1Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
Upon his marriage to the widow of Daniel Parke Custis on 6 Jan. 1759, GW assumed the management of what was at the time one of the most profitable estates in Virginia. The Custis estate, which included plantations in six counties in eastern Virginia worked by slaves valued at nearly £9,000 Virginia currency, was largely the creation of Martha Custis’s father-in-law, the eccentric John Custis...
2I. Queries to John Mercer, 20 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased on the other side to answer the following queries in a full and ample manner and oblige very much, Yr most Obedt Servt First—Does the Law require that all the Personal Estate (Negros only excepted) of the late Colo. Custis be sold, in order to lay of[f] his Widows dower and daughter’s part. or can it be done by the Inventory & appraisment—or lastly by dividing the Estate as it...
3II. John Mercer’s Answers, c.20–26 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
Answers to the foregoing Queries To the first. All such Goods as may be liable to perish or be the worse for keeping are by Law directed to be sold by public Auction as soon as conveniently may be after the debts paid —Yet I am of Opinion a Division may be made of the personal as well as the real Estate by the method hereafter mentioned. Mrs Washington has a clear right to one third of the...
4III. Report of the Commissioners to Settle the Estate, c.October 1759 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to the Order of the General Court made the 28th of April in the Year 1759 we have allotted and Assignd Mrs Martha Washington her Dower in the Lands and Slaves of her late Husband Daniel Parke Custis Esqr. deceasd as will appear by a Schedule hereunto annexd (marked A.) We have also Stated a general Account of the Estate of the said Daniel Parke Custis Esqr. decd from the several...
5III-A. Schedule A: Assignment of the Widow’s Dower, c.October 1759 (Washington Papers)
All the Lands in King William County 2880 acres N.B. the Marsh adjoing this Land is to furnish the other parts of the Estate with Hay (they being at the Expence and trouble of getting it) and this Land to receive necessary Timber from the Estate upon the same Conditions. Bridge Quarter Land ⟨is⟩ supposd to be about 700 acres Ship Landing Quarter and to make up the above 700 acres 1000 A Mill...
6III-A-1. Combined County Inventory of Slaves and Personal Property in the Estate, 1757–58 (Washington Papers)
The Appraisements of the Estate of Danl Parke Custis According to the Returns made to the County ⟨Cour⟩t of New Kent by Sworn appraisers whose Names are herunto annex’d A Negro Man named Anthony £20; Ditto Shomberg 45.; Ditto Squire 50.; Ditto Morris 60.; Ditto Jack Palmer 50.; Ditto Jemmy 12.; Ditto Ned 50.; Ditto Brunswick 40.; Ditto Michael 60.; Ditto Joe 60.; Ditto Sampson 1[s.]; A Negroe...
7III-A-2. Account of Items in the Estate Used by Martha Custis, 1759 (Washington Papers)
An Account of Sundrys taken and usd by Mrs Custis out of the Inventories No. £. s. d. ⟨19.⟩ A Chariot and Harness 80. 0. 0 30. 2 Sorrel horses 50. ditto 2 bay ditto 32. 32. 1 young Stallion 25. 244. 1 young bay horse (York) 20. ⟨3⟩4. 1 young Sorrel horse
8III-A-3. Account of Items in the Estate Sold, 1759 (Washington Papers)
Sale of the Estate Sundries Appraisd at Sold for £ s. d. £ s. d. 2 pair Andirons . 7.6 .15 3 ⟨pr⟩ ditto Saddle Bridle &ca 10. 6.14.7 [1] pr ditto and 4 pots and Pot hooks 7. 2. [1] Basket Butter pot Cannister &ca . 4. .13.6 ⟨ illegible
9III-A-4. Account of Items Used before the Division of the Estate, 1759 (Washington Papers)
An Account of Sundries used before the Estate was Divided No. £ s. d. 19. 478 lb. Lead 3.19. 24. 3 hides 5 old Hhds [4] brass Sieves & Iron [do] 1.10. 38. An assortment of Medicines &ca 8. . 60. 12 pr Mens Shoes and Slippers 5. . 61. 30 Men’s Hatts 3.16. 76. 9 Hatts and 8 Dutch blanketts
10III-A–5. Table of Disposition of Goods in the Estate, 1759 (Washington Papers)
A Table Shewing at one view how every Article in the Inventories was accounted for at Settling the Accounts before the Commissioners for that purpose. No. Estate G. W—n JPC Sold 1. 25. . 2. 6.10. 3. 1.10. 4. x .12. 5. 4. . 10. 1.15. 11. 10. .