George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Ruthey Jones, 12 May 1795

From Ruthey Jones

Belfast [Ga.] May the 12—1795

Worthy Sir—

I am at a loss for words to express the concern it gave me, that I had not the means in my Power of being so happy as to see you when you was in our State,1 and now I dair say I shall never have it in my Power, I have sent you a Pockitbook of my own work which I did at 62 years of Age—I being now in my 63d, it is my humble and earnest request that you will accept of it, as it is all I have to send as a mark of my warmest Friendship2—I now most earnestly request that you will not think, that I ment to impose on you, by Claiming an affinity—as I was always informed that you was, a son, or a grand son, of my grand uncle Mr James Washington—who moved to Virginia before my grand Fathers Death—and my not knowing that their was any Family their of that name, but my uncle—who I had always thought you a Decendent of his3—I had the Misfortune to Luse one of the best of Mothers when I was very young, but small as I was, I have often heard her speak of her uncle James Washington with the warmest affecttion—who had always been very fond of her—as she was the only child my grand Father had that Lived—and I am the only one of hers who had 9—I now conclude with wishing you for ever Happy I remain with the greatest Respect yours Sincerely

Ruthey Jones

ALS, DLC:GW. The cover includes the statement: “Honord by Mr R. Samuel Footman.”

1GW visited Georgia during his southern tour in 1791.

2That same day, Jones sent a separate letter and gift to Martha Washington, in care of a Mrs Footman. The cover states that those items were also “Honord by Mr R. Samuel Footman” (DLC:GW).

3This was not the first time Jones had mentioned a supposed family relationship with GW, who consistently denied the connection. See her letter to GW of 7 May 1785 and the source note to that document (Papers, Confederation Series, description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1992–97. description ends 2:540–42).

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