Monday july 18th. Coming up next on American History tv, we talk about tudor place and the descendants of george and Martha Washington. He discusses the collection of artifacts at tutor place. The daughters of the American Revolution museum host this 45 minute event. Our current exhibit is remembering the American Revolution. Is looking at the ways that people say things. What people saved to remember the American Revolution, why they save them. What things grew out of that tradition. Im delighted to welcome our guest here today who will talk a lot about some things that are very similar to what is in our exhibit. He comes from another museum that has a significant collection of George Washingtons items. It ties in very well to our collection so im delighted to introduce the curator at tudor place to store cass and garden. Prior to coming to tutor place, he was the assistant curator of collections at the James Madison mike kelly or and worked for nearly nine years on the mansion interiors Initiative Team to research and furnish the market montpelier mansion. Prior to his arrival, he was the staff archaeologist at james monroe ash lawn highland. He has a master of arts in anthropology with a concentration in historical archaeology from the university of south carolina. Please welcome him. [ applause ] good afternoon. Thank you. I want to thank heidi for their invitation to speak today. My talk directly relates to this exhibition as im focusing on how members of the peter family of tudor place commemorated the revolution and their familial connections to george and Martha Washington. At the end of my talk, i will briefly discuss longtime tudor place resident memberships in the dar. Britainia was accepted into membership when the organization was in its infancy. I want to do highlight some of the documents from our archives. Tudor place is located in the georgetown neighborhood is the home of the peter family from 1805 until 1983. The house designed by William Thorton and featuring its iconic temple was completed in 1816. So, yes, this year were celebrating our bicentennial, of the completion of the house. Before we start discussing the objects found, i want to highlight the families connection to george and Martha Washington. Its through martha custus peter. Martha and thomas were the original owners of tutor place. Martha was Martha Washingtons granddaughter, one of the four children of john park custus. Ten years before martha married her first husband. Four children were born to the marriage with two dying at a young age and two surviving. Daniel himself died in 1757 leaving martha a young widow. Her two surviving children are son jackie and a daughter martha known as patsy to the family were adopted by George Washington and raised as his own. In the spring of 1773, 19yearold jackie announced his engagement to 15yearold eleanor calvert. Two were married the following year linking the custus family of virginia to the calverts of maryland. Jackie and eleanor had seven children, four of whom survived. Martha, who i will focus on, being the matriarch. Nelly born in 1779 and finally a brother George Washington park cust urc trc custus known as washy. Martha was born in the blue room upon hearing news of her birth, George Washington wrote to his stepson congratulating him on the birth of another daughter. Less than three years later jackie kustus died of camp fever and the children were split. The two eldest children remained with their mother at abington while the two younger children went two mount vernon. Less than two years after jackie cu src custus death, eleanor remarried. They had an additional 13 children from their marriage. Although martha remained at abington plantation she was a frequent visitor to mount vernon. In 1785, robert edge behind arrived at mount vernon, intending to paint a portrait of washington. The artist produced portraits of washington grandchildren, including this portrait of martha at about 7 or 8 years old. Martha was 16, she accompanied her step grandfather to the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the capital building. On september 18, 1793. In a january 6, 1795, martha became first of Martha Washingtons grandchildren to marry when she wed thomas peter of georgetown. The wedding took place at oak park. The Fairfax County plantation where her mother and stepfather resided. Thomas peter was the eldest son of a prominent maryland merchant landowner and former mayor of george town, robert peter. Robert peter had immigrated to america from scotland in 1746, eventually ending up in georgetown and working as an agent. After working to iv years, robert peter purchased a share in the local tobacco trade and began buying large quantity of land, both lots in georgetown and property in the surrounding county he later sold for substantial profits. Thomas peter was a successful businessman and large landowner. At the time of marthas 1795 marriage, George Washington asked her what she might like as a wedding present and replied she wanted a likeness of him. George presented her with this portrait by walter robertson. It was a cherished momento depicting washington in his military uniform. I should note martha peter frequently wore this miniature even after washingtons death. For example, in february of 1812, phoe. Be morris wrote in a letter to her sister describing a ball she attended. There, she observed martha peter wearing two portrait miniatures. The portrait miniature of mrs. Washington was probably the 1772 portrait by Charles Wilson peal. So was the wearing of these portrait miniatures merely a display of devotion or was martha making a brazen statements a proud federalist during president adams administration. As i will discuss momentarily both thomas and martha were outspoken federalist and remained so even after the