Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 110
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6
George Washington’s Nephew Serves as Executor of Fellow Planter’s Estate
George Washington’s Nephew Serves as Executor of Fellow Planter’s Estate
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6
Description:

William Augustine Washington
Virginia, ca. 1767-1833
George Washington's Nephew Serves as Executor of Fellow Planter's Estate
Archive

William Augustine Washington, the nephew of President George Washington, served as one of the executors of the will of Thomas Turner from 1787 into the 1790s. This archive features more than a dozen accounts submitted by blacksmiths, merchants, seamstresses, a physician, and others to the estate for settlement. The accounts detail goods and services provided from 1767 until after Turner died in 1787. Perhaps based on his experience with Turner's estate or his role as sheriff of Westmoreland County, William A. Washington was one of the executors of George Washington's will.

Other documents in the archive detail the activities of William A. Washington himself, including his outfitting of the schooner William & Mary in 1805 and his 1806 sale of land in Kentucky to Col. Jesse Richardson, who paid Washington in part with ten horses he provided to Washington in 1806 and 1807. A few documents are accounts of planter Robert Beverley, a wealthy planter on the Rappahannock River in the early nineteenth century.

Among the more interesting documents are the accounts of Dr. Alexander Somervail, who inoculated Thomas Turner and one of his slaves for smallpox in 1787 and attended to at least two of Robert Beverley's slaves in 1823. Another 1803 receipt is for payment by Bushrod Washington for boots and shoes when he owned his uncle George Washington's Mount Vernon plantation.

WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, Archive of 27 documents, 1767-1833. 41 pp. General toning; several documents have edge tears or tears on folds; little paper loss with minimal effect on text.

Contents and Excerpts
- Manuscript Document, Account with Robert Buter [Butler?] for blacksmith work, September 1767-September 1768; Account with John Bridges for blacksmith work, February-June 1768. 2 pp., 7.375" x 12".

- Manuscript Document, Account with John Chansellor for blacksmith work, January-July 1768; Account with Samuel Pain for blacksmith work, March-July 1768. 2 pp., 7.5" x 12".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Thomas Turner with James Ritchie & Co. for May 1774-May 1776, December 20, 1787. 1 p., 7.5" x 9.5".
Thomas Turner III (1736-1787) was born in Virginia to Harry Turner (ca. 1714-1751), the clerk of King George County and a member of the House of Burgesses in the 1740s. He became a prominent Virginia planter. In 1767, he married Jane Fauntleroy (1749-aft. 1787), and they had eight children. He was a member of the King George County Committee of Safety from 1774 to 1776. In 1778, he presented General George Washington with a pair of pistols as a present. He named William Augustine Washington and his brother-in-law John Fauntleroy as the executors of his will, dated June 2, 1787, and he died in October of that year.

- Manuscript Document, Account of Thomas Turner with James Ritchie & Co. for May 1774-May 1776, submitted June 12, 1788. 1 p., 7.5" x 9.25".
James Ritchie & Co. was a mercantile company based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company imported tobacco from Virginia and re-exported it to France.

- Manuscript Document, Account of John Rogers with William [Breed?] for flour, biscuits, bread, and baking, February-October 1778. 1 p., 6.75" x 5.25".

- Manuscript Document Signed, Account of W. Boon with Reuben Bullard for blacksmith work, April-July 1784. 1 p., 8.25" x 4.5".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Thomas Turner with John Rose, for blacksmith work, April 1785-September 1787. 3 pp., 7.375" x 12.25".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Estate of Thomas Turner with James Ritchie & Company for dry goods, August 1786-February 1787. 2 pp., 7.25" x 11.75".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Thomas Turner with Dr. Alexander Somervail for medical services, May-June 1787, submitted, November 7, 1787. 1 p., 7.5" x 7.5".
"June 23 Inoculating & attending Mr H. & T. Turners, for S'Pox . . . 10
"June 23 do do , for negro wench Haty . . . 5"
Alexander Somervail (1758-1833) was born in Scotland and probably educated at the University of Edinburgh. He emigrated to the United States in the 1780s and settled in Essex County, Virginia, where he practiced until his death. He was one of the first physicians to recognize typhoid fever as a distinct disease, and he treated both planters and their enslaved laborers.

