Slaves of Augustine Washington, Virginia

Date: 1700 to 1743
Location: King George, Virginia, United States

- - - - - - Note: this page is very much still in progress. (started in February 2022). - - - - - -

This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by Augustine Washington, Sr, and attempt to connect them to their families.

Portions of Augustine's will.... full will is on his profile.

• I give unto my Son Lawrence Washington and his heirs forever all that plantation and tract of Land at Hunting Creek in the County of Prince William containing by estimate, two thousand and five hundred acres with the Water Mill adjoining thereto or lying near the same and all the Slaves, Cattle and Stocks of all Kinds whatsoever ..... together with said plantation track of Land and Mill. [In plain English: Lawrence, Augustine's son by his first marriage to Jane Butler, inherited Hunting Creek (which he later named Mount Vernon) ]
• I give unto my son Augustine Washington and his heirs forever all my lands in the County of Westmoreland except such only as are hereinafter otherwise disposed of together with twenty five head of neat Cattle forty hogs and twenty sheep and a negro man named Frank besides those negroes formerly given him by his mother. [ Augustine's other son by his first marriage, Augustine, Jr., inherited the Popes Creek property (where George was born) ]
• I give unto my said son Augustine three young working Slaves to be purchased for him out of the first profits of the Iron Works after my desase (sic).
• I give to my son George Washington and his heirs the land I now live on which I purchased of the Executors of Mr. Wm Strother deceased. And one moiety of my land lying on Deeps Run and ten negro Slaves. [ George inherited the land that is today called Ferry Farm. A "moiety" is one half ]
• I give unto my son Samuel Washington and his heirs my land at Chotank in the County of Stafford containing about six hundred acres and also the other moity (sic) of my land lying on Deeps Run.
• I give unto my son John Washington and his heirs my Land at the head of Maddox in the County of Westmoreland containing about seven hundred acres. Item.
• I give unto my son Charles Washington and his heirs the land I purchased of my son Lawrence Washington whereon Thomas Lewis now lives, adjoining to my said son Lawrence's land above devised. I also give unto my said son Charles and his heirs the Land I purchased of Gabriel Adams in the County of Prince William containing about seven hundred acres.
• It is my will and desire that all the rest of my negroes not herein particularly devised may be equally divided between my wife and my three sons Samuel, John and Charles, and that Ned, Jack, Bob, Sue, and Lucy may be included in my wife's part, which part of my said wife's, after her decease I desire may be equally divided between my sons George, Samuel, John and Charles, and part of my said negroes so devised to my wife I mean and intend to be in full satisfaction and in lieu of her dower in my negroes. But if she should insist notwithstanding on her right of Dower in my negroes I will and desire that so many as may be wanting to make up her share may be taken out of the negroes given hereby to my sons George, Samuel, John and Charles. [note by transcriber Eddie Pike- George's mother, Mary, was to receive 5 slaves, which Augustine intended to be her full inheritance of slaves. If Mary were to contest this after Augustine's death, saying that she deserved a greater number as her dower rights, the difference would have to be made up from the slaves given to his sons. ]

...........

• I give and bequeath to my said wife the crops made at Bridge Creek, Chotank, and Rappahanock (sic) quarters at the time of my decase (sic) for the support of herself and her children and I desire my wife may have the liberty of working my land at Bridge Creek Quarters for the time of Five years after my decease, during which time she may fix a quarters on Deep Run.
• I give to my son Lawrence Washington and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever that tract of Land I purchased of Mr. James Hooe adjoining to the Said Lawrence Washington's land on Maddox in the County of Westmoreland which I gave him in lieu of the land my said son bought for me in Prince William County of Spencer and Harrison and for want of such heirs then I give and devise the same to my son Augustine and his heirs forever. Item. — I give to my said son Lawrence all the right title and interest I have to in or out of the Iron Works in which I am concerned in Virginia and Maryland provided that he do and shall, out of the profits raised thereby purchase for my son Augustine three young working slaves as I have herein before directed and also pay my daughter Betty when she arrives at the age Eighteen years the sum of four hundred pounds which right title and interest on the condition aforesaid I give to my said son Lawrence and his heirs forever. [ Lawrence inherited the iron works with the provision that he must use some of the profits to buy three slaves for Augustine, Jr. and give Betty (George's sister) 400 pounds when she turned 18. ]
• I give to my said daughter Betty a negro child named Mary daughter of Sue and an other named Betty daughter of Judy.
• It is my will and desire that my sons Lawrence and Augustine do pay out of their respective Estates devised to them one half or moity (sic) of the debts I justly owe and for that purpose I give and bequeath unto my said two sons one half of the debts owing to me. [ Augustine willed half of his debts to Lawrence and Augustine Jr. that they were to pay out of their inheritance. ] .....
• [summary of next item: The key provision is that if Lawrence died without having children, Augustine, Jr. would then inherit Hunting Creek (provided he then gave Popes Creek to George). If Augustine, Jr. didn't want Hunting Creek, it would go to George. In fact, this is what happened. Lawrence had just one child - a daughter - but she died in childhood. When Lawrence died, Augustine, Jr. choose to stay at Popes Creek so George inherited Mount Vernon. Other provisions in this item detail how the properties should be dispersed in the event of various other deaths. ]
• Lastly. -- I constitute and appoint my son Lawrence Washington and my good friends Daniel McLarity and Nathaniel Chapman — Gentlemen Executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Eleventh day of April 1743. AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON (L.S.)

Sources