Lot 285

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Description:

GEORGE WASHINGTON
(1732 - 1799) First President of the United States and commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Important and very early A.E.S. "Washington" on the verso of a manuscript document, 1p. folio, [n.p., n.d., Mount Vernon, Va., c. 1752] being a "List of Bonds for Sundrys purchased at the Sale of the Estate of Maj. Law. Washington Esqr. Also the Acct. of Sundrys purchased by Sundry persons for which no bond is taken." Major Lawrence Washington (1718-1752) was George Washington's older half-brother and mentor. Lawrence Washington was also the person who changed the name of his father's (Augustine Washington's) estate from "Little Hunting Creek Plantation" to "Mount Vernon". Before his death, Lawrence Washington willed Mount Vernon to George Washington should his widow and infant daughter both die without issue. Soon after Lawrence died, his widow, Anne Fairfax married into the Lee family and moved out of the estate leaving it George Washington's management, and he lived there as a tenant until her death in 1761. The document lists the names of numerous individuals, including Washington himself (listed as "Maj. Washington") next to "Col Fairfax" as well as "Coll Lee" and many other familiar Virginia names. On the verso, Washington added his holograph to the docket: "A List of Bonds given for Sundries sold from the Estate of Maj[o]r Law[renc]e Washington" Lawrence Washington was an accomplished soldier receiving a commission as a captain from the Governor of Virginia in 1740. In 1741 he embarked with the 43rd Regiment of Foot on an expedition to the Caribbean participating in the attacks on Cartagena, New Granada, Cuba and Panama. Of the 3,500 Virginians sent to the Caribbean in 1741. Less than 500 returned, the rest perished from tropical maladies. Lawrence established The Ohio Company of Virginia to open trade with the American interior and helped establish the town of Alexandria. George Washington was very close to his half-brother, and after Lawrence became ill with tuberculosis, the two travelled to Barbados in 1751 in an attempt to restore his health. It would be the only journey George Washington would make outside of what would become the United States. A very early example of Washington's holograph an important association with Washington's iconic home, Mount Vernon. Usual folds with minor separations, light toning, else fine condition.

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June 3, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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