#John Parke Custis

[icarusbetide]

king's college, hamilton & custis: two very different 1773 students

Jacky Custis (Washington's stepson) enrolled at King's College in May 1773, but "dropped out" in less than a year. Crazy how small colonial America was, because guess who else began attending King's College in 1773 before being formally matriculated in 1774? Alexander Hamilton. Who, like George Washington who originally wanted to send Jacky to Princeton, had applied first to Princeton but gone to King's College after being rejected.

You can really see their contrasting motivation because Hamilton was devouring all these books and whatnot as per usual, and Jacky was out here sending letters to his mother going "the teachers look upon me in a particular light aka they suck up to me a lot"; Myles Cooper the president of King's College writing to Washington in the best light possible at first, saying that Jacky "dines with the Professors and myself in the College-hall...I doubt not will make a Proficiency equal to the warmest Wishes and Expectations" in July. But they gave up the ghost and Washington wrote in December that Jacky wouldn't be returning to King's College. Very passive aggressive: "I have yielded, contrary to my judgment, & much against my wishes, to his quitting College." (Myles Cooper is also the Loyalist that Hamilton tried to help by talking down the Patriot mob long enough for him to escape.)

From the notes in Cooper's September letter to Washington, it appears that Jacky left King's College late September and arrived (?) at Mt. Vernon on October 2nd, never to return. Washington assumed this was just a mini vacation but it wasn't. Knowing this and that Hamilton most likely started studying in fall of 1773, there's a very slim chance that Custis and he crossed paths at least once.

Someone write that fanfic for me. Hamilton remembering a lackadaisical, pompous student he met at King's College, joking and sharing the story with the military family - Washington realizing who he's talking about, but not saying anything much until Hamilton realizes in horror that the "John or whoever that ate with the professors and never picked up a book and went on and on about his girl Nelly" is General Washington's son Jacky.

This is me still fixating about the southern Hamilton au, but it tickles my fancy to think that both Washington's actual son and his rumored illegitimate son attended the same college in the same year, though with wildly different results. More realistically, even if Hamilton never met Jacky, it still must've been an awkward conversation with the general, if it ever got brought up. "I studied at King's College, sir." "Oh really? My son attended King's College in 1773." "Oh! I started studying there in 1773 too, maybe I met him!" "Probably not since he dropped out in a few months." "Oh."

[phociian]

y'all i'm reading up on a lot of (amrev) history just cause (i think it's fun) and i found out that patsy parke custis (washington's stepdaughter) apparently had a seizure when she was a toddler and then had a break for several years before they came back when she was 12 and then they were regular until she died at the age of 17 in 1773.

Also, also, jack parke custis (washington's stepson, patsy's older brother and martha washington's last living child) joined his stepfather as a volunteer aide de camp for yorktown and contracted camp fever (likely dysentery or typhus) and got real sick real quick. His last wish was that he wanted to watch the festivities of cornwallis' surrender, so they put him up on a high vantage point so he could watch. Then he was rushed to his uncle's house (martha washington's brother-in-law), eltham, nearby and the doctors tried everything they knew before sending for washington who was busy with the surrender. He immediately set out for eltham and arrived just in time. Jacky died a few hours after and washington was described by a french observer as "uncommonly affected" by the death. Apparently according to some contemporaries, washington clutched nelly calvert custis (jack's widow) to his chest and proclaimed that from that moment he would regard jack's two youngest children (nelly and washy/tub parke custis, who were 2 years old and 7 months) as his own. The washingtons, to help alleviate a bit of nelly calvert custis' load, took their two youngest children in and raised them as their own even after nelly remarried. In fact nelly parke custis once, after needing to go stay with her mother, wrote that she missed her grandparents terribly and that there was no one she loved more in the world.

Don't mind me, i'm just gonna go sob for a bit

[todaysdocument]

Condemnation Decree filed in U.S. v. All the Rights, Titles, of Robert E. Lee (Robert E. Lee Confiscation Case)

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United StatesSeries: Confiscation Case FilesFile Unit: U.S. v. The Right, Title, Interest, and Estate of Robert E. Lee

[printed] At a special term of the District Court of the United States of America for the Eastern District of Virginia, held at the Court Room in the [handwritten] Customs House Building [typed] in the city of [handwritten] Alexandria [printed], on [handwritten] Friday the 15th day of April, [printed] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred sixty three

[printed] Present, the Honorable John C. Underwood, District Judge.

[handwritten] No. 85

United States

vs.

