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Collection Reference Number GLC02065
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1786 
Title George Washington to James McHenry regarding news of the Marquis de Lafayette and scheme to return a slave to his master
Date 11 November 1786
Author Washington, George (1732-1799)  
Recipient McHenry, James  
Document Type Correspondence
Content Description Describes his scheme to return a runaway slave to his master William Drayton of Charleston, S.C. After visiting Mount Vernon with his master, the slave escaped and returned to Washington's home. Washington writes that "[t]he fellow pretends a willingness to return to his master, but I think it would be unsafe to trust to this, especially as he has discovered a great inclination to get back to Philadelphia..." Washington notes that he has sent the slave to Baltimore "under the impression of assisting in bringing the Jack and mules home but the real design... is to have him shipped for Charleston...." Slight losses to text and loss of downstrokes in Washington's signature. Date from Fitzpatrick.
Subjects Slavery  African American History  President  Runaway Slave  Mount Vernon  Agriculture and Animal Husbandry  
People Washington, George (1732-1799)  McHenry, James (1753-1816)  Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834)  
Place written Mount Vernon
Theme Slavery & Abolition; African Americans; The Presidency; Agriculture
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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