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Henry A. Washington Letter

 Collection
Identifier: SC 00091

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

Four page letter dated February 17, 1847 from Henry Augustine Washington to his mother, Sarah Tayloe Washington.  She was the wife of Lawrence Augustine Washington.  Letter is written from Richmond, Virginia to Mattox Bridge in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  In the letter Washington writes about the sale of corn and grains in the United States as related specifically to the famine in Ireland and England.  He also writes about politics and the issues with Calhoun, the Mexican War, and the status of political parties in Washington, D.C.

Dates

  • Creation: 1847 February 17

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Biographical Information:

Henry Augustine Washington was born at Haywood, Virginia on 24 August 1820, the son of Lawrence Washington and Sarah Tayloe Washington. He attended Georgetown College and the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Studied law under John Tayloe Lomax. He moved to Richmond to practice law in 1842, but in 1847 returned to the Northern Neck of Virginia.

He was appointed professor of history and political economy at the College of William and Mary. He married Cynthia Beverley Tucker, daughter of Williamsburg mayor and judge, Nathaniel Beverley Tucker. Washington edited the Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Washington, 1853-54) and completed Thomas R. Dew's A Digest of the Laws, Customs, Manners and Institutions of the Ancient and Modern Nations (1853). He suffered ill-health for years and died 28 February 1858.

Extent

0.01 Linear Foot

Acquisition Information:

Crown Collectibles P.O. Box 426 Prince George, VA 23875-0426 804-814-0402  sommerwi@aol.com

Related Materials:

Henry A. Washington Papers, Special Collections Research Center

Title
Guide to the Henry A. Washington Letter
Date
2016-04-19
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
The collection description/finding aid is written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

Contact: