Martha Washington to Francis B. Washington

Writing in June, 1789, a month after her arrival in New York, Martha Washington sent this letter to her niece Frances Bassett Washington. In one of Martha’s earliest known letters, her intimate love for her family comes bursting forth in touching words about the clan she left behind. The letter shows the conflicting feelings of political life in the late eighteenth century: how do you balance a family life, which for many was far away, with a need for centralized power that required constant care?

In April 1789, George traveled to New York for his inauguration without Martha. She had resigned herself to her husband’s new duties, but was not too pleased with her new role. The first lady was impressed, however, by her greeting upon landing in New York. Martha explains to Fanny that she was given a repeat performance of George’s crossing from New Jersey to New York. George, Robert Morris (a Senator from Pennsylvania), and David Humphreys (an aide to the president) met the first lady at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and they took “the fine Barge you have seen so much said of in the papers.” Once Martha landed in New York she was met by New York Governor George Clinton and a parade of welcoming citizens.

Despite Martha’s ambivalent attitude toward her new life, she was pleased with their new rented residence at 3 Cherry Street (which has since been replaced by a granite support of the Brooklyn Bridge). Martha comments in the letter that the house, “is a very good one and is handsomely furnished all new for the General.” But it eventually proved small and inconveniently located, so in February of 1790, the executive mansion was moved to the Macomb House at 39 Broadway.¹ Many times legislation and deal making were not hammered out in the halls of Congress, but among friends and enemies in dining and drawing rooms. Joanne Freeman sums up the cultural and political significance of visiting and entertaining in the capital when she said “social calls were particularly rule bound, for visiting was a highly symbolic act; a visit made and returned was a deliberate expression of mutual respect, a vital display in a fragile political community of relative strangers.”² The Washingtons were the central focus of the fragile republic and what they did would set a tone for the new country.

The last half of Martha’s letter exposes her deep love and concern for the family she left behind. She sends prayer books back to her niece and grandchildren and greetings to her various relatives and friends. But one of the more revealing aspects of her home life is exposed when Martha mentions her slave Charlot. In this letter Martha stated that she knew that slaves were going to need rest and that “sickness is to be expected and Charlot will lay her self up for a little as one will – it was right to give them more bread if I did not put enough in each bundle – I am truly sorry to hear of another death in the family so soon.” Martha shows intimate knowledge of the lives of the slave families working at Mount Vernon, but also shows that power still remains with the master, who controls the amount of rest and bread a slave received.

This letter provides a glimpse into the life our first, albeit reluctant, first lady. While this single document does not directly expose her jaded attitude toward her new situation in New York, Martha does explain her efforts at juggling a complex set of duties in the life she did not choose to create. She was a political partner who helped her husband entertain, she cared for the home, and watched over the family; diverse roles that helped set a tone for the women of her day.

¹ http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/collections/index.cfm/pid/236/cfid/132224/cftoken/70263683

² Joanne Freeman, Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic ( New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2001), 53-54.

Martha Washington to Frances Bassett Washington
New York, NY, 8 June 1789.
Autograph letter signed, 4 pages.

New York June the 8 th 1789

My Dear Fanny

I have the pleasure to tell you that we had a very agreable journey, I arrived in philadelphia on fryday after I left you without the least accident to distress us were met by the president of the state, (Gnl Mifflin) with the city troop of Horse and conducted safe to grays ferry, where a number of Ladies and Gentlemen came to meet me, and after a cold colation we proceed to Town, – I went to Mrs Morrises – the children was very well and cheerful all the way, Nelly complained very little of beign sick as soon as I could I sent for the stag[e] maker, and gave him your measure and dercted him to send the stag[e]s to Col. Bidder when done to be sent to you, – also two pairs of shoes of a new fashioned kind those with Low Heels for you, those with the high heels is for Mrs Stuart, with a pr apiece for the two dear girls, – all which I hope has come to your hands before this

I set out on munday with Mrs Morris and her two Daughters, – and was met on Wednesday morning [2] by the president Mr Morris and Col. H at Elizabeth town point with the fine Barge you have seen so much said of in the papers with the same oars men that carried the P. to New York dear little Washington seemed to be last in a mase at the great parad that was made for us all the way we come two more the Governor of the state meet me as son as we landed, and led me up to the House, the paper will tell you how I was complimented on my landing, – I thank god the Prdt is very well, and the Gentle men with him – are all very well, –the House ^he is in is a very good one and is handsomly furnished all new for the General – I have been so much engaged since I came hear that I have never opened your Box or dercetins but shall soon have time as most of the visits are at an end – I have not had one half hour to my self since the day of my arrival, my first care as to get the children to a good school, – which they are boath very much pleased at, -- nelly shall begin Musick next week – she has made two or three attempts to write to you; but has never finished a letter – she is a little wild creature and spends her time at the windows looking at carriages, In passing by which is new [3] to her and very common for children to do – I wish you to take a prayer book your self and give one to Harriot the other two to be given to Betty & Patty Custis.

I am pleased to hear that the domestick concerns goe on well – sickness is to be expected and Charlot will lay her self up for a little as an one will – it was right to give them more bread if I did not put enough in each bundle – I am truly sorry to hear of another death in the family so soon –

I shall think my self much obliged to Mrs Bassett for any particular notice she may take of Patty Dandridge – I have a great regard for her and wish to see her do well – when you write to your Brother remember me affectionately to them – I was very sorry that I was obliged to leve home so soon after they came to Mount Vernon – my dear Fanny remember me to all enquiring friends to Mr and Mrs [illegible] Washington the major and give sweet little maria a Thousand kisses for me – I often think of the dear little engaging child – and wish her with me to hear her little prattle – we shall get the Cutters for her before she will want them – as no other kind of cushing are worne ^hear but the crape cushing, or the Hair draped like one I did not send for you – all the genteel people say [4] crape cushing is not proper to send to you – but I think in the country where you cannot have a hair dresser they will do very well – my Hair is cut and draped every day – and I have put on white muslin dear Fanny send me by some safe convance my Black lace apron and handkerchief They are in one of my drawers in the chest of drawers in my chamber – and some thread lace or joining nett it is in one of the Baskets on the shelf in my closet they were fine net Handkerchiefs which I intended to make cap borders off – I think I showed it to you and told you I intended to make a border of them – if my black Handkerchief is not in the drawer Charlot knows where it is to be found – I should think that there could not be any inpropaty in Hariots going to see her cosin when ever she desired it remember me to Habits for the summer – you would I fear think me a good deal in the fashion if you could but see me – my all and believe me your most affectionate

M Washington

Give my love to Hariot and

Send me the measure of

her foot –

GLC07908, Martha Washington to Francis B. Washington
For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.