party fell out of favor. The robertson miniature of washington still retains its original red leather case and forms the foundation of the washington collection at tudor place. Another significant object in the washington collection is this trunk that martha peter received around the time of her marriage. Sent from her grandmother in philadelphia containing parts of her wedding trousseau. It was made from Jesse Sharples of frifl. After their marriage, thomas and martha made their home on k street. Thomass father had given the couple one of the town houses he constructed. It was near rock creek. Marthas younger sister wrote a friend in october 1795, stating martha expects a little one in a few months. She is now settled in the federal city very charmingly. Her husband very affectionate. Shes perfectly happy. It was at the k street house the thomas and martha posted George Washington as a frequent overnight guest. The now retired president took an active interest in the planning and construction of the new federal city frequently crossing the potomac to gauge the process of the many building projects and staying with martha and petthomas. Martha peter last saw George Washington late november in 1799 when he lodged at their K Street Home a month before his death. Martha was pregnant at the time about to give birth to her son. Later in life, her daughter noted that martha sat on the steps and watched the general right away that morning. It was the last time she saw him as he died less than a month later. Still recovering from the birth of her son martha was not able to attend washingtons funeral. So thomas attended to represent the family. Upon the terms of George Washingtons will, martha received 1 23 of his residual estate. Following George Washingtons death, the entire country went into a national mourning. There were parades, eulogies, tributes delivered in towns and cities from massachusetts down to georgia. Also, engravings like this one pictured here were popular. People sought to memorialize the late president. The widow washington burned all the correspondence between she and her husband. Wishing not part of their life, a life that had been lived so publicly to remain private. Martha washington only survived her husband by two years. Can dying in may of 1802. Among bequests to family members was a gift of two objects to granddaughter martha peter. First was an engraving of washington that hung in the passage of mound vernon and second her writing table. The engraving of washington was sent to mount vernon in 1797 and based on a portrait of washington. And as i noted upon its arrival george and martha hung it in the passage at mount vernon. Upon the completion of tudor place in 1816, the peter family placed the print on the west side of the drawing room. The writing table was of particular significance. It was one piece of french furniture that George Washington had obtained 1790. The table was taken to philadelphia where martha used it in the president s house and upon washingtons retirement in 1797 it came back to mount vernon where it was used by martha until her death. Here it is in the tudor place parlor about 1900. It too was at tudor place until 1911. It remained in the peter family and in that in 39, returned to mount vernon. This would have been a piece of furniture in which Martha Washington spent a great deal of time and the writing table is important for another reason. Found within it behind it were two letters from george to Martha Washington. This is significant because as i noted, martha burned all their correspond following georges 1799 death or at least everyone thought she did. Did she save these two letters because of their content or omitted from the flames and tucked behind the drawer of her writing table. Unfortunately, we do not know. One of those letters remains in our collection at tudor place while the second is now back at mount vernon. These are the only two letters that survive from george to Martha Washington with the exception of a short note discovered since they were found. The tudor place letter is especially significant dating to june of 1775 because it is the one in which washington writes to martha from phil informing her hes been given command of the continental army. It is unknown when the peter family discovered the letters and the writing table but it occurred because martha recounted the story of its discovery to jared sparks, the historian visiting tudor place to compile material. Aside from these specific requests, like the engraving, the balance of Martha Washingtons estate according to her will, it was to be sold for money to be used to benefit the education of her nephews. Thomas peter, along with martha nephews and grandson or named executors of the estate. As an executor, thomas peter made a record which survives today in the tudor place archives. Thomas and martha attended that july 1802 sale at mount vernon, purchasing 800 worth of goods ranging from furniture and table wares to artwork and livestock. Note the 12 cows and seven cavaliers they purchased as well. Among the items, a halfdozen stools. Also, a pair of wall brackets. Still in the tudor place collection presumed to be those that washington purchased in 1791 from James Reynolds in philadelphia. Also in our collection, a hagan hanging griddle which was used to make hot cakes that George Washington enjoyed. The list as a historical document is fascinating. Some items can easily be identified while others have such generalized descriptions that its impossible to establish exact identity. Especially intriguing are several lots of sundries including one here that cost 29. This a price comparable to what thomas and martha paid for the chest. The items purchased at the sale were used at the home until 1805 when thomas and martha purchased tudor