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Preferred Citation
[Name and date of item], Beebe Collection of Washington family papers, [Folder], Special Collections, The George Washington
Presidential Library at Mount Vernon [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia.
John Augustine Washington III was the great-grand nephew of George Washington and the last private owner of Mount Vernon.
He was born on May 3, 1821 to John Augustine Washington II and Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington. His young childhood was
spent at Blakeley Plantation near Charles Town, WV. After the death of Bushrod Washington and his wife, the family moved to
Mount Vernon. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1840 and returned to Mount Vernon to manage it for his mother,
eventually inheriting it. However, he had to start encouraging tourism to make money. He tried to sell to the federal or state
governments but finally sold Mount Vernon to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1858 for $200,000. The family moved to
Waveland plantation. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as an aid-de-camp to General Lee and was
killed on September 13, 1861.
Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington was the mother of John Augustine Washington III. When she died in 1855, she left Mount
Vernon to her son.
Eleanor Love Selden Washington was the wife of John Augustine Washington III.
Louisa Washington was the daughter of John Augustine Washington III and Eleanor Washington.
This collection includes correspondence between John Augustine Washington III and his mother and wife, as well as other family
members, mostly dealing with family matters and running Mount Vernon.
Letter, Jane C. Washington to John Augustine Washington
Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551818 September 30English.
Scope and Contents
Wheatland to Buffaloe. Family matters; relates offer to him to purchase 800 acres of land.
Text box: 1 folder: 2 MS-4854
Letter, Bushrod Washington to Noblet Herbert
Washington, Bushrod, 1762-18291824 April 24English.
Scope and Contents
Philadelphia to Alexandria. Health improving after respiratory illness; returning soon to court.
Text box: 1 folder: 3 MS-4855
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington II
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 or 1830 February 4English.
Scope and Contents
Richland to Mount Vernon. Sends good wishes to family.
Text box: 1 folder: 4 MS-4856
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington II
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 February 8English.
Scope and Contents
Richland. Sends love to all family members; requests ice skates.
Text box: 1 folder: 5 MS-4857
Letter, West Ford to Bushrod Washington
Ford, West, approximately 1784-18631829 August 27English.
Scope and Contents
A letter written by West Ford to Bushrod Washington at Blakeley, the home of Bushrod's neighbor and nephew John Augustine
Washington II. Ford, a former slave of the Washington family who was later freed and employed as overseer of Mount Vernon,
reports on arrangements being made at Mount Vernon for a workman to slate a "house for the books and papers." He mentions
illnesses in his family and warns Bushrod against buying mules from his neighbor, Mr. Peake.
Text box: 1 folder: 6 MS-4858
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to John Augustine Washington II
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611829 December 4English.
Scope and Contents
Richland to Mount Vernon. Has not heard from home; sends love to all; send things he asked for.
Text box: 1 folder: 7 MS-4859
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611839 September 17English.
Scope and Contents
Charlottesville to Charlestown. Needs her permission to take only 2 courses at university; wants to purchase mare, visited
Aunt Judy.
Text box: 1 folder: 8 MS-4860
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611840 December 1English.
Scope and Contents
University of Virginia to Charlestown. Discusses possible appointment of new professor who does not have JAW's vote.
Text box: 1 folder: 9 MS-4861
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611842 October 18English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Charlestown. Tells mother of proposing to Nelly; describes horse races; financial matters.
Text box: 1 folder: 10 MS-4862
Letter, Jane C. Washington to Eleanor L. Washington
Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551844 April 11English.
Scope and Contents
Blakeley to Mount Vernon. Relates ill health of various family members and other family news.
Text box: 1 folder: 11 RM-710 ; MS-4863
Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611844 July 1English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; selling slave; thoughts on banks, family wishes.
Text box: 1 folder: 12 MS-4864
Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611845 February 18English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Farm news; slave repeatedly running off; family matters.
Text box: 1 folder: 13 MS-4865
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Mrs. Alexander
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601845 October 31English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Charlestown. Sending various flower cuttings; family news.
Text box: 1 folder: 14 MS-4866
Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611845 November 29English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Illness is past; wants her to visit; concerned he might have offended aunt; other visits.
Text box: 1 folder: 15 MS-4867
Letter, John Augustine Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 January 27English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Relates travels home; landscape descriptions; family greetings.
Text box: 1 folder: 16 MS-4868
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 February 13English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Family illnesses; Alexandria returning to Virginia; discusses selling Mount Vernon to government.
