Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Cool yet—Wind Eastwardly & Weather Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Still Cool with the Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Warmer, Wind getting Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear, Calm and Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Exceeding warm in the forenoon. Cooler afterwards the Wind rising from the Southwd.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Still Warm, with great appearances of Rain about two Oclock & all the Afternn. but only a few drops fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Great appearances of Rain all this day also with the Wind fresh from Southward—but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Cooler than the preceeding days. Wind Northerly and weather quite clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Warmer than Yesterday but not hot. Wind Southerly & Weather clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. But little Wind and very Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear and Warm with the Wind fresh from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Very warm—in the Evening great appearances of Rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 17. Still very Warm—in the Afternoon a very fine Rain all around but very little here.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Cloudy with little Showers about none here. Wind Westerly & not warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind Westerly with appearances of Clouds but no rain here.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind and that Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22d. Quite clear with very little Wind & something Warmer than the preceeding days.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear with the Wind Southerly & rather Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cloudy a little and something Cooler.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Cloudy with fine Rain till towards 2 Oclock—then close & constant for an hour or two which wet the Ground thoroughly.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear with but little [wind] & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind fresh all the Forenoon from the Southward. In the afternoon frequent Showers of Rain—some of them pretty heavy.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear and pleasant in the forenoon being neither warm nor Cool. In the afternoon Clouds but no Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Very little Wind and pretty warm in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear, and pleasant the Wind at East but not fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Wind at So. & pretty fresh Weather clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 4. Finished Sowing the uppermost Cut with wheat in the Neck—the Cut next Abn. Adams’s 64 Bls.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Dennis Curran, Cook Jack, Schomberg Arlington, Peter & London began to Work on my Mill Race, Scouring it out.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Also finished the Cut at Doeg Run about Jno. Gists Houses 53 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Sowed all the Ground at the Ferry on this side the Swamp 68½ Bushels put therein.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Finishd Sowing the large Cut with Wheat at Muddy hole, 70 Bushls. & began to Sow the Small Field adjoining.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Finishd that also and Sowd 14 Bushls. of Wheat in it. Finishd the third Cut with wheat at Doeg Run; to wit that next Marshalls Plantn. and Sowd 43 Bush. therein.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Finishd sowing the 4th. & last Cut with Wheat at Doeg Run Qr. 50 Bushls. which makes in all Sowed thereupon abt. 150 Acres 189 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1st. Rid to the Ferry & from thence to the Mill. In the Afternoon Doctr. Rumney came & lodgd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Rid to the Ditchers at the Mill the Doctr. going away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Rid to the Ditchers again.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Set out with Mrs. Washington & Miss Custis (attended by Mr. Custis) on a Visit to Mr. Boucher &ca. Breakfasted at Mr.

Wm. Digges’s (the Horses & carriage being got over the day before) and dined at Mr. Bouchers with Govr. Eden and Mr. Calvert & his two Daughters.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Dined at the same place & in the said Company. Mr. Calvert & Daughters went away in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Went to Church with Govr. Eden in his Phaeton.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Dined at Mr. Calverts (going with the Govr. in his Phaeton & calling at Mr. Sprigs). Mr. Igns. Digges & Family dind here also—we lodgd—they retd.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. At Mr. Calverts all day and Night. The Govr. returnd to Annapolis this Morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. At Mr. Digges’s all day. Miss Calverts came, & returnd in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 12. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, Mill & Ferry Plantations—also to the Ditchers in my Mill Race.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. At home all day; In the Afternoon Mr. Willis came & lodgd.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Set out for Fredericksburg about 7 Oclock; Dined & Fed my Horses at Peytons on Acquia & reachd Fredericksburg abt. Dusk. Lodgd at my Mothers.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Rid to my two Plantations on the River & returnd to Mr. Lewis’s to Dinner. Spent the Eveng. at Weedons.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Dined at my Brother Chas. & spent the Evening at Colo. Lewis’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Set of on my return home. Dined at Dumfries & reachd home abt. Dusk. Found Mrs. French & her Daughter & Miss Molly Manly here.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went on the same business again to day. Mrs. French &ca. went away after Breakfast. Colo. West Jno. West came home with me to Dinnr. & went afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Went up to Court at Alexa. Dined at Arrels, & supped at Arrels. Lodged at my own House.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. In Alexandria Still. Dined and Supped at Arrels.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. In Alexandria till the Afternoon. Dined at Arrels & came home with Colo. Fairfax & Val. Crawford.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Went with Colo. Fairfax to Survey Charles Wests land—wch. I finished a little before Night. Mr. Bryan Fairfax came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Rid with Mr. Bryan Fairfax to look at some Land of his on Pohick. Tom Gist came this aftern.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Went and resurveyed Wests Land—some mistake happening the first time. Mr. Gist & Mr. Vale. Crawford both went away this Morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Set of for Pohick Church and got almost there when word was brought that Mr. Massey was Sick. Returnd & found Nanny Peake & Biddy Fleming here who went away after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. At home all the forenoon. In the Afternoon Rid to the Ferry Plantn. the Mill and Dogue Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Went to Colo. Fairfax’s & Dined. Returnd in the Eveng. Mr. Fitzhugh—Mr. Brown & Mr. Burwell came here in the Afternoon.


Title: [September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1st. Rid to the Ferry & from thence to the Mill. In the Afternoon Doctr. Rumney came & lodgd all Night.

2. Rid to the Ditchers at the Mill the Doctr. going away after Breakfast.

3. Rid to the Ditchers again.

4. Set out with Mrs. Washington & Miss Custis (attended by Mr. Custis) on a Visit to Mr. Boucher &ca. Breakfasted at Mr.

Wm. Digges’s (the Horses & carriage being got over the day before) and dined at Mr. Bouchers with Govr. Eden and Mr. Calvert & his two Daughters.

   In June, Jonathan Boucher had married Eleanor Addison (1739–1784) of Oxon Hill, niece of his benefactor Rev. Henry Addison. The Washingtons had intended to pay their respects to the newlyweds earlier in the summer but had been prevented by “Harvest, Company, and one thing or another” (GW to Boucher, 18 Aug. 1772, DLC:GW). Benedict Calvert’s two eldest daughters were Elizabeth (Betsey) Calvert (born c.1752) and Eleanor (Nelly) Calvert (1754–1811). Unknown to the Washingtons or the Bouchers, Jacky Custis was at this time courting Nelly Calvert. When their romance did become known several months later, Boucher was shocked: “Never . . . had I the most distant Suspicion of any such Thing’s being in Agitation,” he wrote GW. “You will remember, I always thought, that He was enamoured of Miss Betsey [Calvert]; tho’ even in that, I suspected not, that there was any Likelihood of its be coming so serious, without my first knowing more of it” (8 April 1773, DLC:GW).

5. Dined at the same place & in the said Company. Mr. Calvert & Daughters went away in the Afternoon.

6. Went to Church with Govr. Eden in his Phaeton.

   St. Barnabas Church, located several miles southeast of Mount Lubentia, was the parish church for Jonathan Boucher’s parish of Queen Anne.

7. Dined at Mr. Calverts (going with the Govr. in his Phaeton & calling at Mr. Sprigs). Mr. Igns. Digges & Family dind here also—we lodgd—they retd.

   Osborne Sprigg, Jr., son of Osborne Sprigg (1707–1750) and Rachel Belt Sprigg, lived less than two miles northwest of Boucher’s house in Prince George’s County.

8. At Mr. Calverts all day and Night. The Govr. returnd to Annapolis this Morning.

9. Mr. Boucher who came to this place with us returnd home early this Morning. We dined at Mr. Igns. Digges with a good deal of Compa. among whom Mr. Calverts D[aughte]rs he himself going to Annapolis.

10. At Mr. Digges’s all day. Miss Calverts came, & returnd in the afternoon.

11. Returnd home by the way of Mr. William Digges’s where we Dined & where my Boats met us.

12. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, Mill & Ferry Plantations—also to the Ditchers in my Mill Race.

13. At home all day; In the Afternoon Mr. Willis came & lodgd.

14. Set out for Fredericksburg about 7 Oclock; Dined & Fed my Horses at Peytons on Acquia & reachd Fredericksburg abt. Dusk. Lodgd at my Mothers.

   GW’s purpose in going to Fredericksburg at this time was to meet with other veteran officers of the French and Indian War “to consider of a proper method to obtain the Lands granted” by the king’s Proclamation of 1763 (resolutions of veteran officers, 15 Sept. 1772, MoSW).

15. Rid to my two Plantations on the River & returnd to Mr. Lewis’s to Dinner. Spent the Eveng. at Weedons.

   GW was preparing to advertise Ferry Farm in the Virginia Gazette “To be sold, rented, or exchanged, for back lands in any of the northern counties” of Virginia (5 Nov. 1772). Fielding Lewis agreed to act as GW’s Fredericksburg agent in this business.

   Weedon’s tavern was probably the scene of today’s meeting of the veteran officers. Fourteen officers, including GW, were present and agreed to organize in order to push their claims. Each man was to be assessed £3 for every thousand acres claimed, and five officers living in the Fredericksburg neighborhood were appointed to disburse the collected money for surveying and other expenses (resolutions of veteran officers, 15 Sept. 1772, MoSW).

