Title: July 1786
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 1st. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Calm all day—cool & pleasant in the Morning—but warm afterwards.
Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations. Finished (about Noon) crossing the cut in which Barrys Houses stand & went to crossing in the one adjoining next the woods. The hoes by this Evening will have got over all the forward Corn. At Muddy hole the Corn was got over with the Hoes this afternoon, but the Plows were not able to accomplish it. Compleated Hoeing Corn in the Neck this afternoon and also plowing it the second time.
Preparing to begin my harvest generally, on Monday, & made the arrangemts. accordingly.
Planted 4 of the Ramnus Tree (an ever green) one on each side of the Garden gates—a peg with 2 Notches drove down by them (Pegs No. 1 being by the Pyramidical Cyprues). Also planted 24 of the Philirea latitolio (an ever green shrub) in the shrubberies by Pegs No. 3 and 48 of the Cytise—a Tree produced in a cold climate of quick growth by pegs No. 4. All these plants were given to me by Mr. Michaux.
Walking into my Orchard grass this evening, I found the seed very ripe, and shedding at a small touch, tho’ the stalk and under part appeared quite green (head brown). Immediately set to cutting the heads with reap hooks, with such hands as I could pick up, lest by delaying it till Monday the greater part might be lost.
Doctr. La Moyeur who went from this on Wednesday last to Alexandria returnd this afternoon and Major Gibbes went away after breakfast.

   His rhamnus tree is Rhamnus alaternus, an evergreen buckthorn. philirea latitolio: Phillyrea latifolia, a small shrub native to southern Europe and Asia Minor. cytise: Cytisus anagroides, golden chain or bean tree.

Sunday 2d. Mercury at 68 in the Morning 78 at Noon and 76 at Night.
Clear with but little [wind], and that at South; very warm.

About Noon I set out for the intended meeting (to be held to morrow) at the Seneca falls. Dined at Colo. Gilpins, where meeting with Colo. Fitzgerald we proceeded all three of us to Mr. Bryan Fairfax’s, and lodged.

Monday 3d. After a very early breakfast (about Sun rise) we left Mr. Fairfax’s, and arriving at the head of the Seneca falls (where a vessel was to have met us) was detained till near ten o’clock before one arrived to put us over to our place of rendezvous at Mr. Goldsboroughs. Met Governor Johnson here; Govr. Lee was prevented by the situation of Mrs. Lee, from attending. A Colo. Francis Deakins, appointed on the part of Maryland, to lay out the road which was to be opened between the Eastern & western waters at the expence of that state & Virginia, also attended, and made a verbal report of his, & Colo. Nevilles surveys to effect this purpose; the result of which was, that they had agreed that the best rout for the said road was from the Mouth of Savage river, through the glades to cheat river, a little below the Dunker bottom; and from thence to the Monongahela (as they conceived the Navigation of Cheat river thro the laurel hill very difficult) below the Tygers valley; distance about 50 Miles. He was of opinion that besides the difficulties in the No. branch between the Mouths of savage & stony rivers that little or nothing would be short[e]ned in the road from the bearing, or trending off, of the North branch between these two places. To these matters however he did not speak with precision, or certainty, as his assistant who had his field notes & Surveys, had not returned.
A heavy shower of rain, a good deal of wind, and much thunder and lightning just abt., and after dark. A house, to appearance about 3 miles off, was consumed by fire, occasioned as was supposed by lightning; but whether it was a dwelling house or Barn we did not hear—nor could we discover to whom it belonged.
The day was very warm, and with out wind, till the gust arose.

   our place of rendezvous: On the following day James Rumsey paid Monica Goldsborough “nine Shillings Virginia currency in full for nine breakfasts and dinners for both at the meeting of the President & directors” of the Potowmack Company (American Clipper, 2 [Dec. 1935], 191).

   Francis Deakins (1739–1804), Montgomery County, Md., surveyor and land speculator, was the eldest son of William Deakins, Sr., and Tabitha Marbury Hoye Deakins of Prince George’s County. He had served for several years in the Maryland state militia during the Revolution, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Tuesday 4th. The Directors determined to prosecute their first plan for opening the Navigation of the River in the bed of it, &

as streight as it was practicable, and ordered the Manager to proceed accordingly; & to remove the hands from the works at the great falls to the Seneca & other parts of the river—as it was their wish, having but 3 years from the commencemt. of the Act to perfect the Navigation above the falls. Mr. Rumsey having signified his disinclination to serve the Company any longer for the pay and emoluments which had been allowed him, and the Directors not inclining to encrease them, they parted and Mr. Stuart (the first assistant) was appointed in his place. Mr. Smith the other assistant had his wages raised to £200 Maryld. Curry. pr. Ann.
These matters being settled, Govr. Johnson returned home. Colo. Fitzgerald proceeded on to Berkeley & Frederick, and Colo. Gilpin and myself resolved to send our horses to the Great falls and go by water to that place ourselves; and were happy to find that the passage on the Virginia side of all the Islands, was vastly the best; and might be made easy and good at little expence—There being in short only 3 places where there was any difficulty, & these not great. Shallow water in a low state of the river, is all that is to be feared.
After dining with Mr. Rumsey at the Great falls Colo. Gilpin and myself set out in order to reach our respective homes, but a gust of wind & rain, with much lightning, compelled me to take shelter, about dark at his house, where I was detained all night.
This day was also exceedingly warm, there being but little wind.

   opening: In MS this reads “openting.”

   Mr. Smith is James Smith (Va. Journal, 4 Dec. 1788).

Wednesday 5th. I set out about sun rising, & taking my harvest fields at Muddy hole & the ferry in my way, got home to breakfast.
Found that my harvest had commenced as I directed, at Muddy hole & in the Neck on Monday last—with 6 Cradlers at the first—to wit, Isaac, Cowper Tom, Ben overseer Will, Adam, & Dogue run Jack who tho’ newly entered, made a very good hand; and gave hopes of being an excellent Cradler. That Joe (Postilian) had taken the place of Sambo at the Ferry since Monday last, & the harvest there proceeded under the cutting of Caesar, Boatswain, & him. That in the Neck 6 cradles were constantly employed, & sometimes 7—viz. James, (who having cut himself in the meadow could not work constantly)—Davy, Overseer who having other matters to attend to, could not stick to it; Sambo, Essex, George (black smith) Will, Ned; and Tom Davis who had never cut before, and made rather an awkward hand of it. Tom Nokes was also there, but he cut only now & then, at other times shocking,

repairing rakes &ca. That the gangs at Dogue Run & Muddy hole were united, & were assisted by Anthony, Myrtilla & Dolshy from the home house—That besides Tom Davis Ben from the Mill had gone into the Neck and that Sall brass (when not washing) & Majr. Washingtons Tom were assisting the ferry people—That Cowpers Jack & Da[v]y with some small boys & girls (wch. had never been taken out before) were assisting the Farmer in making Hay after two white men who had been hired to cut grass. And found that the State of the Mercury in the thermometer had, during my absence, been as follow—viz.

Morng.
Noon
Night

Sunday 2d.
68
78
76

Monday 3d.
72
79
79

Tuesday 4
78
81
81

Wednesdy. 5
78
75
72

This day (Wednesday) clouded about Noon and before dinner began to rain, tho not much & rained again at, and in the Night but not a great deal.

   The slaves named here can all be found in the entry for 18 Feb. 1786 of the Diaries. They were often shifted temporarily from one farm to another for special tasks. the farmer: James Bloxham.

Thursday 6th. Mercury at 71 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 76 at N.
Morning hazy, with thunder & rain in the afternoon.
Rid to Muddy hole and into the Neck; found that the Rye at the first had been cut down yesterday and that the wheat was entered upon and that the grain being wet this Morning, it could not either be shocked, or bound. The rakers were therefore employed in succouring the drilled Corn at Muddy hole. The Rye at the Ferry was also cut down yesterday about dinner time. The plows at this place 3 in number having finished crossing the Corn on the hill had begun to cross that cut below, adjoining the drilled Corn. In the Neck, after the Plows had finished crossing the river cut, in the great field, 6 plows went into the drilled Corn (on Tuesday) and were running a single furrow on each side of it, the Peas, Potatoes, & Cabbage by way of giving them a hill.

Friday 7th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 75 at Night.
Clear in the forenoon but very sultry, with wind, thunder, lightning & rain in the afternoon. Rid to all the Plantations; The

Plows at Muddy hole (where 3 were at work) had finished the East cut of Corn, and had begun to plow that cut by the bars, adjoining the drilled Corn the 3d. time. Those at Morris’s, four in number, had got about half over the Eastermost cut, next the overseers House and the Farmer was stacking the grass which had been in cocks some time in the meadow adjoining it.
Brought in the remainder of the clover Hay, & seed at Muddy [hole] to the stack at the barn there.
Washington Custis being sick I sent for Doctr. Craik to visit him, and a sick child in the Neck. He arrived before dinner, & after going into the Neck & returning, stayed all night.
Mr. Shaw went up to Alexandria to day on my business in the waggon also to bring sundries down.

Saturday 8th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Clear & warm, with very little Wind till about 2 oclock, when a black & extensive cloud arose to the westward out of which much wind issued with considerable thunder & lightning and a smart shower of Rain.
Rid to the Ferry, Muddy hole & Neck Plantations. Finished cutting the Rye about noon at the latter, and set into the wheat adjoining, immediately after. Should have finished cutting & securing in shocks the wheat at Muddy hole this afternoon had it not been for the interruption given by the rain.
The Rye at all the Plantations had been much beat down & tangled previous to the cutting any of it, and much loss will be sustained from this cause in addition to the defection in the head; but neither this grain nor the wheat have been so much layed by the late winds & rains, as might have been expected. Of the latter indeed, tho much was threatned, not a great deal fell.

Sunday 9th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning 79 at Noon and 78 at Night.
Clear, calm & warm all day. Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, and Betcy & Patcy Custis came here to breakfast and Doctr. Craik to dinner—the last of whom went away in the evening.

Monday 10th. Mercury at  in the Morning—82 at Noon and 82 at Night.
Very warm all day, and calm till the evening, when a breeze from the Southward sprung up. More appearances of rain in the morning than the evening, but none fell.

Rid to the Neck, Muddy hole & Dogue Plantations. Began harvest at the latter this morning with the people belonging to the place; the Muddy hole hands finished theres by breakfast, after wch. (about half after eleven) the two gangs united again. In the Neck the Plows on Saturday finished running the furrows on each side the drilled Corn, by way of hilling it; and to day began to break, or plow the intermediate spaces.
John Knowles, who was absent all last week came here to work again this Morning in good Season.
Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart & the two girls Betcy & Patcy Custis returned after breakfast.

