Washington Estate Oct 1759 Custis Estate distributed

The Custis estate stemming from a Court in April 1759 is now being distributed in October 1759. This is the estate Martha inherited from her previous husband, Custis. See the Genesis story of this estate.

This notorious rascal, Daniel Parke, murdered on 7 December 1710, 22 years before George Washington is born, leaves a legacy on our George Washington -- a law suit. Daniel Parke leaves behind a daughter Francis Parke. She marries a Custis. That Custis is ornery. He has a son. He doesn't want that son to marry Martha Dandridge. But Martha Dandridge figures out a way to change the old man's mind. She gets his blessing to marry his son. She marries the son 15 May 1750. After a marriage of 7 years, this son of the ornery Custis dies. So, the now widowed Martha Dandgridge Custis then marries Colonel George Washington 6 Jan 1759. And so here we are on 12 June 1759. George Washington writes a letter about this estate, But back to the rascal who left this fortune.

This Daniel Parke who leaves this legacy wasn't just murdered. He was mutilated afterwards.

"a mob of the privileged citizens of Antigua

"attack'd and forc'd his Guard,

entred his House,

broke open his Chamber-Door,

and Shot him. ...

they broke his Back-bone, dragg'd him by the Heels down the Stairs;

shot him again in several places;

and some,

whose Marriage-bed, 'tis thought, he had defiled,

revenged themselves on the sinning parts,

which they cut off and expos'd."

Source:

"Tragical End of Colonel Parke, Governor of the Leeward Islands," in The Political State of Great Britain (London, January 1710-11), 339.

That's it.

That's our lead story.

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Compiled and update by Jim Moyer 11/27/2019, updated 10/10/2021, updated 6/14/23, 6/15/23, 6/16/2023, updated 10/8/2023

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This Website's other stories

Meet John Mercer, father, lawyer and Custis Inheritance published on this website: Sep 1, 2023 https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/meet-john-mercer-father-lawyer

The Dunbar Lawsuit on the Custis-Washington Estate published on this website: Jun 14, 2023

https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/the-dunbar-lawsuit-on-the-custis-washington-estate

Appendix B. Account of Sale in Williamsburg for the Estate, 25 October 1759

Appendix B Account of Sale in Williamsburg for the Estate [25 October 1759] An Account of the Sail of the Estate of Colo. Custis Decst in WmsBurg October 25 1759 £ s. d.104.12 Pewter Dishes and 6 Plates To Cash paid1. 2. 6105.4 Pewter Dishes To George Chaplain.12. 6106.9 High Leathe Chears To Thos Wilkins2. 5. 6107.1 Tin Basket & other Lumber To John Greenhow.11. 108.1 Jarr one pr Scales & weights To Wm Graves.15. 6109.1 Ladle 2 Candle Sticks & snuffers To John Bartley.10. 110.1 Brass Gun & Close Stool Chear To John Greenhow.14. 6111.15 Pains Large Glass To John Greenhow1.11. 112.1 Warming pan To Thos Craig. 8. 3113.1 Case & Bottles & mose Trap To John Greenhow. 8. 114.A parcel of shot and Gun Flints To Wm Graves. 5. 3115.1 Table and Dressing Glass To Thos Craig.19. 116.3 Picturs To John Greenhow.14. 117.12 Picturs To Mr Frank1. . 6118.5 Picturs To John Greenhow.10. 6119.12 Small picturs To Mr Frank1. . 120.A parcel of oald Iron To Wm Graves. 7. A pair of oad Dogs & Tongs & shovel & funnel To George Chaplain. 7. 6122.1 Spise Morter and pessel To Colo. Barnard Moore. 7. 123.7 Picturs To Thos Craig1. 1. 124.15 Picturs & a Bull Dogg To John Greenhow1.11. 125.3 Picturs To Mr Frank. 7. 9[126.]2 Bell mettle skillets 4 wheat stones 2 sullinges To John Greenhow2. . 127.1 Chocolate pot To Mary Rise. 7. 8128.1 Chocolate pot To Wm Graves. 7. 3129.1 Jarr To John Buston. 8. 6130.1 Small Jarr To Mary Rise. 3. 131.1 oald Safe To George Chaplain. 9. 132.1 oald Chest Cash paid. 5. 133.1 oald Beadstead To John Grainger.15. 134.1 Large Looking Glass To Thos Craig4.10. 135.1 oald Desk To Mr Frank1. 8. 136.1 Small Glass picture Cash paid. 5. 137.1 Large Looking Glass To Mr Frank1. 4. 6138.1 Book Case & Draws To Patr. Connelly3.13. 139.8 Low Leather Chears To Jos. Vallentine1. 6. 140.6 Glass Decanters To Cash paid.11. 141.1 Small Dressing Glass To John Grainger. 7. 9142.1 Small Table To Patr. Connelly.11. 6 143.1 Leather Couch To Mr Frank. 7. 144.A parcel of old Broken picturs To Mr Frank. 3. 6145.7 picturs To John Greenhow.12. 146.18 Small picturs To Mr Frank2.13. 147.5 Woodin Immageis To John Greenhow.15. 148.A parcel of Brimstone Cash paid. 1.10149.1 Large ovel Table To Pattrick Connelly1.15. 150.1 Large Press To John Greenhow2.12. 151.A Teaster of a Bead To Mr Frank. 5. 152.A pair old Garden Siers & Iron Fender To Mr Frank. 5. 153.1 Cain Trussel To Ema[n]uel Taylor1. 4. 154.A pair of oald seals and weights Cash paid. 2. 155.2 Oald Earthen pots To James Yeats. 1. 6156.A parcel of oald Gally pots & Lumber To Thos Cobbs. 8. 2157.2 pewter Dishes To Wm Richardson.10. 2158.1 oald pewter Bason 6 plates To Eadward Cummins. 4. 6159.1 oald Iron pot and hooks Cash paid. 5. 160.4 parcel of small picturs To Thos Craig. 6. 6161.1 oald Table Cash paid. 1. 3162.A parcel of read Lead To Wm Smith. 4. 1163.1 Iron pot To John Ormiston. 5. 9164.1 oald Beadstead To Mr Frank. 3. 165.1 oald Iron pot & Duch oven & pan To George Chaplain.13. 6166.1 Wrighting Table To Wm Holt.16. 9167.8 Large oald picturs To Mr Frank. 5. 168.3 picturs Cash paid. 5. 2169.2 maps Cash paid. 9. 1170.9 Picturs Cash paid. 3. 4171.6 Picturs To Thos Craig. 7. 7172.1 Large Picture To Mr Frank. 3. 1173.9 picturs To John Ormiston.11. 4174.3 maps To Jos. Vallentine. 6.10175.3 picturs Cash paid. 3. 3176.1 picture of an horse To Thos Craig.10. 3177.3 picturs To Mr Frank. 4. 178.1 Dish and 6 plates To John Ormiston.17. 6179.5 Picturs To John Grainger. 4. 6180.5 Picturs Cash paid. 5. 181.1 pair oald Doggs To Thos pait. 8. 1182.1 Stone Judge To Wm Smith. 3. 1183.1 Trunk & spit Cash paid. 6. 6184.1 Chest & Bottles To Wm Smith. 4. 1185.1 Chest & Bottles To Wm Smith. 4. 6186.1 Oald Table To Thos Wilkins. 6. 187.1 Chest Cash paid. 4. 188.1 Chest Cash paid. 1. 3189.210 ⟨illegible⟩ pounds oald Iron To Thos Pate.17. 658. 7. 7 D, ViHi: Custis Papers. The account is in the hand and orthography of the estate manager Joseph Valentine. On a separate, or cover page, GW wrote “Sale of the Estates Goods in Williamsburg pr Jos. Valentine.” Williamsburg merchants and storekeepers are listed as buying most of the items, with few lots going for more than £1. 1. John Mercer inserted the numbers for each entry (104 to 189) on Valentine’s sale list. He then supplied the numbers from this sale account when he listed these items in his consolidated estate inventory (Appendix E). See note 4, Appendix E, for reference to the probability of other sale lists now missing. Valentine’s descriptions of items in an entry are often much fuller than Mercer’s.

