Anniversary Of George Washington's Death Revealing
The Life of George Washington - The Farmer
Painted by Stearns
Courtesy U.S. Historical Archive
Though every aspect of George Washington's life and deeds has been thoroughly recorded, very little has been noted about the one document written by him about himself -- his last will and testament.
The Revolutionary War commander-in-chief and first president of the United States died December 14, 1799, at age 67.
He is entombed in the family vault at his Mt. Vernon estate as he requested.
His will, written four months before his death, reveals a depth of character and interests transcending the popular view of him as a truthful boy and war hero.
Of particular interest is his treatment of slaves -- giving them the option of freedom or continuing dependency on his estate for food, clothing and shelter.
* * *
I, George Washington, of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States and lately President of the same -- do make, ordain and declare this instrument, which is written with my own hand, and every page thereof subscribed with my name, to be my last will and testament, revoking all others.
IMPRIMUS
All my debts, of which there are but few, and none of magnitude, are to be punctually and speedily paid.
The legacies hereinafter bequeathed are to be discharged as soon as circumstances will permit, and in the manner directed.
ITEM
To my dearly beloved wife, Martha Washington, I give and bequeath the use, profit, and benefit of my whole estate -- real and personal -- for the term of her natural life, except such parts thereof as are specially disposed of hereafter. My improved lot in the town of Alexandria, situated on Pitt and Cameron Streets, I give to her and her heirs forever --- as I also do my household and kitchen furniture of every sort and kind;
With the liquors and groceries which may be on hand at the time of my decease, to be used and disposed of as she may think proper.
ITEM
Upon the decease of my wife, it is my will and desire that all the slaves which I hold in my own right shall receive their freedom.
To emancipate them during her life, though earnestly wished by me, would be attended with such insuperable difficulties, on account of their intermixture by marriages with the dower Negroes, as to excite the most painful sensations, if not disagreeable consequence from the latter.
Whereas, among those who will receive freedom according to this device, there may be some who from old age or bodily infirmities -- land others on account of their infancy -- that will be unable to support themselves:
It is my will and desire that all who come under the first and second description shall be comfortably clothed and fed by my heirs while they live. If such Negroes have no parents living, or if living are unable or unwilling to provide for them, they shall be bound by the court until they shall arrive at the age of 25 years.
In cases where no record can be produced whereby their ages can be ascertained, the judgment of the court upon its own view shall be adequate and final.
The Negroes thus bound are by their masters and mistresses to be taught to read and write, and to be brought up to some useful occupation agreeably to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing for the support of orphans and other poor children.
I do hereby expressly forbid the sale or transportation out of the said commonwealth of any slave I may die possessed of, under any pretense whatsoever.
And I do, moreover, most positively and most solemnly enjoin it upon my executors to see that every part of this clause respecting slaves be religiously fulfilled -- without evasion, neglect, or delay after the crops which may then be on the ground are harvested. Particularly as it respects the aged and infirm, I direct that a regular and permanent fund be established for their support so long as there are subjects requiring it -- not trusting to the uncertain provisions to be made by individuals.
To my mulatto man, William (calling himself William Lee), I give immediate freedom; Or, if he should prefer -- on account of the accidents which have befallen him and rendered him incapable of walking or of any active employment -- to remain in the situation he now is, it shall be optional in him to do so.
In either case, however, I allow him an annuity of $30 during his natural life. This shall be independent of the victuals and clothes he has been accustomed to receive. This I give him in testimony of my sense of his attachment to me and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.
ITEM
To the trustees of the academy in the town of Alexandria, I give and bequeath in trust, $4,000 -- or, in other words, 20 of the shares which I hold in the Bank of Alexandria.
This sum is given towards the support of a free school -- established and annexed to the said academy – for educating orphan children, or the children of such other poor and indigent persons as are unable to accomplish it with their own means, and who in the judgment of the trustees are best entitled to the benefits of this donation.
To prevent misconceptions, my meaning is that these 20 shares are in lieu of, and not in addition to, the L 1, given my missive letter some years ago in consequence whereof an annuity of L 50 has since been paid toward the support of this institution.
ITEM
Whereas the Commonwealth of Virginia --- by law enacted in the year 1785 as an evidence of its approbation of the services I had rendered the public during the Revolution -- was pleased to present me with 100 shares of $100 each in the company incorporated for the purpose of extending the navigation of James River;
Likewise, 50 shares of L 100 each in the corporation of another company established for opening navigation of the Potomac River;
Therefore, it was refused as inconsistent with a principle which I had adopted and never departed from --- although the offer was highly honorable and grateful to my feelings. Namely, not to receive pecuniary compensation for any services I could render my country for its rights in its arduous struggle with Great Britain.
