by Flora Fraser
1: COLONIAL COLONEL
“a military life”: GW to John Stanwix, March 4, 1758, PGW.
all public business: Ibid.
tell a lie: Weems, Life of Washington, 21, 12.
“indicating great strength”: Freeman, Washington, 3:6 n.10.
“of gum arabic”: GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, November 15, 1757, PGW.
“ten for it”: Sparks, Life of Washington, 2:10.
“he has none”: Freeman, Washington, 1:198–99.
“in the sound”: GW to JAW, May 31, 1754, PGW.
how to behave: Washington, Rules of Civility.
“lay long abed”: Henriques, “Major Lawrence Washington Versus the Reverend Charles Green,” 252.
“his [Fairfax] parentage”: Brown, Virginia Baron, 59.
leave his wealth elsewhere: Ibid.
“Fairfax’s Wife’s sister”: GW to “Robin,” [1749–50], PGW.
“of my life”: GW to George William Fairfax, February 27, 1785, PGW.
“of an enemy”: Sarah Fairfax Carlyle to GW, June 17, 1754, PGW.
“of your attention”: GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, [June 7, 1755], PGW.
“at Mount Vernon”: Sarah Cary Fairfax et al. to GW, [July 26, 1755], PGW.
“obliged George Washington”: GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, [March 4, 1758], PGW.
two small children: Ledger Book 1, f. 38, entries for March 15, 25, 1758; f. 39, entry for June 5, 1758; both in Series 5, GWP.
2: DANDRIDGE’S DAUGHTER
an “agreeable widow”: Robert Stewart to GW, December 29, 1758, n.5, PGW.
much to endure: Zuppan, Letter Book of John Custis IV, 15.
“for Dandridge’s daughter”: Custis v. Moody, Section 11, Deposition of Anne Moody, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“lady in Virginia”: Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 432 and n.
at the White House: Custis-Lee family Bible, giving date of marriage, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“as there are”: DPC to R. Cary, May 5, 1755, Etting Collection, HSP, quoted in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 435.
banks of the river: Richard Pye Cook to Mrs. John Stewart, July 16, 1887, quoted in Bryan, First Lady of Liberty, 29 n.8.
a satin dress: John Wollaston, John and Martha Parke Custis, Lee Chapel and Museum, WLU.
her second marriage: Matthew Pratt, The Custis Children, VHS.
“years well grown”: DPC, Invoice Book, 1749–57, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“and no lining”: Ibid.
“and newest fashion”: Lynch, Custis Chronicles, 114 and n.384.
“[Antigua plaintiffs’ demands]”: DPC to John Mercer, November 2, 1754, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
Robert Cary and Co. in 1754: DPC, Invoice Book, 1749–57, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
sometime in 1756: Freeman, Washington, 2:298.
“3 years old”: DPC, Invoice Book, 1749–57, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“Patsy” Parke Custis: John Wollaston, Daniel Parke Custis; Martha Dandridge Custis [MW]; John and Martha Parke Custis, Lee Chapel and Museum, WLU.
the following day: Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 15–16.
“cost about £100”: DPC, Invoice Book, 1749–57, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“river [the James River]”: Martha Dandridge Custis [MW] to Robert Cary & Co., August 20, 1757, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 5–6.
“heels, well sewed”: DPC, Invoice Book, Martha Dandridge Custis to Robert Cary, Invoice, August 20, 1757, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“in my favour”: Martha Dandridge Custis [MW] to John Hanbury & Co., December 20, 1757, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 21.
were also liable: John Mercer to Martha Dandridge Custis [MW], November 2, 1858, ibid., 56.
3: NORTH AND SOUTH
rejoining his regiment: Ledger Book 1, f. 38, entry for March 15, 1758, Series 5, GWP; GW to Richard Washington, March 18, 1758, PGW.
“to Winchester directly” : GW to John Forbes, April 23, 1758, n., PGW.
“the ensuing campaign”: GW to John Forbes, April 23, 1758, PGW.
further thirty shillings: Ledger Book 1, f. 38, entries for March 16 and 25, 1758, Series 5, GWP.
the Pamunkey River: Custis, Recollections, 499–502.
“of your affections”: Robert Stewart to GW, January 16, 1759, PGW.
“shillings, fourpence ha’penny”: Ledger Book 1, f. 38, entry for March 16, 1758, Series 5, GWP.
Robert Carter Nicholas: Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 3–4.
the lawyer professionally: Robert Carter Nicholas to GW, January 5, 1758, PGW.
