George Washington Papers

III-A–8. Account of British Goods Charged to the Three Heirs, 1759

Document III-A–8

Account of British Goods Charged to the Three Heirs

[1759]

An Account of Goods which Mrs Custis had out of those Imported from England1

Goods from Cary & Compa.2

2 dozn Scythe Stones . 1. 8
4 plate Stock Locks . 6.3
7 hand saw files . 1. 2
2 dozn Rusaw Ditto .12. 6
3 half round Rasps   .10 1/2
3 Strong grass Scythes & Furn[itur]e .13.[6]
1 pair Garden Sheers .[4.]6
2 handsaws .16.  
6 Scribing Chissels . 2. 9
1 broad ditto . 7.  
Sugar, Spice &ca from Newnham Shapley & Co. 9. 9.10
1 doz. printed handkfs 1.16.  
½ ps. fine gulix holland 7.10.  
1 ps. demy Cambrick 3. 7.  
2 ps. British Oznabrigs 6.10.  
1 ps. Crocas . 8. 6
2 ps. brown Rolls 1.15.  
1 Iron Wire Sieve .15.  
1 brass Wire ditto & ⟨pt.⟩ charges . 6. 9
Silk from Palmer & Son & Fleet[woo]d 25. 1. 6
Manteaum[ake]r Jno. Schersberg 11. 2. 9
2 pr good Horse Scissars . 2.  
1 pr white Tabby Stays 2. 5.  
6 pr black everlastg Shoes 1.19.  
Rings & Buttns of Jno. Payne 8.15. 6
6 pair Womans blk kid Glo[ve]s .10. 6
Tea of Carteny and Son 6.16. 6
8 groce of Corks .16. 6
4 papers Ink Powder . 1. 6
Haberdashery of Lard[ne]r & B[aratty] 3. 9. 2
6 Strong Halters .15.  
2 Bridles . 4. 6
1 Wilton Carpet 4.15.10
 
Buckles &ca of Passava⟨nt⟩ ⟨3.13.⟩ 
Millenary of Jane Backh[ous]e 8.15.⟨9⟩
Mops Brush &ca of T. Johnston .17. 9
Castle Soap, Capers & Olives 1. 5.  
Cheshire Cheese ⟨1. 8. 8⟩
Snuff Box 10.15.  
A Tea Chest & board   .18
1 dozn Knives and Forks   .15
a Cardinal and Bonnet 2. 7. 6
6 pr Kid Mittens .10. 6
1 pr Ticken Stays & Tabby Stomacher 1.18.  
A Box for bread . 4. 6
2 yd clear Lawn .16.  
5 pr Womens Shoes 1. 3.  
21 lb. wt. Bisket . 7. 6
Glass Ware & China of Richd Farrar & Compa.   10. 2. 8 1/2
148. 1. 2
Insure & Chas. at 12½ prCt   18.10. 1 1/2
£166.11. 3 1/2
6 pr Cotton hose 1.19.  
a Gown died . 7.  
Silk of Parmr [Palmer] & Son &ca 24. 5.  
Fans &ca of Passavant 8.17.  
3 gauze handfs & a Bonn[e]t 1. 1. 6
Millinary of Jane Backe 14. 1. 1
Mantumaker Jno. Shersberg 26. 8.  
Shoes of A. Gresham 5.15. 6
Gold Shoe Buckles &ca J. Payne 21. 3. 3
Haberdashery of Lardr &ca 4.13. 9
Turlingtons Balsam &ca .13. 2
Tea from Carteny & Son 7.19. 2
2 pr Stays 4.10.  
Gilt Paper and Book . 8. 6
6 Curry Combs and Brushs .12.  
1 dozn Gloves and Mittens 1.     
20 groce of Corks 2. 1.  
Snuff .14. 6
Ginger Bread 1. 6.  
4 Chafing Dishes & 1 preser[v]ing p[a]n 1. 7.  
22 yds fine Scarlet Bays 3.17.  
1 pr pack thd Stays 1. 1.  
3 dozn blunt handsaw Files . 5. 3
6 Whipsaw Files . 2. 9
1 dozn box Gimblets   .10
1 dozn x Garnets .10.  
6 pr HLs . 6.  
6 drawing knives . 6. 6
6 Claw hammers . 4.  
3 Lathing Ditto . 3.  
 
3 pair steel Compasses   . 9
6 two foot Rules . 4. 6
2 Box Irons, heaters & Stands .13.  
2 pr steel Dogs brass heads 5.     
2 Setts Shov⟨les & tongs⟩ for do 1.10.  
2 M 3d. Na⟨ils⟩ . 2. 8
⟨½ ps. long Lawn⟩ 3.     
⟨1 broad kenting 1.15.⟩ 
1 Denny⟨y Cambrick 3. 8.⟩ 
⟨1 Superfine clear Lawn 4. 5.⟩ 
⟨A Cheshire Cheese 3. 9. 7⟩
Mop⟨s Clamps &c. Thos Johnson 1. 3. 3⟩
⟨Mahagony Beuroe &c. of Philip Bell 5. 2.⟩ 
⟨1 Case of Pickles 4.17. 3⟩
⟨Fruit Spices &c. of Newnham and Shapley 7.17. 5⟩
⟨1 Groce⟩ of Porter   [3.]15.      
 182. 6. 2    
⟨11 per⟩ Ct of Charges &c. 20. 1. 1
£202. 7. 3    
Goods from Gildart
39 ⟨yds⟩ white Sheetg @ ⟨21d.⟩ 3. 8. 3
50 yds Irish Linnen 3/4d. 8. 6. 8
50 yds Ditto ⟨2/8d.⟩ 6.13. 4
25 yds Ditto ⟨1/5¾⟩ 1.16.11 3/4
26 yds Ditto ⟨1/3d.⟩ 1.12. 6
55 yds Doulas 1/ 2.15.  
1 ps. Cambrick 3.13.  
6 yds Laces 2.17.  
6 Silk Laces . 3. 6
8 Strong Halters 1. 8.  
1 hand Bell . 2. 9
16 oz. thread .10. 8
2 matresses 2. 2.  
6 doz. Sail needles . 4.  
6 loaves dble Sugar 2. 4.   3/4
8 Single Do and Cask 2.17.11 1/3
1 Sack of Clover Seed 2.18. 8
10⅞ gallns Brandy 5. 2. 4 1/2
1 Barrl Gunpowder 6. 6.  
£ 55. 2. 8 1/4
⟨21 prCt Insure⟩ & Chargs.   11.11. 6 3/4
£ 66.14. 3    
A Cask Tin Ware & 1 dozn kid Mns 6. 1.10
3 ps. Kendall Cotton 3. 7. 6
1 ps. Indn blankettg No. 1 3.15.  
A Cask of Linnens 25. 1. 7 1/4
A Cask of Loaf Sugar 8.11. 5
A Cask of Malt 2. 8. 6
 
