01/28/2025
“In 1799, Washington’s account book notes that Kate, an enslaved midwife, was given 25 cents to purchase scissors “to cut the tongues of young children.” This likely referred to infants born with tongue ties, a defect that made breastfeeding difficult and could be fixed by snipping the tissue connecting the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This 18th-century scissors fragment (above) was excavated near the Mansion.”
When enslaved women gave birth at Mount Vernon, they were attended to by fellow enslaved persons or white midwives hired by George Washington.
Kate, an enslaved midwife, was given 25 cents to purchase scissors “to cut the tongues of young children.” This likely referred to infants born with tongue ties, a defect that made breastfeeding difficult. These 18th-century scissors fragment was excavated near the Mansion.
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