   John Knowles came to work for GW as a common laborer in May 1786 for £5 a month and a daily pint of rum (see entry for 18 May 1786). In 1789 GW contracted with him for one year to be a bricklayer and his wife, Rachael, to be a household servant. In return they were to receive £30, a house, and a garden spot (articles of agreement between Knowles and GW, 7 July 1789, DLC:GW).

Tuesday 11th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—83 at Noon and 82 at Night.
Clear, with the wind at So. Wt. and pretty fresh.
Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations and to the Mill. At the first, the Plows had just finished plowing the drilled Corn & Potatoes by the Fish House—at the second got into stacks all the wheat in the Meadow by the Overseers House.
Finished cutting the remainder of the wheat in the great Field in the Neck on the Creek.
Doctr. Craik came here to breakfast and returned after it to Alexandria.

Wednesday 12th. Mercury at 79 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
Wind pretty fresh from the So. West all day. About Noon a cloud arose in the west, from whence proceeded a shower of rain and severe lightning and loud thunder.
Visited all my Plantations and the Mill to day. Finished the wheat harvest at the Ferry about Noon. Gave the People employed in it the remainder of the day for them selves, but ordered Boatswain & Joe (cradlers) and the hands from the home House to go into the Neck tomorrow and the other Cradler (Caesar) with 2 or 3 rakers to go to Dogue run (being most convenient) having before ordered Isaac, & Cooper Tom (cradlers)—the house people and 3 rakers from Muddy hole gang, to go into the Neck to

morrow morning, supposing the People belonging to the Plantation, with the aid above mentioned, would be able to compleat the Harvest at Dogue run in the course of tomorrow.
On my return home found Mr. Man Page of Mansfield Mr. Frans. Corbin, and Doctr. Stuart here. And after Dinner Mr. Lawe. Washington & his son Lawe, came in. Doctr. Stuart returned in the evening.
Perceived as I rode thro my drilled corn at Muddy hole to day, that the alternate rows of early corn was Tassling and shooting.

   man page: Mann Page, Jr. (c.1749–1803), of Mannsfield, near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, was the eldest son of Mann Page (b. 1718), of Rosewell, Gloucester County, and his second wife, Anne Corbin Tayloe, the daughter of John Tayloe (1687–1747) and Elizabeth Gwyn (Gwynn, Gwynne) Lyde Tayloe of Mount Airy, Richmond County (PAGERichard Channing Moore Page. Genealogy of the Page Family in Virginia. 1893. 2d. ed. Bridgewater, Va., 1965., 61, 63; MEADE [1][William] Meade. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1857., 2:181). Mann Page, Jr., was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1775, the Continental Congress in 1777, and a lieutenant colonel with the Spotsylvania militia during the Revolution (CROZIER [2]William Armstrong Crozier, ed. Spotsylvania County, 1721–1800: Being Transcriptions, from the Original Files at the County Court House, of Wills, Deeds, Administrators’ and Guardians’ Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Lists of Revolutionary Pensioners. New York, 1905., 35, 523). In 1776 he married his cousin Mary Tayloe (b. 1759), daughter of John Tayloe II (1721–1779) and Rebecca Plater Tayloe of Mount Airy (PAGERichard Channing Moore Page. Genealogy of the Page Family in Virginia. 1893. 2d. ed. Bridgewater, Va., 1965., 73).

   Francis Corbin (1759–1821), of Middlesex and Caroline counties, was a cousin of Mann Page, Jr., and a son of Richard and Elizabeth Tayloe Corbin of Laneville, King and Queen County. He went to England in 1773 where he attended the Canterbury School and Cambridge University, and entered the Inner Temple in Jan. 1777. At the close of the Revolution, he returned to Virginia. He represented Middlesex County in the House of Delegates from 1784 to 1794. A staunch supporter of the Constitution, Corbin was an influential member of the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788 (Va. Mag., 29 [1921], 522, 30 [1922], 315–16; NEILLEdward D. Neill. The Fairfaxes of England and America in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Including Letters from and to Hon. William Fairfax, President of Council of Virginia, and His Sons Col. George William Fairfax and Rev. Bryan, Eighth Lord Fairfax, the Neighbors and Friends of George Washington. Albany, 1868., 137n).

Thursday 13th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
Cloudy all day, with the Wind pretty fresh from the Eastward. Finished the wheat harvest at Dogue run about Sundown. Doctr. Craik came here to Dinner & returned afterwards. In the Night there fell rain.

Friday 14th. Mercury at  in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
Cloudy more or less all day, with the wind pretty fresh from the So. West.
After Breakfast I rid to all my Plantations. Found the Plows in the Neck after compleatly, that is, after having broke the ground between the furrows that had been run on each side the Corn for the purpose of hilling it, had got into the Middle cut to do the like there, in the Drilled corn. Perceived the Irish Potatoes were

coming into blossom at this place and that after the rain on Wednesday, whilst the wheat was too wet to bind, the harvest People had pulled a little of the flax at this place also. The Plows at Dogue run finished plowing the Cut they were in next the overseers House, & had begun to plow the drilled corn, on the East side of the field; leaving every other row untouched & turning the mould from the corn in these rows; by wch. the middle between the rows where the cabbages, Potatoes, Peas &ca. grow would be ridged—intending these ridges to be reduced at the last Plowing, & the rows of corn to form them. At the same place the hands had begun to hoe corn in the cut including Barrys houses, beginning next Wades old dwelling. Some of the People belonging to this plantation had come to Muddy hole for Rye, which they were threshing there for their horses. Muddy hole [people] were hoeing a small corner of Corn which was not finished before Harvest. At the ferry the Plows finished about two oclock crossing the cut on the flat, and would begin to plow the drilled wht. by the Mea[do]w. The rest of the People were preparing a yard to tread out wheat.
After breakfast Mr. Page & Mr. Corbin, accompanied by Majr. Washington, went up to Abingdon (taking Alexandria in their way) and before breakfast Mr. Lawe. Washington & his son went up by water to the latter place—they all returned again in the Evening, when a Mr. Hatfield of England came in.

   mr. hatfield of england: probably either Joseph Hadfield, merchant of Manchester, Eng., who had visited Mount Vernon in 1785, or one of the other partners in the family firm. By 1788 Joseph Hadfield was established temporarily in Baltimore. He was a partner in the “house of John Hadfield Thomas Hadfield and Joseph Hadfield” (Fairfax County Deeds, Book R, 239, Vi Microfilm).

Saturday 15th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—85 at Noon and 83 at Night.
Clear, calm, and very warm all day.
After breakfast the Company all going away, I rid to all the Plantations except that at the Ferry. Compleated my wheat harvest in the Neck about Noon—which made a finish of the whole; after wch. I directed my people, engaged therein, to pull flax till dinner, & take the remainder of the day to themselves. Much Wheat has been left in all the fields this year occasioned 1st. by the frequent rains and winds which preceeded, and happened during harvest (which had laid down and tangled it in some degree)—2d. by beginning my harvest too late and 3d. by the manner of cutting and gathering it into shocks. It is unlucky, that from

several causes, I was prevented trying by experiment, this year, how early wheat or Rye might be cut without injury to the grain; but satisfied I am that, this may be done with safety as soon as it is out of its milky state—at any rate, that the loss by shrinkage in the beginning of a harvest from this cause, is not equal to the loss by shattering at the latter end of it or to the hazard of its being entangled, or laid down by winds and rain, which every year is the case in a greater, or lesser degree when harvest is long, & the grain ripe. For these reasons the following method may, I think, be attempted with success in future; and it will be found that many advantages will flow from it.

1st. To make every Plantation, or farm, take care of its own grain witht. uniting their hands.
2d. To encrease the number of cradlers at each; to such a number only, as will give two rakers to each, and leave a sufficiency besides to gather, and put the wheat into shocks and, generally speaking, with Negro labourers, the following distribution may be found to come as near the mark in wheat made in corn ground, as any—viz.—for every two Cradlers to allow 4 rakers, 1 Shocker, and two carriers—for the last of which boys and girls are competent.
3d. To give the Cradlers a start of two days of the rakers & shockers; letting them begin to cut as soon as the milk leaves the grain, and before it becomes hard & flinty—leaving the grain this time in the swarth, for the straw to cure, before it is raked, bound & put into shocks.
4th. To order, & see that the Cradlers cut slow, & lay their grain regular & well; after it is cut low & clean; which will be found more advantages than to hurry over the gr[oun]d in order to put an end to harvest, as is usual. By beginning early time will be allowed for these, especially as wheat cut in this state yields much easier, and pleasanter to the stroke, & can be laid much better than when the straw gets dry & harsh.
5th. By giving this start to the cradlers, the straw (as hath been observed before) will be sufficiently cured to bind and shock and it must be seen that the Rakers also do their work clean and well, which is more likely to be the case without particular attention, than when one half their time they are scampering after the cutters to keep up; and the other half are standing whilst the cradlers are whetting their Scythes, drinking, or talking.
6th. Each raker must take a swarth & not two go in one that the authors of bad work may be more easily detected. By this

mode of proceeding the raking & binding will be done with more ease, regularity and dispatch, because it becomes a sober settled work—there being no pretext for hurrying at one time, and standing at another—but
7th. By this means, I am persuaded that the number of rakers which usually follow cradlers, would, by the middle of harvest, or by the time the grain is in condition to shock as it comes from the Cradle be fully up with them and then might go on together if it should be conceived best.

Admitting that the grain can be cut with safety as soon as it comes out of the Milky state, the advantages here described, added to the superior quality of the straw for fodder, and indeed for every other purpose, greatly over ballances any inconveniencies which may result from the practice, & which must lay chiefly, if not wholly, in these: 1st. The hazard of a heavy beating rain, which may settle the swarth among the stubble so as to make it bad to rake, & difficult perhaps to get up clean and 2d. lighter rains and Dews which may interrupt the binding, the straw not drying so soon in swarth as it does standing—nor can it be meddled with so early in the morning generally—But as neither rain nor dews will hurt the grain (on the contrary, will make it thresh easier, and do very little injury to the straw) and as there is allways work enough on the Plantations to employ the hands in (such as succouring & hoeing of Corn, pulling flax, weeding of vines, Pease, &ca. &ca.) supposing the interruptions above mentioned to happen no labour need be lost because as each harvest will be managed by the hands belonging to the farm or Plantation they can without inconvenience (having their tools always at hand) shift from one kind of work to another without preparation or fitting themselves for it.

