To George Washington from John Dandridge, 23 June 1796
From John Dandridge
New Kent [Va.] June 23: 96
Dr Sir,
I cannot help saying that I am sorry to be obliged sometimes to trespass on the little time that you have to spare from attending to the many cares which your public & private affairs must ingage you in; but I will not aggravate my trespass by a tedious apology.
Being about to remove some distance from where I now live, & being possessed of the wives & children of Frederic and George two of the Slaves lent by you to my mother, they will be separated unless I can purchase them of you: I will therefore thank you to say whether I can have them & at what prices. They sold each at £60—under your execution & I suppose both about 31 or 32 years of age. A boy called Burwell now about 14 yrs old & another called pleasant about 11 or 12 yrs old have been raised by relations in my Family, & these I shall also be glad to purchase in the same way if you have no objections.1
My mother shall not be injured by parting with them as I will take care to compensate her for the use of them.2 I am respectfully yr obt Sert
J. Dandridge
N.B.
Burwell sold @ £22.10
pleasant @ 13.10
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For the loan of slaves to Mary Burbidge Dandridge, see GW to John Dandridge, 2 Oct. 1791. The slaves had belonged to Mary’s husband, Bartholomew Dandridge, Sr., but following his death came into GW’s possession to satisfy a debt (see GW to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 3 Feb. and 9 March 1788, in 6:78–79, 149; see also Ledger B, 280).