Virgin Custis (abt. 1775)

Born about 1775 in Fairfax, Virginia [uncertain]

Died [date unknown] in Virginia, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Virgin Custis is a part of US Black heritage.

Virgin was a slave held by George Washington. Her mother, Kate, was also held by him, while her father, Will, sometimes called Mink Will, was a dower slave of the Custis estate of Martha (Dandridge) Washington's first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. As such, Will belonged to Martha Washington (and thus to George Washington) for the duration of Martha Washington's life, and then by law had to be passed to Martha's heirs. George and Martha wanted to emancipate their slaves at their deaths, and Kate and all her children, including Virgin, were freed in 1801, but Will, being a dower slave, was beyond their legal ability to emancipate, so was separated from the family and inherited by one of Martha's four grandchildren (probably George Washington Parke Custis).

Virgin was probably born about 1775 as estimated from her age of 11 years when listed in George Washington's diary entry of 18 February 1786^[1] and her age of 24 years in George Washington's slave list of June 1799.^[2] She was probably born on George Washington's Muddy Hole Farm at Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, Virginia.

At the time of the June 1799 slave list, Virgin was married to "Gabl," who was listed with a remark "Mr. Lear" (so either located--leased to?--at Mr. Lear's farm, as were a few others on the 1799 list, or belonging to Mr. Lear [possibly Tobias Lear who was executive secretary to George Washington from 1786 to 1799], as a few other slaves were on the list).

Kate, and therefore also her children, including Virgin, belonged directly to George Washington, and thus she and her children were all emancipated as George and Martha Washington had decided. In George Washington's 29-page will, in accordance with Virginia state law, he stipulated "that elderly slaves or those who were too sick to work were to be supported throughout their lives by his estate. Children without parents, or those whose families were unable to see to their education were to be bound out to masters and mistresses who would teach them reading, writing, and a useful trade, until they were ultimately freed at the age of twenty-five. Washington’s will stated that he took these charges to his executors very seriously:

'And I do moreover most pointedly, and most solemnly enjoin it upon my Executors...to see that this clause respecting Slaves, and every part thereof be religiously fulfilled at the Epoch at which it is directed to take place; without evasion, neglect or delay, after the Crops which may then be on the ground are harvested, particularly as it respects the aged and infirm.' "^[3][4][5]

After George Washington's death, his widow, Martha, decided not to wait as planned for the emancipation to take place after her death. Instead, she signed a document of manumission in December of 1800, "a transaction that is recorded in the abstracts of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Court Records," which resulted in all the Washington slaves going free while she was still living, on 1 January 1801.^[3]

Slave Owners

• George Washington

Emancipated by George Washington

Note regarding the place holder LNAB being used: This surname is being used currently as a place holder surname until it can be determined what surname this person used.

Sources

1. ↑ “Founders Online: George Washington's Diary Entry of 18 February 1786.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-04-02-0003-0002-0018.
2. ↑ “Founders Online: George Washington's Slave List, June 1799.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, https://founders.archives.gov/?q=mink+will&s=1111311111&sa=&r=8&sr=.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} “George Washington's Decision to Free His Slaves.” George Washington's Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/washingtons-1799-will/.
4. ↑ “Slavery, Including Link to Transcript of George Washington's Will.” George Washington's Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/.
5. ↑ “George Washington's Last Will and Testament, July 9, 1799.” George Washington's Mount Vernon, https://www.mountvernon.org/education/primary-sources-2/article/george-washingtons-last-will-and-testament-july-9-1799/.