- Manuscript Document, Account of Estate of Thomas Turner with tailor John Dickie for mourning suits, July-October 1787. 1 p., 8" x 3.25".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Estate of Thomas Turner with James Ritchie & Company for dry goods, July-December 1787. 2 pp., 7.25" x 11.75".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Thomas Turner with Elizabeth Sanford Ramey for seamstress work, 1787; submitted February 3, 1788. 1 p., 7.25" x 11.5".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Estate of Thomas Turner with Thomas Hungerford for horse feed corn, 1787; proved, March 10, 1788. 1 p., 7.5" x 4.5".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Fanny Smith with Alice Barnett for dressmaking services, April 10, 1788. 1 p., 7.375" x 4.5".

- James Bland, Autograph Document Signed, Account of John Fauntleroy and William Augustine Washington as Executors of Thomas Turner with Bland as Clerk of Westmoreland County, Virginia, June-December 1789. 2 pp., 8" x 12.5".

- Manuscript Document, Account of William A. Washington with Henderson, Ferguson, & Gibson "at their Mattox Store" for dry goods, 1790-1791. 4 pp., 9.25" x 15.25".

- Manuscript Document, Account of A. S. Roe with William A. Washington, April 1801-December 1802; Receipt, January 3, 1803. 2 pp., 7.375" x 9".

- John Crookshank, Autograph Document Signed, Receipt, September 15, 1803. 1 p., 7.375" x 2.25".
"Received of Bushrod Washington eleven dollars in full for boots & shoes."
Since Bushrod Washington inherited Mount Vernon, this receipt was likely for making boots and shoes for the Washington family and/or slaves at Mount Vernon.
Bushrod Washington (1762-1829) was born in Virginia, a son of John Augustine Washington (1736-1787), the younger brother of George Washington. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1778, when only 16 years old. In 1780, he returned to Williamsburg to study law under George Wythe. He joined a cavalry unit of the Continental Army in 1781, seeing action at the Battle of Green Spring and witnessing General Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown. In 1784, after additional legal study in Philadelphia with James Wilson, Washington opened a law practice in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he practiced until 1798. In September 1798, President John Adams appointed Washington as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position he held until his death. He generally supported the views of John Marshall, after Marshall became Chief Justice in 1801. When George Washington died in 1799, Bushrod Washington inherited Mount Vernon and served as one of the executors of the former President's will. In 1802, when Martha Washington died, Bushrod Washington inherited all of George Washington's papers and most of his estate. Bushrod Washington and his wife moved to Mount Vernon in 1802, bringing his slaves with him. In 1816, he helped to found the American Colonization Society and served as its first president until his death. He died in Philadelphia while fulfilling his circuit duties.

- Manuscript Document, Account with Edgar Patterson for stationery; Receipt, May 16, 1805. 1 p., 5.75" x 3.5".

- Churchill Blackburn, Autograph Document Signed, Account of William Augustine Washington with Haywood for "Provisions furnished Arthur for the Schooner Wm & Mary," April-May 1805, May 21, 1805. 1 p., 8" x 4.5".

- Manuscript Document, Account of Charles Weyman with Charles Nicholson "for Sundry Repairs Done on Board the Schooner Willm & Mary," June-July 1805. 1 p., 8" x 12.75".
According to a report in the Virginia Argus, the schooner William & Mary, sailing from Baltimore, was captured by the British ship of war Fortuna "between Bonair and Curracoa, condemned, vessel and cargo." Bonaire and Curaçao are islands in the Caribbean just off the northern coast of South America. At the time, both islands were Dutch colonies, and the Netherlands was an ally of France. Great Britain was attempting to enforce American neutrality in its war with France by seizing American ships believed to be trading with the colonies of France or its allies. The British briefly held Curaçao from 1800 to 1803 and Bonaire from 1804 to 1805 and both islands from 1807 to 1816. British seizure of American ships like the William & Mary and impressment of allegedly British seamen were among the primary causes of the War of 1812.

- Manuscript Document, Account of Alexander Kelly with William A. Washington, September 1805. 1 p., 8" x 10".