Sunday 16th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—86 at Noon and 84 at Night.
Very little wind at any time in the day but very hot.
Doctr. Craik came here in the forenoon—dined, and returned afterwards.

Monday 17th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—85 at Noon and 79 at Night.
Exceedingly warm all day with but little wind. Afternoon a cloud arose out of which we had only a sprinkling of Rain—the body of the cloud passing above, i.e. to the Northward of this place.

Rid to the Plantations in the Neck—Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry. At the first began to cut the ripest of the Oats, but thinking them in general too green quitted after breakfast and set all hands to pulling flax the doing of which was compleated about Sun down. At Muddy hole the People were employed in clearing a yard to tread wheat in, and in getting in wheat & Rye. Of the latter 6 Shocks (got in by the Dogue run hands) yielded 11½ bushels of clean Rye and 4 other Shocks brought in by the hands of the Plantation & threshed by them 5 Bl. of clean rye was produced. Dogue run people cut their Oats in the upper meadow and the Ferry were employed as yesterday about their Wheat.

Tuesday 18th. Mercury at 77 in the Morning—87 at Noon and 84 at Night.
A heavy forenoon with much appearances of rain but none fell—very hot afterwards when the sun at intervals came out—a breeze from the So. West all day.
Rid to all the Plantations, except that at the Ferry. Began to cut the Meadow at the Neck plantation to day and to clean & prepare the yard for treading wheat there. Finished hilling with the Plows, all the Corn at Muddy hole which was planted in the usual way & ordered the plows to turn the ground in the drilled corn, designed for Turnips, & to plow it deep & well. Dogue run people (in part) cleaning & preparing their wheat yard and getting the Oats to it. Finished a Hay rick at the House which contained all the Hay that was made at the upper Meadow at Dogue run and all that came off the Ferry Meadow.

Wednesday 19th. Mercury at 82 in the morning—89 at Noon and 81 at Night.
Clear until about 2 Oclock when a cloud arose to the Westward out of which proceeded a powerful rain.
Rid to all the Plantations to day. At that in the Neck, the Scythemen having cut (yesterday) the upper part of the Meadow, & to the cross fence; returned to the Oat field to day at the old orchard point, which they cut down; but did not shock, the straw being too green for it. At the same place, the Plows finished the middle cut of the drilled corn, & plowed, in the same cut, the intervals between the corn rows which were designed for Turnips. The Plows at Muddy hole began yesterday afternoon to give the middle cut (next to, & adjoining, the drilled corn) another plowing from the road to the woods back. 4 other shocks of rye at this place from another part of the field, yielded about the same quantity

of clean grain that the first did—viz.—five bushels; from which, their being 177 shocks in the field, it may be computed that not more than 220 or 225 will be obtained.
On my return home I found Mr. Calvert of Maryland and his son, Colo. Bland, Mr. Geo. Digges, Mr. Foster & Lund Washington here—all of whom dined. The 3 first stayed the evening the other three returned.

   mr. calvert of maryland and his son: The son accompanying Benedict Calvert to Mount Vernon is probably one of his two eldest boys, Edward Henry Calvert (1766–1846) or George Calvert (1768–1838).

   Theodorick Bland (1742–1790), of Prince George County, was the son of Theodorick and Frances Bolling Bland of Cawsons on the Appomattox River. After receiving a M.D. degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1763, Bland returned to Virginia to practice medicine. He served as a colonel in the Continental Army 1776–79, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress 1780–83. In 1786 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates where he served until 1788.

   Ralph Foster (Forster) was George Digges’s brother-in-law. His wife, Theresa (Tracy) Digges Foster (Forster), had died in Oct. 1784 (Va. Journal, 14 Oct. 1784).

Thursday 20th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—86 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Very warm all day—about 4 Oclock a Cloud arose out of which proceeded a shower of rain—after which it cleared, but towards sun down it overcast, and rained moderately for several hours.
Before the rain the Flax in the Neck was thrown into shocks as was part of the oats. Another part was set on end (as much as could be of it) and the third part was caught on the ground in the sheaf by the rain.
Finished cutting the Meadow in the Neck this afternoon; & had begun to plow the ground designed for Turnips there, but the Rain put a stop to it. The plows then went into the Corn adjoining thereto in the cut next the Barn.
Mr. Calvert & Son was prevented recrossing the river this afternoon by the rain.

Friday 21st. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—80 at Noon—and 80 at Night.
A little cloudy in the Morning but clear afterwards and not so warm as it had been.
Mr. Calvert & Son went away very early in the Morning. After breakfast Colo. Bland and my self road to my Plantations at Muddy hole and in the Neck. At the first found the grd. was too

wet for Plowing and that 4 other shocks of rye from another part of the field had been threshed, which yielded rather better than 7½ bushels of clean grain. At the other I examined the shocks of Flax wch. seemed to be tolerably dry, & in good order—but I directed the Overseer to keep an attentive watch upon them, and the Oats; & open & dry them if they appeared to need it; and to get both as soon as he could to the Barn.
Having finished cutting the meadows in the Neck, the farmer & two or three hands remained there to make the Hay, whilst Six cutters came over & cut down the orchard grass at the House which had been stripped of the head (for the seed) on or about the first instant. It may be remarked of this grass, and it adds to the value of it, that it does not turn brown at the bottom, after it heads, nor does the stubble appear dry when it is cut, as that of Timothy. Consequently the aftermath is more valuable, and the Second growth quicker. Whether this effect is natural to the grass, or has been produced by having had the seed taken from it, is not altogether certain, but the first is much more probable; because Timothy would, before it should have approached the same state of maturity, have been quite brown & rusty at bottom, which was not the case with the Orchd. Grass when the seed was taken from it, nor at any time since and is an evidence that it will wait longer after it is fit for the Scythe than timothy without injury. It also appeared by some that had been mixed with, and grown near to the clover wch. was cut about the 7th. or 8th. of June that it vegetates much quicker after cutting, that [than] Timothy does.

Saturday 22d. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—82 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Clear all day with the Wind at South, but not very fresh.
An Overseer of mine (at the ferry) informed me that the chintz bug was discovered in his Corn and that he apprehended if the weather should turn dry, they would encrease, and destroy it. He also informed me that the fly was discovered about the shocks of wheat in his field.
At home all day with Colo. Bland.

   overseer of mine: Hezekiah Fairfax.

   chintz bug: GW had discovered the chinch bug in his corn the previous year (see 15 Aug. 1785). The Hessian fly (Phytophaga destructor), the larvae of which sucked the juices from green wheat and ate the leaves, was a more serious problem. This fly, which first appeared on Long Island, was called the Hessian fly in the mistaken belief that Hessian soldiers had brought it to this continent. In some areas, wheat had been abandoned

altogether (PARKINSONRichard Parkinson. A Tour in America, in 1798, 1799, and 1800. Exhibiting Sketches of Society and Manners, and a Particular Account of the American System of Agriculture, with Its Recent Improvements. 2 vols. London, 1805., 2:360–61). “What an error it is,” GW wrote to Samuel Powel, 15 Dec. 1789, “and how much to be regretted; that the Farmers do not confine themselves to the Yellow-bearded Wheat, if, from experience, it is found capable of resisting the ravages of this, otherwise, all conquering foe” (ViMtvL). The pest did not spread inland as rapidly as was feared. It did not reach Albemarle County, Va., until 1798.

Sunday 23d. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Clear & pleasant till about 4 Oclock, when the wind whh. had been pretty fresh from the So. West died away and it turned warm.
Mr. Powell, Mr. Porter, and Miss Ramsay & Miss Craik came here to breakfast (from Alexa.) and returned again after Dinner.

   Mr. Powell is probably William H. Powell (d. 1802), eldest son of GW’s old friend Col. Leven Powell of Loudoun County. Young Powell studied law with Charles Simms of Alexandria and in April 1786 had just opened a general merchandise store, William H. Powell & Co., on Fairfax Street. Powell moved back to a farm in Loudoun County a few years later and drowned in 1802 while crossing the Shenandoah River (POWELL [2]Robert C. Powell, ed. A Biographical Sketch of Col. Leven Powell, including His Correspondence during the Revolutionary War. Alexandria, Va., 1877., 7; BROCKETTF. L. Brockett. The Lodge of Washington. A History of the Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, A.F. and A.M. of Alexandria, Va., 1783-1876. Alexandria, Va., 1876., 107; Va. Journal, 20 April 1786).

   Miss Ramsay is probably Sarah (Sally) Ramsay, daughter of William Ramsay. She and Thomas Porter were married in 1788.

Monday 24th. Mercury at 70 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Wind at No. West, and day very pleasant.
After breakfast I accompanied Colo. Bland to Mr. Lund Washington’s where he entered the stage on his return home. Rid from hence to the Plantations at Dogue run & Muddy hole. At the first I found that the plows had finished the alternate rows of drilled corn on Saturday afternoon, & were then plowing the intermediate ones, which had been passed over. Examined the low, & sickly looking corn in several parts of this field, and discovered more or less of the Chinch bug on every stalk between the lower blades & it. It is highly probable that the unpromising appearance of most of my Corn, & which I had been puzled to acct. for and ascribing it to other causes may have proceeded from this, and that the calamity, especially, if a drought should follow, will be distressing to a great degree. The Hoes at this plantation will to morrow have finished the cut they had begun on the west side the field, & would go into the one adjoining. Muddy hole People were engaged in getting their wheat into stacks at the barn & threshing out what rye they had put into the Barn which amounted to 12 shocks, & yielded 18 Bush. of clean grain.
On my return home, found colo. Humphreys here and soon

after a Captn. Cannon came in with a letter from Colo. Marshall, from Kentucke.

   David Humphreys (1752–1818), the youngest son of Rev. Daniel and Sarah Riggs Bowers Humphreys of Connecticut, was a graduate of Yale and a poet. He distinguished himself during the Revolution by his rapid promotions and his appointment as aide-de-camp to GW. A lifelong friendship developed between Humphreys and GW, and Humphreys often visited Mount Vernon. He went abroad in 1784 to negotiate commercial treaties and returned in the spring of 1786 to Connecticut where in September he was elected to the assembly (Humphreys to GW, 24 Sept. 1786, DLC:GW). At this time he was at Mount Vernon attempting to gather information for a proposed biography of GW. He was at Mount Vernon in the winter of 1787–88, served as one of GW’s secretaries 1789–90, and in 1790 again went abroad on a series of diplomatic missions.

   The letter John Canon delivered to GW was from Thomas Marshall, formerly of Fauquier County, Va., and now residing in Fayette County, Ky. GW had commissioned Marshall to procure for him the seeds of trees requested by Lafayette for use at Versailles (Marshall to GW, 19 May 1786, and GW to Lafayette, 25 July 1785, DLC:GW).

