VI

MASTER AND EMPLOYER

In his “rules of civility” Washington enjoined that “those of high Degree ought to treat” “Artificers & Persons of low Degree” “with affibility & Courtesie, without Arrogancy,” and it was a needed lesson to every young Virginian, for, as Jefferson wrote, “the whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most insulting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.”

Augustine Washington’s will left to his son George “Ten negro Slaves,” with an additional share of those “not herein particularly Devised,” but all to remain in the possession of Mary Washington until the boy was twenty-one years of age.  With his taking possession of the Mount Vernon estate in his twenty-second year eighteen more came under Washington’s direction.  In 1754 he bought a “fellow” for L40.5, another (Jack) for L52.5, and a negro woman (Clio) for L50.  In 1756 he purchased of the governor a negro woman and child for L60, and two years later a fellow (Gregory) for L60.9.  In the following year (the year of his marriage) he bought largely:  a negro (Will) for L50; another for L60; nine for L406, an average of L45; and a woman (Hannah) and child, L80.  In 1762 he added to the number by purchasing seven of Lee Massey for L300 (an average of L43), and two of Colonel Fielding Lewis at L115, or L57.10 apiece.  From the estate of Francis Hobbs he bought, in 1764, Ben, L72; Lewis, L36.10; and Sarah, L20.  Another fellow, bought of Sarah Alexander, cost him L76; and a negro (Judy) and child, sold by Garvin Corbin, L63.  In 1768 Mary Lee sold him two mulattoes (Will and Frank) for L61.15 and L50, respectively; and two boys (negroes), Adam and Frank, for L19 apiece.  Five more were purchased in 1772, and after that no more were bought.  In 1760 Washington paid tithes on forty-nine slaves, five years later on seventy-eight, in 1770 on eighty-seven, and in 1774 on one hundred and thirty-five; besides which must be included the “dower slaves” of his wife.  Soon after this there was an overplus, and Washington in 1778 offered to barter for some land “Negroes, of whom I every day long more to get clear of,” and even before this he had learned the economic fact that except on the richest of soils slaves “only add to the Expence.”

In 1791 he had one hundred and fifteen “hands” on the Mount Vernon estate, besides house servants, and De Warville, describing his estate in the same year, speaks of his having three hundred negroes.  At this time Washington declared that “I never mean (unless some particular circumstance compel me to it) to possess another slave by purchase,” but this intention was broken, for “The running off of my cook has been a most inconvenient thing to this family, and what rendered it more disagreeable, is that I had resolved never to become the Master of another slave by purchase, but this resolution I fear I must break.  I have endeavored to hire, black or white, but am not yet supplied.”