Description:

Washington George 1732 - 1799

A piece of gold and silver ribbon from one of George Washington's military uniforms, obtained from a Washington and Custis descendant.

A piece of woven braided ribbon of gold and silver thread, 1.25" x 2.25" which was originally housed in a 6.25" x 4.5" envelope bearing a penciled note on the recto: "Piece of braid from George Washington's Uniform." The verso of the envelope bears a inked name, "Robt. E. Lee Lewis Jr." The ribbon swatch has been cut diagonally but there is little fraying at either end, and the majority is still intact and quite clean.

Robert E. Lee Lewis, Jr. (1903-1983) was a blood relative of George Washington and Martha Washington. He was a great-great-great grandson of George Washington's sister Elizabeth (Betty) Washington who married Col. Fielding Lewis. Lewis was also great-great-great-great grandson of Martha Washington, a direct descendant of her son John Parke Custis and his daughter Eleanor Parke Custis.

The uniform from which this ribbon derives is unidentified, though it possibly dates from either the French and Indian War or before or during the Revolutionary War. Because it is an unusually wide ribbon for the ornate trim which festooned most officer's uniforms of the period, we believe it may have served as part of the tieback ribbon for a cockade hat.

Provenance: Norman W. Neubauer, Fine Art and Financial Consultant; R. M. Smythe, Private Treaty.

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