From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 19 June 1775
To John Parke Custis
Philadelphia June 19th 1775.
Dear Jack,
I have been called upon by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to take the command of the Continental Army—It is an honour I neither sought after, or was by any means fond of accepting, from a consciousness of my own inexperience, and inability to discharge the duties of so important a Trust. However, as the partiallity of the Congress have placed me in this distinguished point of view, I can make them no other return but what will flow from close attention, and an upright Intention. for the rest I can say nothing—my great concern upon this occasion, is the thoughts of leaving your Mother under the uneasiness which I know this affair will throw her into; I therefore hope, expect, & indeed have no doubt, of your using every means in your power to keep up her Spirits, by doing every thing in your power, to promote her quiet—I have I must confess very uneasy feelings on her acct, but as it has been a kind of unavoidable necessity which has led me into this appointment, I shall more readily hope, that success will attend it, & crown our Meetings with happiness.
At any time, I hope it is unnecessary for me to say, that I am always pleased with yours & Nelly’s abidance at Mount Vernon, much less upon this occasion, when I think it absolutely necessary for the peace & satisfaction of your Mother; a consideration which I have no doubt will have due weight with you both, & require no arguments to inforce.1
As the publick Gazettes will convey every article of Intelligence that I could communicate in this Letter, I shall not repeat them, but with love to Nelly, & sincere regard for yourself I remain Yr Most Affecte
Go: Washington
P.S. Since writing the foregoing I have receiv’d your Letter of the 15th Instt—I am obliged to you for the Intelligence therein containd—and am glad you directed about the Tobacco, for I had really forgot it. You must now take upon yourself the entire management of your own Estate, it will no longer be in my power to assist you, nor is there any occasion for it as you have never discover’d a disposition to put it to a bad use.2
The Congress, for I am at liberty to say as much, are about to strike two Million of Dollars as a Continental Currency, for the support of the War as Great Britain seems determined to force us into, and there will be at least 15,000 rais’d as a Continental Army3—as I am exceedingly hurried I can add no more at present than that I am. &ca
G.W——n
ALS, ViHi.
John Parke Custis (1754–1781), called Jack or Jacky by his relatives and friends, was Martha Washington’s son by her first marriage and the principal heir to the large Custis estate. GW became Jack’s guardian and the administrator of the Custis estate shortly after he married Martha Washington in January 1759.
1. John Parke Custis married Eleanor (Nelly) Calvert (1754–1811) in February 1774. For two or three years after their marriage, the young couple apparently lived alternately at Mount Vernon and Mount Airy, the home of Nelly’s parents in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
2. John Parke Custis’s letter of 15 June 1775 has not been found. The tobacco mentioned was probably grown on the Custis lands on the Pamunkey and York rivers and on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Arrangements had to be made each year for shipping the Custis crop to England to be sold. Jack, who did not reach the age of 21 until November of this year, apparently did assume immediate responsibility for running his plantations, but final settlement of GW’s guardianship accounts and the transfer of Jack’s bonds was not made until the following year (GW to George Mason, 10 May 1776; GW to Lund Washington, 10 May 1776). Jack proved to be a poor businessman. By the time of his death at the age of 27, the value of the Custis estate was much diminished and its affairs were in great disorder.
3. For a discussion of these resolutions, see GW to Burwell Bassett, 19 June 1775, n.1.