West Ford

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Born in 1784 or 85, West Ford was the only slave manumitted in Hannah Washington’s will. Hannah, sister-in-law to George Washington, specified that this mulatto slave should be inoculated for smallpox and then bound to tradesmen so that when he was to be freed at the age of 21, he would have marketable skills. In his 1826 will, Hannah’s son Bushrod Washington granted West Ford 160 acres of land. 

Ford worked at Mount Vernon for 57 years and died on the property in 1863. He is buried there, although no marker exists. 

Ford served in many skilled and responsible positions at Mount Vernon over the years: wheelwright, carpenter and foreman. After George Washington died, Ford tended the president’s grave. He also had the authority to refuse entrance to Mount Vernon; he once turned away a congressman. Letters from the next generation of Washington heirs (John and Eleanor) indicate their dependence on his competence in estate management. Ford owned his own home when every other Black at Mount Vernon lived in slave quarters. He attended church with the Washingtons and went game hunting with them, on occasions.

By 1831 Ford and his son William were substantive property owners with land and “horses, mares, colts, mules, four-wheel pleasure carriages and harnesses.” (phd)+ He became the second-wealthiest Black man in Fairfax County at that time.

Ford officially renamed Willow Springs to Gum Springs when he bought the property in 1833. George Washington himself was the first person to have referred to the area as gumsprings.

Ford divided up the property for his four children in 1857 as can be seen on this map.