16. Dined at my Brother Chas. & spent the Evening at Colo. Lewis’s.

   GW today recorded paying his mother £30 cash in the presence of brother Charles (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 45).

17. Set of on my return home. Dined at Dumfries & reachd home abt. Dusk. Found Mrs. French & her Daughter & Miss Molly Manly here.

18. Went upon the Survey & Division of Wades Land between Barry & me. Colo. West, Mr. Jno. West, Captn. McCarty, & Captn. Darrel Commrs. came home with me as did Val. Crawford Mr. Geo. West & Chs. West.

   As ordered by the court on 20 Aug., George West divided the disputed tract on Dogue Creek, allotting 75 acres to GW and 118 acres to William Barry (GW’s list of quitrent lands for 1772, DLC:GW). GW received less land, probably because he received riparian rights on the creek as part of his share of the property. Almost 11 years later GW bought the 118 acres from William Barry and his wife, Sarah, for £150 Virginia currency (deed of William and Sarah Barry to GW, 16 June 1783, ViMtvL).

19. Went on the same business again to day. Mrs. French &ca. went away after Breakfast. Colo. West Jno. West came home with me to Dinnr. & went afterwds.

20. At home all day—Weather clear and Warm with but little Wind.

21. Went up to Court at Alexa. Dined at Arrels, & supped at Arrels. Lodged at my own House.

   The court met 21–24 Sept., and GW was present the first three days (Fairfax County Order Book for 1772–74, 118–31, Vi Microfilm).

22. In Alexandria Still. Dined and Supped at Arrels.

   GW today paid John West, Jr., £436 9s. for the land near Mount Vernon that West had previously agreed to sell to him (see main entry for 29 April 1769). Two separate tracts were specified in the deeds: the undisputed section which GW had been renting from West since 18 Sept. 1770, said here to contain 196 acres, and the six-acre strip over which West and John Posey had been contending. Having bought Posey’s rights to the strip 8 June 1772, GW with this purchase effectively ended the dispute between the two men and established his own unchallengeable right to that land (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 41; West’s deed to GW, 21 Sept. 1772, MoSW; excerpt from West’s deed to GW, 22 Sept. 1772, American Art Assoc. Catalogue, 21–22 Jan. 1926, Item 295).

23. In Alexandria till the Afternoon. Dined at Arrels & came home with Colo. Fairfax & Val. Crawford.

24. Went with Colo. Fairfax to Survey Charles Wests land—wch. I finished a little before Night. Mr. Bryan Fairfax came here.

   GW and Fairfax were surveying the 484 acres of land on Dogue Creek that West had previously promised to sell to GW (see main entry for 28 May 1772). This tract extended west from the creek into Belvoir Neck, and because GW was primarily interested in the eastern part next to his mill, he agreed to sell Fairfax 72 acres of the land in the neck at the same rate he was to buy it from West: 25s. an acre, a total price of £90 (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 63, 66). West deeded the full 484 acres to GW on 28 Oct. 1772, and within the next few months GW gave a deed to Fairfax for his 72 acres (deed of Charles West to GW, ViMtvL; General Index to Fairfax County Deeds for 1742–97, 218, Vi Microfilm).

25. Rid with Mr. Bryan Fairfax to look at some Land of his on Pohick. Tom Gist came this aftern.

   Bryan Fairfax was showing GW this 463½-acre tract on the South Run of Pohick Creek with the hope that GW would pay off his £160 bill of exchange in return for it, but GW declined to accept the deal (Fairfax to GW, 3 Aug. and 2 Dec. 1772, DLC:GW; see “Remarks” entry for 8 Jan. 1772). Fairfax later sold the tract to Alexander Henderson of nearby Colchester for £166 (deed of Fairfax to Henderson, 16–17 April 1773, Fairfax County Deeds, Book K–1, 433–54, Vi Microfilm).

   Christopher Gist had a brother Thomas and a son Thomas. This Tom Gist is probably the son, who lived in southwest Pennsylvania on the main route to the Ohio country (BAILEY [5]Kenneth P. Bailey. Christopher Gist: Colonial Frontiersman, Explorer, and Indian Agent. Hamden, Conn., 1976., 154).

26. Went and resurveyed Wests Land—some mistake happening the first time. Mr. Gist & Mr. Vale. Crawford both went away this Morning.

27. Set of for Pohick Church and got almost there when word was brought that Mr. Massey was Sick. Returnd & found Nanny Peake & Biddy Fleming here who went away after Dinner.

   Bridget Fleming was an unmarried daughter of Thomas Fleming of Alexandria (will of Thomas Fleming, 7 April 1786, Fairfax County Wills, Book E–1, 160, Vi Microfilm).

28. At home all the forenoon. In the Afternoon Rid to the Ferry Plantn. the Mill and Dogue Run.

29. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & Mill and to the Ditchers on the Race. In the Afternoon Prior Theobald came here and lodged.

30. Went to Colo. Fairfax’s & Dined. Returnd in the Eveng. Mr. Fitzhugh—Mr. Brown & Mr. Burwell came here in the Afternoon.

   Mr. Fitzhugh could be almost any of the many Mr. Fitzhughs living in Stafford or King George counties. Mr. Brown may be one of Dr. William Brown’s brothers. Mr. Burwell is probably one of the two younger Lewis Burwells. Colonel Burwell who came the next day is Robert Burwell, and John Fitzhugh is probably John Fitzhugh of Marmion, but may be John Fitzhugh (1727–1809) of Bell Air, Stafford County.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1st. Wind at No. Et. & Weather Cloudy but no Rain fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear, & Wind fresh from the No. West. Warm notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear & Warm, wind in the same place as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Very Sultry Morning with great appearances of Rain which fell in the Afternoon for abt. an .


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Cool & pleasant—Wind still Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Rather Warmer than yesterday, but clear with the Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Very Warm and Sultry all day and Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Frequent Shower’s about Noon. In the afternoon the Wind got to Northwest and blew fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear and Cool tho there was but little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Lowering for the most part of the day with but little wind moderately warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear and but little Wind—very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Misting & sometins Raining with but little Wind & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear forenoon and Warm with Showers in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Very Warm with the Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Misting in the Morning & for most part of the day, with a very heavy Rain & high wind in the Afternoon. Much Rain fell in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear and Cool. Wind at No. West—but not very fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25th. Still cool with the Wind Westerly and fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Same kind of day as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Very Cloudy & like for Rain all the forenoon with the Wind Northerly. In the Afternoon Misting.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Misting more or less all day with but little [wind] and not Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear, and Warm, and without any wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Much Such a day as Yesterdy.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1st. Finish’d Ditching at the Ferry Plantation—200 Rod in the whole.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 2. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole Plantation 123½ Bushls. in the whole. Finishd Sowing Wheat at the Ferry Plantation also 84 Bushls. on the other side the Swamp next Mrs. French’s making in all 152½ Bushl. Sowed there.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Compleated Sowing my Wheat at the Home House 66½ Bush. which makes in all this year

At Ho[me] House
66½
Bushls.

In the Neck
271

Muddy hole
123½

Ferry Plantn
152½

Doeg Run
189

Mill
89

         In all

891½
Bushls.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. This day agreed with my Overseer Powell, at the lower Plantation on Rappah. [Little Falls Quarter] to continue another year on the same lay as the last provided the Number of hands are not Increased—but, if I should add a hand or two more, & let him (as I am to do at any rate) choose 5 of the best Horses at that Quarter & the upper one [Ferry Farm] he is in that case to receive only the 8th. of what Corn, Wheat, & Tobo. he makes on the Plantation.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Danl. Minor and Joshua Key came here to work.


Title: Remarks & Occurs. in Septr. [1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1st. Finish’d Ditching at the Ferry Plantation—200 Rod in the whole.

2. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole Plantation 123½ Bushls. in the whole.
Finishd Sowing Wheat at the Ferry Plantation also 84 Bushls. on the other side the Swamp next Mrs. French’s making in all 152½ Bushl. Sowed there.

3. Sent Adam & Jupiter from Muddy hole to work on the Mill Race. Also Bath & Robin from Dogue Run there.

4. Began to Sow Wheat at the Home House.

9. Finishd Sowing Wheat at the Mill Plantation 89 Bushl.

10. Compleated Sowing my Wheat at the Home House 66½ Bush. which makes in all this year

At Ho[me] House
66½
Bushls.

In the Neck
271

Muddy hole
123½

Ferry Plantn
152½

Doeg Run
189

Mill
89

         In all

891½
Bushls.

17. This day agreed with my Overseer Powell, at the lower Plantation on Rappah. [Little Falls Quarter] to continue another year on the same lay as the last provided the Number of hands are not Increased—but, if I should add a hand or two more, & let him (as I am to do at any rate) choose 5 of the best Horses at that Quarter & the upper one [Ferry Farm] he is in that case to receive only the 8th. of what Corn, Wheat, & Tobo. he makes on the Plantation.

