Scarce and early manuscript document relating to the family of George Washington, one page, 13 x 16, October 31, 1749. Scallop-topped document from Westmoreland County, Virginia, serving as a deed of feoffment from John Higdon to Augustine Washington, Jr., with the former, Higdon, selling to Washington for 13 pounds a total of 105 acres of land that he had inherited. The document is signed on the front and reverse by multiple persons affiliated and/or related to the Washingtons, including: Colonel George Lee (1714-61), a magistrate married to the widow of Lawrence Washington (another half-brother of George) and co-owner of slaves with the Washingtons; James Hunter (1721-84), a patriot, whose ironworks, the largest in the colonies during the Revolutionary War, supplied arms to the Continental Army; William Fitzhugh (1721-98), a colonel of the French and Indian War, a member of both the Virginia and Maryland legislatures, and a Commissary General of Maryland during the Revolution, whose home was burned by the British; and John Higdon III (d. 1771) a planter and Washington family friend; and others. In good to very good condition, with overall silking, tape stains, edge chips and paper loss.
Page 219 of Virginia Deed Book 11 indicates that the 105 acres transferred by this deed were located at Mattox Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. George Washington’s grandfather, Lawrence Washington, was born at Mattox Creek in 1659.
Colonel Lee signs (once) and initials (twice) as clerk of Westmoreland County, Virginia. His wife, Anne Fairfax Washington, the widow of Lawrence Washington, inherited Mount Vernon. Anne (and legally, Colonel Lee as her husband) rented Mount Vernon to George Washington, and after Anne’s death in 1761, Mount Vernon became fully vested in George and Colonel Lee, with the surviving five Washington brothers (including George) splitting the ownership of Lawrence Washington’s slaves.
Provenance: Lot 701 in the April 5-6, 1892, sale of Manuscripts by Thos. Birch’s Sons, Auctioneers, Phila.