Tuesday 25th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Clear and pleasant all day Wind being Northerly & Easterly.
After breakfast I rid round all my Plantations. Found my corn in the Neck as much infested by the Chinch bug as I had perceived

that to be at Dogue run yesterday. The rows of Corn wch. were intermixed with Irish Potatoes, along the fence wch. divides the wheat field (or stubble) from it were perceived to be much better, & more uniform than any other part of the field, but whether it has been occasioned by dunging, or otherwise, I could get no distinct acct. Some of the Negros ascribed it to this cause & it is more probable than that the Potatoes should have been the cause of it. Sowed about five acres of Turnips in br[oa]d cast, in the Neck in that grd. which originally was prepared for the Saintfoin & other Seeds. These seeds were sowed after a plowing which the ground had just received, and were harrowed in with a heavy harrow which raked the grass very much into heaps (the ground tho’ frequently plowed before, having got very grassy). Two hands at this place began yesterday to cut the drilled Oats, which they would about accomplish to morrow. This Oats (24 rows) I ordered to be secured & threshed by itself. 5 plows only were at work here the Waggon & two Ox Carts being employed in getting in the grain. All hands except those at plow were engaged in this business, in stacking the wheat, and threshing of Rye. At Muddy hole, except the three people at the Plows, and those employed in drawing in & stacking the Wheat at the Barn, all hands had begun to weed the drilled corn and the Plants between the rows. The Oats at this place had been cut two or 3 days, & the Wheat would be all drawn in & stacked to day. The Dogue run people did not finish the cut they were in yesterday till noon this day when they entered the one adjoining. The Ferry People wd. nearly get the wheat at that Plantation into Stack to day.
Doctr. Craik was sent for to visit Carpenter James & Cowper Jack. He also prescribed for a Child Nat, over the Creek who was brought here.

Wednesday 26th. Mercury at 70 in the Morning—at Noon 80 and 80 at Night. Calm, Clear & pleasant all day.
Mr. Herbert, Colo. Ramsay, Colo. Allison and Mr. Hunter dined here and returned in the afternoon.
One Edwd. Moystan who formerly lived with Mr. Robt. Morris as a Steward, & now keeps the City Tavern in Philadelphia came here to consult me on the Propriety of his taking the Coffee Ho[use] in Alexandria, i.e., on the prospect of its answering his purposes for keeping Tavern.
Having fixed a roller to the tale of my drill plow, and a bush harrow between it & the barrel, I sent it by G. A. Washington to Muddy hole and had the intervals betwn. the corn which had

been left for the purpose sowed with Turnips in drills and with which it was done very well.

   The coffeehouse in Alexandria apparently did not answer Moyston’s purposes, for he was still in Philadelphia in April 1787 when he wrote GW to urge that he and his acquaintances stay in his City Tavern in Philadelphia while attending the Constitutional Convention (Edward Moyston to GW, 4 April 1787, DLC:GW). Moyston had become the proprietor of the City Tavern in Philadelphia on Second Street above Walnut in 1779 (Pa. Mag., 46 [1922], 75, n.162). The Alexandria Inn and Coffeehouse, which had been managed by Henry Lyles until his death in April 1786, was being advertised for rent in the summer of 1786 (Va. Journal, 27 July 1786).

Thursday 27th. Mercury at 74 in the morning—84 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Clear in the forenoon and pretty warm—Cloudy afterwards with great appearances of a settled rain little of which fell. What did was chiefly light and more a mist making little impression in the Earth.
Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations, and to the Mill. Found the Wheat all got in and stacked at the first and last mentioned places and that the Plows had finished plowing the drilled corn on thursday evening last and were plowing the Cut on the Hill. The rest of the hands at this place, & cart were employed in getting in Rye. The drilled Oats between the corn at Muddy hole, being threshed & cleaned measured 18 bushls.
In the evening Mr. Thos. Fairfax (son of Bryan Fairfax Esqr. now Parson) came in and stayed all Night.

   Thomas Fairfax (1762–1846), the eldest son of Bryan and Elizabeth Cary Fairfax, had returned recently from England where he had visited his uncle and aunt George William and Sarah Cary Fairfax at Bath. Bryan Fairfax was ordained a deacon in 1786 (KILMERKenton Kilmer and Donald Sweig. The Fairfax Family in Fairfax County: A Brief History. Fairfax, Va., 1975., 39, 43).

Friday 28th. Mercury at 75 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Day very lowering & some times light Rains or Mists, but not to wet the ground. Wind at No. Et.
Mr. Fairfax went away after breakfast.
At home all day.

Saturday 29th. Mercury at 68 in the morning—74 at Noon and 71 at Night.
Wind Northwardly and pleasant—The Morning cloudy, but clear about Noon, and a little warm. Accompanied by Colo. Humphrys I rid to Muddy hole & Neck Plantations. The Drilled oats at the latter, between the Corn, being threshed out & cleaned,

measured 54 B.—There being 24 Rows of these, each (allowing for the divisions between the Cuts and the bouting rows at the ends) about 1075 yards long amounts to 25,800 yards running measure—or 160 yds. sqr. which is better than 5¼ acres. The quantity to the Acre therefore, cannot exceed 10 Bushels, which is less, it is presumed, than the same kind of Land would have produced in broadcast. It is to be remarked however that the abundant wet which had fallen from the middle of May, or thereabouts, till Harvest had in most of the low places destroyed the grain either wholly, or in part—by which the quantity growing was reduced but this would also have happened in any square piece of ground as there is scarce any that is not subject to the same accident.

Sunday 30th. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Morning a little cloudy, the day upon the whole cool & pleasant with the wind at East.

Monday 31st. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—73 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Morning lowering, with small sprinklings of rain, but too light to wet any thing. About one Oclock it cleared—Wind pretty fresh from the No. East & clear afterwards.
Mr. Willm. Craik who came here to dinner, afterwards went away for Alexandria on his journey to Hampshire [County].
Accompanied by Colo. Humphreys, rid to the Plantations at the Ferry and Dogue run. At the first, the plowing of the cut upon the hill was finished and the plows in the drilled corn by the fish house. The Hoes were at work in the other drilled corn. At Dogue run the Hoes had just finished the Cut they had been in; and the Plows the drilled corn; into which the Hoes had entered on the East side next the Swamp. The Plows would now cease till the Horses could be a little refreshed & get out wheat for sowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 70 at N. Much rain had fallen in the Night. The day was variable, but generally cloudy with fine rain about 10 or 11 Oclock which lasted more than an hour—after which the Sun came out but for a short duration. Rid to Muddy hole, but proceeded no further as, at the time I was there the appearances of a wet day were greatest.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 4th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 74 at Night. The appearances of rain yesterday afternoon fell very heavily about Ravensworth and that part of the County occasioning greater freshes in Accatinck, Pohick & Hunting C[ree]k than had been known for many years & it is thought a good deal of damage to the Crops of Corn & other grain on the grd. Rid to the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole and Dogue run and dined afterwards at Mr. Lund Washingtons with Mrs. Washington Colo. Humphreys & Mrs. Fendal, and Major Washington (who had first been to Alexa. on business) and his wife. Some showers this Aftern. At the Neck plantation the Plows had, on Monday last finished plowing the drilled corn East cut and would this day have compleated all the other corn except the cut on the River in wch. wheat will be first sowed.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 6th. Mercury at 75 in the Morng.—84 at Noon and 79 at Night. Clear and tolerably pleasant. At home all day without company.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 9th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 79 at Night. Wind Southerly—Morning a little lowering but clear afterwards till about 3 oclock when a cloud in the So. West produced a pretty heavy shower of rain attended with a good deal of wind in a short space. In the Night it again rained. Began to sow Wheat at the Ferry and in the Neck yesterday—at the first in the cut on the flat adjoining the drilled Corn and at the other in the cut on the river. Finished cleaning two stacks of wheat which had been tread out at Muddy hole. Each measured 24 bushels of light wheat weighing only  lbs. pr. Bushel.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Thursday 10th. Mercury at 73 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind at No. Et. with mists and very light showers till towards noon when the Sun came out. Warm till towards the afternoon when it grew cooler & pleasanter. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, and ferry Plantations—at the first of which Wheat Seeding will commence tomorrow. At the second things are not in order for it & at the third the sowing has been stopped by the heavy rain which fell yesterday. Mr. Fitzhugh and Mr. Randolph went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 11th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night. Clear & pleasant with the wind at So. West. Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. At the first, Sowing wheat begun this Morning. At the latter I agreed with one James Lawson who was to provide another hand to ditch for me in my mill swamp upon the following terms—viz.—to allow them every day they work—each 1 lb. of salt or 1½ of fresh meat pr. day—1¼ lb. of brown bread, 1 pint of spirits and a bottle of Milk—the bread to be baked at the House, & their Meat to be Cooked by Morris’s wife—and to allow them 16 d. pr. rod for ditches of 4 feet wide at top, 1 foot wide at bottom, and 2 feet deep; with 12 or 15 Inches footing and 2/. for ditches of 6 feet wide at top, 2 feet at bottom, and two ft. deep with equal footing. On my return home found Mr. John Barnes and Doctr. Craik here—the last of whom returned to Alexandria. The other stayed all night.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 12th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 74 at Night. Warm, with a tolerably bri[s]k Southerly wind all day. Mr. Barnes went away before Breakfast. After which I rid to my Meadow in order to mark out a middle ditch, and to try how much the water within the Meadow is above

the water in the run below where the two courses of it unite, below the old Mill Seat, and which is found to be nearly 3 feet; estimating between the Surfaces of the two. It also appears that the Meadow, just by where a breach is made in the dam, is as low as any part in it reckoning from the Surface of the water (from the bottom of the bed of the run would undou[b]tedly be deeper) and that from this place to the Surface of the run at a turn of it by a spreading spanish bush the rise is about 14 Inches. Thomas McCarty left this yesterday—it being found that he was unfit for a Household Steward. Richard Burnet took his place on the wages of Thirty pounds pr. ann.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 13th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night. Day lowering with the wind at East—now and then a little sprinkle of rain but not enough to wet the roots of any thing. Mr. Shaw quitted this family to day. Colo. Humphreys, Geo. Washington & wife went to Church at Alexandria to day & dined with Mr. Fendall. The first remained there all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 14th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—73 at Noon and 70 at Night. Day clear, and the wind fresh from the No. West, from Morn till eve. Went by way of Muddy hole & Dogue run plantations to the Meadow, in my Mill Swamp, to set the Ditche[r]s to work, only one of whom appeared. About Noon he began on the side ditch,