29. Danl. Minor and Joshua Key came here to work.

   Joshua Kay was a boat builder who during the next two years repaired GW’s fishing boats and ferryboat. He also built a boat with a 29–foot keel for GW (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 74).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 1st. At home all day with the Gentn. that came yesterday Afternoon—Colo. Burwell & Mr. Jno. Fitzhugh & Colo. Fairfax

came to Dinner. Colo. Burwell & Mr. Jno. Fitzhugh Stayd all Night. The other Gentn. went away after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Colo. Burwell & Mr. Fitzhugh went away after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. I rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run &ca. before Dinner, in the Afternoon went into the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Set of for the Annapolis Races. Dined and lodged at Mr. Boucher’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Reachd Annapolis. Dined at the Coffee House with the Jocky Club & lodgd at the Govrs. after going to the Play.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Dined at Majr. Jenifers—went to the Ball and Suppd at the Govrs.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 7. Dined at the Govrs. and went to the Play afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Dined at Colo. Loyds and went to the Play. From thence early to my Lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Dined at Mr. Ridouts. Went to the Play & to the Govrs. to Supper.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10th. Dined with Mr. Carroll of Carrollton & set out for Mr. Bouchers which place I arrivd at abt. 8 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Got home to a late Dinner. Jno. Parke Custis came with me found Mrs. Barnes there.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Rid to the Ferry, Mill, Doeg Run & Muddy hole Plantns. before Dinner & went into the Neck to run some lines afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went up to Alexandria & returnd home to Dinner. C[aptain] Posey came.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Rid to the Mill &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. They went away after Breakfast. I rid out in the Afternoon to the Mill & Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 18. Dined at Belvoir & returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went up to Court at Alexa. Returnd in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Rid to the Ferry, Mill, Doeg Run & Muddy hole Plantns.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Reachd Fredericksburg to Dinner. Lodgd at Colo. Lewis’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Dined at Caroline Court House and reachd Hubbards in the Afternoon. Founderd two of my Horses.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Reachd Todds Bridge to Breakfast & Colo. Bassets in the Evening. Captn. Crawford came there to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Assisting Crawford with his Surveys.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. About the same business day also.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. On the same business.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Still employed in the same Work.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Ditto—Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Ditto—Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Went a fox hunting & killed a Fox in Compa. with sevl. others.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Very pleasant & warm without any Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Such a day as yesterday but rather Warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Very lowering with Mists now and then but no Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Misting, & sometimes Raining in the forenoon with the wind Eastwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Much such a day as yesterday. Misting more or less all day—wind in the same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Misting & sometimes Raining pretty smartly.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly but neither cold nor very fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Very pleasant again with but little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Cloudy & lowering with the wind westerly but no Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Very foggy Morning but clear afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13th. Clear & very warm with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Much such a day as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear, Calm & pleasant with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Very pleasant & clear with but very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Just such a day as Yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Such a day as yesterday. Wind a little fresher from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 19. Warm & pleasant with but little Wind. In the Eveng. a black Cloud with thunder & Lightning but little Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Warm & pleasant in the Afternoon another black Cloud with Thunder—Lightning & Rain—which cleard away with a high No. West Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear with the Wind high from the No. West all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Calm and pleasant being moderately Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear, calm, and very Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Exceeding warm with very little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Still Warm, but Cloudy with Rain at Night and the Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Much such a day as the preceeding one.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Not much unlike yesterday. Wind in the same Quarter & now & then Raining.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Still lowering with the Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Clear, & pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 7. Finished getting and Securing my Fodder at the Ferry Plantn.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Turnd the Water into My Mill Race this day finishing cleansing it out.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 12. Finished Do. at Muddy hole & Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Also finishd Do. in the Neck.


Title: Remarks & Occurs. in Octr. [1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 7. Finished getting and Securing my Fodder at the Ferry Plantn.

8. Turnd the Water into My Mill Race this day finishing cleansing it out.

10. Finishd Securing my Fodder at the Mill.

12. Finished Do. at Muddy hole & Doeg Run.

13. Also finishd Do. in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Novr. 1st. At Colo. Bassetts all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Dined with the Council. Spent the Evening in my own Room.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Took a Cold Cut at Southalls & went up to Colo. Bassetts.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Busy with Captn. Crawford all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. At Colo. Bassetts all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Ditto—Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Rid up with Mr. Hill to Rockahock, & Plantations, in New Kent; & returnd, after Dining with Mrs. Chamberlayne, to Colo. Bassetts at Night. Mr. Custis went with me.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Went with Mr. Custis over to Claibornes & returnd to Dinnr.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Went to Williamsburg with Mrs. Washington Mr. & Miss Custis lodged at Mrs. Amblers also dined there & spent the evening at Mrs. Vobes.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13th. Dined at Mrs. Dawsons & went to a Ball at the Apollo [Room, Raleigh Tavern] in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Dined with Mrs. Ambler & Spent the Evening at the Coffee House.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Dined at Mrs. Amblers & Spent the Evening there also after setting a while with Colo. Bassett at Mrs. Dawsons.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Rid to the Plantations under Mr. Hill near Town & dined at Southalls.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. In my own Room setling Mr. Hills Accts. all Dinner time—but spent the Evening at Anderson’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Dined at Mrs. Dawson’s and Spent the Evening in my own Room a writing.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Set out about two Clock for Colo. Bassetts.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Breakfasted at Hubbards, and reachd Fredericksburg about 4 Oclock. Lodgd at Colo. Lewis’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. On the same business all day and at the same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Rid over the River to my Plantation’s & examind the Land at the upper place.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Set of from Fredericksburg & reachd Colo. Henry Lees where we lodged.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Stayed at Colo. Lees all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Reachd home to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. At home all day—writing.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Novr. 1. Clear, very Warm, & but little wind—that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear & warm in the forenoon with Rain in the Afternoon, after which clear & Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Rather Warmer than Yesterday with some appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Very Cool Wind fresh from the Westward & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Lowering all day, with a little Rain now and then.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Clear and Pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Wind Easterly & pretty fresh in the forenoon but calm & warm also clear in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear & warm in the forenoon but cool, cloudy & a good deal of Rain afterwards with high So. Westerly Winds.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. A little Rain, with flying Clouds & high Wind from the Westward.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14th. Clear & somewhat Cool Wind still pretty fresh from the same quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Cold & raw wind getting to the Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Very Cold, with appearances of falling Weather, wind at Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind fresh from the same Point and very cold but clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 18. Very hard frost, but pleasant afterwards, with the Wind moderate, & more Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Very pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Pleasant forenoon & clear after the fog broke away which was very heavy.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Foggy Morning, but clear and pleasant afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Cloudy, with Rain more or less all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Weather as the day before but the Rain rather more constt.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Still Raining more or less Wind in the same Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear Morning but Cloudy and unsettled afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear and very pleasant with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Windy and Cold.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Novr. [1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Novr. 1. Clear, very Warm, & but little wind—that Southerly.

2. Clear & warm in the forenoon with Rain in the Afternoon, after which clear & Cool.

3. Clear & pleasant, being somewhat cool Wind Westerly.

4. Rather Warmer than Yesterday with some appearances of Rain.

5. Very Cool Wind fresh from the Westward & clear.

6. Clear, but not so cool as yesterday. Evening a little lowerg.

7. Lowering all day, with a little Rain now and then.

8. Still lowering in the forenoon & warm—clear afterwards.

9. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.

10. Clear and Pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.

11. Wind Easterly & pretty fresh in the forenoon but calm & warm also clear in the forenoon.

12. Clear & warm in the forenoon but cool, cloudy & a good deal of Rain afterwards with high So. Westerly Winds.

13. A little Rain, with flying Clouds & high Wind from the Westward.

14th. Clear & somewhat Cool Wind still pretty fresh from the same quarter.

15. Cold & raw wind getting to the Northwest.

16. Very Cold, with appearances of falling Weather, wind at Northwest.

17. Wind fresh from the same Point and very cold but clear.

18. Very hard frost, but pleasant afterwards, with the Wind moderate, & more Southerly.

19. Very pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.

20. Pleasant forenoon & clear after the fog broke away which was very heavy.

21. Foggy Morning, but clear and pleasant afterwards.

22. Cloudy, with Rain more or less all day.

23. Much such a day as yesterday Wind being at No. Et. all day.

24. Weather as the day before but the Rain rather more constt.

25. Still Raining more or less Wind in the same Quarter.

26. Clear Morning but Cloudy and unsettled afterwards.

27. Clear and very pleasant with but little Wind.

28. Remarkably pleasant & Calm in the forenoon—but lowering before Sunset, with the Wind spring[ing] up fresh from South, & Shifting more Easterly. In the Night blew a mere hurricane & was attended by a good deal of Rain.

