Martha Washington on Postwar Life, 1784
Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)
The Revolutionary War disrupted the home life of Americans for eight years. Battles between the British and American armies, as well as tensions between loyalists and patriots, created difficulties that people met with strength and perseverance. As men went into battle, women endured the strains of maintaining households in their absence, traveling long distances to join them at various winter camps, and worrying about them constantly.
This letter from Martha Washington to Hannah Boudinot (whose husband, Elias, had been president under the Articles of Confederation from 1782 to 1783) was written on January 15, 1784, shortly after the war ended and the Washingtons were back at Mount Vernon. Martha’s happiness and relief are apparent as she looks forward to returning to normal life.
A Letter from Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784
Mount Vernon 15th Jan 84
My Dear Madam
Your polite and affectionate congratulatry Letter on the termination of our trobles, and the return of the General to domestic life, would, under any circumstances, have been highly pleasing to me; but the value of it was particularly enhanced by the friendly terms in which you have conveyed them to us. In return, permit me to offer you my sincere compliments on your restoration to your own House, after an exile of seven years – and on miss Boudenots better state of health; which, with much pleasure I learnt from the general was considerably amended, if he might be allowed to form a judgement of it from her improved looks. – The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness and all our paths Peace. It would give me infinite pleasure to see you Mr and miss Boudenot at this place – without which I almost despair of ever enjoying that happyness, as my frequent long Journeys have not only left me without inclination to undertake another, but almost disqualified me from doing it, as I find the fatiegue is too much for me to bear. My little family are all with me; and have been very well till with in these few days, that they have been taken with the measles. – The worst I hope is over, and that I shall soon have them prattling about me again. – with best respects to Mr Boudenot, and love to miss Susan and your self – in which the General joins – I am my dear Madam with much esteem Your most affectionate
Friend –
Martha Washington
Source: Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03909.
A Letter from Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784
Mount Vernon 15th Jan 84
My Dear Madam
Your polite and affectionate congratulatry Letter on the termination of our trobles, and the return of the General to domestic life, would, under any circumstances, have been highly pleasing to me; but the value of it was particularly enhanced by the friendly terms in which you have conveyed them to us.
In return, permit me to offer you my sincere compliments on your restoration to your own House, after an exile of seven years – and on miss Boudenots better state of health; which, with much pleasure I learnt from the general was considerably amended, if he might be allowed to form a judgement of it from her improved looks. – The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness and all our paths Peace.
It would give me infinite pleasure to see you Mr and miss Boudenot at this place – without which I almost despair of ever enjoying that happyness, as my frequent long Journeys have not only left me without inclination to undertake another, but almost disqualified me from doing it, as I find the fatiegue is too much for me to bear.
My little family are all with me; and have been very well till with in these few days, that they have been taken with the measles. – The worst I hope is over, and that I shall soon have them prattling about me again. – with best respects to Mr Boudenot, and love to miss Susan and your self – in which the General joins – I am my dear Madam with much esteem
Your most affectionate Friend –
Martha Washington
Source: Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03909.
endeavor - try hard
inclination - desire
prattling - constant talk of unimportant things
Background
The Revolutionary War disrupted the home life of Americans for eight years. Battles between the British and American armies, as well as tensions between loyalists and patriots, created difficulties that people met with strength and perseverance. As men went into battle, women endured the strains of maintaining households in their absence, traveling long distances to join them at various winter camps, and worrying about them constantly.
This letter from Martha Washington to Hannah Boudinot (whose husband, Elias, had been president under the Articles of Confederation from 1782 to 1783) was written on January 15, 1784, shortly after the war ended and the Washingtons were back at Mount Vernon. Martha’s happiness and relief are apparent as she looks forward to returning to normal life.
Transcript
A Letter from Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784
Mount Vernon 15th Jan 84
My Dear Madam
Your polite and affectionate congratulatry Letter on the termination of our trobles, and the return of the General to domestic life, would, under any circumstances, have been highly pleasing to me; but the value of it was particularly enhanced by the friendly terms in which you have conveyed them to us. In return, permit me to offer you my sincere compliments on your restoration to your own House, after an exile of seven years – and on miss Boudenots better state of health; which, with much pleasure I learnt from the general was considerably amended, if he might be allowed to form a judgement of it from her improved looks. – The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness and all our paths Peace. It would give me infinite pleasure to see you Mr and miss Boudenot at this place – without which I almost despair of ever enjoying that happyness, as my frequent long Journeys have not only left me without inclination to undertake another, but almost disqualified me from doing it, as I find the fatiegue is too much for me to bear. My little family are all with me; and have been very well till with in these few days, that they have been taken with the measles. – The worst I hope is over, and that I shall soon have them prattling about me again. – with best respects to Mr Boudenot, and love to miss Susan and your self – in which the General joins – I am my dear Madam with much esteem Your most affectionate
Friend –
Martha Washington
Source: Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03909.
Excerpt
A Letter from Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784
Mount Vernon 15th Jan 84
My Dear Madam
Your polite and affectionate congratulatry Letter on the termination of our trobles, and the return of the General to domestic life, would, under any circumstances, have been highly pleasing to me; but the value of it was particularly enhanced by the friendly terms in which you have conveyed them to us.
In return, permit me to offer you my sincere compliments on your restoration to your own House, after an exile of seven years – and on miss Boudenots better state of health; which, with much pleasure I learnt from the general was considerably amended, if he might be allowed to form a judgement of it from her improved looks. – The difficulties, and distresses to which we have been exposed during the war must now be forgotten. We must endeavor to let our ways be the ways of pleasantness and all our paths Peace.
It would give me infinite pleasure to see you Mr and miss Boudenot at this place – without which I almost despair of ever enjoying that happyness, as my frequent long Journeys have not only left me without inclination to undertake another, but almost disqualified me from doing it, as I find the fatiegue is too much for me to bear.
My little family are all with me; and have been very well till with in these few days, that they have been taken with the measles. – The worst I hope is over, and that I shall soon have them prattling about me again. – with best respects to Mr Boudenot, and love to miss Susan and your self – in which the General joins – I am my dear Madam with much esteem
Your most affectionate Friend –
Martha Washington
Source: Martha Washington to Hannah S. Boudinot, January 15, 1784, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC03909.
endeavor - try hard
inclination - desire
prattling - constant talk of unimportant things
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