The most famous provision of the will immediately freed William Lee, Washington’s enslaved valet from the war, and arranged to emancipate the 122 enslaved individuals he owned after Martha’s death. He left most of his estate to Martha, forgave debts owed him by extended family, granted land and stocks for the creation of educational institutions, and bequeathed his papers and books to his nephew, Supreme Court Justice Bushrod Washington. With these challenges in mind, Washington wrote out the terms of his will in 1799. Furthermore, as enslaved families had children, the population continued to grow. Grains required less labor than tobacco, often leaving workers unemployed during down seasons. Washington undertook these projects because he wanted to make money, but also because he wanted to employ the growing enslaved population at Mount Vernon. At the time of his death, it was one of the largest, most productive distilleries in the nation. After his retirement, Washington built a distillery that created whiskey from rye, corn, and barley. He employed enslaved workers making barrels to store the grain and sailing ships to port with the finished product. During his presidency, Washington improved the technology at his grist mill and increased the quantity of grain he could process for his neighbors, in return for a portion of the profit. Washington also sought opportunities to diversify his economic investments. He then conducted his daily inspections of his estate on horseback, before returning for dinner at 3 PM. He woke early and spent several hours reading and writing in his private study before breakfast at 7 AM. Washington welcomed every excuse to escape the curious stares of visitors. Enslaved stable hands tended their horses and carriages, and enslaved housemaids washed and mended their clothes, made their beds, and kept fires lit in the bedrooms. The guests were treated to breakfast or dinner prepared and served by the enslaved cooks and servants employed in the house. In 1798 alone, the Washingtons hosted as many as 677 guests. Americans were fascinated by Washington, and pilgrimaging to Mount Vernon became a popular pastime. On March 15, 1797, Washington returned to Mount Vernon, eager to expand his economic enterprise, complete the renovations of the mansion, and maintain some semblance of privacy from the thousands of visitors who passed through his home.Īs an elite southern gentleman, Washington took eighteenth-century expectations of hospitality seriously.
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