29. Clear after the Morning with the Wind high—from the South & West.

30. Windy and Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. At home all day a Writing to Williamsburg.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. At home all day. Messrs. Dulany & Tilghman came at Dinner time, & stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 3. Went a Fox hunting, found one in Mr. G. Alexanders Pocoson & killd it after 3 hours chase. In the Afternoon Mr. B. Fairfax and Mr. Wagener came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Went a hunting again but found nothing. Mr. Wagener & Messrs. Tilghman & Dulany went home in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Went a hunting with Mr. Fairfax. Found a Fox between Edd. William’s & Johnsons which we lost after a Chase of two hours.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Mr. Fairfax went away after breakfast, & Mr. Jno. Fitzhugh of Marmion came in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Rid over Muddy hole, Doeg Run, & Mill Plantations before Dinner. In the Eveng. my Brothrs. Jno. & Chas. & Mr. Jno. Smith came.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Went into the Neck abt. 11 Oclock a fox hunting. Touchd the Drag where we found the last but did not move the Fox.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. My Brothr. Jno. set of homewards Mr. Smith to Frederick. I accompanied him as far as Alexa. from whence I returnd in the Afternoon—Mr. Dulany—Doctr. Brown & Mr. Brown with me.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Went into the Neck on foot crossing the Creek with a Gun. Captn. McCarty & his Bro. Thadeus, & a Dutch Minister Dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Went a Hunting & found two Foxes both of which were killd, but only one got, the Dogs running out of hearg. with the 2d.; found these Foxes on the Hills by Isaac Gates’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Mr. Val. Crawford who came yesterday went away this day. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

18 Mr. Boucher, his Wife & Sister came to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Mr. William Digges & his four Daughters came as also a Mr. B. Buckner who bot. Flour of me.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 21. The whole went over to Mr. Digges’s. Mrs. Washington, myself &ca. went with them & stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Went a Hunting but found nothing. In the Evening Colo. Fairfax came.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Went to Pohick Church and returnd to Dinner. Found Mr. Tilghman here.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26th. At home all day with Mr. Tilghman.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. At home all day. Mr. Tilghman went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Doctr. Rumney stayed all day & Night. To Dinner Came Mr. Wren, Mr. Carr, & Mr. Addison the former of whom went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Went a Hunting but found nothing. Messrs. Addison & Carr dining here—as did Mr. Manley.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Mr. Magowan came here Yesterday in the Afternoon & this day with Messrs. Carr & Addison went up after Dinner to Alexa.


Title: [December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. At home all day a Writing to Williamsburg.

   Most of GW’s two days of writing was in regard to the bounty lands, including his final reports sent to the council in Williamsburg.

2. At home all day. Messrs. Dulany & Tilghman came at Dinner time, & stayd all Night.

3. Went a Fox hunting, found one in Mr. G. Alexanders Pocoson & killd it after 3 hours chase. In the Afternoon Mr. B. Fairfax and Mr. Wagener came here.

4. Went a hunting again but found nothing. Mr. Wagener & Messrs. Tilghman & Dulany went home in the Afternoon.

5. Went a hunting with Mr. Fairfax. Found a Fox between Edd. William’s & Johnsons which we lost after a Chase of two hours.

   Edward Williams became GW’s tenant in 1760 when GW bought the Clifton’s Neck land. Williams was still there in 1786, when he was listed for tax purposes as having 12 whites and no blacks (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 113; General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 19; HEADS OF FAMILIES, VAHeads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia; Records of the State Enumerations, 1782 to 1785. 1908. Reprint. Baltimore, 1970.., 17).

6. Mr. Fairfax went away after breakfast, & Mr. Jno. Fitzhugh of Marmion came in the Afternoon.

   jno. fitzhugh of marmion: possibly the son of William Fitzhugh (1725–1791) of Marmion in the old Chotank neighborhood. Another John Fitzhugh, son of Maj. John Fitzhugh (d. 1733) of Marmion, had died earlier in the year.

7. Mr. Fitzhugh went away abt. 12 Oclock. I rid to the Ferry Plantation before Dinner.

8. Rid over Muddy hole, Doeg Run, & Mill Plantations before Dinner. In the Eveng. my Brothrs. Jno. & Chas. & Mr. Jno. Smith came.

   John Smith is probably John Smith (1750–1836), son of John Smith of Cabin Point. By this time the elder Smith’s lands, Fleets Bay plantation in Northumberland County and a large tract in Gloucester County, had been sold to satisfy the enormous debts of his estate, and in 1773 young John, with his brother Edward Smith (1752–1826), moved to Frederick County, settling near Winchester (Va. Gaz., P&D, 6 Aug. 1772; TYLER [2]Lyon G. Tyler. “The Smiths of Virginia.” William and Mary Quarterly, 1st ser., 4 (1895–96): 46–52, 95–103, 183–87., 95–100).

9. Went into the Neck abt. 11 Oclock a fox hunting. Touchd the Drag where we found the last but did not move the Fox.

10. At home all day.

11. My Brothr. Jno. set of homewards Mr. Smith to Frederick. I accompanied him as far as Alexa. from whence I returnd in the Afternoon—Mr. Dulany—Doctr. Brown & Mr. Brown with me.

12. Doctr. Brown went away abt. 12 Oclock & Mr. Brown after Dinner.

13. My Brother Chas. returnd home very Early this Morning and Mr. Dulany went up to Alexa. after Breakfast.

14. Went into the Neck on foot crossing the Creek with a Gun. Captn. McCarty & his Bro. Thadeus, & a Dutch Minister Dined here.

   Thaddeus McCarty (c.1737–1812), of Loudoun County, was the youngest of the three sons of Denis and Sarah Ball McCarty of Cedar Grove, and hence a brother of GW’s neighbor Capt. Daniel McCarty. Thaddeus married Sarah Elizabeth Richardson in 1768.

15. Went a Hunting & found two Foxes both of which were killd, but only one got, the Dogs running out of hearg. with the 2d.; found these Foxes on the Hills by Isaac Gates’s.

   The Isaac Gates family lived southwest of Mount Vernon. Gates occasionally used the services of GW’s blacksmith and weavers, paying for them with chickens and eggs. In 1782 he was listed for tax purposes as having six whites and no blacks (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 2:89, n.1; General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 87; HEADS OF FAMILIES, VAHeads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia; Records of the State Enumerations, 1782 to 1785. 1908. Reprint. Baltimore, 1970.., 18).

16. Mr. Val. Crawford who came yesterday went away this day. At home all day.

17. Govr. Eden & Mr. Custis came here to Dinner & Mr. Geo. Digges after Dinner.

18 Mr. Boucher, his Wife & Sister came to Dinner.

   GW means Boucher’s unmarried sister Jane (1742–1794), who lived in her brother’s household (BOUCHER [1]Jonathan Bouchier, ed. Reminiscences of an American Loyalist, 1738–1789: Being the Autobiography of The Revd Jonathan Boucher, Rector of Annapolis in Maryland and afterwards Vicar of Epsom, Surrey, England. Boston, 1925., 200).

19. Mr. William Digges & his four Daughters came as also a Mr. B. Buckner who bot. Flour of me.

   William Digges’s will written in 1780 mentions four daughters: Theresa, Ann, Jane, and Elizabeth. Two other daughters are known: Susannah who died young and Mary who died single (BOWIEEffie Gwynn Bowie. Across the Years in Prince George’s County: A Genealogical and Biographical History of Some Prince George’s County, Maryland and Allied Families. Richmond, Va., 1947., 255; RAMSBURGHEdith Roberts Ramsburgh. “Sir Dudley Digges, His English Ancestry and the Digges Line in America.” Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine 57 (1923): 125–39., 130–31). Baldwin Mathews Buckner (d. 1778) and his brother John Buckner (d. 1790), both of Gloucester County, were in partnership in the West Indies trade. Their younger brother Mordecai Buckner of Spotsylvania County, had served under GW in the Virginia Regiment (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 65; BUCKNERSWilliam Armstrong Crozier, ed. The Buckners of Virginia and Allied Families of Strother and Ashby. New York, 1907., 154–58).

20. All the above Company here all day.

21. The whole went over to Mr. Digges’s. Mrs. Washington, myself &ca. went with them & stayd all Night.

   Today William Shaw inspected 300 barrels of flour for GW and was credited with £1 17s. 6d. in fees (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 58).

22. Returnd home early in the Morning, & went up to Alexa. to Court. Came back in the Aftern.

   The court met 21–22 Dec., but GW was not recorded present. On the previous day the justices had registered GW’s brand for his flour, “g: washington,” in accordance with the act passed during the last session of the assembly (Fairfax County Order Book for 1772–74, 158–65, Vi Microfilm; see main entry for 3 April 1772).

23. Went a Hunting but found nothing. In the Evening Colo. Fairfax came.

   On this day Baldwin Buckner, on behalf of himself and his brother John, contracted with GW to buy 300 barrels of “Superfine Flour & Cask” for £300 13s., to be paid the following April at the meeting of merchants in Williamsburg (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 65).

24. At home all day. After breakfast Mr. Buckner went away as Colo. Fairfax did after Dinr.

25. Went to Pohick Church and returnd to Dinner. Found Mr. Tilghman here.

26th. At home all day with Mr. Tilghman.

27. At home all day. Mr. Tilghman went away after Breakfast.

28. Went out a hunting. Found a fox back of Captn. Darrells & killd it. Doctr. Rumney & a Lieutt. Winslow Dind here the former stayd all Night.

