From George Washington to Sarah Cary Fairfax, 23 September 1756
To Sarah Cary Fairfax
Mount Vernon Septr 23d 1756
Dear Madam
John informs me that you told him Miss Nancy West was to be at your House in a day or two;1 and that you woud, if I sent my Linnen over, give it to Miss Nancy to make: I shall readily embrace the oppertunity of doing this, thô I am at the same time, sorry to give you the trouble of directing about the making.
I have sent a piece of Irish Linnen, a piece of Cambrick, and a Shirt to measure by. The Shirt Fits tolerably well, yet, I woud have the others made with somewhat narrower Wrist bands: Ruffles deeper by half an Inch: and the Collars by three quarters of an Inch, which is in other respects of proper bigness. If Miss Nancy will do me the favour to get thread and button’s suitable it will oblige me much I have really forget to procure them myself. Please to make my Compts to Miss Fairfax and Miss West when you see her. I am Dr Madam Yr most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, NNPM. At the top of the page, not in GW’s hand, is the notation: “To Mrs Geo: Wm Fairfax.” At the bottom of the page, in still another hand, perhaps Mrs. Fairfax’s, are the words, “also markd and numberd.”
Sarah Cary Fairfax, known as Sally, lived at Belvoir with her husband and his father and younger siblings. See the identification of her in William Fairfax to GW, 20 Oct. 1755, n.3.
1. “John” may have been GW’s brother, John Augustine Washington, who was managing the plantation at Mount Vernon, but more likely was his servant John Alton. Nancy West was Ann West, daughter of Capt. John West of Alexandria by his first marriage. West, a member of the Fairfax militia, was the uncle of GW’s comrade-in-arms in the Fort Necessity campaign, Lt. John West, Jr.