From George Washington to John Didsbury, 18 July 1771
To John Didsbury
[Williamsburg] July 18th 1771.
Sir,
Inclosd you have three measures by which you will please to make the following Shoes & Boots
- 3 pr neat light Shoes stitch’d and bound
- 3 pr neat but stronger Ditto
- 1 pr neat & thin Boots for Summer Wear with Straps & Buckles to Ditto
- 1 pr Neat double Vampd Do Do Do
For Geo: Washington
- 2 pr neat thin Shoes Stitchd and bound
- 4 pr neat and strong Do
- 1 pr neat & Strong Boots with buckles & Straps
For Lund Washington
- 4 pr neat Pumps Stitchd & bound
- 2 pr dble Chand Do
- 4 pr neat & strong Shoes, stitchd & bound
- 1 pr light and thin boots with Buckskin Legs
- 1 pr neat Do Calf & pretty stout with buckles Straps &ca
For Jno. P. Custis
I have sent you a fresh measure for myself because the Shoes wch I have had from you latterly were rather too small1—make out the above Accts seperately—Messrs Cary & Co. will pay for the whole & it will be necessary that you distinguish the Shoes &ca by writing each person’s name on their own.2 I am, Sir Yr Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALB, DLC:GW. This letter was enclosed in GW’s letter of 20 July 1771 to Robert Cary & Co.
1. GW first ordered shoes from the London shoemaker John Didsbury in 1758. See GW to Richard Washington, 5 April 1758.
2. These shoes are listed in Cary’s invoice of 3 Dec. 1771.