Letter, Tobias Lear to Mary Stilson Lear

Containers:

Box 34, Folder 1799.12.16

Creator:

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816 and Lear, Mary Stilson, 1739-1829

Scope and content:

A.L.S. 4 pages. Mount Vernon. Announces death of George Washington--description of G.W.'s last days and hours and his death--" ... he could scarcely speak and breathed with difficulty, his complaint being an inflamatory sore throat, usually called the Quincy."--Drs. Craik, Dick and Brown sent for--" ... between ten and eleven o'clock at night, he resigned his breath into the hand that gave it."--" ... not a groan or a complaint escaped him.-with the most perfect resignation, and in full possession of his reason to the last moment he gave up his life."--"He was fully sensible of his approaching dissolution for some time before we could persuade ourselves but that there was a hope left and he frequently told the Physicians that their efforts would be in vain ... As often as he could speak he would mention to me something which he wished to have done. And his last words, about a quarter of an hour before he died, were to me thus - 'My dear Friend I am just about to change this Scene, my breath can continue but a few moments, You will have me decently interred, and do not let my body be put into the Tomb in less than two days after my death.' He there feld his own pulse ceased ..."--Mrs. W's fortitude--" ... she yields not to that grief, which would be softened by tears."--saw his children about 6 weeks ago--"I beg that no part of it [the letter] therefore may be published; for I presume that everything which relates to this afflicting event will be eagarly sought after by the public." Autograph letter signed, laminated watermark. Mary Stilson Lear was the mother of Tobias Lear.

Subjects:

Washington, George, 1732-1799 -- Death and burial

Names:

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816
Lear, Mary Stilson, 1739-1829

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