13 August 1842, from Thomas Clayton, Washington, D.C., regarding President   Tyler; a letter, 5 November 1843, from James McDowell, Richmond, Va., regarding financial matters; a legal opinion, 4 December 1844, signed by George Corbin Washington, regarding lands abandoned under the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819; and a letter, 13 January 1845, from Edmund W. Hubard, Washington, D.C., to Winfield Scott, regarding possible changes to the militia system.

Also a letter, 26 July 1845, from William Smith, Washington, D.C., to James K. Polk, soliciting a promotion in the U.S. Department of the Treasury for his brother James; and a letter, 17 November 1845, to John Randolph Tucker, Winchester, Va., regarding deeds issued to his father, Henry St. George Tucker.

Also a letter, 8 December 1847, from Gideon J. Pillow, Mexico City, Mexico, to his wife, regarding a painting of the Battle of Chapultepec, the court of inquiry initiated against him by Winfield Scott, and family matters; aletter, 6 July 1848, from James McDowell, Washington, D.C., regarding a visit to Stauntan, Va.; and a letter, 24 October 1857, from T.S. Arthur, Philadelphia, Pa., accompanying a shipment of a volume of his works.

Also a letter, 20 December 1857, from Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Washington, D.C., regarding financial matters; a note, 19 December 1858, from John Letcher, Washington, D.C., complying with an unspecified request; and a military bounty, 10 March 1860, signed by James Buchanan, for eighty acres land in Hudson, Wis., granted for service in the War of 1812.

Also notes, 13 May 1861, from F.W. Pickens to R.S. Ripley to Edward Manigault, authorizing the transfer of a "twelve pounder" cannon from the Citadel; a pay certificate, 1863, for a Confederate soldier killed in the Battle of Sharpsburg; a letter, 22 February 1864, to David D. Porter, regarding the fitting of naval vessels; and a detail pass, 5 August 1864, for William A. Pierce to oversee work on a plantation in Jefferson County, Ga.

Also a letter, 20 March 1876, from Fitzhugh Lee, Stafford County, Va., answering a request for an autograph letter from Robert E. Lee; a letter, 2 May 1878, from Jefferson Davis, New Orleans, La., to G.T. Beauregard, regarding an invention to manufacture inexpensive gas; and a decree, 19 February 1883, of Alexander Hamilton Stephens, calling for a runoff election for the coroner of Columbia County, Ga.

Separated Material

Seven printed items that were part of the original collection were transferred to Rare Books:

1788 May 20 Edmund Randolph to Council (Broadside 1788 .V574); 1791, 1786 Lists of pensioners (Broadside 1791 .V57) and (Broadside 1786 .V55); 1821 Jan Speech by Mr. Floyd (E371 .F46 1821); 18-- Clay- Frelinghuysen Ticket (Broadside 1844 .W45); 1861 Arkansas $10 Treasury note (Broadside 1861 .A753); 1864 Sep 5 C.S.A. Subsistence Dept. Order (Broadside 1864 .C657); 1884 Democratic Ticket (Broadside 1884 .D456)

Adjunct Descriptive Data