George Washington to Joseph Webb, 17 June 1781
To Joseph Webb
New Windsor June 17th 1781
Dear Sir,
Inclosed is my measure for a pair of draw-Horse Skin Boots,1 to be made of the Leather manufactured at your Works2—The measure is exact, & I should be glad to have the Boots well made—neat—and sent to me as soon as possible, with the price in specie, which shall be immediately forwarded to you.
Upon my return from Weathersfield I found Mrs Washington extremely unwell, she still continues low & Weak, but will set out for the Southward as soon as she can bear the fatiegue of the journey;3 she joins me in compliments & best wishes to yourself, Mrs & Miss Webb.4 I cannot conclude without assuring you that I have a high sense of your politeness and attention to me while I was at Weathersfield—and that I should at all times be happy to see you at head Qrs.5 I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obed. & Obligd Sert
Go: Washington
ADfS, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A purported ALS was offered for sale and partially transcribed in Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York (27 March 1956), catalog no. 1663, item 151.
1. GW initially wrote “draw-Boots” on his draft. He then added “Horse Skin” in the left margin and marked it for insertion.
2. The enclosed measurements have not been found.
Webb recently had invested £30,000 into a tannery (see his letter to Nathanael Greene, 17 Nov. 1779, in , 5:94). Webb described his operation when he wrote the Committee at Headquarters from Morristown, N.J., on 2 June 1780: “Having lately Erected a very extensive & Compleat set of Tan Works, & provided an English Workman of the first Abilities to superintend & Manage the different Branches of tanning Currying & dressing Leather—I am led to offer my best service to the Public in Tanning any Quantity of Leather not exceeding Two thousand Raw Hides, which shall be Tanned & Curried in most Compleat English Manner.” Webb also proposed to provide “one pair good Merchantable Large & well made Soldiers Shoes” for every thirty pounds of raw hides that he received from the public (, 2:262–63).
3. GW had stayed with Webb (see The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June 1781, editorial note). For Martha Washington’s poor health and her departure from camp on 25 June, see GW to John Parke Custis, 31 May.
4. Abigail Chester Webb (1754–1827) married in November 1774. The Webbs then had two daughters: Sarah Webb (1775–1805) and Harriet Blachley (Blatchly) Webb (1779–1818).