East of the meadow. After doing this, and levelling part of the ground (with a Rafter level) along which the Ditch was to be cut I intended to have run a course or two of Fencing at Muddy hole but Meeting with Genl. Duplessis in the road who intended to Mt. Vernon but had lost his way I returned home with him where Colo. Humphreys had just arrived before us.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 15th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 65 at Night. Cool, & for the most part of the day lowering, with but little wind. At home all day. Doctr. Stuart & Mr. Keith, deputed by the Potomack Co. to present its thanks to the President & directors thereof came for that purpose, dined here & returned in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—71 at Noon and 70 at Night. Cloudy and lowering for the greater part of the day and in the night a good deal of rain fell—wind at So. West. Colonels Fitzgerald and Lyles Mr. Brailsford (an English Gentleman) and Mr. Perrin came here to dinner & returned afterwards. In the afternoon a Major Freeman who looks after my concerns west of the Alligany Mountains came in and stayed all night.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Thursday 17th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 70 at Night. Drizling morning with the Wind at So. West—Cloudy and misting at times all day. About breakfast time my Baggage which had been left at Gilbert Simpsons arrived here. Settled Accts. with Major Freeman and engaged him to continue his agency till he should remove from his present residency to Kentucke & then to put all my Bonds into the hands of Lawyer Smith to bring suits on. At home all day—understood that the River cut in the Neck had been sowed with Wht.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 18th. Mercury at 70 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 72 at Night. Misty morning, with light showers of rain through the day—wind at No. East. Rid to the plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole, and to the Mill—The hands at each place working on the Public roads. At Dogue Run the Plows & Hoes began to put in wheat on Wednesday last. The ditcher at the Meadow wd. by noon have compleated about 6 rod of the 6 feet ditch which would be about 1 rod and half pr. day. A Mr. Jno. Dance, recommended by Genl. Mifflin, & Willing Morris & Swanwick came here to offer his services to me as a Manager but not wanting such a person he returned after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 19th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind Easterly, misting, & lowering in the forenoon but clear afterwards. General Duplessis left this by 5 Oclock in the Morning. After breakfast I accompanied Colo. Humphreys by water to Alexandria and dined with him at Captn. Conways to whom he had been previously engaged. The Tools & Baggage of Mr. Rawlins’s workmen were carried to Alexandria in my Boat to day.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 20th. Mercury at 69 to day, Morng.—at 74 at Noon and 70 at Night. Very little Wind at any period of the day—lowering for the most part and in the Morning a little misty.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 21st. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 76 at Night. Clear and warm with but little [wind]. Rid to the Plantations at Dogue Run Muddy hole & Ferry. At the 2d. the Hoes & Plows had just finished putting in wheat in the middle cut, which took  bushels to sow it; after which they were ordered to thin the drilled Turnips & to weed the Carrots.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 22d. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—85 at Noon and 82 at Night. Very warm with little or no wind & that Southerly. In the evening clouds with appearances of much rain but not a great deal fell at any of my Plantations—more at Dogue run than elsewhere. Finished sowing the middle cut in the large field in the Neck; to do which took  bushls. of grain, as it did  bushels to seed the river side cut. Mrs. Jenifer came here to Dinner yesterday and Mr. Wm. Craik & his Sister (Miss Craik) came in the afternoon. Doctr. Craik came in before breakfast, after which he, his son & daughter went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 23d. Mercury at 72 in the morning—86 at Noon and 84 at Night. Quite calm and exceedingly Sultry. Very clear. Rid to my Plantations at Muddy hole, dogue run and Ferry—also to the Mill.  Colo. Humphreys went away to day to take the stage at Alexandria for the No. Ward. Mr. & Mrs. Fendall—Mr. Charles Lee Miss Flora & Miss Nancy Lee—Miss Countee & Hariot Washington came here to Dinner—all of whom went away after it, except the 4 last named. Having wed the Carrots & thinned the Turnips at Muddy hole I directed the People to sow some wheat in the cut adjoining the middle one which had been put into brine.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 24th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind pretty fresh from the Northward all day with appearances of rain in the forenoon. In the afternoon there were slight showers, but scarcely more than would make the eves of the House run. Mr. Shaw came down before dinner and stayed all night. At home all day myself.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 25th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night. Lowering all day with slight showers about 1 Oclock; with distant thunder in the evening there were still greater appearances of a settled rain. Mr. Shaw went to Alexandria after breakfast in order to proceed to the Northward to embark at Philadelphia for the West Inds. I rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. At the first I marked out lines for a new partition of my fields and directed the best plowman at it to break up about 10 Acres of Pasture land which had produced Wheat the year of 1785, to try how it would yield (upon a single plowing) wheat next, sowed this fall. At Dogue run Meadow (Mill Swamp) I marked the middle ditch for the hired men to work on, while the season was proper. Mr. Rawlins from Baltim[or]e and Mr. Tharpe came here before dinner to measure the Work which had been done for me & to receive payment.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 27. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night. Weather clear and very pleasant the wind being pretty fresh from the No. West point. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 28th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night. The forenoon clear, but lowering afterwards, with a slight sprinkling of rain about dusk. Wind at No. Et. all day. Just after we had breakfasted, & my horse was at the door for me to ride, Colonel and Mrs. Rogers came in. When they sat down to breakfast which was prepared for them, I commenced my ride for

Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations also to my meadow on Dogue run and the Mill. At Muddy hole and the ferry a plow at each begun this day to break ground, for the purpose of Sowing Wheat, or rye, or both as shall be thought best. The Ditchers (for one was added to James Lawson to day) began the middle ditch in the meadow at the Mill this morning. And my Carpenters began to take up the forebay at my Mill this Morning also. Began to level the unfinished part of the lawn in front of my House.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 29th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 80 at Night. Lowering Morning with drops of Rain. Clear afterwards till the afternoon, when a cloud arose in the No. West quarter and extending very wide emitted after dark a great deal of rain with much thunder and lightning—Wind very brisk from the So. West all day. In the evening it shifted more to the westward. Plowed up the Cowpens on the left of the road in order to sow Turneps but was prevented by the rain—spreading stable dung on the poorest parts of my clover at home. Thatching the Haystacks at the same place. Taken with an Ague about 7 Oclock this Morning which being succeeded by a smart fever confined me to the House till evening. Had a slight fit of both on Sunday last but was not confined by them. Colonel and Mrs. Rogers left this about 10 Oclock for George Town, on their way to Baltimore. Lund Washington called in to inform me that Mr. William Triplet would be here to morrow to converse with me on the subject of renting Mrs. Frenchs Lands in this Neck now in the occupation of one Robinson.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 30th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 62 at Night. More rain fell last Night and this forenoon—Wind at East. Prevented riding in the Morning by the weather. About Noon Mr. Willm. Triplet & Mr. L. Washington came in and after a great deal of conversation respecting the Renting of Mrs. French’s Land, and the purchase of Manley’s it ended in postponement till Friday for further consideration.


Title: August 1786
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—69 at Noon and 66 at Night.
Morning heavy & sometimes mizzling but clear afterwards, till Night when the clouds assembled and rained the whole Night, sometimes very fast—Wind at East.

Mrs. Fendall, Harriot Washington, and Lucy Lee (a child)—Colo. Fitzgerald, Colo. Simms, Captn. Conway, Messrs. Saml. and Thos. Hanson & Mr. Charles Lee came here to dinner—all of whom, except the 3 first named, went away after it.

   Harriot Washington (1776–1822), the daughter of Samuel and Anne Steptoe Washington, was GW’s niece.

   Lucy Grymes Lee (1786–1860) was an infant, the third child of Henry and Matilda Lee. When Henry Lee went to New York as a delegate to the Continental Congress and took his wife and two older children north with him, it was thought best, because of Mrs. Lee’s poor health, to leave the baby in Alexandria in the care of her grandmother, Elizabeth Steptoe Lee Fendall.

Wednesday 2d. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 70 at N.
Much rain had fallen in the Night. The day was variable, but generally cloudy with fine rain about 10 or 11 Oclock which lasted more than an hour—after which the Sun came out but for a short duration.
Rid to Muddy hole, but proceeded no further as, at the time I was there the appearances of a wet day were greatest.

Thursday 3d. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—75 at Noon and 76 at Night.
A good deal of rain fell last Night. The day for the most part

was cloudy and Warm, altho’ the wind blew pretty fresh from the East. In the afternoon there was again the appearance of much rain but none fell here.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole. At the first fd. the drilled corn had been wed with the Hoes and the People were cleansing the Meadow ditches & that the Plows had done with the Corn till seeding with wheat. I set them to plowing that part of the New Ground which had been gone over with the Colter plow with a view of sowing Turnips therein.
Turned the two old draft Oxen at Home house, one of the old cows from ditto, and  steers & cows from Dogue run into the Meadows at that place. At the same time put my Rams into the same place & 25 ewe Lambs on the Clover at Muddy hole where I ordered the work horses to be put.
My Overseer returned from a Mr. Reynolds in Calvert Cty. Maryland with 1 Ram & 15 ewe Lambs of the English breed of sheep wch. I ordered to be turned into the same place.
In the Evening Richd. Sprig Esqr. of Annapolis & another Mr. Sprig came in and stayed all night.

   my overseer: John Fairfax.

   During GW’s long absence from his farm during the war, his flock of sheep was greatly diminished. In May 1786 GW wrote William Fitzhugh, Jr., to say that if any of his neighbors raised lambs for sale he would “gladly buy one or two hundred Ewe lambs, and allow a good price for them” (15 May 1786, MdBJ). Such a large number of ewe lambs proved not to be available, but Fitzhugh’s fellow Calvert County, Md., resident, Edward Reynolds, said he could spare 15 or 20 ewes at $2.00 each. GW agreed to buy these (Fitzhugh to GW, 26 May 1786, and GW to Fitzhugh, 5 June 1786, DLC:GW).

Friday 4th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 74 at Night.
The appearances of rain yesterday afternoon fell very heavily about Ravensworth and that part of the County occasioning greater freshes in Accatinck, Pohick & Hunting C[ree]k than had been known for many years & it is thought a good deal of damage to the Crops of Corn & other grain on the grd.
Rid to the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole and Dogue run and dined afterwards at Mr. Lund Washingtons with Mrs. Washington Colo. Humphreys & Mrs. Fendal, and Major Washington (who had first been to Alexa. on business) and his wife. Some showers this Aftern.
At the Neck plantation the Plows had, on Monday last finished plowing the drilled corn East cut and would this day have compleated all the other corn except the cut on the River in wch. wheat will be first sowed.