Source:

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-06-02-0164-0024

Some other financial affairs unrelated to this Custis Estate:

Subscription for Maurice Pound, October 1759

Subscription for Maurice Pound Fairfax County October 1759 Maurice Pound a Native of Germany having setled at Colchester in the said County about three years since on two Lotts which he purchased (one of which he has improved according to Law) and planted a Vineyard on them; during which time he has lived at his own Expence without any profit from his Vineyard having been much retarded in his Undertaking by these two last dry summers, & having one of his Lots yet to save by building the legal Improvements; with a winepress and other Conveniencys, proposes to any Gentlemen who are desirous to help him, & encourage & promote an Undertaking likely to be so usefull, & beneficial to this Colony to oblige himself to improve his other Lott, & to mortgage both the said Lotts to any Gentlemen who will advance him one hundred pounds Current money the Interest of which he proposes to pay yearly & the principal sum Advanced within five years, & the whol time to prosecute with Industry all measures possible to bring his Vineyard to perfection, (a thing not [to] be done at once) of which he has a most encouraging prospect if seasons will permit. N.B. the Lotts to be mortgaged to any one or more of the Subscribers in Trust1 for all—I have known Maurice Pound ever since he lived in Colchester he has the Character of a very honest industrious man: I have been frequently in his Vinyard upon which he has ⟨mutilated⟩ an infinite deal of Labour, & I realy believe if our Soil & Climate is capable of producing good wine that he will, wth proper Encouragement, bring it to perfecti[o]n tho’ I don’t think less then £150 will do—as I am Sensible that his present Circumstances are too low to carry on his undertaking without Assistance & from my Opinion of the Intigrity a[nd] Capacity of the man, I will advance him ten Pounds upon the above mentioned Terms & I will readily join with the other Subscribers in making up whatever Sum they shall judge necessary for the purpose. G: Mason I will advance to Maurice Pound on the above terms & for the said purposes £15:0:0: Cha. ⟨Green⟩ I will advance ten pounds for Morrice Pound on the Terms above mentioned. Da[nie]l French2 I will advance to maurice pound on the above Terms and for the purposes aforesaid Twenty pound Cu[rrency] G:W: Fairfax I will advance for Maurice Pound on Condition before exprest ten pounds Virginia Currency Spence Gray⟨son⟩3 I will advance for Maurice pound on the before mentioned terms and for the said purposes Eighteen pounds Virginia Currency. Ben: Grayson4 I Will advance Maurice pound Fifteen pounds on the same Terms with the other Subscribers. Go: Washington D, PHi: Society Miscellaneous Collection. 1. The manuscript reads “Tanst.” 2. Daniel French (1723–1771) lived at his house Rose Hill west of Alexandria. 3. Spence Grayson (1734–1798) lived at Belle Air in Prince William County. 4. Benjamin Grayson (died c.1768), brother of Spence Grayson, ran a mercantile business in Colchester that he had recently inherited from his father Benjamin Grayson (d. 1757).