To George Washington from Hannah Fairfax Washington, 2 November 1793
From Hannah Fairfax Washington
Nov: 2d: 1793:
Sir
On reconsidering Your Acct I think it but reasonable (as I am to be allow’d interest) that I shou’d also pay it (for the last ten Years) on the Acct thought to be due from our estate of £16.6. As I did agree to pay You the principal, I will certainly allow the interest for the above term of Yrs. If that Acct had been presented by any other; than from One of my Brothers Executors, I wou’d not have paid it, but I thought as He had been so kind as to leave me a Legacy, I wou’d lose some pounds, rather than dispute it, tho I knew Mr Washington had paid it off, many Yrs Ago.1
Your Acct of £52.7.1. I am very willing to have deducted out of the £94.8. due me, as interest on my Bro: Legacy. Mr F. Fairfax told me the other Day, as He shou’d indemnify You for paying me the Interest, on my legacy, there was not the least necessity for my giving a Bond.
As to the debt thought to be due, from Mrs Bushrods Estate I cannot think of paying it. I might just as soon pay any other persons Acct off, as Hers. You was misinformed about Mr Washingtons being a Legatee, it is true His Children were, but several of them are Married, & have receiv’d their Legacies long ago. Were not the Legatees, assur’d She had paid the Acct Herself, & think there must have been an omission in not giving her credit, they wou’d willingly refund, each their share, & pay it. They have reason to think so, knowing She was never easy, if She owed a Shilling to any One, till She paid it, & had allways Money by Her at least ever since I knew Her, which was upwards of twenty Years.2 I am Sir Yr very Hble Serv:
H: Washington
ALS, ViMtvL.
1. The account being discussed here has not been found. It apparently was connected to the estate of George William Fairfax, who died in 1787 leaving Hannah Fairfax Washington a legacy of “five hundred pounds currt money of . . . Virg[ini]a.” GW, who between 1773 and 1775 had overseen George W. Fairfax’s affairs in America, was designated as one of his executors and had delivered the news of Hannah’s legacy, but he declined to serve. See Samuel Athawes to GW, 20 July 1787; GW to Warner Washington, 9 Nov. 1787; and GW to Athawes, 8 Jan. 1788 (, 5:263–65, 425–26; 6:14–15).
2. Mildred Washington Bushrod (1720/1–1785) was a sister of Hannah Fairfax Washington’s husband, Warner Washington (1722–1790). In her will she bequeathed to her brother Warner “all the Horses and money I have in my Possession at my Death as well money due me and not heretofore disposed of” (Will Book 5, pp. 85–86, ViWnFreCh).