“the widow Custis”: Tinling, ed., Correspondence of Byrds, 2:646 and n.
an “agreeable partner”: GW to Richard Washington, May 7, 1759, PGW.
“Consort for Life”: GW to Richard Washington, September 20, 1759, PGW.
“been brought up”: GW to Elizabeth Parke Custis, September 14, 1794, PGW.
censured the match: GW to Francis Dandridge, September 20, 1759, PGW.
“you have made”: MW to John Hanbury & Co., June 1, 1758, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 44.
“broad [field] hoes”: MW to Robert Cary & Co., 1758, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 25–28.
“Custis’s servants 14/6”: Ledger Book 1, f. 39, entry for June 5, 1758, Series 5, GWP.
“got it accomplished”: GW to Francis Fauquier, June 17, 1758, PGW.
she now commissioned: MW to Robert Cary & Co., 1758, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 25–26.
“of human nature”: GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, September 12, 1758, PGW.
“obliged George Washington”: GW to Sarah Cary Fairfax, September 25, 1758, PGW.
4: MOUNT VERNON, FAIRFAX COUNTY
“loss, losing you”: James Craik to GW, December 20, 1758, PGW.
“I have endured”: GW to the Officers of the Virginia Regiment, January 10, 1759, PGW.
on the occasion: Cadou, George Washington Collection, 244.
lasting several days: Harris, Old New Kent County, 1:118–19; Custis, Recollections, 11.
at Martha’s home: Robert E. Lee to [parishioner] Virginia [surname illegible], October 23, 1869, Archives, St. Peter’s Church, New Kent; Lee, My Father, Lee, 364.
“happiness or misery”: GW to BB, May 23, 1785, PGW.
“Parke Custis, Esquire”: GW to Robert Cary, May 1, 1759, PGW.
“of Fort Duquesne”: Resolution [February 26, 1759], JHB: 1758–1761.
“rubbed and cleaned”: GW to John Alton, Thursday morning [April 5, 1759], PGW.
and inferior windowpanes: GW to Richard Washington, invoice, November 10, 1757, PGW.
“neat—and good”: GW to Richard Washington, April 15, 1757, PGW.
“slab, and covings”: Richard Washington, invoice, November 10, 1757, PGW.
and white hangings: Enclosure, Invoice to Robert Cary & Co., May 1, 1759, PGW.
was to ensue: George William Fairfax to GW, April 15, 1761, PGW.
“merchant & planter”: GW to Robert Cary, April 26, 1763, PGW.
“wide and bustling World”: GW to Richard Washington, September 20, 1759, PGW.
“he has seen”: MW to AMB, June 1, 1760, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 129.
“plantation to stock”: GW to Robert Stewart, [April 27, 1763], PGW.
own Potomac tobacco: Enclosure, Invoice to Robert Cary & Co., May 1, 1759, PGW; GW to Robert Cary, May 1, 1759, and n., PGW.
of the children: Guardian Accounts, April 12, 1762, PGW.
“books very fast”: MW to AMB, August 28, 1762, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 147–48.
“her very much”: MW to Margaret Green, [September 29, 1760], ibid., 131–32.
“drunk,” Washington noted: Diaries, entry for April 9, 1760, PGW.
“his profession” increased: GW to John Armstrong, March 20, 1770, PGW.
“be quite spoiled”: MW to AMB, April 6, 1762, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 146.
home to Eltham: Diaries, entries for January 1760, PGW.
&
nbsp; a subscription affair: Diaries, entry for January 12, 1769, PGW.
“hot water sweetened”: Diaries, entry for February 15, 1760, PGW.
“before this time”: MW to AMB, June 1, 1760, in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 129.
“it has been”: MW to AMB, April 6, 1762, ibid., 146.
“me,” she wrote: MW to AMB, August 28, 1762, ibid., 147–48.
far outsell his: GW to Robert Cary, April 26, 1763, PGW.
“largeness of it”: GW to Robert Stewart, April 27, 1763, PGW.
5: FAMILY AFFAIRS
“forts or flying”: GW to BB, July 5, 1763, PGW.
“colony to them”: Francis Fauquier to House of Burgesses, May 19, 1763, JHB: 1761–1765, 171.
land due him: GW to Lord Dunmore, November 2, 1773, PGW.
the desolate expanses: Memorandum, October 15, 1763, PGW.
maize and tobacco: GW to BB, July 5, 1763, PGW.
their behalf attest: Guardian Accounts III, Accounts 1762–73, PGW.
“very large fortune”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, May 30, 1768, PGW.
“exceed two guineas”: MW to Mrs. Shelbury, August 10, 1764, PGW.