29. Doctr. Rumney stayed all day & Night. To Dinner Came Mr. Wren, Mr. Carr, & Mr. Addison the former of whom went away.

   Mr. Wren is probably James Wren (d. 1808) of Fairfax County, who supplied the building plans for Pohick Church (SLAUGHTER [1]Philip Slaughter. The History of Truro Parish in Virginia. Edited by Edward L. Goodwin. Philadelphia, 1908., 70). Mr. Carr is probably either Overton Carr or his father, John Carr (1706–1778), of Bear Castle, Louisa County. Mr. Addison may be Rev. Henry Addison or any one of the three sons of his brother John Addison (1713–1764) of Oxon Hill: Thomas, John, or Anthony Addison.

30. Went a Hunting but found nothing. Messrs. Addison & Carr dining here—as did Mr. Manley.

31. Mr. Magowan came here Yesterday in the Afternoon & this day with Messrs. Carr & Addison went up after Dinner to Alexa.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. Cloudy & like for Falling weather; being also Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear in the forenoon but Cloudy & cold afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear & calm in the forenoon but Wind fresh from the Northward abt. Midday—which died away in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Calm & Cold Morning, & very Cold day. Wind hard from the Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Very like for Snow in the Morning with the Wind at South. Afternoon clear but still Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear & warm with the Wind in the same Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. The forenoon quite calm, warm & pleasant. Afternoon a little more Windy from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Much such a day as yesterday being very pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Very pleasant, but somewhat Cooler. Wind Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear and very pleasant, with little or no wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Tolerably, but a little Cloudy in the forenoon & calm, wind fresh from the Eastward in the Afternoon with Rain all Nig[ht].


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Raining in the forenoon but clear afterwards & pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Misting Raining, & Foggy all day with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Much such a day as yesterday, but not quite so wet & bad.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Exceeding pleasant with but little Wind from the Southwd. & Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Wind Southerly and pleasant, being clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. But little Wind, & that Easterly with Rain more or less all Day.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Moderate, & tolerably clear in the forenoon. Afternoon Lowering with a good deal of Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. More or less Rain all day with the Wind Easterly.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Raining this day also with variable Winds which sometimes was pretty fresh from the No. West.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Dec. [1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. Cloudy & like for Falling weather; being also Cold.

2. Clear in the forenoon but Cloudy & cold afterwards.

3. Clear & calm in the forenoon but Wind fresh from the Northward abt. Midday—which died away in the Afternoon.

4. Clear and Calm in the Morning, but Winday afterwards from the Northwest.

5. Calm & Cold Morning, & very Cold day. Wind hard from the Northwest.

6. Very like for Snow in the Morning with the Wind at South. Afternoon clear but still Cold.

7. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.

8. Clear & warm with the Wind in the same Quarter.

9. The forenoon quite calm, warm & pleasant. Afternoon a little more Windy from the Southward.

10. Much such a day as yesterday being very pleasant.

11. Very pleasant, but somewhat Cooler. Wind Northwardly.

12. Clear, Calm, & very pleasant.

13. Wind pretty fresh from the Southwest & very lowering.

14. Clear and very pleasant, with little or no wind & that Southerly.

15. Tolerably, but a little Cloudy in the forenoon & calm, wind fresh from the Eastward in the Afternoon with Rain all Nig[ht].

16. Raining in the forenoon but clear afterwards & pleasant.

17. Very pleasant, being Mild and little Wind.

18. Wind Eastwardly & Raining more or less all day.

19. Misting Raining, & Foggy all day with but little Wind.

20. Much such a day as yesterday, but not quite so wet & bad.

21. Exceeding pleasant with but little Wind from the Southwd. & Clear.

22. Wind Southerly and pleasant, being clear.

23. Wind pretty fresh from the Northwest but not Cold.

24. But little Wind, & that Easterly with Rain more or less all Day.

25. Moderate, & tolerably clear in the forenoon. Afternoon Lowering with a good deal of Rain in the Night.

26. More or less Rain all day with the Wind Easterly.

27. Raining this day also with variable Winds which sometimes was pretty fresh from the No. West.

28. Calm and very pleasant Morning. Wind pretty fresh from the So. West afterwards.

29. Clear, Calm, & pleasant all day with but little Wind.

30. Calm and pleasant in the Morning. A good deal of Wind from the Westward afterwards.

31. Calm, Clear, & pleasant all day.


Title: [undated diary entry]
From: Washington, George
To:

The following is the opinion of the late Lord Chanceller Cambden, and Chanceller York, on Titles derivd by the Kings Subjects from the Indians or Natives. “In respect to such places as have been, or shall be acquired by Treaty or Grant from any of the Indian Princes, or Governments, your Majestys Letters Patents are not necessary, the Property of the Soil, vesting in the Grantee by the Indian Grants, Subject only to your Majestys Right of Sovereignty over the Settlements, and over the Inhabitants as English Subjects who carry with them, your Majestys Laws wherever they form Colonies, and receive your Majestys Protection, by Virtue of your Royal Chartres.”


Title: [undated diary entry]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sales of the Pews in Alexandria Church—to whom—&ca.

Nos.

Purchasers
Price

4

Mr. Townsd. Dade
£28.

5

Colo. G. Washington
36.10

13

Mr. Robt. Adam
30.

14

Mr. Robt. Alexander
30.10

15

Mr. Dalton
20.

18

Mr. Thos. Fleming
21.5

19

Colo. Carlyle
30.

20

Mr. Wm. Ramsay
33.

28

Messrs. Jno. Muir &ca.
36.5

29

Mr. Jno. West Junr.
33.

£298.10

Average price
£29.17


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. 1st. Dined at Belvoir and returnd in the Afternoon. Found Mr. Grafton Dulany, Mr. Ben. Gallaway, Mr. Sam Hanson & Mr. Magowan and Doctr. Rumney here.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast. Lord Sterling & Captn. Foy with Colo. Fairfax came to Dinner. The latter went away afterwards. The other Gentlemen stayd.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. In the Afternoon Mr. Ben Dulany came here. The other Gentlemen continued all day here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Lord Sterling & Captn. Foy set out after Breakfast for the Northward thro Alexa. to which place I accompanied them. The two Dulanys & Mr. Hanson allso went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Mr. Gallaway went away. Mr. Magowan & I went a Hunting. Found a fox on Ackatinck just by Lawson Parkers and lost it. In the Afternoon Mr. Dulany came.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. All the above Company went away before Dinner except Doctr. Rumney & Mr. Magowan who both went afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. I rid to Muddy hole, & into the Neck before Dinner. Captn. McCarty Dined here, & Mr. Magowan lodged.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 9. Mr. Magowan returnd to Maryland. I went a Hunting. Found a Fox near Timber Landing & lost it near Mrs. French’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Went a Hunting with the above Gentlemen. Found a Fox by Gilbt. Simpsons & killd him by Mrs. Frenchs. Mr. P. Pendleton & Mr. M. Campbell dined & lodgd here the others went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. At home all day, Mr. Peake dind here, who with Mr. Campbell went away afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went into the Neck in the forenoon to lay of a Fence at Hallerys.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Mr. Pendleton went away after Breakfast. I rid up to Alexandria. Dind with Mr. Robt. Adam & returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Rid to the Ferry, Mill, & Mill Plantation before Dinner writing afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Rid into the Neck, to the Mill and Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. At home all day alone. Mrs. Barnes went up to Alexandria.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Ditto. Ditto. In the Afternoon Doctr. Rumney came & stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. At Home all day, Doctr. Rumney continuing here.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast. I went by the Mill to Doeg Run Plantation to lay of a fence there. Returnd to Dinner—Abedo. Adams here.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Went a hunting, & found a Fox upon the Hills by Edd. Wathings which run near 4 hours & was either killd or treed—but the wind blewing fresh we were thrown out & coud only judge from Circumstances. Came home to Dinner & found Doctr. Rumney here who stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. At home all day Doctr. Rumney continuing here this day also.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Went a Fox hunting with Lund Washington. Took the drag of a Fox by Isaac Gates, & carrd. it tolerably well to the old Glebe then touchd now & then upon a Cold Scent till we came into Colo. Fairfax’s Neck where we found about half after three upon the Hills just above Accotinck Creek. After running till quite Dark took of the Dogs & came home.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. At home all day alone.


Title: [January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. 1st. Dined at Belvoir and returnd in the Afternoon. Found Mr. Grafton Dulany, Mr. Ben. Gallaway, Mr. Sam Hanson & Mr. Magowan and Doctr. Rumney here.

   Grafton Dulany, son of Mary Grafton and Walter Dulany, the commissary general for Maryland, was a student at Jonathan Boucher’s school in Annapolis. He became a Loyalist in the Revolution and served with the Maryland Loyalist Battalion in Florida, where he died in 1778 (LANDAubrey C. Land. The Dulanys of Maryland: A Biographical Study of Daniel Dulany, the Elder (1685–1753) and Daniel Dulany, the Younger (1722–1797). Baltimore, 1955., 325). Benjamin Galloway, son of Samuel Galloway of Tulip Hill, Anne Arundel County, Md., lived at Hagerstown, Md. Samuel Hanson, son of Samuel Hanson of Green Hill (b. 1719) and Ann Hawkins Hanson, usually called himself Samuel Hanson of Samuel, in order to distingush himself from several cousins of the same name. He may have been a student at Boucher’s school with Jacky Custis and Grafton Dulany.

2. Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast. Lord Sterling & Captn. Foy with Colo. Fairfax came to Dinner. The latter went away afterwards. The other Gentlemen stayd.