Adding to this refusal, however, was an intimation that if it should be the pleasure of the Legislature to permit me to appropriate the said shares to public uses, I would receive them on those terms with due sensibility.
This it having consented to in flattering terms, I declare that it has always been a source of serious regret with me to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education. Often they were sent before their minds were formed or they had imbibed any adequate ideas of the happiness of their own. Instead they contracted too frequently the habits of dissipation and extravagance --- as well as principles unfriendly to republican government and to the true and genuine liberties of mankind. For theses reasons, it has been my ardent wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale which would have a tendency to spread systematic ideas through all parts of this rising empire;
Thereby to do away with local attachments and state prejudices as far as the nature of things would, or ought to, admit from our national councils.
Looking anxiously forward to the accomplishment of so desirable an object, my mind has not been able to contemplate any plan more likely to effect the measure than the establishment of a university in the central part of the United States. The youth of fortune and talents from all parts thereof might be sent there for the completion of their education in all branches of polite literature, in arts and sciences, and in acquiring knowledge of the principles of politics and good government. Also -- as a matter of infinite importance in my judgment -- by associating with each other. By forming friendships in juvenile years, they would be enabled to free themselves from local prejudices and habitual jealousies.
These, when carried to excess, are never-failing sources of disquietude to the public mind and pregnant of mischievous consequences to this country.
ITEM
I give and bequeath in perpetuity the 50 shares in the Potomac Company towards the endowment of a university to be established within the limits of the District of Columbia, under the auspices of the general government.
If that government should incline to extend the fostering hand towards it -- and until such seminary is established and the funds arising on these shares shall be required of its support -- my further will and desire is that the dividends be laid out in purchasing stock in the Bank of Columbia or some other bank at the discretion of my executors, or by the treasurer of the United States for the time being under the direction Congress.
Dividends proceeding from the purchase of such stock is to be invested in more stock, and so on, until a sum adequate to the object is obtained.
I have not the slightest doubt that before many years pass away, this will be accomplished even if no aid or encouragement is given by legislative authority or from any other source.
ITEM
To each of my nephews: William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washington, I give one of the swords of which I may die possessed. They are to choose in the order named.
These swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood except it be for self defense -- or in defense of their country and its rights.
In the latter case, they are to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands rather than to the relinquishment thereof.
ITEM
By way of advice, I recommend to my executors not to be precipitate in disposing the landed property, herein directed to be sold, if from temporary causes the sale there of should be dull.
Experience has fully convinced me that the price of land above the falls of the rivers, and on the western waters have been progressively rising and cannot be long checked in their increasing value.
ITEM
The family vault at Mount Vernon -- requiring repairs and being improperly situated besides -- I desire that a new one of brick, and upon a larger scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard Enclosure. There deposit my remains with those of my deceased relatives now in the old vault, and such others of my family as may choose to be entombed there. It is my express desire that my corpse may be interred in a private manner, without parade or funeral oration.
ITEM
Lastly, I constitute and appoint as executrix and executors my dearly beloved wife, Martha Washington, my nephews William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, Lawrence Lewis, and my ward George Washington Parke Custis when he shall have arrived at the age of 20 years. It will be readily perceived that no professional character has been consulted in preparation of this instrument. Although it has occupied many of my leisure hours to digest and put into its present form, it may appear crude and incorrect.
But I have endeavored to be plain and explicit in all the devises, even at the expense of prolixity and perhaps tautology.
I hope and trust that no disputes will arise concerning them. But if contrary to expectations the case should be otherwise from the want of legal expression or the usual technical terms, or because too much or too little has been said on any of the devises to be consonant with law, my will and direction expressly is that all disputes shall be decided by three impartial and intelligent men known for their probity and good understanding.
Their decision is, to all intents and purposes to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in the Supreme Court of America.
By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers
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Engraving by Phillibrown
George Washington at Mt. Vernon is astride a horse and attended by a black servant, both given him by the dying Genl. Edward Braddock on the Monongahela battlefield during the French and Indian War. Martha, wife of Washington, is shown with two of her children by her deceased first husband.
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Painting by Adolph Wertmuller
This painting from life of George Washington in 1794 portrays him in the closing years of life as the squire of Mt. Vernon plantation.