All the rights titles interests and the Estate of Robert E Lee in and to All that certain piece parcel or lot of land and to the Home and buildings thereon situated lying and being in Alexandria County in the Eastern District of Virginia known as the Arlington House Estate formerly owned by George Washington Parke Custis and lately occupied by the said Robert E Lee Consisting of Eleven Hundred acres more or less Together with all the goods chattels and the personal property of the said Robert E Lee in and upon the said premises [illegible]

[printed] The papers in this cause having been heretofore returned, the usual proclamation having been made, the default of all persons being duly entered, and notwithstanding said default, witnesses having been called and examined by [handwritten] L H Chandler [printed] , Attorney for the United States, and due deliberation being had on the pleadings and proofs, it is thereupon, on motion of the said [handwritten] L H Chandler [printed] , ordered, adjudged, sentenced, and decreed by the Court, that the real and personal property mentioned and described in the libel in this cause, be, and the same accordingly is confiscated and condemned as forfeited to the United States.

 [printed] And upon like motion it is further ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that the Clerk of this Court issue a decree of venditioni exponas to the Marshall of the District, returnable upon [handwritten] ascending [illegible word]; [typed] and that the said Marshal, after having given at least [handwritten- Tene?] [printed] days notice of the time, place, and terms of sale [carrot-handwritten in] of the personal property [printed] by publication thereof in [handwritten] the Virginia State District in one or more [illegible word] [printed] published in the city of [handwritten] Alexandriae. [illegible 3 words] dat. Notice of [illegible word] place and [illegible word] of sale of the Real Estate by [persecutions?] thereof in one or more [illegible 2 words] in the City of Alexandria and in one or more [illegible 2 words] in the City of Washington DC [printed] sell the said property at public sale, for cash, to the highest bidder, and execute a deed for the real estate to the purchaser, and bring the proceeds of said sale into this Court for its action thereon.

[handwritten signature] John C. Underwood 

Dist Judge

[georgewashington-official]

he went to his first ball yesterday, took a much older lady, told her to screw off because she's a loyalist, and called her names

left to go to the ball unaccompanied

and spent a TON of money on an outfit

Well, it IS his money. As for the rest: He is old enough to face the consequences of his doing if someone should hold him responsible. @john-parke-custis

Anything you wish to say to this?

[nordleuchten]

did georges have any friends in america, i know he was trying to stay undercover but since he stayed with the hamiltons a bit he had philip who was in close age, and other kids in the hamilton house that georges could’ve talked to. i’m very interested in georges but I can’t seem to really find anything about his stay in america besides the letters with washington and hamilton♥️

Dear Anon,

thank you for the question. I really like to see all the interest that Georges received lately on this blog!

While it is true that Georges (born December 24, 1779) was quite close in age to Philip Hamilton (born January 22, 1782) I do not believe that were that close. I have never seen any source, letters for example, that suggested that the two were close. Georges stayed only a short time with the Hamilton’s and his and Philip’s friendship therefor would have to develop quickly. I am not an expert on the Hamilton’s, so somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Philip was during this time quite busy with his studies and he and his younger brother Alexander Hamilton jr. only spend the weekends with their family. If I am correct, Georges would have little interaction with the two oldest boys. He himself was busy continuing his studies and was overall in a dark state of mind. Georges, still almost a child, had gone through a series of life-changing events and did not seem to be in the mood to socialize or to find new friends. Even if he forged meaningful connections with the Hamilton children, they did not make him feel better. Hamilton wrote on December 24, 1795 to George Washington:

Young La Fayette appears melancholy and has grown thin. A letter lately received from his mother which speaks of something which she wishes him to mention to you (as I learn from his preceptor) has quickened his sensibility and increased his regret. If I am satisfied that the present state of things is likely to occasion a durable gloom, endangering the health & in some sort the mind of the young man (…).

“From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 24 December 1795,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 19, July 1795 – December 1795, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1973, pp. 514–515.] (06/28/2023)

When Georges came to live with his godfather George Washington, he seemed to have formed a close bond with Elizabeth “Eliza” Parke Custis Law and Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis Lewis. The two sisters were the children of John Parke Custis, Martha Washingtons only surviving son and George Washingtons adopted son. The relationship with Nelly appears to have been especially close.

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis wrote on January 26, 1825, to her friend Elizabeth Bordley Gibson:

Georges has had a beautiful engraving of his father, a proof copy of the fine painting, framed for me. I shall bring it home soon – only two were sent from France, the Genl had presented one to Commodore [illegible], & this, George was resolved no one but me should have, & that no one but himself should present it. You may judge how precious it will be to me [paper torn] I know of his family, [paper torn] more attached I feel to them all. [paper torn] [illegible] love George dearly, indeed no one could see him, & listen to him, as we do here, & not love, esteem & respect him. The world are unacquainted with half his excellence & estimable qualities of heart & head – Did I tell you that I had received charming letters from his wife & sisters (…)

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, Woodlawn, to Elizabeth Bordley Gibson, Philadelphia, 1825 January 26, A-569.110, Box: 4, Folder: 1825.1.26. Elizabeth Bordley Gibson collection, A-569. Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Accessed June 28, 2023.

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis wrote on December 25, 1838, to Elizabeth Bordley Gibson:

I am sorry, I have not received the memoirs of Lafayette. I have nor heard for a long time from my dear Brother George.

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, Woodlawn, to Elizabeth Bordley Gibson, Spruce Street Philadelphia, 1838 December 25, A-569.161, Box: 5, Folder: 1838.12.25. Elizabeth Bordley Gibson collection, A-569. Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Accessed June 28, 2023.

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis, wrote on August 4, 1851 to Elizabeth Bordley Gibson:

I regret your disappointment in regard to your letter from Miss Below [?] but I have sustained a greater loss – Oscar Lafayette wrote to me immediately after the death of his father, my faithful friend & brother, giving me all the particulay of that event.

Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis to Elizabeth Bordley Gibson, 1824 October, A-569.104, Box: 3, Folder: 1824.10.00. Elizabeth Bordley Gibson collection, A-569. Special Collections at The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Accessed June 28, 2023.

There are several letters from Nelly, Eliza and Georges in the special collections at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Most of them are from the time of La Fayette’s American Tour of 1824/25 or from later years. But there are also two farewell letters from the time that Georges and his mentor Felix Frestel left the Washingtons. While Eleanor’s letters in particular are mostly digitalized, Georges letters are only published with short summaries or keywords. I therefor mainly focused on Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis’ descriptions of her and Georges’ relationship but all that we have suggests that Georges felt the same.

While he was not a friend Georges made in America, we should not forget Felix Frestel, the man who accompanied Georges to America. Employed as Georges’ tutor prior to the French Revolution, the young man soon surpassed himself in the fulfillment of his duties. What he did for Georges, and indeed the whole family, carried a great personal risk. Once in America, he was Georges’ father, and mother, teacher, mentor, advocate, protector and friend. Georges and his family never forgot what Frestel had done, and the two families remained very close. Georges would later refer to Frestels younger son in a letter to Monsieur Guittére dated April 12, 1832:

(…) a young friend of mine, whom I love as I would love a younger brother.

Archives départementales de Sein-et-Marne - La Fayette, une figure politique et agricole (05/16/2022).

Washington commented in a letter to La Fayette from October 8, 1797:

Mr Frestal has been a true Mentor to George. No Parent could have been more attentive to a favourite Son; and he richly merits all that can be said of his virtues—of his good sense—and of his prudence. Both your son and him carry with them the vows, and regrets of this family, and of all who know them.

“From George Washington to Lafayette, 8 October 1797,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series, vol. 1, 4 March 1797 – 30 December 1797, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 390–391.] (06/28/2023)

I hope that helped and I hope you have/had a lovely day!

P.S.: You mentioned that you find it hard to come across information about Georges’ stay in America. A week or so ago I had an ask about some general resources concerning Georges – maybe that was you or maybe you have seen it. If not, you might find this post useful. :-)

[orlissa]

I’m currently reading a book, American Royals by Katharine McGee, with the premise “what if George Washington became king instead of president, and his line were still on the throne today?” Of course, this is just a backdrop to the romance-drama (because the crown princess cannot marry a lowly bodyguard, etc.), which is, like, nice, but do you know what I really wanna know?

George Washington had no biological children, so who followed him on the throne, technically establishing the dynasty? (The text mentions a George II in the early 19th century, so presumably George Washington Parke Custis, GW’s grandson through his adopted son, John Parke Custis)

What effect of the monarchy had on the Civil War? (It is referenced in the text that it happened, but holly molly, it must have happened differently)

The text mentions that since the US did not become a democracy, other countries were not inspired to throw off their monarchies, so France, Russia, Astro-Hungary still have kings and queens--which is, cool concept, but give me details.

Really, give me a whole damn textbook on this hypothetical timeline, because the idea is just so damn fascinating, okay?

(BTW, here is a video on who would be the king of the US today if GW accepted the crown.)

[alexander-hamilton-2022]

https://www.tumblr.com/john-parke-custis/726944703946407936/am-i-the-only-one-that-sees-the-resemblance?source=share illegitimate child

You know that... Most of the paintings from that time are the same egg shape?