Text box: 1 folder: 17 MS-4869
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Jane C. Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611846 June 9English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Blakeley. Visitors to Mount Vernon; family matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 1 MS-4870
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601847 February 9English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon. Storm damaged trees; family matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 2 MS-4871
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to "My Dear Sir"
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611848 February 4English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon. Legal concerns.
Text box: 2 folder: 3 MS-4872
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to "My Dear Sir"
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611848 October 7English.
Scope and Contents
Wants to meet in Alexandria about legal matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 4 MS-4873
Letter, Jane C. Washington to Louisa Washington
Washington, Jane Charlotte Blackburn, 1786-18551850 July 29English.
Scope and Contents
Blakeley. Much family news and love sent.
Text box: 2 folder: 5 MS-4874
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "Sister Mary"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-18601854 September 30English.
Scope and Contents
Sunnyside. Louisa was sick; drought; family matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 6 MS-4875
Letter, Louisa Washington to John Augustine Washington III
Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-19271857 August 25English.
Scope and Contents
Charlestown. Family matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 7 MS-4876
Letter, John Augustine Washington III to Louisa Washington
Washington, John Augustine, III, 1821-18611861 May 8English.
Scope and Contents
Headquarters, Virginia Forces, Richmond. Tells of army life and waiting to engage enemy; send horse.
Text box: 2 folder: 8 MS-4877
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington, to "My Dear Sister"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Requests various plants; family matters.
Text box: 2 folder: 9 MS-4878
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington, to "My Dear Sister"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Sending the children for Easter; wants dresses made to her specifications.
Text box: 2 folder: 10 MS-4879
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, April 18English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon. Misses her children; inviting others to visit.
Text box: 2 folder: 11 MS-4880
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Written in the winter as talks about sleighing; wants her to visit.
Text box: 2 folder: 12 MS-4881
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to "My Dear Sister Mary"
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, September 20English.
Scope and Contents
Cave Farm to Warwick, VA. Family news from her visit; preacher's sermons very dull.
Text box: 2 folder: 13 MS-4882
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Jane C. Washington
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, October 1English.
Scope and Contents
Mt. Ida to Blakeley. Much sickness at Mount Vernon; family greetings.
Text box: 2 folder: 14 MS-4883
Letter, Eleanor L. Washington to Mrs. Alexander
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undated, November 15English.
Scope and Contents
Mount Vernon to Walnut Farm. Very busy with sewing clothes for children; family visits and greetings.
Text box: 2 folder: 15 MS-4884
Eleanor L. Washington, Cave Farm, to Mrs. Lippitt, Warwick
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860[?] August 10English.
Scope and Contents
Very crowded there – many children; many family greetings.
Text box: 2 folder: 16 MS-4885
Eleanor L. Washington, to John A. Washington, Ferry Landing
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Sorry to hear of his illness; wants him to come up.
Text box: 2 folder: 17 MS-4886
Eliza A. Lloyd, to Nelly
Lloyd, E. A.undatedEnglish.
Scope and Contents
Much family news; concerned about sale of Mount Vernon.
Text box: 2 folder: 18 MS-4887
Letter, Lou to Fontaine Lippitt
Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-1927undated, April 30English.
Scope and Contents
Waveland to Halltown. Family visits and greetings; John A. Washington gone to Richmond to join General Lee's staff.
Text box: 2 folder: 19
Pencil sketch
undatedEnglish.
General
Note on folder: "The enclosed picture was always said by Mrs. R.P. Chew to be of West Ford."
Text box: 2 folder: 20 MS-4888
3 packets of seeds
undatedEnglish.
General
Envelope labeled in John Augustine Washington's handwriting, said to have been found on his body after his death on 13 September
1861
Text box: 2 folder: 21 MS-4889
Cake and calf head soup recipes, (in the hand of Eleanor L. Washington)
Washington, Eleanor Love Selden, 1824-1860undatedEnglish.
Text box: 2 folder: 22 MS-4890
Benjamin Dean, Alexander Gibson, and William [?]
1825 December 26English.
Scope and Contents
Promises return of hired Negro, along with two suits of clothes.
Text box: 2 folder: 23 MS-4891
Copy of list of slaves owned by John A. Washington
undatedEnglish.
Text box: 2 folder: 24 MS-4892
Copy of John Augustine Washington's will
1861 October 30English.
Text box: 2 folder: 25 MS-4893
Copy of eulogy of Col. John Augustine Washington, from the Richmond Dispatch