4 Mahagony hand bo[ar]ds and box 1. 6.  
4 Baggs of Salt .19.  
£ 51.10.10 1/4
£3.7s.6d. prCt for Charges 1.14. 9 1/4
£ 53. 5. 7 1/2
Goods from Oswald4
2 dozn mens plaid Hose 1. 1.  
1 dozn Womens ditto . 8. 6
10 lb. brown Thread .15. 9
10 lb. Shoe thread      .10.      
2.14. 9
10 prCt for Charges      . 5. 5 3/4
£  3. 0. 2 3/4
Sterling £491.18. 7 3/45
Goods for Miss Patty Custis
1 pair pack thd Stays £ . 7.  
4 pr kid Mittens . 4.  
2 pr Silk pumps .10.  
2 Lawn Frocks 1.18. 6
A Cap and Egret . 6.  
Toys . 9.  
Books . 4. 1
A Cardinal & Bonnet    1.15.      
£ 6.13. 7
12½ prCent     .16. 8    
 £ 7.10. 3    
4 pr thrd Hose . 6. 8
A Baby . 5.  
2 Cambrick Frocks & a Bt 2.11.  
A Cap &ca J. Backhouse 2. 2. 9 1/4
4 pr Worstd & 4 pr thd hose .17. 4
1 pr Silver Buckles & Thimble ⟨.13. 1⟩
10 pr of Shoes 1.10. 2
10 pr Gloves & Mittens . 6. 8
1 pr pack thd Stays ⟨1. 1.⟩
Toys      . 4.      
9.17. 8 1/4
11 prCt     1. 1. 9    
 £10.19. 5 1/4
Sterling £18. 9. 8 1/46
⟨For Mr Jackey7
4 pair of Gloves . 2. 8
Silver laced hat .12. 9 1/2
Hat .18. 6
Toys 1. 9.  
 
Books . 4. 1
2 hats      .13. 6    
£ 4. 0. 6 1/2
12½ ⅌ cent      .10.   1/2
£ 4.10. 7
4 pair thread hose . 8.  
A Rose & Bag . 2. 6
4 pair thread Stockings & hats 2. 4.10
2 lib. perfumd powder . 2.  
8 pair Shoes .17. 6
A Suit of Cloaths 2. 7. 3
Toys      .11. 1    
£ 6.13. 2
11 ⅌ Cent    14. 8.      
    7. 7.10    
Sterling £11.18. 5⟩8

D, ViLxW: Washington’s Account Book; D, ViHi: Custis Papers. GW seems to have copied John Mercer’s account in the Custis Papers, which is in Mercer’s hand; the mutilated material in GW’s copy is replaced in angle brackets with that in the Mercer version. GW seems not to have copied the part of the account recording the goods charged to John Parke Custis, which appears at the end of the Mercer copy and is printed here in angle brackets.

1These are goods and supplies received from Britain and charged to the estate’s account after Daniel Parke Custis’s death in July 1757.

2For references to Martha Custis’s correspondence with Robert Cary & Co. in 1757 and 1758 and to a draft in 1758 of her order for goods from that company, see GW to Robert Cary & Co., 1 May 1759, n.3. GW continued to deal with Robert Cary & Co. and to receive goods from many of the tradesmen named here, who are identified whenever their names appear hereafter.

3Mercer’s copy has 10 shillings.

4Robert Cary & Co. wrote Martha Custis from London on 26 Nov. 1757 that it had written George and Richard Oswald of Glasgow to send the stockings and carpet she had ordered.

5This total of £491.18.7¾ sterling is the amount charged against Martha Washington’s sterling balance in her (or GW’s) individual estate account (doc. III-C–1) in October 1759.

6A total of £18.9.8½ sterling was charged against the sterling balance in Martha Parke Custis’s estate account (doc. III-C–3).

7The rest of this, in angle brackets, is taken from John Mercer’s copy of this account.

8The total for the goods received by the estate from Robert Cary & Co., James Gildart, and the Oswalds of Glasgow in 1758 and 1759 came to £1,081.12.5¾ sterling. See the general estate account, 1759 (doc. III-B), particularly note 10. After £491.18.7¾ of this total was charged to Mrs. Washington (see note 4) and £18.19.8½ of it to Martha Parke Custis’s account (see note 5), the remaining £571.4.1½ was charged to John Parke Custis’s account (doc. III-C–2), mostly for supplies used on his plantations.

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