George Washington - Autograph Letter Signed - Credit Repaid Via Sale of Slaves

Description

GEORGE WASHINGTON
.  Important autograph letter signed by George Washington, “G.W-n.,” to his lawyer, Thomas Smith, inquiring about recovering a debt owed to him by the deceased Valentine Crawford, the brother of William Crawford: “Sir, Vale Crawford died indebted to me—say one hundred pounds Virga. Curry—more or less.  Previously thereto, he wrote me the letter dated Jacobs Creek May 6th, 1774 and accompanied it with the Bill of Sale herewith enclosed dated May the 8th, 1774.  Quaere, Is this Bill now valid?  Will it secure my debt?—This is all I want.—And can it be recovered without hazarding a defeat which may bring cost without benefit?—If these points are resolved in the affirmative, I would endeavor to secure my debt under cover of the Bill, and desire you would prosecute my claim accordingly, but not otherwise.  With great esteem, I am Sir.”  Contains one page, measures 9.75 by 7.25 inches, created at Mount Vernon on May 8, 1786, in fine condition with light staining and separations to the center folds, and nicely framed with a 19th century miniature portrait of Washington (described below) and a plaque to an overall size of 18 by 14.75 inches.
IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON INQUIRING ABOUT RECOVERING A DEBT THAT WILL SOON BE PAID THROUGH THE SALE OF SLAVES
According to Washington’s correspondence to his business partner, Thomas Freeman, sent on the same day as the present letter, Crawford’s widow was planning to sell her slaves to pay off the debt to Washington: “Being informed that Mrs. Crawford is on the point of having her negroes sold to discharge a Debt due from her late husband, Colo. Crawford….”  In addition, Washington records this case within his daily journal on May 8, 1786: “Affairs of the deceased Val. Crawford and Hugh Stephenson; to whom I gave, under cover to Thos. Smith Esqr. (my Lawyer in that Country) a Bill of Sale and the letter wch. inclosed it which the said Vale. Crawford had sent me, in the Mo[nth] of May 1774 as Security for what he owed me, and to indemnify me for my engagements in his behalf—to see if they were valid, & would cover the debt he owed me, as they never had been recorded.”
“VALE CRAWFORD DIED INDEBTED TO ME—SAY ONE HUNDRED POUNDS VIRGA. CURRY—MORE OR LESS…I WOULD ENDEAVOR TO SECURE MY DEBT UNDER COVER OF THE BILL, AND DESIRE YOU WOULD PROSECUTE MY CLAIM ACCORDINGLY, BUT NOT OTHERWISE.”
Both Valentine Crawford (1724-1777) and his brother, William Crawford (1732-1782), served as Washington’s managers for his Ohio Valley lands and under his command during the French and Indian War and American Revolution.  Unfortunately, William was tortured and burned at the stake by Indians in retaliation for the Gnadenhutten Massacre.  Washington’s relationship to the Crawfords was not only significant, but highly documented within the literature.
ON THE SAME DAY THE PRESENT LETTER WAS SENT, WASHINGTON CONTACTED HIS BUSINESS PARTNER REGARDING THIS CASE: “MRS. CRAWFORD IS ON THE POINT OF HAVING HER NEGROES SOLD TO DISCHARGE A DEBT DUE FROM HER LATE HUSBAND, COLO. CRAWFORD.”
Included with a beautiful miniature painting portrait of Washington in military uniform by the British artist Hely Augustus Morton Smith (1862-1941).  Features Washington in a three-quarters pose facing left, signed “Smith” near the center right border, a small ring hanger affixed to the top, the verso backing contains 19th century French newspaper and a handwritten note of provenance, measures 3.375 by 2.5 inches, and inside an ivory octagon frame to an overall size of 5.5 by 4.375 inches.
National Archives.  From George Washington to Thomas Freeman, 8 May 1786.
National Archives.  Diary Entry: 8 May 1786.