The Will of General George Washington: to Which is Annexed, a Schedule of His Property, Directed to be Sold

Alexandria, Virginia: Printed from the Record of the County Court of Fairfax, 1800. 8to. (6 3/4 x 3 3/5 inches). First edition. [A4] B-C4 [D4]. 16 ff. [1]-32. 32 pp. Title, Will, Schedule of Property. Contemporary ink manuscript date of "1800" added to title. Original plain blue paper wrappers folded and stab-stitched with later ink manuscript titling on front wrapper, within a black cloth chemise and black morocco clamshell box

Exceedingly rare first edition of George Washington's will, published in his home state of Virginia, in its original wrappers. This is the document which emancipated Washington's slaves.

"Upon the decease of my wife, it is my will and desire, that all the Slaves which I hold in my own right shall receive their freedom." - George Washington, p.4 This example of the first printing of the first edition of George Washington's will is exceedingly rare, especially so in its original publisher's wrappers, as here. "In the name of God, amen. I, George Washington, of Mount-Vernon, a Citizen of the United States, and lately President of the same, do make, ordain and declare this instrument." [p.3] Washington's will is said to have been prepared and written by Washington alone on July 9th, 1799, without the consultation of any "professional character." Washington would die only six months later, and his executors would present his will for probate at the County Court of Fairfax. The clerk of courts George Deneale recorded the will there on January 23rd, 1800. Shortly after, this pamphlet was published in Alexandria, detailing Washington's wishes. The most notable of its contents is certainly Washington's second codicil, which directs the people enslaved who were not part of his wife's dowry to be freed upon the death of his wife, Martha. It also provides for those "who from old age or bodily infirmities, and others who on account of their infancy, will be unable to support themselves." [p.4] Martha Washington did not wait for her own passing to free the people enslaved; she signed deeds of manumission for them in December of 1800. The people whom Washington enslaved officially became free on January 1st, 1801. It was not until 1810 that appraisers filed their report at the office of the clerk of the Fairfax County Court. The executors held public sales of the livestock at Mount Vernon before Martha Washington's death in 1802, and continued selling the remainder of the listed property for years afterward. Final settlement of the Washington estate was not achieved until June 21, 1847. As to the rest of Washington's will, it contains "detailed arrangements for the dispersal of Washington's property to his relatives and friends, including the Marquis de Lafayette (who received a pair of steel pistols taken from the British during the Revolution), and his nephew, Bushrod Washington, who took possession of Washington's personal papers and library. The schedule of property gives a detailed accounting of Washington's real holdings at the time of his death. The will reveals how wealthy Washington was, whose estate had a value of over a million dollars, making him one of the richest men in the country." The Alexandria pamphlet was followed in the same year by several other printings in various US cities, including a more common, and shorter, Boston edition, and Charleston, Philadelphia, New York, and Worcester. The Alexandria edition is the true first publication and has eight more pages than the Boston.

ESTC W29703. Evans 39000. Howes W145. Reese, Celebration of My Country 145. Sabin 101752.