Saturday 5th. Mercury at 71 in the Morning—at Noon 79 and 79 at Night.
Clear and very warm all day. Went to Alexandria to a meeting of the Directors of the Potomac Compa. in order to prepare the Accts., and a Report for the Genl. Meeting of the Co. on Monday next. Neither of the Maryland Gentn. attended. Dined at Wises Tavn.
Finished weeding the drilled Corn at Muddy hole this day.

   maryland gentn: Thomas Johnson, Jr., and Thomas Sim Lee, the two Maryland directors of the Potowmack Company.

   John Wise’s tavern on Royal Street in Alexandria was used frequently by groups as a meeting place. GW attended a number of annual general meetings of the Potowmack Company here.

Sunday 6th. Mercury at 75 in the Morng.—84 at Noon and 79 at Night.
Clear and tolerably pleasant.
At home all day without company.

Monday 7th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 77 at Night.
Went to Alexandria to the Genl. Meeting of the Potomack Co. Colo. Humphreys accompanied me. A sufficient number of shares being present to constitute the Meeting the Accts. of the Directors were exhibited and a Genl. report made but for want of the Secretarys Books which were locked up, and he absent the Orders and other proceedings referred to in that report could not be exhibited.

   secretarys books: The secretary was John Potts, Jr.

Tuesday 8th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 75 at Night.
Wind Southerly and day warm, especially the forepart of it. In the Evening there were appearances of a settled rain, enough of which fell to make the eves of the House run but it was of short continuance.
Rid by Muddy hole Plantation to my meadow in the Mill swamp; and leveled from the old dam, just below Wades Houses, to the head of the Old race by the stooping red oak; stepping 27½ yds. or as near as I could judge 5 Rods between each stake, which are drove in as follows. 1 at the Water edge where I begun, and levl. with the Surface thereof; two in the old race (appearances of which still remain) and a fourth by a parcel of small

Persimon bushes after having just passed the Bars leading into the Meadows. The others at the distance above mentioned from each other to the stooping red oak.

1.
Stake in, & levl. with the water

feet
I.
qrs.

2.
5 Rod
rise
1
0
2

3.
5 Do.
do.

10

4.
5 Do.
do.

10
3
by Bars.

5.
5 Do.
do.
1
5
1

6.
5 Do.

Fall
1
0
3

7.
5 Do.

Do.

5
3

8.
5 Do.
rise

10

9.
5 Do.

Fall

1

10.
5 Do.
rise

1

11.
5 Do.
rise

6

12.
5 Do.

Fall

9

13.
5 Do.

2
3

14.
5 Do.
rise

4
3

15.
5 Do.
rise

2
1

16.
5 Do.

Fall

4

17.
5 Do.

Fall

2
2

18.
5 Do.
rise

10
1

19.
5 Do.

Fall
2
3

20.
24 yds.
rise

1
2

      7 ditto
      }

      into Ditch

rise

2

Total Rise
7
3
2
Fall
5
4

difference

1
11
2

7
3
2

7
3
2

By this it appears that the ground from the level of the Water at the old dam by Wades Houses to the race by the Stooping red oak, is higher by two feet (wanting half an Inch) than the bottom of the race in its present filled up state, is, and that the ditch, or old race must be considerably sunk—the old dam considerably raised, and strengthned in order to throw the water into the New ditch—or a dam made higher up the run so as to gain a greater fall which of the three, may be most eligable as it will, without any great additional expence drain a good deal more of the Swamp. But if it should be thought more eligable—deepning the race and raising the dam will carry of the water from the Meadow below but then it may Drown the land above.

At Muddy hole the hands finished hoeing the drilled Corn, on Saturday last and on Monday & this day were employed in getting out Wheat.
In the evening Mr. Fitzhugh of Chatham and Mr. Robt. Randolph came here from Ravensworth.

   William Fitzhugh (1741–1809), of Chatham, owned Ravensworth in Fairfax County. He was married to Robert Randolph’s sister Anne. Robert Randolph (1760–1825), of Fauquier County, was a son of Peter and Mary Bolling Randolph of Chatsworth, Henrico County. During the Revolution Robert served as a lieutenant in the 3d Continental Dragoons and was wounded and taken prisoner at Tappan, N.Y., in Sept. 1778 (WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 1st ser., 7 [1898–99], 124; HEITMAN [2]Francis B. Heitman. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, April, 1775, to December, 1783. 1893. Rev. ed. Washington, D.C., 1914., 458).

Wednesday 9th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 79 at Night.
Wind Southerly—Morning a little lowering but clear afterwards till about 3 oclock when a cloud in the So. West produced a pretty heavy shower of rain attended with a good deal of wind in a short space. In the Night it again rained.
Began to sow Wheat at the Ferry and in the Neck yesterday—at the first in the cut on the flat adjoining the drilled Corn and at the other in the cut on the river.
Finished cleaning two stacks of wheat which had been tread out at Muddy hole. Each measured 24 bushels of light wheat weighing only  lbs. pr. Bushel.

Thursday 10th. Mercury at 73 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Wind at No. Et. with mists and very light showers till towards noon when the Sun came out. Warm till towards the afternoon when it grew cooler & pleasanter.
Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, and ferry Plantations—at the first of which Wheat Seeding will commence tomorrow. At the second things are not in order for it & at the third the sowing has been stopped by the heavy rain which fell yesterday.
Mr. Fitzhugh and Mr. Randolph went away after Breakfast.

Friday 11th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night.
Clear & pleasant with the wind at So. West.
Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. At the first, Sowing wheat begun this Morning. At the latter I agreed with one James Lawson who was to provide another hand to ditch for me in my mill swamp upon the following terms—viz.—to allow them every day they work—each 1 lb. of salt or 1½ of fresh meat pr. day—1¼ lb. of brown bread, 1 pint of spirits and a bottle of Milk—the bread to be baked at the House, & their Meat to be Cooked by Morris’s wife—and to allow them 16 d. pr. rod for ditches of 4 feet wide at top, 1 foot wide at bottom, and 2 feet deep; with 12 or 15 Inches footing and 2/. for ditches of 6 feet wide at top, 2 feet at bottom, and two ft. deep with equal footing.
On my return home found Mr. John Barnes and Doctr. Craik here—the last of whom returned to Alexandria. The other stayed all night.

   GW and James Lawson of Fairfax County signed an agreement on 14 Aug. in which GW hired the latter on a temporary basis as a ditcher. In November Lawson agreed to a year’s service at a salary of £31 10s. Virginia currency. Patrick Sheriden was probably the hand Lawson provided, as GW also engaged him in November, at eight dollars per month (agreements with Lawson, 14 Aug. and 18 Nov. 1786, DLC:GW). GW discharged Sheriden in Dec. 1786, and Lawson left Mount Vernon because of ill health in Sept. 1787 prior to the termination of his contract (see entry for 18 Dec. 1786; GW to Thomas Nelson, Jr., 3 Aug. 1788, DLC:GW).

Saturday 12th. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 74 at Night.
Warm, with a tolerably bri[s]k Southerly wind all day.
Mr. Barnes went away before Breakfast.
After which I rid to my Meadow in order to mark out a middle ditch, and to try how much the water within the Meadow is above

the water in the run below where the two courses of it unite, below the old Mill Seat, and which is found to be nearly 3 feet; estimating between the Surfaces of the two. It also appears that the Meadow, just by where a breach is made in the dam, is as low as any part in it reckoning from the Surface of the water (from the bottom of the bed of the run would undou[b]tedly be deeper) and that from this place to the Surface of the run at a turn of it by a spreading spanish bush the rise is about 14 Inches.
Thomas McCarty left this yesterday—it being found that he was unfit for a Household Steward.
Richard Burnet took his place on the wages of Thirty pounds pr. ann.

   Richard Burnet, whose tenure at Mount Vernon began in 1783, was a “House keeper,” or steward. He lived in Benjamin Dulany’s family before coming into GW’s employ (Lund Washington to GW, 12 Mar. 1783, ViMtvL). Lund described him as “clever in his Way, he is a very good Natured Peacable inoffensive well behaved man, and so far as we have been able to judge, will answer the purpose for which he was got, he certainly is a good cook, he appears to be careful active & Industrious, with respect to preservg., Pickling &c.—he is at no loss, but does these things very Ready & Well” (Lund Washington to GW, 1 Oct. 1783, ViMtvL). He seems to have left Mount Vernon briefly early in 1786 and returned in May (see entry for 29 May 1786). He is probably the same man who worked as butler or house steward at Mount Vernon from 1786 until 1789 under the name of Richard Burnet Walker (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 234). Walker may have been married to John Alton’s daughter Ann.

Sunday 13th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night.
Day lowering with the wind at East—now and then a little sprinkle of rain but not enough to wet the roots of any thing.
Mr. Shaw quitted this family to day.
Colo. Humphreys, Geo. Washington & wife went to Church at Alexandria to day & dined with Mr. Fendall. The first remained there all Night.

   William Shaw resigned to go to the West Indies (see entries for 2 July 1785 and 25 Aug. 1786).

Monday 14th. Mercury at 72 in the Morng.—73 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Day clear, and the wind fresh from the No. West, from Morn till eve.
Went by way of Muddy hole & Dogue run plantations to the Meadow, in my Mill Swamp, to set the Ditche[r]s to work, only one of whom appeared. About Noon he began on the side ditch,

East of the meadow. After doing this, and levelling part of the ground (with a Rafter level) along which the Ditch was to be cut I intended to have run a course or two of Fencing at Muddy hole but Meeting with Genl. Duplessis in the road who intended to Mt. Vernon but had lost his way I returned home with him where Colo. Humphreys had just arrived before us.

   Thomas Antoine Mauduit du Plessis (1753–1791), born in Hennebont, France, came to America in 1777 and served in the Continental Army before France officially joined the war, distinguishing himself at Brandywine, Germantown, Red Bank, and Monmouth. In 1780 he became senior adjutant of the artillery park with Rochambeau’s army. Mauduit returned to France after the war, but remained only temporarily. Writing to GW from New York on 20 July 1786, he reported that he had bought a large tract of land in Georgia and was looking forward to becoming an American citizen (DLC:GW). On 15 Aug. 1786, the day after Mauduit arrived at Mount Vernon, GW wrote to Theodorick Bland: “Nothing but cultivation is wanting. Our lot has certainly destined a good country for our inheritance. We begin already to attract the notice of foreigners of distinction. A French general officer whose name is Du Plessis is now at Mount Vernon on his way to Georgia, with a design to settle there as a farmer” (DLC:GW). In 1787, however, Mauduit returned to French service and was sent to Santo Domingo to command a regiment at Port-au-Prince, where he was killed in 1791 during the insurrection on the island.