   Capt. Edward Foy was secretary to Lord Dunmore. William Alexander (1726–1783) of New Jersey called himself Lord Stirling, although his claim to a Scottish earldom was disallowed by the House of Commons. He had served as aide and secretary to Gov. William Shirley of Massachusetts during the French and Indian War, and in the coming Revolution he was to serve

throughout the war as a major general in the Continental Army. Stirling was a man of wealth and social prominence, but for several years he had overextended himself and was currently attempting to solve his financial difficulties by holding a lottery. It was to promote this “Delaware Lottery” that he visited Mount Vernon. He put 60 tickets into GW’s hands, 6 of which GW kept himself, 12 were given to Walter Magowan to sell, and 42 were sent, by Stirling’s instructions, to James Cocke, mayor of Williamsburg (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 83). The venture, however, was a failure, and Stirling eventually refunded the money to those who had bought tickets. George William Fairfax had written GW earlier to make arrangements for Stirling’s and Foy’s visit (GW to Fairfax, 19 Jan. 1773, DLC:GW).

3. In the Afternoon Mr. Ben Dulany came here. The other Gentlemen continued all day here.

4. Lord Sterling & Captn. Foy set out after Breakfast for the Northward thro Alexa. to which place I accompanied them. The two Dulanys & Mr. Hanson allso went away after Breakfast.

5. Mr. Gallaway went away. Mr. Magowan & I went a Hunting. Found a fox on Ackatinck just by Lawson Parkers and lost it. In the Afternoon Mr. Dulany came.

   Lawson Parker was listed as head of a household of six whites in Fairfax County in 1782 (HEADS OF FAMILIES, VAHeads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia; Records of the State Enumerations, 1782 to 1785. 1908. Reprint. Baltimore, 1970.., 18). His wife, Mrs. Dorcas (or Dorchas) Parker, sometimes acted as a midwife to GW’s slaves (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 91, 149, 156).

6. The 4 Mr. Digges’s came to Dinner also Colo. Fairfax, Colo. Burwell Messrs. Tilghman, Brown, Piper, Adam, Muir, Herbert, Peake, and Doctr. Rumney all of whom stay’d all Night except Mr. Peake.

   The four Mr. Diggeses were probably Ignatius Digges of Melwood, William Digges of Warburton, and William’s two sons, George and Dr. Joseph Digges. Mr. Brown may be Bennett Browne (Brown), who had business dealings with James Tilghman, Jr., of Alexandria (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 79). There was a merchant of this name in Urbanna, near the Rappahannock River (Va. Gaz., P&D, 9 June 1775). William Herbert (1743–1818), merchant of Alexandria, emigrated from Ireland to Virginia c.1770. Herbert married Sarah Carlyle, eldest daughter of John Carlyle by his first wife, Sarah Fairfax Carlyle.

   The large host of dinner and house guests who descended upon Mount Vernon this day may have been celebrating Twelfth Night and Twelfth Day.

7. All the above Company went away before Dinner except Doctr. Rumney & Mr. Magowan who both went afterwards.

8. I rid to Muddy hole, & into the Neck before Dinner. Captn. McCarty Dined here, & Mr. Magowan lodged.

9. Mr. Magowan returnd to Maryland. I went a Hunting. Found a Fox near Timber Landing & lost it near Mrs. French’s.

   Penelope French’s home, Rose Hill, was on the Fairfax Rolling Road, or Back Road, between the upper reaches of Dogue Run and Pike Branch (STETSON [1]Charles W. Stetson. Four Mile Run Land Grants. Washington, D.C., 1935., 102).

10. At home all day. Mr. Geo. Digges Messrs. David & Chas. Stewart—Mr. Danl. Carrol Junr. & Mr. Richmond dind & lodged here.

   Charles Steuart (1750–1802) and David Steuart (1750–1814) were sons of Dr. George Steuart, of Annapolis, and Ann Digges Steuart. Charles later married Benedict Calvert’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth. Daniel Carroll, Jr. (d. 1790), was the son of Commissioner Daniel Carroll (1730–1796) of Rock Creek, in Frederick County, Md., and his wife, Elizabeth Carroll of Duddington. In 1776 he married Elizabeth Digges (1753–1845), daughter of William Digges of Warburton.

   Mr. Richmond is probably Christopher Richmond of Maryland, who in 1785 was a member of the Potowmack Company. He was also at that time auditor of Maryland.

11. Went a Hunting with the above Gentlemen. Found a Fox by Gilbt. Simpsons & killd him by Mrs. Frenchs. Mr. P. Pendleton & Mr. M. Campbell dined & lodgd here the others went away.

   Philip Pendleton either no longer wanted or could not afford the parcel of land near Bullskin Run that GW had agreed to sell him 6 June 1771, because about this time he transferred his right to buy it to GW’s brother Samuel (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 22, 36). Pendleton had not paid any part of the purchase price or the interest due, and Samuel would prove to be too impoverished to pay. Reluctant to press his brother on the matter, GW eventually allowed Samuel to keep the land and wrote off the debt (GW to David Stuart, 21 Sept. 1794, PHi: Dreer Collection).

12. At home all day, Mr. Peake dind here, who with Mr. Campbell went away afterwards.

13. Went into the Neck in the forenoon to lay of a Fence at Hallerys.

   hallerys: GW probably means Samuel Halley (Haley), who had married John Sheridine’s (d. 1768) widow, Barberry. Halley and his wife still lived in Clifton’s Neck on the land her father-in-law, John Sheridine of Charles County, Md., rented from GW.

14. Mr. Pendleton went away after Breakfast. I rid up to Alexandria. Dind with Mr. Robt. Adam & returnd.

15. Rid to the Ferry, Mill, & Mill Plantation before Dinner writing afterwards.

16. Rid into the Neck, to the Mill and Muddy hole.

17. At home all day alone. Mrs. Barnes went up to Alexandria.

18. At home all day alone.

19. At home all day alone.

20. At home all day alone.

21. Ditto. Ditto. In the Afternoon Doctr. Rumney came & stayd all Night.

22. At Home all day, Doctr. Rumney continuing here.

23. Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast. I went by the Mill to Doeg Run Plantation to lay of a fence there. Returnd to Dinner—Abedo. Adams here.

24. At home all day alone.

25. Went a hunting, & found a Fox upon the Hills by Edd. Wathings which run near 4 hours & was either killd or treed—but the wind blewing fresh we were thrown out & coud only judge from Circumstances. Came home to Dinner & found Doctr. Rumney here who stayd all Night.

   Edward Wathing (Wathen) made shoes at various times for GW’s slaves and in return had work done at GW’s blacksmith shop (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 77).

26. Doctr. Rumney continued here all day. In the forenoon I rid to the Mill & returnd to Dinnr.

27. At home all day Doctr. Rumney continuing here this day also.

28. After breakfast Doctr. Rumney returning home I rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run, Mill, & Ferry Plantations.

29. At home all day alone.

30. Went a Fox hunting with Lund Washington. Took the drag of a Fox by Isaac Gates, & carrd. it tolerably well to the old Glebe then touchd now & then upon a Cold Scent till we came into Colo. Fairfax’s Neck where we found about half after three upon the Hills just above Accotinck Creek. After running till quite Dark took of the Dogs & came home.

   The old glebe was located on the Colchester-Alexandria road, along a branch of Accotink Creek. The 300–acre tract was bought from John Heryford in 1734 as a glebe for Truro Parish and in 1737 the vestry contracted for the building of a mansion house on the land. In 1752, however, the vestry sold this land and instead bought an adjoining tract of 176 acres from Rev. Charles Green to use as its new glebe (SLAUGHTER [1]Philip Slaughter. The History of Truro Parish in Virginia. Edited by Edward L. Goodwin. Philadelphia, 1908., 12, 29; Fairfax County Deeds, Book C–1, 362–63, Vi Microfilm).

   Fairfax’s Neck, or Belvoir Neck, was the neck of land between Dogue and Accotink creeks, where Belvoir was located.

31. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. [1.] Calm, clear, & exceeding pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Calm & very pleasant in the Forenoon with Wind, Clouds, & Rain from the Southward & Eastward in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear with the Wind pretty fresh first from the Southwest, & then from the Northwest. But neither Cold nor frosty.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. A little Cool, but not frozen in the Morning. Clear, calm & pleasant afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Ground not frozen. Morning Cloudy & Calm—clear and Windy, but not cold afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Misty Morning but clear afterwards, with the Wind fresh from the South.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. No Frost. Calm in the Forenoon Windy from the Westward afterwds. clear all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 9. Very white frost & ground pretty hard froze. Wind after 10 Oclock fresh from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

10th. Lowering Morning. Clear Midday & Raining in the Evening with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Ground a little frozen. Clear & Calm day.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Raining more or less all day. Wind Easterly. Ground froze.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Ground froze—day clear & Cold. Wind very hard from the No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Ground very hard froze—but calm and moderate after the Morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Very piercing. The River allmost froze over but opend with the Wind wch. contd. Northerly thawd none.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. More moderate; the Wind getting Southerly but thawd little—lowering in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. A Sleet till the Afternoon, with the wind (tho not much of it) at No. East. After that thawing and foggy—quite Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. A little Snow in the Night—ground about an Inch thick in the Morning. Variable Weather in the forenoon but clear afterwards with the Wind No. of West but neitr, hard nor cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Ground hard froze, fore part of the day Cold, Wind at No. West. Latter part calm, clear and more moderate.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 23. Ground very hard froze again and day variable—sometimes threatning snow—then promising to be fair and warm. Wind for the Most part Easterly but not much of it.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Ground very hard frozen. But little wind all day & that Easterly; with Rain now and then all the Afternoon. Evening moderate.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Ground froze again, but afterwards thawd—notwithstanding the Wind blew fresh from No. West till the Eveng.—clear all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind Southerly, & day moderate, but cloudy and lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Raining very slow, and moderately all the forenoon, and ceasd about Noon. No wind all day, and Warm. No frost in the Morning it beginning to Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. No Frost. Very warm all day. Wind blew very fresh from the Southward which veer’d round to the Northwest before Morning & turnd very cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Exceeding cold—ground very hard froze & the Wind blowing very hard from the Northwest till the Evening when it lulld.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Ground very hard froze & thin Ice almost over the whole River. Day moderate with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Wind Southerly, all day & towards the Evening fresh. Cloudy more or less all the day.


Title: Account of the Weathr. in Jan. [1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. [1.] Calm, clear, & exceeding pleasant.

2. Calm & very pleasant in the Forenoon with Wind, Clouds, & Rain from the Southward & Eastward in the Afternoon.

3. Clear with the Wind pretty fresh first from the Southwest, & then from the Northwest. But neither Cold nor frosty.

4. A little Cool, but not frozen in the Morning. Clear, calm & pleasant afterwards.

5. Ground not frozen. Morning Cloudy & Calm—clear and Windy, but not cold afterwds.

6. Remarkable White frost, but Calm, clear and pleasant afterwards till the Evening when it clouded up & began to Rain.

7. Misty Morning but clear afterwards, with the Wind fresh from the South.

8. No Frost. Calm in the Forenoon Windy from the Westward afterwds. clear all day.

9. Very white frost & ground pretty hard froze. Wind after 10 Oclock fresh from the Southward.

10th. Lowering Morning. Clear Midday & Raining in the Evening with but little Wind & that Southerly.

11. Ground a little frozen. Clear & Calm day.

12. Wind fresh from the So. Wt. in the forenoon. Then shifting to the No. West blew hard but moderated towards Night. Clear all D[ay].

13. Lowering Morning & very like for Snow—ground hard froze. Afterwards clear. Wind South.

14. Raining more or less all day. Wind Easterly. Ground froze.

15. Ground froze—day clear & Cold. Wind very hard from the No. West.

16. Ground very hard froze—but calm and moderate after the Morning.

17. Wind Shifting to the No. West in the Night it turnd exceeding cold froze the ground very hard & shut up the Creeks. Thawd very little all day.

18. Very piercing. The River allmost froze over but opend with the Wind wch. contd. Northerly thawd none.

19. More moderate; the Wind getting Southerly but thawd little—lowering in the Evening.

20. A Sleet till the Afternoon, with the wind (tho not much of it) at No. East. After that thawing and foggy—quite Calm.

21. A little Snow in the Night—ground about an Inch thick in the Morning. Variable Weather in the forenoon but clear afterwards with the Wind No. of West but neitr, hard nor cold.

22. Ground hard froze, fore part of the day Cold, Wind at No. West. Latter part calm, clear and more moderate.

23. Ground very hard froze again and day variable—sometimes threatning snow—then promising to be fair and warm. Wind for the Most part Easterly but not much of it.

24. Ground very hard frozen. But little wind all day & that Easterly; with Rain now and then all the Afternoon. Evening moderate.

25. Ground froze again, but afterwards thawd—notwithstanding the Wind blew fresh from No. West till the Eveng.—clear all day.

26. Wind Southerly, & day moderate, but cloudy and lowering.

27. Raining very slow, and moderately all the forenoon, and ceasd about Noon. No wind all day, and Warm. No frost in the Morning it beginning to Rain in the Night.

28. No Frost. Very warm all day. Wind blew very fresh from the Southward which veer’d round to the Northwest before Morning & turnd very cold.

29. Exceeding cold—ground very hard froze & the Wind blowing very hard from the Northwest till the Evening when it lulld.

30. Ground very hard froze & thin Ice almost over the whole River. Day moderate with but little Wind & that Southerly.

31. Wind Southerly, all day & towards the Evening fresh. Cloudy more or less all the day.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Mr. Fairfax & I went out with the hounds. Touchd upon the Drag of the Run[nin]g Fox upon the Hills just above Wathings but it being cold, as the day also was, we took the Dogs of and came home.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 3. Went out again and touchd upon a Fox upon the Hills by Gates’s & found another in Colo. Fairfax’s Neck abt. 2 Oclock which was killd after an hours chace. This Fox was found upon the Hills.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Mr. Fairfax went away. I continued in the House all day a Writing.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Rid into the Neck, and taking the Hounds with me, after being at the Plantns. found a fox between the two which was killd in ¾ of an hour.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Doctr. Rumney came to Dinr. and stayd all Night. I contd. at home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

9th. Doctr. Rumney continued all day, & Night. After an early Dinner I set of to Mr. Robt. Alexanders upon Fox hunting Party & in the Afternoon, Young Mr. Danl. Dulany Revd. Mr. Montgomerie, Mr. Tilghman & Jno. Custis came here & stayd all [night].


Title: [Diary entry: 10 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Found a Fox in Mr. Phil. Alexanders Island which was lost after a chase of 7 hour’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Found a fox in the same place again which was killd at the end of 6 hours after wch. I came home & found Mr. Dulany & Mr. Custis here.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. At home all day Mr. Dulany continuing here.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Still at home. Mr. Dulany & Mr. Custis went to Mrs. Frenchs after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Went up to Court, & returnd again in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Went up again this day also and returnd in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Went to Colo. Fairfax’s to Dinner and returnd again in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. At home alone all day except one William Thompson’s coming abt. a Lott of Land in Fauquier.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. At home all day. Mr. Hoops & a Mr. Warton calld here but would not stay dinner—taking a Cut before it.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Rid to the Ferry—Mill—Mill Plantn. Doeg Run & Muddy hole. In the Afternoon Mr. Bryan Fairfax & Mr. Robt. Alexander came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Went a Hunting again with the above Company. Found a Fox in Colo. Fairfax’s Neck with part of the Dogs but believe it was not killd. Found Mr. Tilghman here upon our return at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Mr. Fairfax—Mr. Tilghman & Mr. Alexander went away after Breakfast. I contind. at home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. At home all day. About Noon Mr. Francis Willis—Mr. Warnr. Washington & my Brothr. Saml. came here.


Title: [February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Feby. 1. At home all day. In the Afternoon Mr. Bryan Fairfax came here & Stayd all Night—as did three Travellers going to Maryland.

2. Mr. Fairfax & I went out with the hounds. Touchd upon the Drag of the Run[nin]g Fox upon the Hills just above Wathings but it being cold, as the day also was, we took the Dogs of and came home.

3. Went out again and touchd upon a Fox upon the Hills by Gates’s & found another in Colo. Fairfax’s Neck abt. 2 Oclock which was killd after an hours chace. This Fox was found upon the Hills.

4. At home all day with Mr. Fairfax.

5. Mr. Fairfax went away. I continued in the House all day a Writing.

6. Rid into the Neck, and taking the Hounds with me, after being at the Plantns. found a fox between the two which was killd in ¾ of an hour.

7. At home all day alone.

8. Doctr. Rumney came to Dinr. and stayd all Night. I contd. at home all day.

9th. Doctr. Rumney continued all day, & Night. After an early Dinner I set of to Mr. Robt. Alexanders upon Fox hunting Party & in the Afternoon, Young Mr. Danl. Dulany Revd. Mr. Montgomerie, Mr. Tilghman & Jno. Custis came here & stayd all [night].

   This Daniel Dulany (1750–1824) was called Daniel Jr. or Daniel III and was the son of Daniel Dulany the younger (1722–1797) and Rebecca Tasker Dulany of Hunting Ridge near Baltimore. He was educated in England and returned to Maryland about 1770, where he began to practice law in his father’s Annapolis office. Having strong Loyalist feelings, Dulany left Maryland for England on 17 July 1775. There he remained for the rest of his life, except for a brief visit to America in 1785. His property in Maryland was confiscated (LANDAubrey C. Land. The Dulanys of Maryland: A Biographical Study of Daniel Dulany, the Elder (1685–1753) and Daniel Dulany, the Younger (1722–1797). Baltimore, 1955., 192, 309–65).

   John Montgomery was at this time minister at St. Anne’s, sometimes called Middle Neck, Parish in Anne Arundel County, Md. During the Revolution he and his wife, Margaret Dulany Montgomery, daughter of Walter and Mary Grafton Dulany, fled to England.

   This whole party of young people was undoubtedly on its way to Benjamin Dulany’s wedding, which took place on 10 Feb. at the bride’s home, Rose Hill, near Mount Vernon. A newspaper announced the marriage of “Benjamin Dulany, Esquire, of Maryland, to Miss French, of Fairfax county, with a fortune of twenty thousand pounds” (Va. Gaz., R, 11 Mar. 1773).

