In 1837, George Washington's Remains Were Disinterred. Here's What Was in the Casket.

I have a bit of family history with this event. My great grandfather was at this happening as a child or so the story was told to me. According to the story there was an old black man, maybe a slave at that time but certainly a slave on Washington’s plantation as a child. He was there to ID the body (a formality I’m sure). The old man viewed the body and declared “yes sir that’s the masta”. This is the first time I’ve been able to find a record of the event as I had tried under reinterment as opposed to disinterment. Thank you for the great coverage of this little known bit of history.

Librarian here: inviting everyone to visit your local library and see the treasures we have waiting for you!

I visited Mt. Vernon 62 years ago and saw the sarcophagus of Washington. It was a great experience.

Loved hearing the description of the Great Man. Washington was an imperfect human being as we all are, but he rose to greatness at times when it was important. RIP President Washington, we owe you a great deal.

It was a joy to read that letter. If you can find a person under 20 years old who can read and write cursive. Hire them, because their parents took the time to teach them something of value that few have skill with now days.

My husband's great-great-grandfather, Col.William Grayson, had a great personal relationship with General George Washington. He was his aide-de-camp and is mentioned many times in George Washington's Collection of Diaries.

"Going to a library was a real treat." You sir are a wildman and my kind of guy!!

So incredibly interesting. Once a day with a tour group at Mt. Vernon they open the mausoleum and lay a wreath at Washington's tomb and ask the youngest child who knows it to recite the pledge of allegience. Many years ago, my brother assisted laying the wreath and my the. 5 year old daughter put her hand over her heart and recited the pledge perfectly. She still has a very clear memory of this.

As someone who runs a small YouTube history channel in the UK, I want to congratulate you on your discovery of this document. It's one of those moments you dream of! This a fascinating story. I never knew that Washington's coffin had even been opened. You have a great channel, and I have been very happy to subscribe. 🙂

I've been to Mount Vernon numerous times and I don't recall ever learning that George Washington's remains had been disinterred way back in 1837. Thank you for sharing this story!

Thank God Washington can't see what the USA has turned into in 2023. He would never stop throwing up!

This is incredibly interesting! It's amazing that his body, being that they didn't embalm people in those days, was so well preserved. I read once that when Lincoln's coffin was opened and viewed by his son to confirm it was his father after being hidden for decades, his body was in an almost perfect state as well! Fascinating history!

Fascinating! I enjoyed your excitement of telling the story as much as the story! George Washington's drummer boy - Alexander Milliner - is buried with 80 other Revolutionary War veterans in historic Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY - the first municipal cemetery in the United States. Milliner died in 1865 at the age of 104!

How I admire President Washington! Here in Boston, there is a fabulous statue of him atop his steady steed in our Public Garden. Often when I walk by I say a prayer or shed a tear that our present day USA has so few men or women like him with courage, character and caring! God Bless our first President. By the way, he and his family lived in a beautiful home in nearby Cambridge during the Revolutionary War.

I was in an education class when each was asked and expected to give a response to the question as to who the greatest American was. They were fishing for the same answer expected as Martin Luther King. When I responded that "Without a doubt it was George Washington" I was immediately verbally jumped upon. "He had SLAVES!" yelled one black woman. Calmly I agreed "Yes, and he's still the greatest American that ever lived." Of course he still is!

Fascinating description of the long ago events, written in a language that sadly no longer represents our own. Return to us, these intellectuals and men of character and vision.

As a history lover, this was truly fascinating. The research and discovery of the letter must have been a real thrill for you. It certainly would have been for me.

I have found hidden from history, the relationship between Lees and Washingtons. I think America really needs to know how far back the relationship between the two families go it’s absolutely amazing.

What a fascinating story! Like other commenters, I had no idea that Washington's body was disinterred. The more I learn of his life, the more impressed I am that, despite human failings, he was truly a "great man" such as we no longer see today.

I found it necessary to watch the video a second time to sort out all the pertinent facts of the story, but i think i've got it now. Can't understand the comment on the absence of clothing, you know he wasn't buried naked, not even poor people were done that way. Any clothing either rotted away or fell/slid off the body when they were maneuvering the coffin around. I had heard or read years ago that his body was reinterred in a new coffin at some point but i never heard any details. A facinating short story about a man i hold in the highest esteem.