http://www.mountvernon.org/press/2001slaveryfact.asp

[JBFRAME at aol.com]

Chronology of Slavery at Mount Vernon 
1743, at the age of eleven, George Washington inherits 10 slaves. 
1754, George Washington inherits eight slaves (four adults, four children) 
from his brother’s estate. Washington moves to Mount Vernon. 
1754, Washington purchases at least eight slaves. 
1759, George Washington marries Martha Custis who initially brings to Mount 
Vernon 11 slaves, increasing the population to 50. 
1759-1772, Washington purchases at least 42 slaves. 
1775-1787, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington resolves never to 
buy or sell another slave. His slave population continues to grow naturally, 
as he also refused to separate families. 
1786, earliest completed census of Mount Vernon slaves is conducted and lists 
216 men, women, and children with 105 belonging to George Washington and 111 
belonging to the estate of Martha’s first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. 
1799, in July, Washington drafts a second inventory in preparation of freeing 
his slaves in his will (Virginia law prevented George Washington from 
emancipating the slaves belonging to the Custis estate). Listed were 316 
slaves with 123 belonging to George Washington. 
1799, in December, George Washington dies. 316 slaves were living at Mount 
Vernon of whom approximately 42% were too young or too old to work, but were 
provided for by the estate. 
1801, in January, George Washington’s 123 slaves are freed. Detailed 
instructions were left in his will for the care and support of the newly 
freed people and records indicate that some lived on at Mount Vernon as 
pensioners until the 1830’s.

Slavery at Mount Vernon 
Mount Vernon slaves lived and worked in six locations: the five farms which 
made up Washington’s 8,000-acre plantation and the grist mill, located three 
miles from the Mansion. 
Many slaves were field hands with much of this labor done by women. Others 
were skilled in trades such as carpentry, masonry, and blacksmithing. House 
slaves included cooks, butlers, and personal valets and maids. 

Washington and Slavery 
George Washington was born into a society that accepted slavery. 
After fighting for freedom in the Revolutionary War, Washington’s opinion of 
slavery changed and he personally resolved never to buy or sell another 
slave. 
George Washington wrote to Lawrence Lewis in 1797; “I wish my soul that the 
legislature of this State could see a policy of gradual abolition of 
slavery.” 
In his will, George Washington freed his slaves and left detailed 
instructions for their care and support. 

Slave Burial Ground at Mount Vernon 
Located 50 yards southwest of George Washington’s tomb. 
Known to have been a cemetery for slaves and free blacks who worked for the 
Washington family. 
Graves are unmarked; identities and numbers of those buried are largely 
unknown. William Lee, George Washington’s personal servant during the 
Revolutionary War is known to be buried there. He was freed in 1801 and died 
in 1828. West Ford (1784-1863), a prominent free black who worked at Mount 
Vernon after Washington’s death as a manager and later assisted the Ladies’ 
Association with historical facts is thought to be buried there.    
    


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