[queeramericana]

Early death all of marthas kids dead two of her babies (daniel n frances) from her marriage with daniel parke custis had been snatched by death's indiscriminate hand before they reached their fifth birthdays. Young Patsy's seizure had extingushed her life at the age of seventheen, and her brother john would succumb to illness at the age of twenty-seven. pg89 , yellow fever philly, onas mother in her "late fifties" 80 “Having already buried one husband and all of her children, Martha Washington was most likely consumed with fear” 46

running was a crime "guilty of stealing her own body" 112 167 three years of indepedant living. “The law stated that anyone who captured a fugitive must bring him or her in front of a judge or magistrate and provide proof of ownership before leaving the state with their human property.” 139

holder your toungue, know when to speak - martha quote "be attentive, say little, but hear everything" 90. 92 she refused to make her concers public knowledge 100 ona "contemplated the forbidden" 132 erasing anfer from a furrowed brow “ Foreign ministers, senators and congressmen, as well as cabinet members were invited to dine with the Washingtons, an event where Mrs. Washington often carried most of the socializing. (Aside from her husband’s natural reticence, Washington also suffered from awful dental problems that often caused pain and embarrassment.) Mrs. Washington complained about the lack of personal time and solitude she experienced in New York, but few would know her true feelings.” 41 “duty to know the desires of her mistress before Martha Washington knew them herself. A slave always had to be prepared, for anything.” 36

work opportunities were limitied / the jpb market was small house maid, john batlett - place her teenaged daughters into indentured servitude 182 "worked the fields" 182 Scrubbing floors and lifting heavy containers of water became almost impossible as she approached the end of her pregnancy, but she did not have the luxury of unemployment.” 161 “mployment opportunities outside of cleaning homes and washing clothes were nearly impossible for women of any race, but especially for women of African descent. Free black women took in laundry, sold pepper pot soup and fruits and vegetables on the streets, or took to rag picking, the latter only by those who were destitute. Searching through trash heaps, they gathered discarded clothing or bits of cloth and cleaned them for resale. It was dirty work and offered the smallest of financial rewards, but it was work, and it often allowed black women and their children to evade hunger and malnutrition. ” 79

access to knowledge education

“Although busy with many new duties, the first lady focused on finding the appropriate tutors and educating the children. According to most accounts, Nelly enjoyed formal learning, while her brother was less enthralled with his academic lessons. During the first few months of his stay in New York, little Wash worked with a private tutor, while Nelly began working with her music teacher, Alexander Reinagle, an Austrian composer and performer. Nelly Washington also learned the art of painting, an eighteenth-century symbol of nobility and refinement.” 39. “For many fugitives and former slaves, access to education and the ability to practice religion in their own ways were markers of freedom. ” 184 “Christopher Sheels, the only literate slave” 82

[barnbridges]

george washington was a stepdad to his wife martha's two children john parke custis and martha parke custis, he had no biological children.

[sporadiceagleheart]

Thursday edits rest In Peace to those old angels Thomas Jefferson Tiller, Mecy Tiller Perdue, John Talbot Hanks, Eleanor “Ellen” Perdue Hanks, John Perdue, Nancy Elizabeth Hanks Lincoln, Thomas Lincoln, Sarah Bush Lincoln, Elizabeth Johnston Hanks, Dennis Friend Hanks, Abraham Lincoln, Rev Henry Sparrow, Lucy Nancy Hanks Sparrow, Mary Eunice Harlan Lincoln, Thomas “Tad” Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln, William Wallace “Willie” Lincoln, Edward Baker “Eddie” Lincoln, Mary Ann Todd Lincoln, Powell Waits “P.W.” Ward, Mrs Vera Valentine Ward Beckwith, Warren Wallace Beckwith, Mary Harlan Lincoln “Peggy” Beckwith, Mrs Jessie Harlan Lincoln Randolph, Edward Everett Beckwith, CPT Warren W Beckwith, Robert Todd Lincoln “Bud” Beckwith, Abraham “Jack” Lincoln II, Frank Edward Johnson, Catherine Bodley “Kittie” Todd Herr, Elodie Breck Todd Dawson, 1LT Robert John Randolph Jr., Sophia Hanks Legrand-Lynch, Sarah “Sally” Hanks, John D Johnston, Harriet Ann Hanks Chapman, John Perdue, Captain Abraham Lincoln, Elbridge Gerry, Catherine Gerry Austin, Ann Gerry, Thomas Russell Gerry, Elbridge Thomas Gerry, Thomas Mifflin, Sarah Morris Mifflin, LT John Adams, Jonas Russell Adams, William Byrd II, Jane Byrd Page, COL William Byrd III, Maria Taylor Byrd Carter, Maria Taylor Byrd, Col Landon Carter, Carolianna Carter Hall, Frances Parke Custis Winch Dansie, Frances “Fanny” Parke Custis, Lucy Parke Byrd, Evelyn Byrd, Anne Byrd Carter, William Evelyn Byrd I, Abigail Smith Adams, John Adams, John Walker, Joseph Evan Davis, Samuel Emory Davis, William Howell Davis, Varina Anne Banks Howell Davis, Varina Anne “Winnie” Davis, Margaret Mackall “Peggy” Smith Taylor, Sarah Knox “Knoxie” Taylor Davis, Baby Monster, Aethel McMullen, Laura C Hedgecoke, Little Eva Hedgecoke, Gracie Perry Watson, Wales J. “W J” Watson, Margaret Frances Waterman Watson, Inez Briggs, Anna Glinberg, MANIA HALEF, Louis XVII, Lois Janes, Madame Royale, Marie Thérèse of France (1667–1672), Sophia Hanks Legrand-Lynch, Nancy Lynch Davison, John Potter Davison, Omie Elizabeth Pruitt Davison, James Anderson Davison, Julia Josephine “Jessie” Harlan, John Walker, and rest in peace to Rev. James Cleveland behind the song God is