“MacKay,” dancing master: Guardian Accounts, May 6, 1765, PGW.
of their homes: Diaries, entry for March 13, 1770; Guardian Accounts, May 1, 1771; both in PGW.
an inflated price: “Invoice of Sundries, to be shipped by R. Cary…,” October 12, 1761, WGW.
lessons Stedlar gave: “Cash paid Mr. Stedlar for teaching Mrs. Washington and two children music, £38.14.0,” Ledger Book 1, f. 231, entry for May 7, 1766, Series 5, GWP.
“the Greek testament”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, May 30, 1768, PGW.
records Washington kept: Guardian Accounts for JPC, [May 5, 1769], entry for May 18, 1767, PGW.
“not always that”: GW to Francis Dandridge, September 20, 1765, PGW.
Colonel George Mason: Diaries, entries for March 21, 1763, March 29, 1764, PGW.
“Frugality and industry”: Sparks, Life of Franklin, 294.
“upon their liberties”: GW to Francis Dandridge, September 20, 1765, PGW.
6: ACTS AND ASSOCIATIONS
to “Your Lady”: Robert Stewart to GW, August 18, 1765, PGW.
“disagreeable on yours”: GW to Francis Dandridge, September 20, 1765, PGW.
the Virginia legislature: Robert Stewart to GW, August 18, 1765, PGW.
“as American Freedom”: Van Schreeven, Scribner, and Tarter, eds., Revolutionary Virginia, 1:17–18.
“as Homer wrote”: Randolph, ed., Memoir, Correspondence of Jefferson, 6.
“most of it”: Wirt, Sketches of Henry, 65.
“over the continent”: Carter, ed., Gage Correspondence, 1:67.
then burned them: Account of John Mercer, October 17, 1765, reprinted Virginia Gazette, September 26, 1766.
confession and contrition: John Mercer to Printer, September 12, 1766, Virginia Gazette, September 26, 1766.
resign his office: Francis Fauquier to Board of Trade, November 3, 1765, JHB: 1761–1765, lxix.
spent the night: Ibid., lxix–lxx.
use stamped paper: Van Schreeven, Scribner, and Tarter, eds., Revolutionary Virginia, 1:22–26.
“execrable a design”: McGaughy, Richard Henry Lee, 80 and n.20.
“Repeal of it”: George Washington to Francis Dandridge, September 20, 1765, PGW.
“as useless lumber”: GW to Robert Cary & Co., August 22, 1766, PGW.
“melancholy proofs of”: GW to George Mason, April 5, 1769, PGW.
by the king: November 6, 1766, JHB: 1766–1769, 13.
“Affcetionate [sic] Martha Washington”: LW to GW, March 30, 1767, with Postscript [MW to GW], PGW.
remained in the harbor: Diaries, October 31, 1768, n., PGW.
the Virginians “exceedingly”: Diaries, November 2, 1768, n., PGW.
“in the face”: GW to George Mason, April 5, 1769, and n., PGW.
“the American imports”: George Mason to GW, April 5, 1769, PGW.
“skins of all kinds”: George Mason to GW, April 28, 1769, n.1, PGW.
“instead of earrings”: George Mason to GW, April 28, 1769, PGW.
with immediate effect: May 16, 1769, JHB: 1766–1769, 215–18.
“Luxury and Extravagance”: Van Schreeven, Scribner, and Tarter, eds., Revolutionary Virginia, 1:74–77.
the following day: Virginia Gazette, May 25, 1769.
“universality of it”: GW to BB, June 18, 1769, PGW.
“religiously to it”: GW to Robert Cary, July 25, 1769, PGW.
by the Association: Francis Lightfoot Lee to William Lee, December 17, 1770, Jennings Lee Papers, VHS.
“but more relaxed”: GW to George William Fairfax, June 27, 1770, PGW.
both proscribed items: Fairfax County Associators to Peyton Randolph [c. July 1, 1771], PGW.
“grievances are redressed”: Fairfax County Associators to Peyton Randolph, [c. July 1, 1771], n.2, PGW.
jostled for space: Enclosure, invoice to Robert Cary & Co., July 18, [1771], PGW.
7: FEVERS AND PHYSICIANS
“is very rainy”: LW to GW, August 17, 1767, PGW.
their music lesson: Diaries, entries for February 24, 25, 27, 1768, PGW.
another anticonvulsant: Diaries, entries for June 14, July 11, 1768, PGW.
“very bad ditto”: Diaries, entry for July 31, 1770, and n., PGW.
“15/. Pr. Month”: Diaries, entry for December 17, 1768, PGW.
