d to earn a doubloon (seven dollars and
forty cents) a day, he grew steadily in wealth, and when he died his
property, exclusive of his wife's and the Mount Vernon estate, was valued
at five hundred and thirty thousand dollars. This made him one of the
wealthiest Americans of his time, and it is to be questioned if a fortune
was ever more honestly acquired or more thoroughly deserved.
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 w
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