[Richardson], Joe (Postilion)

<p>As Custis died intestate, or, "without a will", his widow Martha received the lifetime use of one third of his property (known as a "dower share"),[12] and the other two thirds was held in trust for their children. The January 1759 Custis estate also included at least 85 slaves.[13] According to the Mount Vernon slave census, by 1799 the dower share included 153 slaves.</p>

<p>Upon Martha Custis's marriage to George Washington in 1759, her dower share came under his control, pursuant to the common law doctrine of seisin jure uxoris.</p>

Joe [Richardson] was enslaved, and was part of Martha Washington’s dower share of enslaved workers from the Custis estate. He worked as a postilion. Joe was married to Sall [Brass Richardson] owned by George Washington, who lived at River Farm. They had five children: Henry, Elijah, Dennis, Gutridge, and Polly.