Colonial Series Documents

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Lease for Mount Vernon, 17 December 1754, between George Lee, Ann Lee, and George Washington. The annual lease payment of "Fifteen thousand pounds of Tobacco in fifteen Hogsheads" includes a number of slaves whose value was to be deducted "if it should so happen that any...should Die during the said Term."

The Rules of Civility. These maxims originated in the late sixteenth century in France and were popularly circulated during Washington's time. Washington wrote out a copy of the 110 Rules in his school book when he was about sixteen years old. This exercise, now regarded as a formative influence in the development of his character, included guidelines for behavior in pleasant company, appropriate actions in formal situations, and general courtesies.