10. Found a Fox in Mr. Phil. Alexanders Island which was lost after a chase of 7 hour’s.

   Philip Alexander (d. 1790) lived on an island in the Potomac River which was part of the 904 acres left him by his father, Gerard Alexander (Fairfax County Wills, Book B–1, 327, Vi Microfilm). The island, just north of Four Mile Run, contained 302 acres (STETSON [1]Charles W. Stetson. Four Mile Run Land Grants. Washington, D.C., 1935., facing p. 10). Commonly called Alexander’s Island, it had earlier been known as Holmes Island.

11. Found a fox in the same place again which was killd at the end of 6 hours after wch. I came home & found Mr. Dulany & Mr. Custis here.

12. At home all day Mr. Dulany continuing here.

13. Still at home. Mr. Dulany & Mr. Custis went to Mrs. Frenchs after Breakfast.

   The two young men undoubtedly went to visit young Daniel Dulany’s brother Ben and his new bride.

14. At home all day alone.

15. Went up to Court, & returnd again in the Afternoon.

   The Fairfax court met on 15 and 16 Feb. and GW attended both days, although he arrived late on the second day (Fairfax County Order Book for 1772–74, 166–71, Vi Microfilm).

16. Went up again this day also and returnd in the Afternoon.

17. Went to Colo. Fairfax’s to Dinner and returnd again in the afternoon.

18. At home alone all day except one William Thompson’s coming abt. a Lott of Land in Fauquier.

   From 1772 to 1775 William Thompson rented 115 acres of land in Fauquier County from GW for £4 a year (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 73). This may be the man who visited Mount Vernon with Charles Washington on 17 Feb. 1771.

19th. Rid to the Ferry, Mill, Doeg Run & Muddy hole Plantations before Dinner; at home alone afterwards.

20. Rid in the Forenoon to the Mill & Mill Plantation. Mr. Thomas Hite, & Mr. Wm. Shaw dind here, & went away after it.

   Thomas Hite (1750–1779) son of Jacob Hite (d. 1778) and his first wife, Catherine O’Bannion Hite, lived in Berkeley County, Va. He was a justice of the county and a member of the House of Burgesses and later the House of Delegates until his death. In 1776 Hite was one of the trustees for the new

town of Warm Springs in Berkeley County. He was married to his stepsister, Frances Madison Beale (DU BELLETLouise Pecquet du Bellet. Some Prominent Virginia Families. 4 vols. Lynchburg, Va., 1907., 4:336–50; Tyler’s Mag., 3:49–50). In 1770 GW had been involved in a legal dispute with Hite (William Grayson to GW, 23 Sept. 1770, PHi: Gratz Collection).

   Shaw had inspected 200 barrels of flour for GW on 16 Jan. and 137 on 10 Feb. for fees totaling £2 2s. 1½d. (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 58).

21. At home all day. Mr. Hoops & a Mr. Warton calld here but would not stay dinner—taking a Cut before it.

   mr. warton: probably a member of the prominent Wharton family of Philadelphia.

   a cut: a lunch or snack.

22. At home all day alone.

23. At home this day also alone.

24. Rid to the Ferry—Mill—Mill Plantn. Doeg Run & Muddy hole. In the Afternoon Mr. Bryan Fairfax & Mr. Robt. Alexander came here.

25. Went a hunting with those Gentlemen, & being joind by the two Mr. Triplets, Mr. Manley, & Mr. Peake all came here to Dinner & Mr. Thos. Triplet stayd all Night. Found a Fox in this Neck but did not kill it.

26. Went a Hunting again with the above Company. Found a Fox in Colo. Fairfax’s Neck with part of the Dogs but believe it was not killd. Found Mr. Tilghman here upon our return at Night.

27. Mr. Fairfax—Mr. Tilghman & Mr. Alexander went away after Breakfast. I contind. at home all day alone.

28. At home all day. About Noon Mr. Francis Willis—Mr. Warnr. Washington & my Brothr. Saml. came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Feby. 1. Wind shifting in the Night to the No. West blew fresh & turnd Cold especially towards Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 2. Ground very hard froze, & River quite shut up. Day somewhat more moderate Wind not blowing hard but coming still from the same Point.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Raining more or less all day. Calm all the forenoon. In the Afternoon the wind came out from the No. & No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Cloudy Morning with some Snow which had slightly coverd the Ground. More or less Cloudy till the Evening with the Wind at No. West—but not hard.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Ground froze in the Morning, but thawd afterwards, being Warm, Calm & pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Ground very hard froze. Forepart of the day cold & high Wind from the No. Wt. Latter part Calm, & more moderate.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Ground froze again, but the Wind soon getting Southerly it turnd very pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Open Morning, & abt. 9 Oclock perfectly calm. Soon after wch. the Wind came out hard from the No. West and Shifted to the Southwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Cold Morning, but more moderate afterwards—being Calm & clear. Grd. hard froze.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Wind, what little there was of it Southerly—day pleasant but ground froze notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Ground a little froze, but soon thawd. Wind however pretty fresh from the No. Wt. in the forenoon but calm afterwards & lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Snow about 2 Inches Deep, or more, with the Wind pretty cool from the Northward. Afternoon Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Wind coming out hard from the No. West in the Night it froze exceedingly & the day very cold Wind continuing fresh from the same Point.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Last Night colder by odds than any this year—froze over the River, & every thing in the Cellars; day continuing very Cold—wind still at No. West but not fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Weather somewhat more moderate—but still Cold, Wind continuing at No. West & North.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Quite calm, clear, and pleasant; Ground which had been froze exceeding hard thawd a little at Top.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Day quite Calm, & Cloudy, yet thawing a little—ground being very hard froze in the Morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. A thick fog, or Mist, which continued without Wind & being Cold till the Evening when it set in to Raining.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. A Good deal of Rain fell in the Night. Morning Misting and day Cloudy—with the Wind at No. West but neither hard nor Cold. Afternoon quite clear & perfectly Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

 28. Clear, & remarkably pleasant with the Wind fresh from the Southwest.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Feby. [1773]
From: Washington, George
To:

Feby. 1. Wind shifting in the Night to the No. West blew fresh & turnd Cold especially towards Night.

2. Ground very hard froze, & River quite shut up. Day somewhat more moderate Wind not blowing hard but coming still from the same Point.

3. Ground very hard froze which thawd but little being Cloudy & like for falling weather all day—with the wind what little there was of it Southerly.

4. Raining more or less all day. Calm all the forenoon. In the Afternoon the wind came out from the No. & No. East.

5. Cloudy Morning with some Snow which had slightly coverd the Ground. More or less Cloudy till the Evening with the Wind at No. West—but not hard.

6. Ground froze in the Morning, but thawd afterwards, being Warm, Calm & pleasant.

7. Ground not froze—day warm & Pleasant till the Evening when the wind coming out from the No. Wt. blew violently, & turnd Cold.

8. Ground very hard froze. Forepart of the day cold & high Wind from the No. Wt. Latter part Calm, & more moderate.

9. Ground froze—but wind getting Southerly it presently turnd warm & thawing.

10. Ground not froze. The day very pleasant till the Evening when the Wind shifted to the No. West & began to freeze.

11. Ground froze again, but the Wind soon getting Southerly it turnd very pleasant.

12. Open Morning, & abt. 9 Oclock perfectly calm. Soon after wch. the Wind came out hard from the No. West and Shifted to the Southwest.

13. Ground hard froze—day Cold. Wind at No. West and fresh.

14. Cold Morning, but more moderate afterwards—being Calm & clear. Grd. hard froze.

15. Wind, what little there was of it Southerly—day pleasant but ground froze notwithstanding.

16. Very pleasant, clear, & but little Wind which blew from the Southward.

17. Ground a little froze, but soon thawd. Wind however pretty fresh from the No. Wt. in the forenoon but calm afterwards & lowering.

18. Snow about 2 Inches Deep, or more, with the Wind pretty cool from the Northward. Afternoon Calm.

19. Clear and Cool, tho the wind was Southerly—blowing pretty fresh.

20. Clear but not very warm. Wind fresh from the So. West and weather variable. Snow for the most part gone.

21. Wind coming out hard from the No. West in the Night it froze exceedingly & the day very cold Wind continuing fresh from the same Point.

22. Last Night colder by odds than any this year—froze over the River, & every thing in the Cellars; day continuing very Cold—wind still at No. West but not fresh.

23. Weather somewhat more moderate—but still Cold, Wind continuing at No. West & North.

24. Quite calm, clear, and pleasant; Ground which had been froze exceeding hard thawd a little at Top.

25. Day quite Calm, & Cloudy, yet thawing a little—ground being very hard froze in the Morning.

26. A thick fog, or Mist, which continued without Wind & being Cold till the Evening when it set in to Raining.

27. A Good deal of Rain fell in the Night. Morning Misting and day Cloudy—with the Wind at No. West but neither hard nor Cold. Afternoon quite clear & perfectly Calm.

28. Clear, & remarkably pleasant with the Wind fresh from the Southwest.