[phociian]

another lil history thing:

The Washingtons were well known for spoiling the children under their care. People in that time noted that. Their kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. All the kids that lived with them were spoiled by them. Patsy and Jacky Parke Custis (Martha's children from her first marriage) were extremely loved, especially since George and Martha never had children of their own. George bought Jack a violin, and Patsy a spinnet (which was kinda like a predecessor to the harpsichord), and would buy Patsy a doll from London once a year that was updated with the latest fashions from Europe. He also bought Jack horses and Patsy a parrot (I think it was a parrot, it might have been another bird). One of his and Martha's granddaughters (I can't remember which) also had a spaniel named Frisky. Also George tended to spoil the girls and was stricter with the boys, and Martha tended to spoil the boys and was stricter with the girls (probably because she was the woman of the house from a very young age).

But they were strict too. George was strict about education (since he didn't have a chance to be formally educated like his older brothers). He was very strict about where he would send Wash Parke Custis to college (and I think someone recommended he ask Hamilton where he was sending Philip, since Philip was a few months younger). He was super strict with Jack, Wash's father, but both boys were lazy about schooling and just overall uninterested, and in the end deferred to Martha (in Jack's case) and Nelly Calvert and David Stuart (since they were Wash's mother and stepfather). Neither of them ended up finishing school. The girls were also tutored really well in dance (I think), music, embroidery, etc. They were well read and were able to read and write proficiently. Martha was more lax about the boys' education (I don't think she actually had a formal education and would often use secretaries to write her letters and then she'd copy them and sign them), but she was known to be pretty strict with the girl's education (since all that jazz was vital to them finding a husband and all that).

[georgewashington-official]

You haven't talked to John yet, have you?

I knew it!! What happened??

@john-parke-custis So?

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Your Philip design looks a lot like John Parke Custis

I hate how true this is and now I will never not see it

[cuntycassandra]

IM WRITING A BIOGRAPHY AS A SIDE PROJECT FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF ;)

[ms-march]

Chapter 26- Luck be a Lady (Turn AMC)

SO funny story actually, this was a very conveniently placed chapter because not only is this week the 1 year anniversary of LBL, but it also happened to be when I finished the next chapter! I think this is a nice change of scenery and we get some more Ben finally! If you like it please LIKE, COMMENT, and/or REBLOG!!

“Ben sighed, a few more loose strands of hair escaping from his usually obsessively neat plait. “No,” he finally replied with a sigh, “Not since the argument a few days ago. I am fairly certain that McHenry would not even let me step foot in the building anymore, probably says that I raise the General’s blood pressure too much. He can hardly tolerate Hamilton as it is. He does not need me on top of that.” He paused before speaking once more, frustration evident in his voice as he finally turned his head to look at Caleb. “How can he be mad at me for not stopping someone when he was the one who failed to take the threat of the deserters seriously?” He was frustrated, and Caleb understood that, but frankly, not even Sackett had it figured out, so who could possibly throw such blame at the guy?

“You know that’s not true,” he denied the tall blonde’s ranted claims against the General, “The General’s just a bit distracted by the one who hasn’t died yet. Cut him some slack. No doubt it’ll hit him soon.””

Thank you to @tallmadgeandtea for beta reading/editing for me!! (And Susan, in spirit because Bug has so much personality)

[pub-lius]

I DID IT 

@critical-endangered

@binch-i-might-be