George Washington’s will is one of his writings to be remembered because he drafted it with such detail and precision. Washington wrote his will without consulting an attorney. He dated it on the ninth of July in 1788, and put his name at the bottom of all but one of the will’s twenty-nine pages. Six months later, on the day that he died, he instructed Mrs. Washington to destroy an earlier will that he had written.His executors presented the new will for probate within the month to the Fairfax County Court. The will remains in the county court’s possession.
Washington’s will revealed much about his character, his views, his diverse and valuable property, along with his distinctive writing style. He took great care and precision in dividing up his property and spelling out his wishes.
To read more about some of the specific provisions in the will and to see actual documents included with the will, please click here.
See The Will of George Washington, The Papers of George Washington, 2011.
