George Washington Papers

From George Washington to John Didsbury, 20 June 1768

To John Didsbury

Mt Vernon Virga 20th June 1768.

Sir,

You will please to send me the following Shoes and charge them respectively—I have also sent my measure for a pair of light thin Boots for Summer wear, which let come with the Shoes—As it will save me the trouble of preparing a fresh measure every time I may have occasion for New Boots I shoud be glad if you woud keep the measure now sent, by you.

  • One pair of Boots as above
  • 4 pr of neat Shoes for myself
  • 6 pr of bla: Calla Pumps for Mrs W——n.

For Mastr Custis. pr Measure sent

  • 6 pr of neat & strg Shoes
  • 4 pr of neat Pumps
  • 4 pr of course strg & midlg la. Shoes for his Servant

Miss Custis. pr Meae sent

  • 4 pr of Leather Pumps
  • 6 pr bla. Calla Ditto
  • 1 pr bla. Sattin Do
  • 1 pr white Do Do

As Mrs Washington’s Shoes (last sent) did not fit her well She now sends her measure again, and desires I will add, they were made out of bad materials having no last in them.1 I am Sir Yr Hble Servt

Go: Washington

ALS, owned (1992) by Mr. Robert F. Batchelder, Ambler, Pa.; ALB, DLC:GW. GW on 18 June wrote in his diary: “At home all day prepg. Invoices and Letters for England” (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 2:69).

1The measurements of the feet of George and Martha Washington and of the two Custis children, which GW sent, have not been found. GW enclosed this letter to Didsbury in his letter to Robert Cary & Co. of this date, and Cary shipped the shoes to GW with the goods listed in the invoices of 28 Sept. 1768.

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