“& Patsy Custis”: Diaries, entry for July 22, 1768, PGW.
to ride out: GW to Robert Cary & Co., June 20, 1768, GWP.
them to convalesce: GW to Jonathan Boucher, September 4, 1768, PGW.
“fond of cucumbers”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, September 5, 1768, PGW.
“Win Him acted”: Diaries, entry for September 20, 1768, PGW.
tenth wedding anniversary: Diaries, entries for November 9, 1768, and January 6, 1769, PGW; William Rumney, receipt, February 18, 1769, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“I hope he will”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, January 26, 1769, PGW.
“for a decoction”: Diaries, entries for January 30, 31, 1769, and n., PGW.
“away after Breakfast”: Diaries, entry for February 16, 1769, and n., PGW.
was paid £6: Cash Accounts, [February 1769], PGW.
Bassett that June: GW to BB, June 18, 1769, PGW.
hostelry in town: Ledger Book 1, f. 299, entry for December 16, 1769, GWP; Diaries, entries for November, December 1769, PGW.
“Increases than abates”: GW to Thomas Johnson, July 20, 1770, PGW.
or of wheat: GW to Jonathan Boucher, March 26, 1772, n.1, PGW.
“the desired effect”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, June 5, 1771, PGW.
“of Norris’s drops”: Guardian Accounts, [November 3, 1773]: for MPC, entries for May 7, 1771, November 21, 1772, PGW.
“for Miss Custis”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, February 3, 1771, PGW.
“subject to fits”: Miller et al., eds., Peale Papers, 2:2:695.
swelled the order: MW to Mrs. S. Thorpe, July 15, 1772, WGW; GW to Robert Cary, July 15, 1772, PGW.
ball in Alexandria: Cash Accounts, April 1770, PGW; Diaries, entry for July 16, 1772, PGW.
hint of debility: Section 27, Guardian Accounts for MPC, 1761–72, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
tippet or handkerchief: MW to Mrs. S. Thorpe, [July 15, 1772,] in Fields, “Worthy Partner,” 151.
“out of her sight”: Miller et al., eds., Peale Papers, 2:2:695.
8: THE SCHOOLING OF JACKY CUSTIS
“middle aged Woman”: Enclosure, invoice to Robert Cary & Co., July 18, [1771], PGW.
“nightgown [casual dress]”: Invoice to Robert Cary & Co., July 15, 1772, PGW.
to Jacky’s account: Charles Willson Peale, Martha Washington, [miniature 1772], MVLA; Guardian Accounts for JPC, entry for May 30, 1772, Section 25, Custis Family Papers, VHS.
“will often fall”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, May 9, 1770, PGW.
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“part with him”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, July 9, 1771, PGW.
“to be neglected”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, February 3, 1771, PGW.
“be for it”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, April 20, 1771, PGW.
“in high Spirits”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, April 11, 1771, PGW.
“prove very injurious”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, April 20, 1771, PGW.
“on his Face”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, April 19, 1771, PGW.
on May 3: Jonathan Boucher to GW, May 3, 1771, PGW.
“in his Ruin”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, June 5, 1771, PGW.
dominate over reason: Jonathan Boucher to GW, May 21, 1770, PGW.
“than she expected”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, July 9, 1771, PGW.
“to be avoided”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, June 5, 1771, PGW.
“her only hope”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, July 9, 1771, PGW.
was the result: GW to Jonathan Boucher, May 21, 1772, PGW.
resolute and stern: Charles Willson Peale, George Washington, 1772, Lee Chapel and Museum, WLU.
“Man I am”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, May 21, 1772, PGW.
souvenirs of the visit: Charles Willson Peale, Martha Washington, John Parke Custis, Martha Parke Custis miniatures [1772], MVLA.
“Conduct may be”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, December 16, 1770, PGW.
“how to describe”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, December 18, 1770, PGW.
“low, loose Company”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, February 3, 1771, PGW.
“of that Gentleman”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, June 5, 1771, PGW.
“Lumber by Rote”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, November 19, 1771, PGW.
“always in controversy”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, July 9, 1771, PGW.
“of general complaint”: GW to Jonathan Boucher, January 7, 1773, PGW.
“the other [Philadelphia]”: Jonathan Boucher to GW, January 19, 1773, PGW.
“the principal Expenses”: Myles Cooper to Jonathan Boucher, March 22, 1773, quoted in Jonathan Boucher to GW, April 8, 1773, n.2, PGW.
“her in Marriage”: GW to Benedict Calvert, April 3, 1773, PGW.
at King’s: GW to Benedict Calvert, April 3, 1773, PGW.