- Copy of Churchill Blackburn, Autograph Document Signed, Receipts to Jesse Richardson for ten horses, March 26-27, 1806, May 23, 1807. 3 pp., 8" x 10".
"Recd the 26th March 1806 of Colo Jesse Richardson by the hands of Capt William Wallis one bay Horse and one Sorrel Mare, the former appraised to Sixty five Dollars and the Latter at Seventy Dollars, amounting to the Sum of one hundred thirty five Dollars, which horses I do receive on account of Colo Wm Augt Washington in part payment of a Certain tract or parcel of Land lying in the State of Kentucky, which was sold by the said Colo Washington to the said Colo Richardson, the above horses was appraised by Robert Hopkins Merideth Yeatman & Wm Thompson Esqrs at the request & mutual agreement of the above named Wm Wallis in behalf of Colo Richardson & myself in behalf of Colo Washington / Churchill Blackburn"
"Recd the 27th March 1806 of Colo Jesse Richardson pr the hands of Capt William Wallis, one more Sorrel Mare at the price of Eighty Dollars on Acct of Colo Wm Augt Washington in part payment for the purchase of the Land within mentioned. / Churchill Blackburn"
"Recd the 23d May 1807 of Colo Jesse Richardson six Horses, amounting to the sum of Two Hundred and three pounds, for the use, and on account of Colo Wm Augt Washington, which Horses was appraised by Mr John Payne & Mr Wm Thompson / Churchill Blackburn"
"Recd of Colo Jesse Richardson One Sorrel Horse at Sixty Dollars on Account of Colo Wm Augt Washington, which Horse I have sold to Robt Hopkins Esquire / Churchill Blackburn"
Jesse Richardson (1760-1839) was born in Virginia, and he served as the colonel of the 44th Infantry Regiment in the Revolutionary War. After the war, he moved to Kentucky, where he married Martha English in 1780, and they had 14 children.

- Churchill Blackburn, Manuscript Document, Order, October 27, 1808, 1 p., 8" x 4.75".
"Please send One Dozn Oil gun flints—One pound partridge shot for your [?] Also One & a half Doz blue edge shallow plates, & two hand saw files for Colo Washington"

- Manuscript Document, Account of Robert Beverley with Dr. Alexander Somervail for medical services, 1822-1823; Receipt, March 24, 1824. 2 pp., 6.25" x 4".
"[1823 July] 14 Solution, To for Venus's arm .70
"[July] 17 visits, powders To woman in labor at Blandfield 3.70"
Venus and the pregnant woman may have been Beverley's slaves.
Robert Beverley (1769-1843) was the oldest surviving son of Robert Beverley (1740-1800), one of the richest tobacco planters in Virginia. Educated at Cambridge in England, he returned to marry Jane Tayloe (1774-1816) in 1791, and they had six children. He divided his time between the Blandfield Plantation on the Rappahannock River, where he was born, and Washington, D.C., where he was a merchant.

- Manuscript Document, Account of Robert Beverley with William M. Gray for blacksmith work, July 1832-July 1833. 1 p., 7.75" x 9.25".

- Manuscript Document Signed, Account of Robert Beverley with James Powers for wheelwright work, February 1833; Receipt November 5, 1833. 1 p., 8.25" x 3.75".

William Augustine Washington (1757-1810) was born in Virginia to Augustine Washington Jr. (1720-1762; half-brother of George Washington) and Anne Aylett Washington. At his father's death when he was five years old, William Augustine Washington inherited the Wakefield plantation. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a captain in the Westmoreland County militia but saw little military action. A firearms accident in 1778 may also have limited his service, but a decade later he was promoted to colonel of the county militia. When his house burned in 1779, Washington moved his family inland from the Potomac River to another house on the estate. As a planter, he owned 69 slaves in 1782. From 1784 to 1786, Washington served as sheriff of Westmoreland County. In 1788, county voters elected him to the Virginia House of Delegates, where he served alongside Richard Lee from June 1788 to October 1789. He was listed as one of the seven executors of George Washington's will. In 1804, he moved to the Georgetown neighborhood of the District of Columbia. He married three times, first in 1777 to his cousin Jane Washington (1759-1791), with whom he had six children; then, after she died, to Mary Lee (1764-1795), the daughter of Richard Henry Lee; and after her death, to Sarah Tayloe (1765-1834) in 1799, with whom he had at least one child. He was buried in the vault at Mount Vernon.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: largest: 9.25" x 15.25"
  • Medium: Archive

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000