Tuesday 15th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 65 at Night.
Cool, & for the most part of the day lowering, with but little wind.
At home all day. Doctr. Stuart & Mr. Keith, deputed by the Potomack Co. to present its thanks to the President & directors thereof came for that purpose, dined here & returned in the Afternoon.

   James Keith (1734–1824), the son of Rev. James and Mary Isham Randolph Keith, was a Hampshire County burgess 1761–62 and later served as clerk of Frederick County, Va., 1762–1824. After the Revolution Keith moved to Alexandria where he practiced law. In 1784 he served as mayor of the city.

Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—71 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Cloudy and lowering for the greater part of the day and in the night a good deal of rain fell—wind at So. West.
Colonels Fitzgerald and Lyles Mr. Brailsford (an English Gentleman) and Mr. Perrin came here to dinner & returned afterwards. In the afternoon a Major Freeman who looks after my concerns west of the Alligany Mountains came in and stayed all night.

Thursday 17th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Drizling morning with the Wind at So. West—Cloudy and misting at times all day.
About breakfast time my Baggage which had been left at Gilbert Simpsons arrived here.
Settled Accts. with Major Freeman and engaged him to continue his agency till he should remove from his present residency to Kentucke & then to put all my Bonds into the hands of Lawyer Smith to bring suits on.
At home all day—understood that the River cut in the Neck had been sowed with Wht.

Friday 18th. Mercury at 70 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 72 at Night.
Misty morning, with light showers of rain through the day—wind at No. East.
Rid to the plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole, and to the Mill—The hands at each place working on the Public roads. At Dogue Run the Plows & Hoes began to put in wheat on Wednesday last.
The ditcher at the Meadow wd. by noon have compleated about 6 rod of the 6 feet ditch which would be about 1 rod and half pr. day.
A Mr. Jno. Dance, recommended by Genl. Mifflin, & Willing Morris & Swanwick came here to offer his services to me as a Manager but not wanting such a person he returned after Dinner.

   working on the public roads: The public roads in Virginia were maintained by a system which had originated in England in the sixteenth century, and had changed little for over 200 years. Basically, the plan required that all tithables (males 16 years of age or over) were to be required to work on the public roads for a certain number of days each year, or to provide someone to work in their place. In Virginia the system was first administered at the parish level as it was in England, but soon came under the jurisdiction of the county courts. The greater use of roads into the back country after the Revolution had increased the difficulty of keeping up the roads, and in 1785 the Virginia legislature had passed new legislation designed to help solve the problems of the bad road conditions (see HENINGWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 12:75–80, 174–80).

   jno. dance: possibly the John Dance listed in the Pennsylvania census of 1800 from Bucks County. Thomas Mifflin was at this time speaker of the Pennsylvania legislature and Thomas Willing was president of the Bank of North America. Willing and Robert Morris, mercantile partners since 1757, added John Swanwick (1740–1798), of Philadelphia, to their firm in 1783. Swanwick had been a clerk in that countinghouse and a cashier in the office of finance under Morris during the Revolution.

Saturday 19th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Wind Easterly, misting, & lowering in the forenoon but clear afterwards.
General Duplessis left this by 5 Oclock in the Morning.
After breakfast I accompanied Colo. Humphreys by water to Alexandria and dined with him at Captn. Conways to whom he had been previously engaged. The Tools & Baggage of Mr. Rawlins’s workmen were carried to Alexandria in my Boat to day.

Sunday 20th. Mercury at 69 to day, Morng.—at 74 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Very little Wind at any period of the day—lowering for the most part and in the Morning a little misty.

Monday 21st. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—79 at Noon and 76 at Night.
Clear and warm with but little [wind].
Rid to the Plantations at Dogue Run Muddy hole & Ferry. At the 2d. the Hoes & Plows had just finished putting in wheat in the middle cut, which took  bushels to sow it; after which they were ordered to thin the drilled Turnips & to weed the Carrots.

Tuesday 22d. Mercury at 72 in the Morning—85 at Noon and 82 at Night.
Very warm with little or no wind & that Southerly.
In the evening clouds with appearances of much rain but not a great deal fell at any of my Plantations—more at Dogue run than elsewhere.
Finished sowing the middle cut in the large field in the Neck; to do which took  bushls. of grain, as it did  bushels to seed the river side cut.
Mrs. Jenifer came here to Dinner yesterday and Mr. Wm. Craik & his Sister (Miss Craik) came in the afternoon. Doctr. Craik came in before breakfast, after which he, his son & daughter went away.

Wednesday 23d. Mercury at 72 in the morning—86 at Noon and 84 at Night.
Quite calm and exceedingly Sultry. Very clear.
Rid to my Plantations at Muddy hole, dogue run and Ferry—also to the Mill.

Colo. Humphreys went away to day to take the stage at Alexandria for the No. Ward.
Mr. & Mrs. Fendall—Mr. Charles Lee Miss Flora & Miss Nancy Lee—Miss Countee & Hariot Washington came here to Dinner—all of whom went away after it, except the 4 last named.
Having wed the Carrots & thinned the Turnips at Muddy hole I directed the People to sow some wheat in the cut adjoining the middle one which had been put into brine.

   miss countee: probably a member of the Contee family in Prince George’s or Charles County, Md.

Thursday 24th. Mercury at 76 in the Morning—77 at Noon and 70 at Night.
Wind pretty fresh from the Northward all day with appearances of rain in the forenoon. In the afternoon there were slight showers, but scarcely more than would make the eves of the House run.
Mr. Shaw came down before dinner and stayed all night.
At home all day myself.

Friday 25th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night.
Lowering all day with slight showers about 1 Oclock; with distant thunder in the evening there were still greater appearances of a settled rain.
Mr. Shaw went to Alexandria after breakfast in order to proceed to the Northward to embark at Philadelphia for the West Inds.
I rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. At the first I marked out lines for a new partition of my fields and directed the best plowman at it to break up about 10 Acres of Pasture land which had produced Wheat the year of 1785, to try how it would yield (upon a single plowing) wheat next, sowed this fall.
At Dogue run Meadow (Mill Swamp) I marked the middle ditch for the hired men to work on, while the season was proper.
Mr. Rawlins from Baltim[or]e and Mr. Tharpe came here before dinner to measure the Work which had been done for me & to receive payment.

Saturday 26th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—77 at Noon And 73 at Night.
A great deal of rain, in many hard showers fell in the course of last night. Morning cloudy, but clear after wards and warm.
Rid to the Neck, Muddy hole, and Ferry plantations. At the two

first (as also at Dogue run Plantation) the Plows & Hoes were stopped by the earth being surcharged with water. At the ferry, the cut of Corn on the Hill having discharged the water more freely the People were putting in wheat there.

On my return home found Mr. Geo. Fitzhugh (son of Colo. Wm. Fitzhugh of Maryland) here. They dined, and returned to Alexandria afterwards as did the Miss Lees & Miss Countee this Morng.

   George Lee Mason Fitzhugh (1748–1836) was the son of Col. William Fitzhugh of Maryland by his first wife, Martha Lee Turberville Fitzhugh.

Sunday 27. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night.
Weather clear and very pleasant the wind being pretty fresh from the No. West point.
At home all day alone.

Monday 28th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night.
The forenoon clear, but lowering afterwards, with a slight sprinkling of rain about dusk. Wind at No. Et. all day.
Just after we had breakfasted, & my horse was at the door for me to ride, Colonel and Mrs. Rogers came in. When they sat down to breakfast which was prepared for them, I commenced my ride for

Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations also to my meadow on Dogue run and the Mill.
At Muddy hole and the ferry a plow at each begun this day to break ground, for the purpose of Sowing Wheat, or rye, or both as shall be thought best.
The Ditchers (for one was added to James Lawson to day) began the middle ditch in the meadow at the Mill this morning.
And my Carpenters began to take up the forebay at my Mill this Morning also.
Began to level the unfinished part of the lawn in front of my House.

   Nicholas Rogers (1753–1822), the son of Nicholas Rogers III, was a prominent Baltimore merchant. After graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1774, Nicholas traveled in Europe until the Revolution began, at which time he volunteered as aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. Tronson du Coudray and Baron de Kalb, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1780 he returned to Baltimore where he managed his estate, Druid Hill, and was active in politics. Three years later he married his cousin Eleanor Buchanan (1757–1812), the daughter of Lloyd Buchanan who died in 1761 (Md. Hist. Mag., 44 [1949], 192–95).

Tuesday 29th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 80 at Night.
Lowering Morning with drops of Rain. Clear afterwards till the afternoon, when a cloud arose in the No. West quarter and extending very wide emitted after dark a great deal of rain with much thunder and lightning—Wind very brisk from the So. West all day. In the evening it shifted more to the westward.
Plowed up the Cowpens on the left of the road in order to sow Turneps but was prevented by the rain—spreading stable dung on the poorest parts of my clover at home.
Thatching the Haystacks at the same place.
Taken with an Ague about 7 Oclock this Morning which being succeeded by a smart fever confined me to the House till evening. Had a slight fit of both on Sunday last but was not confined by them.
Colonel and Mrs. Rogers left this about 10 Oclock for George Town, on their way to Baltimore.
Lund Washington called in to inform me that Mr. William Triplet would be here to morrow to converse with me on the subject of renting Mrs. Frenchs Lands in this Neck now in the occupation of one Robinson.

   renting mrs. frenchs lands: Rather than taking a lump sum for relinquishing her life interest in the land, Penelope Manley French insisted that GW

pay her an annual rental for the use of the land during her lifetime (see entries for 9, 16 Sept. and 16 Oct. 1786). one robinson: John Robertson was the tenant on Mrs. French’s land. William Triplett, a relative of Mrs. French’s by marriage, was acting for her in her negotiations with GW.

Wednesday 30th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 62 at Night.
More rain fell last Night and this forenoon—Wind at East.
Prevented riding in the Morning by the weather. About Noon Mr. Willm. Triplet & Mr. L. Washington came in and after a great deal of conversation respecting the Renting of Mrs. French’s Land, and the purchase of Manley’s it ended in postponement till Friday for further consideration.

