From George Washington to Robert Chambers, 28 January 1789
To Robert Chambers
Mount Vernon January 28th 1789
Sir,
I have received your letter of the 14th Instt enclosing your account against Mr Ferdinand Washington which is herewith returned1—and must inform you that I have repeatedly refused, and am determined not to have any thing to do in the settlement of his affairs; for his conduct, while living, was such as I totally disapproved of, and left no means or advice unessayed to counteract. His extravagance could not be unknown to those who had dealings with him, and particularly for any length of time; they therefore who gave credit, and especially for such Articles as were not necessary for his support, must have been sensible, at the time, of the risque which they took upon themselves, and consequently can have no person to reproach with having drawn them into it. The Administrators must settle his affairs in the manner which appears most proper to them without my interference in any respect. I am &c.
Go: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found. Ferdinand Washington (1767–1788) was the eldest son of GW’s brother Samuel and his fourth wife Anne Steptoe Washington. He died “of a Consumption” in Lancaster County, Va., in February 1788 (, 5:272, 278). By the terms of his father’s will, probated in 1781, Ferdinand was left two tracts of land, a fourth of his slaves and livestock, and most of the family silver (Berkeley County, W.Va., Will Book No. 1, 237–39). Although Ferdinand may well have been as imprudent as GW believed, the claims on Samuel’s estate had probably left little of the son’s inheritance. See Francis Willis, Jr., to GW, 24 Sept. 1788, source note.