place. At the time they purchased the property, the house looked much different than it does now. The house was completed in 1816 and would serve the home for subsequent generations of the peter family until 1983. The mount vernon objects thomas and martha acquired at the sale can be found wintu dore place. The prince decorated the walls. The china used at the table was found throughout the house. For almost 200 years the family lived at tudor place they literally lived among these washington objects. When a politician from massachusetts visited in 1813 martha peter presented him with George Washingtons gorgette. It is visible in the portrait depicting washington in his uniform as a colonel in the virginia regiment. Martha noted she received it upon washingtons death in 1799 and mr. Quincy honored to receive such a gift asked marthas approval to present it to the Benevolent Society in her honor which de. After the society ceased to exist it came back into his ownership and can be found in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society representing one of the few washington objects that left the peter family in the 19th century. Remember that i mentioned thomas and martha peter were ardent federalists. They named their three daughters, columbia, and britainia. When harvard professor visited tudor place he noted in his diary the peters were of the boston stamp in politics, an illusion to their political affiliation as federalists. Thomas peter died in the spring of 1834 and for the next 20 years martha peter was the owner of tudor place though the house was typically the home multiple generations of the family. In 1842 when marthas daughter died in buffalo, new york, her widower husband sent to tudor place to be raised by their grandmother. Similarly marthas daughter britainia which dodd after less than two years of marriage returned to tudor place with her 6monthold daughter in 1844. Britainia is one of the most fascinating characters. Born in the winter of 1815 just months after the british burned washington britaina peter was a young girl of 9 years old when lafayette visited in 1824 and she recounted that visit for the rest of her life. In 1841 britainia met beverly kennan at a party. Kennan was a decorated naval officer and like britainia had an impressive family lineage. They were married the following year. On february 28th, 1844, commodore kennan, president tyler and other dignitaries were aboard the uss princeton to see a demonstration of the ships long gun peacemaker. The gun exploded killing six, commodore kennan, secretary of state usher and secretary of the navy Thomas Gilmore were among the victims. Britaina was aboard the ship that day in february of 1844 when her husband was killed. She with a number of other ladies and dig any tears happened to be below deck when the gun exploded so they were disappeared when the gun exploded. So at 29 years old britaina about yo buried her husband. For the next 67 years britaina reside at tudor place hoped the raise additional generations of the peter family. This is in the collection it shows britainias mother about 70 years old with her daughter. You can see that martha is holding that portrait miniature of George Washington in her hand. Thats the same one she received as a gift upon her 1795 marriage. And thats what i love about this photo. Martha peter is the link that ties together five generations of the family. I should also note that this is the only other image of martha peter aside from that portrait painted when she was 7 years old. Martha would live until 1854 and in her will she bequiets tudor place to britaina. Her son owned a large estate in Montgomery County and received a substantial inheritance from his father. As a widow with young daughter britainas future would be uncertain without property of her own. She received instructions to sell the northern most portion of the 8 1 2 acre property, present day r street and use funds generated from the sale to provide dowdowries. Her ownership of tudor place continued well into the first decade of the 20th century and i like to call her the first curator of tudor place but more on that in just a moment. After the civil war the house returned as a private home. Britainias daughter has grown into a young woman. The following year she married a distant cousin and the couple lived at tudor place soon add agnew generation to the family, five grandchildren for britainia. Just five years later markey died suddenly leaving behind five children. Agnes was loin 6 years old. Britainia served as a maternal presence in her grandchildrens lives. The family began writing down britainia remembrances. Even memories of george and Martha Washington than her mother had shared with her. Britainia also began labelling objects in the familys collection noting history on the back of framed works of art especially the pieces her parents acquired at the 1802 sale. You can see why i call her the first curator of tudor place. In may of 1890 britainia and the washington objects gained National Attention as they were the subject of a story in the century illustrated monthly magazine. Some New Washington relic from the collection of mrs. B. W. Kennan was the story. It described the miniature, furniture and other objects found at tudor place. Heres an illustration showing a pair of end irons that appeared in the story and the actual end irons themselves. As well as one of the camp stools from that revolutionary war set by general washington. The magazine also included this image showing britainia between of her grandsons in the tudor place saloon seated among the washington objects. The tea table and louis xvi stool. Behind pry tanya, its hard to see, that is samuel vaughns landscape plan of mount vernon. Pretty significant document in itself that was at the house that