Thursday 31st. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 62 at Night.
More rain last Night & this forenoon—with heavy weather all day. Wind Easterly.
Siezed with an ague before Six Oclock this morning after having laboured under a fever all night.
Sent for Doctr. Craik who arrived just as we were setting down to dinner; who, when he thought my fever sufficiently abated, gave me a cathartick and directed the Bark to be applied in the Morning.

   bark: Quinine derived from the bark of various species of the cinchona tree was ground into a powder and taken to reduce fevers.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 2d. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 70 at Night. Foggy morning, but clear & warm afterwards with the wind at So. West. Kept close to the House to day, being my fit day in course least any exposure might bring it on. Happily missed it. Sowed Turnep Seed on the Cowpen ground which had been just plowed—harrowed them in, at the home house adjoining the clover. Doctr. Craik came here in the afternoon & stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 3d. Mercury at 70 in the morning—82 at Noon and 80 at Night. Very thick fog in the Morning but clear afterwards and warm with the wind at South. Majr. Washington & Mr. Lear went to Pohick church, dined at Colo. McCartys and returned afterwards. I rid by the Ferry to the Mill and back by way of exercise. Doctr. Craik returned after he had breakfasted to Alexandria.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 7th. Mercury at 64 in the Morning—71 at Noon and 67 at Night. Cool morning with the wind pretty fresh from the westward in the Morning and from the Eastward in the Evening. Mr. & Mrs. Fendall crossed the [river] early. I rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole Dogue run and Ferry. At the first Wheat had, this day, been sowed up to the Land in whch. the Plow was at work & harrowed in. The part next the hedge row (being the first plowed) had receivd a heavy rain since it was plowed which occasioned it not to harrow well but as the greater part of it was a slipe of Cowpens it is more than probable, nevertheless, that the best Wheat will grow there. The People making a fence round that field. At Dogue run the hands had been employed in putting in abt. 1½ bushls. of the Cape Wheat raised below my Stables. This was put into a well cowpened piece of ground (now in Corn) adjoining the meadow—the grass & weeds of which I had cut up & carried off the ground before the Seed was sowed. Getting out Rye at the Ferry to sow the Newly broken up grd. Began to Paper the yellow room this day—Majr. Washington &

Thos. Green the undertakers—by the directions I received with the Paper from England.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 10th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 63 at Night. Wind variable—sometimes at No. West & then at East—weather lowering all day and at times especially after noon dripping. Mr. & Mrs. Fendall went away after breakfast & Colo. Gilpin came in dined & returned in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 12th. Mercury at 61 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 68 at Night. A good deal of rain fell in the course of the Night and early this Morning. About 8 Oclock the clouds began to dispel and the Wind blowing fresh from the No. Wt. the weather cleared, the Sun came out and the day was pleasant & drying and towards evening cool. Mrs. Randolph, Miss Harrison, Mrs. G. Washington, Captn.

Singleton, & Mr. Lear went to Alexandria after breakfast & returned before dinner. I rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole and in the Neck. Began at the former to gather the tops & blades of the early corn in drills.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 13th. Mercury at 53 in the morning—64 at Noon and 60 at Night. Wind at No. West, raw and cold all day, but especially in the morning. Mrs. Randolph & her Children, Miss Harrison & Captn. Singleton left this after breakfast. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole also to the Mill. At the first, the people having finished sowing the cut on the hill with Wheat, were chopping this grain in in the drilled corn by the fish house among the Potatoes, which they did by shifting the tops of the vines from side to side as they hoed. At the other, or second place, the hands continued hoeing & plowing in Wheat in the Corn ground, tho’ it was wet & heavy. At the last Will (plowman) finished in the afternoon the 10 Acre piece of Wheat he began the 28th. Ulto. by which it appears he was 15 days accomplishing it; and had not plowed quite ¾ of an Acre a day altho’ the ground, except in one or two small spots which had been made wet & heavy by the Rains, was in as good order for plowing as were to be wished—better & much easier than if the weather had proved dry & the ground consequently hard. My Corn being out, or nearly so, I was obliged to have midlings & ship stuff mixed for bread for my white Servants and the latter & rye for my Negroes till the New Corn is ripe enough to pull.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 14th. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 56 at Night. Wind pretty fresh again today and cool. At home all day repeating dozes of Bark of which I took 4 with an interval of 2 hours between. After dinner Messrs. Thos. and Elliot Lee came in, as did Doctr. Craik by desire, on a visit to Betty—who had been struck with the palsey. The whole stayed all Night. Finished sowing Wheat and Timothy seed on the 10 acre piece of wheat at Muddy hole this day. And also finished that cut with rye adjoining the Meadow in the Neck it taking including the 2½ Bushels sowed in the piece

between the gate and the meadow  Bushels. On the small piece (sowed with 2½ Bushels) by mistake a bushel of Timothy seed nearly if [not] quite clean was sowed which was at least 6 times as much as ought to have been sown.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 15th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 64 at Night. Clear, calm, and very pleasant. After breakfast the two Mr. Lees and Doctr. Craik went away. I rid to Muddy hole & Neck Plantations. Treading out Wheat & rye at both retarded fodder getting at the first, & wheat Sowing at the other. Sent my Boat to Alexandria for Molasses & Coffee which had been sent to me from Surinam by a Mr. Branden of that place.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 18th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 71 at Night. Morning very rainy till about 9 Oclock altho the wind had got to No. Wt. Mr. Randolph, Lady & family and all the Gentlemen from Alexandria left this as soon as the weather cleared—the first on his return to Richmond. Rid to my Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, & Ferry. Plows, & sowing Wheat and other grain, stopped at all the places. In the Neck one of the Womn. & 2 girls began to gather Pease on Friday last. Nearly half on the vines appearing to be ripe. Getting in the Fodder or rather spreading it at Muddy hole being wet that it might dry.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 20th. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—73 at Noon and 70 at Night. Clear warm & pleasant all day—Wind Southerly. Rid to the Ferry, Muddy hole, & Dogue run. At the first the People had begun yesterday, & were at it to day, sowing wheat in the drilled Corn by the meadow—The ground especially in places too wet—At the next cutting down tops & securing the first cut fodder. At the latter all except 3 plows which were breaking up more of the lay land were getting fodder—it being too wet to sow wheat in corn ground. My Farmer sowed this day the lay land which had been broken up at this place by his own directions—part of which at the east end adjoining the Corn had been plowed  days. The other part at the West end also adjoining the Corn had been plowed  days. The first cont[ai]ns about  acres; the 2d. about . This wheat was put in in the following manner—viz.—sowed on the first plowing, which tho’ the ground was well enough broke the sod was not properly turned. In the roughest & heaviest part the Seedsman was followed by a heavy harrow the same way as the ground was plowed in the lighter part by two light harrows, side by side (fastened together) and the whole cross harrowed with the light double harrow to smooth & fill the hollows. Alongside this, I set two plows as above to break up about  acres more of the lay and directed it to be sowed as fast as the Lands were finished, & to receive the same harrowings to try (the Land being nearly of the same quality) wch. method will succeed best.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 21st. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night. But little wind, and Southerly, clear & warm. Rid to the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole, Dogue run, and Ferry—also to the ditchers. At the first, the flax which was put out to Dew rot was turned

yesterday and the Fodder which the people begun to get yesterday was discontinued to day in order to get out Oats. At the second finished sowing Rye on the Wheat Stubble—put in 15 Bushels on abt. 13 Acres—securing the Fodder which had been cut & pulled at this place—at the 3d. gathering Fodder & plowing the lay land and at the last threshing out Rye & putting in rye in the lay land.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 22d. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 76 at Night. Calm & very warm in the forenoon with appearances of Rain in the afternoon a little of which only fell. Went to Mr. Tripletts in my way to Alexandria, and got his conveyance before Evidences of Manleys land—after which in the same manner in Town, obtained the signatures to the Deed of Mr. & Mrs. Sanford who were necessarily made parties thereto. Did business with Colo. Simm & others and returned home in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 24th. Mercury at 55 in the Morning—59 at Noon and 57 at Night. Wind at No. West & weather clear & cool—Lund & Lawe. Washn. dined here. The Company mentioned above remained here all day & Night. In the afternoon Colo. Bassett, & his Son Burwell arrived—with servants and horses.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 25th. Mercury at 50 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 64 at Night. The Morning and day through was very pleasant, turning warm—the wind getting to the Southward. Sent Mr. Tucker & his Lady to Colchester. Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart & family together with Nelly Custis went up to Abingdon. In the afternoon the Revd. Mr. Bryn. Fairfax came in and stayed all Night. Began to day with my Waggon Horses at their leizure moments, to plow alternate Lands, at Dogue run, in the Lay Land adjoining the Wheat sowed in it to try the difference in Barley (if to be had) or Oats next spring between fall & spring plowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 26th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 68 at Night. Day clear & very pleasant, with the wind at South; towards evening however it began to lower. Mr. & Mrs. Lund Washington dined here & returned in the afternoon. At home all this day as I was yesterday. Mr. Bryan Fairfax went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 27th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 78 at Night. Clear, calm, and warm all day. Colo. Bassett his Son & George Washington took a ride to Alexandria. I rid into the Neck, by Muddy hole, to measure a piece of ground intended for Corn another year & to new model my fields.  Took up the flax that had been spread to rot at the latter place. Engaged at every plantation in gathering fodder. No plow going but at the ferry for Rye. Put my Rams to the Ewes this day.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 28th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—81 at Noon and 79 at Night. Calm, clear and warm; all day. Accompanied by Colo. Bassett, I rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run and Ferry. Employed in getting & securing Fodder at all of them. Only one Ditcher at work in my Mill swamp—the other left it (at least discontinued work) on Tuesday last.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 29th. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—82 at Noon and 80 at Night. Clear calm, and warm from Morn to evening. Colo. Bassett and Mrs. Washington made a mornings visit at Mr. Lund Washington’s. I rid by Muddy hole Plantation into the Neck. Employed at both in gathering & securing Fodder. The Flax which I thought had been taken up on Wednesday last was still on the ground. Directed it to be critically examined and taken up this afternoon if it should be found sufficiently rotted.   After dinner Majr. Washington and his wife set off for Fredericksburgh—intending as far as Belmont on Occoquan this afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 30th. Mercury at 67 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 75 at Night. Calm, clear and pleasant all the forenoon. In the afternoon a light breeze from the Eastward. Rid to the Mill, Meadow, and Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole. Gathering and securing fodder at all of them. At the last the whole would be gathered, but not secured this evening. Mr. Burwell Bassett Junr. left this after Breakfast. Mr. McQuir came here to Dinner & to invite me to the Accadamical commencement in Alexandria on Thursday next.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

[Sunday 1st.] Mercury at 68 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 76 at Night. The day clear and warm. Took an early Dinner and set out for Abingdon on my way to the Great Falls to meet the Directors of the Potomack Co. Left Doctr. Craik at Mt. Vernon who came in a few minutes before I set off.