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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02065 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1786 |
| Title | George Washington to James McHenry regarding news of the Marquis de Lafayette and scheme to return a slave to his master |
| Date | 11 November 1786 |
| Author | Washington, George (1732-1799) |
| Recipient | McHenry, James |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Describes his scheme to return a runaway slave to his master William Drayton of Charleston, S.C. After visiting Mount Vernon with his master, the slave escaped and returned to Washington's home. Washington writes that "[t]he fellow pretends a willingness to return to his master, but I think it would be unsafe to trust to this, especially as he has discovered a great inclination to get back to Philadelphia..." Washington notes that he has sent the slave to Baltimore "under the impression of assisting in bringing the Jack and mules home but the real design... is to have him shipped for Charleston...." Slight losses to text and loss of downstrokes in Washington's signature. Date from Fitzpatrick. |
| Subjects | Slavery African American History President Runaway Slave Mount Vernon Agriculture and Animal Husbandry |
| People | Washington, George (1732-1799) McHenry, James (1753-1816) Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834) |
| Place written | Mount Vernon |
| Theme | Slavery & Abolition; African Americans; The Presidency; Agriculture |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Signer of the U.S. Constitution. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide |