Title: [May 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday May 1st. Got over early in the Morning and reachd home before Dinnertime and upon enquiry found that my Clover Field was finishd sowing & Rolling the Saturday I left home—as was the Sowing of my Lucerne: and that on the  they began sowing the last field of Oats & finishd it the 25th.
That in box No. 6, two grains of Wheat appeard on the 20th.; one an Inch high—on the 22d. a grain of Wheat in No. 7 and 9 appeard—on the 23 after a good deal of Rain the Night before some Stalks appeard in Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, & 8 but the Ground was so hard bakd by the drying Winds when I came home that it was difficult to say which Nos. lookd most thriving. However in

No.
1 there was nothing come up.

2.

2 Oats
1 barley

3.

1 Oat
2 barley

 4.

1 Oat
4

5.
1 Wheat
2 Oats

6.
1 Do.
3 Do.
1 Do.

7.
1 Do.
2 Do.
2 Do.

8.
1 Do.
1 Do.

9.
2 Do.
3 Do.
2 Do.

10.

1 Do.

The two Grains in No. 8 were I think rather the strongest, but upon the whole No. 9 was the best.

Friday May 2d. Cold, & strong Westerly Winds.
My English Horse Coverd the great bay Mare.

   GW had bought an English colt from Col. Bernard or Thomas Moore in Mar. 1759 for £17 10s. (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 55).

Saturday May 3d. Wind got Southerly, but blew fresh and Cool.
The Stallion coverd Ranken—and afterwards breaking out of his pasture Coverd the great bay Mare again.

Sunday May 4th. Warm and fine. Set out for Frederick to see my Negroes that lay Ill of the Small Pox. Took Church in my way to Colemans where I arrivd about Sun setting.

Monday May 5th. Reach’d Mr. Stephenson in Frederick abt. 4 Oclock just time enough to see Richd. Mounts Interrd. Here I was informd that Harry & Kit, the two first of my Negroes that took the Small Pox were Dead and Roger & Phillis the only two down with it were recovering from it.
Lodgd at Mr. Stephenson.

   Richard Stephenson (d. 1765) of Frederick County married the widow Onora Grimes Crawford, mother of William and Valentine Crawford. By Mrs. Crawford, Stephenson had five sons, four of whom appear in the GW diaries. As an early entrepreneur in the Shenandoah Valley, Stephenson joined John Vestal and others in 1742 to set up an iron bloomery project. He hired GW to survey land for him in 1750 and during the French and Indian War was a supplier to GW’s troops. GW sometimes referred to Stephenson as “Stevens” or “Stephens.”

   Richard Mount recorded a will in Frederick County in 1752.

Tuesday May 6. Visited my Brother’s Quarter, & just calld at my own in my way to Winchester where I spent the day & Evening with Colo. Byrd &ca.
The Court was held to Day at Stephen’s Town but adjournd to Winchester to Morrow.

   Because of the smallpox epidemic in Frederick County, the county court was moved, by order of the governor 3 July 1759, to Stephensburg, “during the time the small pox rageth in the town of Winchester.” Stephensburg (later Newton, later Stephens City), founded by Lewis Stephens in 1758, was competing with Winchester to become the seat for Frederick County. By Oct. 1759 the smallpox, according to a petition of the inhabitants of Winchester, “was raging at Stephensburg,” and the court did not meet at all until Feb. 1760 (NORRIS [1]J. E. Norris, ed. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley. 1890. Reprint. Berryville, Va., 1972., 121–22). GW is here noting the court’s move back to its regular seat.

Wednesday May 7. After taking the Doctrs. Direction’s in regard to my People I set out for my Quarters and got there abt. 12 Oclock—time enough to go over them and find every thing in the utmost confusion, disorder & backwardness my Overseer lying upon his Back of a broken Leg, and not half a Crop especially of Corn Ground prepard.
Engagd. Vale. Crawford to go in pursuit of a Nurse to be ready in case more of my People shd. be seizd with the same disorder.

Thursday May 8th. Got Blankets and every other requisite from Winchester & settld things upon the best footing I coud to prevt.

the Small Pox from Spreading—and in case of its spreading for the care of the Negroes. Mr. Vale. Crawford agreeing in case any more of the People at the lower Quarter getting it to take them home to his House—& if any of those at the upper Quarter gets it to have them removd into my Room and the Nurse sent for.

   GW today lent £15 to Crawford and gave £4 to his overseer Hardwick (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 89).

Friday May 9th. Set out on my return Home. The Morning drizzling a little. Calld at the Bloomery and got Mr. Wm. Crawford to shew me the place that has been so often talkd of for erecting an Iron Work upon.
The Convenience of Water is great—first it may be taken out of the River into a Canal and a considerable Fall obtained—& ⟨then⟩ a Run comes from the Mountain on which the largest Fall may [be] got with Small Labour and expence. But of the constancy of this Stream I know nothing nor Coud Crawford tell me. I saw none of the Ore but all People agree that there is an inexhaustable fund of that that is rich—but Wood seems an obstacle not but that there is enough of it but the Gd. is so hilly & rugged as not to admit of making Coal or transporting it.
I did not examine the place so accurately myself as to be a competent

   the bloomery: a primitive means of turning iron ore into iron, consisting of a hearth rather larger than that of a blacksmith. Iron ore and charcoal were fed into a fire fanned by a bellows that was powered by a waterwheel. When the heated iron formed a lump, or “bloom,” it was lifted to an anvil and beaten into a bar by a hammer, also powered by the waterwheel. The product was an impure wrought iron used by local artisans and blacksmiths. A bloomery for making bar iron was begun in 1742 by a group which included William Vestal and Crawford’s stepfather, Richard Stephenson. It was located on John Vestal’s land about four miles above Key’s (later Vestal’s) ferry, on the right bank of the Shenandoah River and the mouth of Evitt’s Run.

   iron work: a more sophisticated process producing a high grade of iron for commercial sale. Such a work, using limestone for flux, needed a much greater amount of capital to finance a 25– to 30–foot-high furnace, a large bellows (often 25 feet long) for the blast, a waterwheel over 20 feet in diameter, and a minimum of 10 to 12 full-time workers. But it could turn out 20 tons of relatively pure pig iron per week, which would either be worked in the colonies or shipped to England for sale (BININGArthur Cecil Bining. Pennsylvania Iron Manufacture in the Eighteenth Century. Harrisburg, 1938. In Publications of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, vol. 4., 76–84). Vast amounts of firewood were needed to produce charcoal for the iron furnace.

   William Crawford, brother of Valentine Crawford, entered the Virginia Regiment in 1755 as an ensign in the company of scouts and later served with GW on the Forbes expedition of 1758. He lived in Frederick County until 1765, when he removed to the Youghiogheny country in western Pennsylvania.

   Despite Crawford’s approval of this site for an ironwork, GW did not join in the venture.

   judge of this matter & Mr. Crawford says there will be no difficulty in the case.

   Reachd Coleman’s.

Saturday May 10. Arrivd at home abt. 10 Oclock where I found my Brother Jno. And was told that my great Chesnut folded a Horse Colt on the 6 Instt. and that my Young Peach trees were Wed according to Order.
The Oats, & in short every thing else seemd quite at a stand, from the dryness of the Earth which was remarkably so partly for want of Rain and partly by the constant drying Winds which have blown for sometime past.

   GW’s younger brother, John Augustine Washington, had managed Mount Vernon for him during the former’s absence in the French and Indian wars.

“Jack,” as GW called him, brought his bride, Hannah Bushrod Washington, to Mount Vernon in 1756 and lived there until 1758. It was partly in acknowledgment of Jack’s help and loyalty that GW in his will left part of the Mount Vernon estate to Jack’s older son, Bushrod Washington (MVAR, 1964, 18–21; WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931–44., 37:288–89).

Sunday May 11th. Mrs. Washington we[nt] to Church.
My black pacing Mare was twice Coverd.
Proposd a purchase of some Lands which Col. F[airfa]x has at the Mouth of the Warm Spring Run joing. Barwicks bottom. He promisd me the preference if he shd. sell but is not inclind to do it at prest.

Monday May 12th. Fine Rain began in the Morning and continued by Intervals all day.
Sent Cook Jack & my Horses to get in Stephens Corn.
Black Mare was coverd again to day. Mr. Alexander sent a Mare but She refusd the Horse.

   corn: Zea mays, Indian corn. GW’s principal variety was probably Virginia Gourdseed, a coarse, white dent corn with a red cob and soft and starchy kernel (SINGLETONW. Ralph Singleton. “Agricultural Plants.” Agricultural History 46 (1972): 71–79., 73). He wrote Charles Carter 14 Dec. 1787 that his normal yield at that time was 2 to 2½ barrels per acre, an estimated 8 to 10 bushels. When he obtained early seed corn from the North, it was most likely to be a flint variety with white cob and a round kernel, much harder than that of the dent variety.

   There were two main branches of the Alexander family in eighteenth-century Virginia, descended respectively from Robert and Philip Alexander, the two sons of John Alexander the immigrant (d. 1677). It was this John Alexander who in 1669 purchased the 6,000–acre Howsing Patent out of which the city of Alexandria was carved in 1749. In 1760 the “Robert” branch of Alexanders was represented by the brothers John Alexander (1711–1764), of Caledon, in the Chotank area of Stafford County, and Col. Gerard Alexander (d. 1761), of Alexandria, whose oldest son, Robert Alexander (d. 1793), is probably the Mr. Alexander mentioned here.

Tuesday May 13th. Cloudy with some slight Showers of Rain.
People all working at Muddy hole getting in Stephens’s Corn.
My Brother Jno. returnd from Difficult.

   difficult: Difficult Run, which empties into the Potomac River between the Great Falls and the Little Falls. From 1757 until 1798 it was the upper half of the boundary between Loudoun and Fairfax counties.

Wednesday May 14th. Wind at No. Wt. fresh and drying. Visited at Belvoir.
People & Plows at Muddy Hole.

Thursday May 15th. Drying Winds—People at Muddy hole again.

Friday May 16th. Still Cool and Windy—my People yet continuing at Muddy hole. My Brother Jno. left this and I got Nations Estate Appraisd by Messrs. McCarty Barry & Triplet—as follows viz.

One old Gun & lock
7.6

1 Small Bell
2.6

         1 Suit of Cloaths viz.
         }

         a Coat Waistt. Breechs.

         Shirt, Hat, Shoes & Garters

10

A Small parcel of Lea[the]r
1

   Nations’s estate still owed GW £1 11s. 1d., but GW wrote off that balance as “given to his Widow” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 69). Barry is probably John Barry (d. 1775), the clerk of Pohick Church, an original trustee of the town of Colchester, and a neighbor of Daniel McCarty.

Saturday May 17th. Mulatto Jack returnd from King William with 3 Yoke of Oxen & lost Punch the Horse he rid.
Sent up 16 Hydes to Mr. Adams at Alexa. viz.
12 large &
 4 Small ones to be Tan’d.
Brought a Pipe of Wine from there wch. Captn. McKie brought from Madeira also a Chest of Lemons and some other trifles.
Began weeding my Trefoil below the Hill.
The Great Bay was coverd. Got an Acct. that the Assembly was to meet on Monday. Resolvd to set of to Morrow.

   Robert Adam (1731–1789) was born in Kilbride, Scot., migrated to America in the early 1750s, and settled in Alexandria, where he initiated a number of industries, including a tannery.

   McKie is possibly Capt. William Macky, who entered his ship into the York River Naval District records, 1 April 1760, as having come from South Carolina, a common port of call in the trade between Chesapeake Bay and the wine islands (P.R.O., C.O.5/1448, f. 25).

   GW was a burgess for Frederick County 1758–65. The House of Burgesses had met 4–11 Mar. 1760 to continue the existence of the Virginia Regiment for another six months, but GW had not attended that session (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905–15., 1758-61, 157–68). The House met again 19–24 May 1760 to consider an urgent message from Governor Fauquier for men and money to relieve Fort Loudoun on the Little Tennessee River, which was in danger of falling to the Cherokees (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905–15., 1758–61, 171–79).

Sunday May 18th. Set out in Company with Mr. George Johnston. At Colchester was informd by Colo. Thornton and Chissel that the Assembly wd. be broke up before I could get down.

Turnd back therefore & found Colo. Fairfax and his Family and that Lightning wch. had attended a good deal of Rain had struck my Quarter & near 10 Negroes in it some very bad but with letting Blood they recoverd.

   George Johnston, of Belvale, was a burgess for Fairfax County 1758–65. Colchester, a small settlement of Scottish merchants, lay on Occoquan Creek about eight miles below Mount Vernon. Colonels Thornton and Chissel may have been Col. Presley Thornton, burgess for Northumberland County, and John Chiswell, of Hanover County.

   On 23 May the House of Burgesses passed a bill authorizing the raising of £32,000 and up to 700 soldiers plus officers for the relief of Fort Loudoun (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905–15., 1758–61, 176).

Monday May 19th. Went to Alexandria to see Captn. Littledales Ship Launchd wch. went of extreamely well. This day was attended with slight shower’s. Colo. F[airfa]x had a Mare Cover’d. So had Captn. Dalton.

   In 1760 Isaac Littledale was establishing his trade between his home in Whitehaven, Eng., and the Potomac River valley. For this trade the Hero, a 200–ton ship which required 14 hands, was built in the Alexandria shipyard in 1760. Littledale was her captain on the maiden voyage.

Tuesday May 20th. Being Court day Mr. Clifton’s Land in the Neck was exposd to Sale and I bought it for £1210 Sterlg. & under many threats and disadvantages paid the Money into the Comrs. hands and returnd home at Night with Colo. Fairfax & Famy. Captn. Dalton’s Dun Mare again Covd.

   The final decree of the General Court in chancery (decree, Clifton v. Carroll et al., 12 April 1760, NjWdHi) ordered that the commissioners on 20 May at Alexandria sell at public auction to the highest bidder the lands in Clifton’s Neck and that Clifton’s creditors then be paid off. The “threats and disadvantages” to GW came from all sides. Thomson Mason threatened to appeal the sale decree; Ignatius Digges and Charles Carroll refused to show up at all to deliver their mortgages, thus barring GW from a clear title; and Carroll had already decided to appeal the case to the Privy Council in London (Charles Carroll of Annapolis to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 26 April, 4 July 1762, CARROLLCharles Carroll of Annapolis and Charles Carroll of Carrollton. “Extracts from the Carroll Papers.” Maryland Historical Magazine 10 (1915): 143-59, 218-58, 322-44; 11 (1916): 66-73, 175-89, 261-78, 322-69; 12 (1917): 21-41, 166-87, 276-96, 347-69; 13 (1918): 54-75, 171-79, 249-67; 14 (1919): 137-54, 272-93, 358-71; 15 (1920): 56-65, 194-201, 274-91; 16 (1921): 29-42., 264–69). Finally, Clifton declared he would not vacate the land until 1762, which, among other problems, threatened GW with a two-year loss of rent from the Clifton’s Neck tenant farmers (Robert Carter Nicholas and George Wythe to GW, 27 May 1760, anonymous donor).

Wednesday May 21. Wrote to Messrs. Nicholas & With for Advice how to act in regard to Clifton’s Land. Sent the Letter by the Post. A good deal of Rain in the Night.
Colo. Fairfax went home. Began shearing my Sheep. ⟨Dalton’s sorrel⟩ Mare coverd.

   In their reply of 27 May 1760 Robert Carter Nicholas and George Wythe stated they were “sorry to find you are likely to be involved in so much Trouble” and warned GW that they could advise nothing “with any Certainty” (Nicholas and Wythe to GW, 27 May 1760, anonymous donor). After giving their opinion that Mason had a strong case and that the Privy Council would probably find for Carroll, they referred GW to his local lawyer, George Johnston.

   At this point in the diary GW inserts a lengthy paraphrase on the cultivation of lucerne from Jethro Tull, Horse-Houghing Husbandry: An Essay on the Principles of Vegetation and Tillage (London, 1731). This important British work on scientific agriculture ran through several editions—here GW is quoting the 1751 edition—and was still being published in 1829. GW relied heavily on it in his early years as a farmer; later he would turn to the books and personal communications of Arthur Young.

   Material in angle brackets has been taken from Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 1:164.

Thursday May 22d. Continued shearing my sheep. A good deal of Rain at Night—and Cool as it has been ever since the first Reign on the 12th.
Captn. Dalton had a sorrell Mare coverd.
My Black Mare that came Frederick was Coverd Yesterday & the day before.
Captn. McCarty had a Mare Coverd the 20th.
Memms.
To have 600 Tobo. Hills Marld at Williamsons quarter—to try the Virtues of it—to do it more effectually, tend 500 Hills of the same Ground witht. Marl giving both equal working and let them fare exactly alike in all Respects.

For an Experimt.
Take 7 Pots (Earthen) or 7 Boxes of equal size and number them.
Then put in No. 1 pld. Earth taken out of the Field below, which is intend. for Wheat—in No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 equal proportion’s of the same Earth—to No. 2 put Cow dung—to 3 Marle, 4 ⟨with⟩ Mud from the Marshes ⟨& bottoms⟩ adjoining the  Field, to 5 Mud ⟨tak⟩en out of the River immediately, to 6 the same Mud lain to Mellow sum time, and to 7 the Mud taken from the Shoreside at low Water where it appears to be unmixd with Clay. Of each an equal quantity—and at the proper Season of Sowing Oats put in each of these Pots or boxes 6 Grains of the largest and heaviest Oats planted at proper distances—and watch their growth and different changes till Harvest.
N.B. To preserve them from Accidents put them in the Garden ⟨and⟩ let the Pots be buried ⟨up⟩ to their brims.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Fine warm Sun Shine—wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Warm, but Mist and Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Wind at No. West. Blew hard & grew very Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear & tolerable warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. The morng. fine, but Cloudy & cold afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. High wind, but clear & tolerably warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11. Morng. Lowering, but fine & warm afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. White frost & clear in the Morng. but Cloudy afterwd.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Wind at N. Wt. very clear, & extrame cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Wind Do. but not hard—yet very cold & frosty.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Do. pretty fresh & very cold & frosty.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind at So. Wt. very cloudy in the Mg. At 12 begn. to Sn[ow].


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind at No. Et. and Rain till Noon then Mist.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Great Sleet, & mist till Noon, then clear Wd. So.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind So. tolerable clear—but cloudy afternn.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind Contd. So[uther]ly with Rain, & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Wind cond. No[rther]ly. Clear, cold, & hard frost.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear and Moderate—wind Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Fine day. Wind So[uther]ly. Gradual thaw.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Warm & So[uther]ly wind in the Mg. Afterwards. at No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Strong So. wind & Rain till 4 P.M. then No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind at So. again & fresh. Clear all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. ⟨N⟩o. Wt. clear and Cold.


Title: [The Weather] [January 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Fine warm Sun Shine—wind Southerly.

2. Warm, but Mist and Rain.

3. Just the same kind of Weather as Yestery.

4. Ditto.

5. Wind at No. West. Blew hard & grew very Cold.

6. Clear & tolerable warm.

7. Ditto.

8. The morng. fine, but Cloudy & cold afterwards.

9. High wind, but clear & tolerably warm.

10. Fine, clear & warm.

11. Morng. Lowering, but fine & warm afterwards.

12. White frost & clear in the Morng. but Cloudy afterwd.

13. Wind at N. Wt. very clear, & extrame cold.

14. Wind Do. but not hard—yet very cold & frosty.

15. Do. pretty fresh & very cold & frosty.

16. Wind at So. Wt. very cloudy in the Mg. At 12 begn. to Sn[ow].

17. Wind at No. Et. and Rain till Noon then Mist.

18. Great Sleet, & mist till Noon, then clear Wd. So.

19. Wind So. tolerable clear—but cloudy afternn.

20. Wind Contd. So[uther]ly with Rain, & Warm.

21. So[uther]ly in the Morng. and Rain till Noon—then No[rther]ly & clear.

22. Wind cond. No[rther]ly. Clear, cold, & hard frost.

23. Clear and Moderate—wind Westerly.

24. Fine day. Wind So[uther]ly. Gradual thaw.

25. Warm & So[uther]ly wind in the Mg. Afterwards. at No. Wt.

26. No. Et. in the Morng. So[uther]ly afterwards.

27. Strong So. wind & Rain till 4 P.M. then No. Wt.

28. Wind at So. again & fresh. Clear all day.

29. Wind at Do. till 3 Oclock then No. W. clear all d[ay].

30. So[uther]ly Wind & Cloudy till 9 at Night then No. W. & clear.

31. ⟨N⟩o. Wt. clear and Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Snow in the Morning, but clear afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Wind shifting from East to So. Clear & ⟨warm⟩.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. So[uther]ly with Rain—gd. very Rotton.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Very fine drying day. No wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. W. No. Wt. but not hard, fine clear & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Strong, & warm southerly Wind—clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Ditto Ditto Do. Do. but cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Morng. cloudy—fair afterwds. & So[uther]ly Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind at No. W. cloudy & very cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Fine warm day. Fresh So[uther]ly Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Fine Day & little wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Brisk So[uther]ly Wind & Cloudy with mch. Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. So[uther]ly Storm.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Fine day. Wind shifting from So. to No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Wind still So[uther]ly, warm & fine day.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. So[uther]ly wind Cloudy & a little Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. So[uther]ly wind & dripping Weather.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Little or no Wind till Night then No. Et. & Wet.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Rain till 12 Oclock then Wind at No. West.


Title: [The Weather] [February 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Snow in the Morning, but clear afterwds.

2. Wind No[rther]ly but mild clear.

3. Wind shifting from East to So. Clear & ⟨warm⟩.

4. So[uther]ly cloudy & clear by turns—white Frost.

5. So[uther]ly with Rain—gd. very Rotton.

6. Very fine drying day. No wind.

7. W. So[uther]ly, very warm & drying.

8. W. No. Wt. but not hard, fine clear & Warm.

9. Sml. Frost. Wd. No. Et.

10. Do. wind at No. threatning Rain.

11. Clear & fine. Wind Northwardly.

12. Very clear, still and fine.

13. Strong, & warm southerly Wind—clear.

14. Ditto Ditto Do. Do. but cloudy.

15. No. Et. wind and Rain.

16. Morng. cloudy—fair afterwds. & So[uther]ly Wind.

17. Wind at No. W. cloudy & very cold.

18. Cold in the Mg. Moderate afterwds. Wd. So[uther]ly.

19. Fine warm day. Fresh So[uther]ly Wind.

20. Fine Day & little wind.

21. Brisk So[uther]ly Wind & Cloudy with mch. Rain.

22. So[uther]ly Storm.

23. Fine day. Wind shifting from So. to No. Wt.

24. Fresh So[uther]ly Wind & Cloudy Weather.

25. Wind still So[uther]ly, warm & fine day.

26. So[uther]ly wind Cloudy & a little Rain.

27. So[uther]ly wind & dripping Weather.

28. Little or no Wind till Night then No. Et. & Wet.

29. Rain till 12 Oclock then Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Fair day, variable Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Southerly Wind & Cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. High Westerly Wind—clear & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. So[uther]ly wind & Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Do. fine day.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Do. fine Morning but Cloudy Afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. No. Et. Wind, and much Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. No. Et. Wind & Snow by Intervals all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. No. W. Wind & Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Ditto—Ditto—somewhat Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. No. Et. Wind & Incessant Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Do. till Noon.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Wind at Do. Cloudy and little Snow.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. No. Et. Wind and much Snow.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Snowd by Intervals all Day.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Cold No[rther]ly Wind—clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Cold south[er]ly Wind & Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Southerly Wind and Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Do. but changeable Weather.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. No. West & very boisterous.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear, & Warm strong So[uther]ly Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Misty Rain at Intervals. Little wind.


Title: [The Weather] [March 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Cold & Cloudy—wind first at No. Wt. then East[er]ly.

2. Fair day, variable Wind.

3. Southerly Wind & Cloudy.

4. High Westerly Wind—clear & cool.

5. So[uther]ly wind & Rain.

6. Do. fine day.

7. Do. fine Morning but Cloudy Afterwds.

8. No. Et. Wind, and much Rain.

9. No. Et. Wind & Snow by Intervals all day.

10. No. W. Wind & Clear.

11. Ditto—Ditto—somewhat Cold.

12. Southerly Wind—clear & very fine.

13. No. Et. Wind & Incessant Rain.

14. Do. till Noon.

15. Wind at Do. Cloudy and little Snow.

16. No. Et. Wind and much Snow.

17. Snowd by Intervals all Day.

18. Wind in the Morng. at No. Wt. then So[uther]ly & War[m].

19. Lowg. & Cold, Wind So[uther]ly.

20. Cold No[rther]ly Wind—clear.

21. In the Morng. No. Et. Wind. So[uther]ly afterwards.

22. Cold south[er]ly Wind & Rain.

23. Southerly Wind and Warm.

24. South[er]ly in the Morng. Easterly After.

25. Do. but changeable Weather.

26. No. West & very boisterous.

27. So[uther]ly Wind, fine warm day.

28. Clear, & Warm strong So[uther]ly Wind.

29. Misty Rain at Intervals. Little wind.

30. Fresh & variable Wind, chiefly from So.

31. Do. & fresh, light Showers.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. So[uther]ly drying Wind & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Do. and fresh, with Clouds.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. So[uther]ly Wind. Rain at Dark.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. So[uther]ly Wind—with Rain. Cloudy all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Much Rain, wind variable.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. No. Et. very cloudy sometimes Misty.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Do. Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 April 1760]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. So. Et. & fresh. Cleard abt. Noon.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

May 24th. Betty from Riverside Quarter came home Sick & did not again in a Condition to work till the 13th. July fol.


Title: [May 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

May 24th. Betty from Riverside Quarter came home Sick & did not again in a Condition to work till the 13th. July fol.

   Riverside Quarter, or River Quarter, a newly developed part of the Mount Vernon crop land, was in the 1,806 acres of land GW had bought from William Clifton in 1760. Most of the remaining cleared land in the Neck owned by GW was, in 1760, being worked by tenants. Riverside Quarter became the basis for the larger River plantation (later River Farm) that GW developed in subsequent years.

   GW had gone to Frederick County early in May to campaign for reelection to the House of Burgesses. He and George Mercer won the two seats in the assembly despite a determined campaign by GW’s old lieutenant from the Virginia Regiment, Adam Stephen (see FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57., 3:55–56, 61–62).


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

11th. July. Edward Violette compleated his Planting at Muddy hole Quarter—that is, he planted 25,000 hills on the East side of the Plantn. & replanted all. The same day Jno. Foster at Dogue Run Quarter finishd his, having 40,000 to plant besides replanting—18,000 of which lying at the south Extreame of the Plantn., 8,000 in the Orchard abt. the House, & the Rest around the New Tobo. House on the East. N.B. The Reason of noting this late plantg. is to see how it succeeds.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday July 31st. Sowd Turnips—upon which fell a heavy Rain immediately—so that they were neither Rakd nor harrowd in—the seed I mean. In a few days they came up very thick and well.


Title: [July 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

11th. July. Edward Violette compleated his Planting at Muddy hole Quarter—that is, he planted 25,000 hills on the East side of the Plantn. & replanted all.
The same day Jno. Foster at Dogue Run Quarter finishd his, having 40,000 to plant besides replanting—18,000 of which lying at the south Extreame of the Plantn., 8,000 in the Orchard abt. the House, & the Rest around the New Tobo. House on the East.
N.B. The Reason of noting this late plantg. is to see how it succeeds.

   Edward Violet (Violette; d. 1773) was overseer at Muddy Hole until he moved to the Bullskin plantation in 1762 (see entry for 27 Oct. 1762).

Friday July 31st. Sowd Turnips—upon which fell a heavy Rain immediately—so that they were neither Rakd nor harrowd in—the seed I mean. In a few days they came up very thick and well.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Augt. 15th. Sow’d abt. half an Acre of English Turnip Seed adjoining to the above and Raked them in the Ground being dry.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 8. Sowed 12 Bushels of Ray Grass Seed and 2 Bushels of Hop Trafoil in the Inclosure adjoining the Quarter. The Weather was extreamely dry when it was sowd, however their fell a slight Shower that day—as there did likewise the 10th. but not more

than sufficient to lay the Dust thoroughly. The seed was Harrowed in with a Brush Harrow and it is apprehended buried too deep by that means as none of it appeard till towards the last of the Month after a great deal of Rainy Weather and then of none but the Ray grass. The other is not to be seen at this time Octr. 23d.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

[21] Cattle bought at My Bro. John Washington’s Sale 21st. Septr. 1761.

1 Cow and
Calf
£ 2.10

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.3

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.16

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.17

1 Ditto
Ditto
3.3

1 Ditto
Yearling
2.9

1 Ditto
Ditto
3.1

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.10

1 Ditto

1.16

1 Steer

1.17

2 Ditto

2.

£27.2


Title: [September 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 8. Sowed 12 Bushels of Ray Grass Seed and 2 Bushels of Hop Trafoil in the Inclosure adjoining the Quarter. The Weather was extreamely dry when it was sowd, however their fell a slight Shower that day—as there did likewise the 10th. but not more

than sufficient to lay the Dust thoroughly. The seed was Harrowed in with a Brush Harrow and it is apprehended buried too deep by that means as none of it appeard till towards the last of the Month after a great deal of Rainy Weather and then of none but the Ray grass. The other is not to be seen at this time Octr. 23d.

   ray grass: Lolium perenne, perennial, or English, ryegrass.

[21] Cattle bought at My Bro. John Washington’s Sale 21st. Septr. 1761.

1 Cow and
Calf
£ 2.10

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.3

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.16

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.17

1 Ditto
Ditto
3.3

1 Ditto
Yearling
2.9

1 Ditto
Ditto
3.1

1 Ditto
Ditto
2.10

1 Ditto

1.16

1 Steer

1.17

2 Ditto

2.

£27.2

   The list of cattle has been moved from the flyleaf of the almanac.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 15th. Sowed a Bushel of Ray grass seed, a gallon of clean Timothy Seed, and abt. half a Bushel in Chaff of Ditto on my Meadow at Dogue Run quarter. Note this ground at the time of Sowing was very moist—but no Rain fell upon it afterwards Untill the 22d. of the Month, when it raind hard for two days. This Seed was also harrowd in with Bushes. Clean Timothy seed supposd not to be good.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 22d. Began Captn. Posey’s Barn with Turner Crump & Six Carpenters.


Title: [October 1761]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 15th. Sowed a Bushel of Ray grass seed, a gallon of clean Timothy Seed, and abt. half a Bushel in Chaff of Ditto on my Meadow at Dogue Run quarter. Note this ground at the time of Sowing was very moist—but no Rain fell upon it afterwards Untill the 22d. of the Month, when it raind hard for two days. This Seed was also harrowd in with Bushes. Clean Timothy seed supposd not to be good.

   English agriculturist Richard Parkinson wrote that American farmers usually sowed timothy grass, Phleum pratense, alone (PARKINSONRichard Parkinson. A Tour in America, in 1798, 1799, and 1800. Exhibiting Sketches of Society and Manners, and a Particular Account of the American System of Agriculture, with Its Recent Improvements. 2 vols. London, 1805., 2:343); here GW is mixing it with ryegrass. In his later years GW depended heavily on timothy, finding it suitable for a hot climate and able to survive in wet pasturelands.

Octr. 22d. Began Captn. Posey’s Barn with Turner Crump & Six Carpenters.

   Turner Crump was hired by GW in Dec. 1760 to oversee GW’s slave carpenters at a wage of £30 per year. This construction project apparently marked the first time GW contracted Crump and his slave carpenters out to do work for others.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

Note. Killed this 27th. of Jany.—18 hogs of abt. 15 Months old—and for an experiment weighed them alive, after they had fasted abt. 36 hours.

They turned out

2147

 When killed nett Wt. was
1774

 Haslletts
  63
1837

Difference allowg. nothg. for Gut Fat

310

by which it appears that the odds between gross and Nett Porke shoud be abt. 15 pr. Ct.


Title: [January 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

Note. Killed this 27th. of Jany.—18 hogs of abt. 15 Months old—and for an experiment weighed them alive, after they had fasted abt. 36 hours.

They turned out

2147

 When killed nett Wt. was
1774

 Haslletts
  63
1837

Difference allowg. nothg. for Gut Fat

310

by which it appears that the odds between gross and Nett Porke shoud be abt. 15 pr. Ct.

   hasllets: haslets, the edible viscera of a slaughtered animal.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Began Plowing for Oats.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Rented George Ashfords Plantn. to Nelson Kelly for 1000 lbs. Tobo. & Cash. Sowed a good deal of Tobo. Seed at all my Quarters.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Killed 27 Hogs after being Six days coming from Frederick and very well emptied—wch. hogs weighed gross as follows—viz.

320
202
254
206
220

130
128
160
134
132

178
178
150
126
206

128
172
131
154
181

181
120
240
214
144

120
134

1057
934
935
834
883

1057
1991
2926
3760

1991
2926
3760
4643

4643 lbs. being the gross wt. I then tryed what they woud weigh nett, after being killd 12 & 18 hours.

124
142
100
106
100

174
252
180
162
212

106
146
186
94
104

140
122
174
146
150

126
164
114
114
108

94
96

764
922
754
622
674

764
1686
2440
3062

1686
2440
3062
3736

deduct for a Rope, weighg. Nett Porke
81

3655

add for Hasllets
139

ditto for Gut fat
96

3890

 The difference between Nett. & gross Porke is 753 by wch. it appears that there is a loss of 16 pr. Ct.


Title: [February 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Began Plowing for Oats.

20. Rented George Ashfords Plantn. to Nelson Kelly for 1000 lbs. Tobo. & Cash.
Sowed a good deal of Tobo. Seed at all my Quarters.

   George Ashford of Fairfax County sold GW 135 acres of land on the west side of Dogue Run 13–14 Jan. 1762 for £165 (Fairfax County Deeds, Book E–1, 22–30, Vi Microfilm). Adjoining this land on the north was another 135-acre tract that GW had bought from Ashford’s brother John 29–30 Jan. 1761 for £150 (Fairfax County Deeds, Book D–1, 822–27, Vi Microfilm). Both tracts lay on the east side of the land that GW purchased from Simon Pearson on 14 Feb. 1763, giving him a solid 448–acre section between Dogue Run and the main road from Alexandria to Colchester. Kelly later in the year became overseer of the Dogue Run plantation (see entry for 31 Aug. 1762).

27. Killed 27 Hogs after being Six days coming from Frederick and very well emptied—wch. hogs weighed gross as follows—viz.

320
202
254
206
220

130
128
160
134
132

178
178
150
126
206

128
172
131
154
181

181
120
240
214
144

120
134

1057
934
935
834
883

1057
1991
2926
3760

1991
2926
3760
4643

4643 lbs. being the gross wt. I then tryed what they woud weigh nett, after being killd 12 & 18 hours.

124
142
100
106
100

174
252
180
162
212

106
146
186
94
104

140
122
174
146
150

126
164
114
114
108

94
96

764
922
754
622
674

764
1686
2440
3062

1686
2440
3062
3736

deduct for a Rope, weighg. Nett Porke
81

3655

add for Hasllets
139

ditto for Gut fat
96

3890

The difference between Nett. & gross Porke is 753 by wch. it appears that there is a loss of 16 pr. Ct.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. There having fallen a Snow of abt. 2 Inches depth the Night before—I sowed thereupon, at the Meadow at Fosters, where the grass was entirely destroyd by the Winter’s Frosts, Six pecks of Ray grass Seed & three quarts of Timothy Seed mixed well in Ashes. Also Sowed, from the North Side of the Inclosure by the Quarter, to the Quarter with Ray grass, hop Clover, & Lucerne Mixed—viz. for the whole Inclosure 8 Pecks of Ray seed, 3 ditto of the Clovr., & 1 ditto of the Lucerne—but the Snow dissolving & the Wind coming out very fresh at No. West I was obligd to desist

and a prodigious severe frost happeng. that Night ’tis to be fear’d the Seed all perished.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Finished Plowing for Oats—abt. 20 Acs.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Began Plowg. and Ditchg. the Meadow at George Ashfords. Also began Sowing & Harrowing in of Oats. Also, grafted Six trees in the Garden. See Memorandum of this on ’tother side the Book.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Burnt Tobo. Beds. Grafted 5 others of the same Cherry’s on Scions standing in a Cluster in the Mint bed. Also, 3 Bullock hearts (from Colo. Mason) one under the Wall to the right of the gate—2 others under the Wall also, between the 5 Cornation Cherrys & opposite to the Plumb trees. Also—4 more of the fine early Cherrys from Colo. Masons, between the abo⟨ve⟩ and the Cherrys which were graf⟨ted⟩ last year from that tree by the Gra⟨pe⟩ Vine. These were all upon growg. Sc⟨ions⟩. Grafted likewise in the Peach Orch⟨ard⟩ 4 More Apricots & in the Apple Orchard 6 more. Note. These Apricots came from the Plantation where Mr. Clifton used to live.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

 25. Sowed them [tobacco beds] in the following Manner viz. in the first bed next towards the dividing fence Frederick Tobo. Seed—in 2d. Bed Thick joint in 3d. Sweetscented—4th. Johnson’s 5th. br[oa]d long Green.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

27th. Finished Sowing & harrowing in my Oats. Viz. 44 Bushels. Also, finished Sowing the grass Seed by Quar[te]r.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Engagd my Ferriage at Fredksburg. by the Year of Mr. Jas. Hunter.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Sowed in the Meadow at Ashfords, eight Quarts of Timothy Seed four Do. of Lucerne, and three pecks of Hop Trefoil.


Title: March [1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. There having fallen a Snow of abt. 2 Inches depth the Night before—I sowed thereupon, at the Meadow at Fosters, where the grass was entirely destroyd by the Winter’s Frosts, Six pecks of Ray grass Seed & three quarts of Timothy Seed mixed well in Ashes.
Also Sowed, from the North Side of the Inclosure by the Quarter, to the Quarter with Ray grass, hop Clover, & Lucerne Mixed—viz. for the whole Inclosure 8 Pecks of Ray seed, 3 ditto of the Clovr., & 1 ditto of the Lucerne—but the Snow dissolving & the Wind coming out very fresh at No. West I was obligd to desist

and a prodigious severe frost happeng. that Night ’tis to be fear’d the Seed all perished.

   In March GW’s half brother Augustine Washington died; GW records an expenditure of £2 13s. 3d. for a trip to Westmoreland County to attend the funeral. He undoubtedly gave some advice and help to Augustine’s family, but he refused to act as executor, probably because of the distance involved and the press of his own affairs (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 146; FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57., 3:73n; GW to John West, 13 Jan. 1775, DLC:GW). After his trip to Augustine’s home, GW traveled to Williamsburg to attend a meeting of the House of Burgesses which began on 30 Mar. At this meeting Governor Fauquier announced that, according to instruction from the assembly in Jan. 1762, the Virginia Regiment had been disbanded. Now, however, there was a possibility of trouble with the Spanish in Florida, and the assembly voted to raise 1,000 troops to form a new regiment (see FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948–57., 3:74–75).

18th. Agreed to give Turner Crump one Sixth part of what he can make by my Carpenters this Year, which is to commense the 22d. day of Octr. being the time when he began Captn. Poseys Work, and to give him the Seventh of what he can make by them the Year after.

20. Finished Plowing for Oats—abt. 20 Acs.

22. Began Plowg. and Ditchg. the Meadow at George Ashfords. Also began Sowing & Harrowing in of Oats.
Also, grafted Six trees in the Garden. See Memorandum of this on ’tother side the Book.

24. Burnt Tobo. Beds.
Grafted 5 others of the same Cherry’s on Scions standing in a Cluster in the Mint bed.
Also, 3 Bullock hearts (from Colo. Mason) one under the Wall to the right of the gate—2 others under the Wall also, between the 5 Cornation Cherrys & opposite to the Plumb trees.
Also—4 more of the fine early Cherrys from Colo. Masons, between the abo⟨ve⟩ and the Cherrys which were graf⟨ted⟩ last year from that tree by the Gra⟨pe⟩ Vine. These were all upon growg. Sc⟨ions⟩.
Grafted likewise in the Peach Orch⟨ard⟩ 4 More Apricots & in the Apple Orchard 6 more. Note. These Apricots came from the Plantation where Mr. Clifton used to live.

   Beginning with the word “Grafted,” the remainder of the 24 Mar. entry has been transferred from a dated memorandum on the back cover of the diary.

   4 more apricots: Prunus armeniaca, apricot. GW does not mention this fruit again in the diaries until 9 Feb. 1785, but other papers show that it was common in his orchards.

25. Sowed them [tobacco beds] in the following Manner viz. in the first bed next towards the dividing fence Frederick Tobo. Seed—in 2d. Bed Thick joint in 3d. Sweetscented—4th. Johnson’s 5th. br[oa]d long Green.

27th. Finished Sowing & harrowing in my Oats. Viz. 44 Bushels.
Also, finished Sowing the grass Seed by Quar[te]r.

29. Engagd my Ferriage at Fredksburg. by the Year of Mr. Jas. Hunter.

   James Hunter, Jr. (1746–1788), inherited this Rappahannock River ferry from his father, William, who died in 1754. Since James Jr. was still a minor in 1762, GW must have dealt with his older cousin and guardian, James Hunter, Sr. (d. 1785), a major merchant, planter, and iron manufacturer then of King George County.

30. Sowed in the Meadow at Ashfords, eight Quarts of Timothy Seed four Do. of Lucerne, and three pecks of Hop Trefoil.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Sowed Timothy Seed in the old Apple Orchard below the Hill.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 April 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Sowed—or rather sprinkled a little of Ditto on the Oats.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 April 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. to the 10th. Getting Swamp Mud, & laying it in heaps—also got a little of the Creek Mud—Both for tryal as Manures.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 April 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Sent Jno. Alton to take charge of Plantation.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 April 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Had the Plantn. viewed. Herrings run in gt. quantity’s. Planted new gd. at Williamson’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finished Planting Corn at all Places.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Counted the Tobo. Gd. at Doeg Run Qr. as follows—viz.—of

Cowpen Ground
7500

Dungd Gd. in Peach Orchard
3100

Ditto in Apple Orchard
3500

14,100

New ground
12500

Old Ground J. Gists adjg.
10700

large Cut by Corn field fence
22000

Middle Cut adjoing.
9200

Small Cut next Woods Do.
4500

round New Tobo. House
8600

Branch between Jno. Gists old Gd. So. side Plann.

13,000


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Told my Sheep as follows—viz. & Cut & Markd

Ewes in all
104
Ewe Lambs
38

Weather’s Do.
29
left for Ram’s
4

Ram’s
6
Weather’s
8

139
left for killing
16

66

 Note. The above Includes falling Sheep Ewes & Lambs. Put 31 hides in Soak for Tanning. Guy began the Garden Wall, after having built an Oven in the Kitchen, laid the hearth, & repaird the back. Brought 5 Cows & Calves from Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Got a Cask of Leith Ale from Mr. Marshall Piscatwy. Agreed to do Mr. Bells Work for £59.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. 6 Cows & Calves from S. Johnson. 3 Do. 2 Do. from C.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Planted abt. 50, or 60,000—being the first—Tobo. put in. Roan’s bay & sorrel covered by Mr. Rozers Traveller. English bay & black covered by Aeriel.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 May 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. White Mare & Rankin covered by Do.


Title: May [1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Mr. Daingerfields Negro Bricklayer Guy came here to work.

   Three William Daingerfields were living in Virginia in 1762, all of whom GW knew. Col. William Daingerfield (d. 1769), of Greenfield, Essex County, whom GW had visited in 1752 as he was traveling home from Barbados, had a son and a nephew, both named William. The son William Daingerfield (d. 1781), of Coventry and Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, had served with GW as ensign and lieutenant in the Virginia Regiment and continued in service until the regiment was disbanded in 1762. The nephew William Daingerfield (d. 1783), of New Kent, was a first cousin to Burwell Bassett and lived in the Eltham neighborhood until about 1770, when he removed to Belvidera, just south of Fredericksburg (see RILEY [1]Edward Miles Riley, ed. The Journal of John Harrower: An Indentured Servant in the Colony of Virginia, 1773-1776. Williamsburg, Va., 1963., 172). GW hired Guy

for £30 per year plus room and board and billed Daingerfield for Guy’s clothing. Guy remained in GW’s service until Oct. 1763.

4. Finished Planting Corn at all Places.

10. Counted the Tobo. Gd. at Doeg Run Qr. as follows—viz.—of

Cowpen Ground
7500

Dungd Gd. in Peach Orchard
3100

Ditto in Apple Orchard
3500

14,100

New ground
12500

Old Ground J. Gists adjg.
10700

large Cut by Corn field fence
22000

Middle Cut adjoing.
9200

Small Cut next Woods Do.
4500

round New Tobo. House
8600

Branch between Jno. Gists old Gd. So. side Plann.

13,000

   John Gist (d. 1778) was a planter who for many years had rented 106 acres on the east side of Dogue Run from Sampson Darrell—land that came under GW’s ownership after his purchase of 500 acres from Darrell in 1757. Gist continued to rent his quarter from GW until 12 Aug. 1760, when GW bought out his lease for £30 (deed of Gist to GW, PHi: Gratz Collection: General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 84). Gist apparently moved to Loudoun County.

11. Told my Sheep as follows—viz. & Cut & Markd

Ewes in all
104
Ewe Lambs
38

Weather’s Do.
29
left for Ram’s
4

Ram’s
6
Weather’s
8

139
left for killing
16

66

Note. The above Includes falling Sheep Ewes & Lambs.
Put 31 hides in Soak for Tanning.
Guy began the Garden Wall, after having built an Oven in the Kitchen, laid the hearth, & repaird the back.
Brought 5 Cows & Calves from Muddy hole.

13. Got a Cask of Leith Ale from Mr. Marshall Piscatwy. Agreed to do Mr. Bells Work for £59.

   Marshall is probably James Marshall, who owned or managed a “Public House of Entertainment” in Piscataway in 1761 (Md. Gaz., 23 April 1761). Piscataway is on Piscataway Creek in Prince George’s County, Md., almost directly across the Potomac from Mount Vernon. At this time it was a

thriving town made up largely of Scottish merchants engaged in the tobacco trade.

   mr. bells work: On 15 Aug. 1763 GW received £41 15s. 8d. from “Mr. Josias Bell for Carpenters w[ork]” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 166). Most of GW’s carpenters were involved in this work during the summer of 1762 (see entries for 28 June, 19 July, 27 July, and 29 July 1762). Bell was probably Josias Beall (born c.1725) of Prince George’s County, Md.

15. 6 Cows & Calves from S. Johnson. 3 Do. 2 Do. from C.

22. Young Countiss & black Mare Covered by Alexanders Ho[rse].

   Alexander is probably Robert Alexander, son of Col. Gerard Alexander and his wife Mary Dent Alexander. It is probable that GW sent some of his mares to Alexander’s nearby plantation to be bred, possibly to an English stallion which he had previously sold to Alexander (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 96).

28. Planted abt. 50, or 60,000—being the first—Tobo. put in. Roan’s bay & sorrel covered by Mr. Rozers Traveller. English bay & black covered by Aeriel.

   Roan may have been John Roan, overseer of Claiborne’s, the Custis dower plantation in King William County.

   Ariel was a thoroughbred black stallion from the famous Belair stables in Prince George’s County, Md. In 1762 he was standing at William Digges’s plantation (BELAIR STUDFairfax Harrison. The Belair Stud, 1747–1761. Richmond, Va., 1929., 56).

   Henry Rozer or Rozier (born c.1725), of Prince George’s County, Md., lived at Notley Hall, nearly opposite Alexandria (BROWNEFairfax Harrison, ed. “With Braddock’s Army: Mrs. Browne’s Diary in Virginia and Maryland.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 32 (1924): 305–20., 309; BRUMBAUGHGaius Marcus Brumbaugh. Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church, from Original Sources. 2 vols. 1915 and 1928. Reprint. Baltimore, 1975., 1:85). The previous spring he had advertised in the Maryland Gazette: “young traveller, now in the Possession of Mr. Henry Rozer, in Prince-George’s County, Covers Mares at Two Guineas. He is Five Years old, full Sixteen Hands and an Inch high, was bred by Col. Tasker, got by Mr. Moreton’s traveller in Virginia, and came out of MISS COLVILL” (2 April 1761).

30. Chesnut Mare covered by Alexrs. H[orse] Countis & blk. refused.
Roan Mare & old black coverd by McCartys horse.

   Capt. Daniel McCarty (d. 1792) of Mount Air charged GW £3 for “the use of your Horse to 4 Mares” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 82).

31. White Mare & Rankin covered by Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Guy Sick and did no Work.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Jno. Askew came to Work.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Jno. Askew came to Work.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Roan Mare took McCartys Horse. Old black—took—Do.—Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Rankin’s—took—Do.—Do. White—refused Do.—Do. English Mare refused Alexrs. Horse.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Recd. a Pipe of Wine. Hogs at Mill—viz.

6
Sows

13
large Shoats

9
Smaller Do.

6
Large Pigs

12
Small Do.

46
in all.

 Blaze Mare refused horse.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. English Mare refused Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Finished Mowing 2 Meadows—& Makg. Hay. Note 5 hands can easily cut both in two days. Rankin Covered by McCarty’s horse. 2 Steers & Cow & Calf from Dogue Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Roan Mare & old black took horse.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Hay in both Meadows Cured & stacked.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Began clearing at Rivr. Side Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Rankin covered by McCartys horse.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Corn planted in Tobo. Grd. at Muddy hole R[ive]r[side Quarter]. Will George & Ned went to Work at Bells.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Replanted Tobo.—poor Season—corn replanted just coming up. Much hurt by B⟨ ⟩.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Good Season—planted best part of Tobo. gd.


Title: June [1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Guy Sick and did no Work.

2. Good Season at D[ogue] Run Quartr. planted abt. there.

4. Jno. Askew came to Work.

   In 1759 GW hired John Askew, a local joiner, for £25 per year plus housing. In Oct. 1761 they changed the agreement, GW now paying Askew a per diem wage that amounted to the same £25–per-year rate. For a 5–day week with 11 holidays per year Askew’s pay would come to 2s. per day. Hence, as Askew was paid per day, GW kept track of any absence or return to work by Askew.

7. Jno. Askew came to Work.

8. Roan Mare took McCartys Horse.
Old black—took—Do.—Do.

9. Rankin’s—took—Do.—Do.
White—refused Do.—Do.
English Mare refused Alexrs. Horse.

13. Recd. a Pipe of Wine.
Hogs at Mill—viz.

6
Sows

13
large Shoats

9
Smaller Do.

6
Large Pigs

12
Small Do.

46
in all.

Blaze Mare refused horse.

14. English Mare refused Do.

17. Began Mowing Meadow on C[ree]k side.
Planted at Orchard point—Craiks and Cowpen my 5 sorts of Tobo. as follow
At the point 100 hills of each sort in undunged gd. & 100 of dunged
The 1st. Row next Tobo. bed Fred[eric]k & so on as they were sowed in March last then begg. with the same & so on alternately.
The same Order observe at Craiks begg. next Creek & in the Cowpen next Wood.

   Orchard Point was apparently a point of land on Clifton’s Neck at the mouth of Little Hunting Creek (see “Observations” entry for 14 July 1768). On his

1766 map of River Farm, GW refers to a point of land across the creek from this as Old Orchard Point (GW Atlas, pl. 3).

19. Finished Mowing 2 Meadows—& Makg. Hay. Note 5 hands can easily cut both in two days.
Rankin Covered by McCarty’s horse.
2 Steers & Cow & Calf from Dogue Run.

20. Roan Mare & old black took horse.

22. Hay in both Meadows Cured & stacked.

25. Began clearing at Rivr. Side Quarter.

27. Rankin covered by McCartys horse.

28. Corn planted in Tobo. Grd. at Muddy hole R[ive]r[side Quarter]. Will George & Ned went to Work at Bells.

29. Replanted Tobo.—poor Season—corn replanted just coming up. Much hurt by B⟨ ⟩.

30. Good Season—planted best part of Tobo. gd.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. My Mares came from Mr. Rozers.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Broached pipe of Wine.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cut my wheat at R[iverside] Qr. & Ck. Do. Also finished


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. first cuttg. of Hay.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

 13. Mares brot. from Mr. Digges’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Counted my Sheep as follows—

6
Rams at Johnson’s

12
Ewes at Do.

94
Do. runng. at large

1
Do. put into Oats

13
Weathers put into Do.

16
rung. in pasture

142
old Sheep, besides one at Colo. F[airfa]xs

12
Ram lambs put into Oats

8
Weather Do. in grass gd.

38
Ewe Ditto—in Ditto

200
in all & this day parted Ewes & L[am]bs

 Puttg. the followg. Cattle for fattg. upon Oats

2
old Steers from D[ogue] Run
}
—formerly

1
old Cow from Do.

2
old Steers from there to day.

1
old Cow from Muddy hole

2
old Oxen Home Ho[use]

1
old Cow Do. Do.—wch. came formly. from R[ive]r[side Quarter]

9
—in all.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Nancy Gist left this.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Recd. my Goods from the Unity—Captn. Robson. Bot. Frederick & Judy of Mr. Lewis. Began grubg. my Meadow. Note sometimes 4, & sometimes 6 hands at Wk.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Crump went over to Bells to work.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Tom also went over.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Guy finished the 3 sides of Garden all to Capp[in]g Pill[a]r. B. Mitchell went away.


Title: [July 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Roan Mare took McCartys horse.
Black Do. Do. Do. Do.

3. Recd. 494 bushls. Oyster Shells.

4. My Mares came from Mr. Rozers.

   my mares: the mares sent to Rozer’s to be bred (see entry for 28 May 1762).

7. Broached pipe of Wine.

8. Finished plantg. & replantg. at all Qrs.

9. Cut my wheat at R[iverside] Qr. & Ck. Do. Also finished

10. first cuttg. of Hay.

12. Finished plowg. gd. behind Garden.
Carpenters went to Reapg. at Poseys.

13. Mares brot. from Mr. Digges’s.

   GW brought back his English bay and black mares which had been sent to William Digges’s plantation to be bred (see entry for 28 May 1762).

14. Counted my Sheep as follows—

6
Rams at Johnson’s

12
Ewes at Do.

94
Do. runng. at large

1
Do. put into Oats

13
Weathers put into Do.

16
rung. in pasture

142
old Sheep, besides one at Colo. F[airfa]xs

12
Ram lambs put into Oats

8
Weather Do. in grass gd.

38
Ewe Ditto—in Ditto

200
in all & this day parted Ewes & L[am]bs

Puttg. the followg. Cattle for fattg. upon Oats

2
old Steers from D[ogue] Run
}
—formerly

1
old Cow from Do.

2
old Steers from there to day.

1
old Cow from Muddy hole

2
old Oxen Home Ho[use]

1
old Cow Do. Do.—wch. came formly. from R[ive]r[side Quarter]

9
—in all.

15. Nancy Gist left this.

   Nancy Gist, daughter of Christopher and Sarah Howard Gist, had gone to live with William Fairfax’s family at Belvoir in 1757 while her father was on the frontier, first as a captain with the Virginia Regiment, then as deputy to Edmond Atkin, superintendent for Indian affairs in the southern colonies (William Fairfax to GW, 17 July 1757, DLC:GW; GW to Sally Fairfax, 25 Sept. 1758, WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931–44., 2:292–94; TRIMBLEDavid B. Trimble. “Christopher Gist and the Indian Service in Virginia, 1757–1759.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 64 (1956): 143–65., 145–47). She never married and after her father’s death in 1759 went to live with one of her brothers.

19. Will, George, Sam, & Mike went to Bells agn.

20. Recd. my Goods from the Unity—Captn. Robson.
Bot. Frederick & Judy of Mr. Lewis.
Began grubg. my Meadow. Note sometimes 4, & sometimes 6 hands at Wk.

   Capt. William Robson of the Unity carried a large shipment of goods which GW had ordered from Robert Cary & Co. on behalf of himself and the two

Custis children. The complete order amounted to £463 15s. 8d. and included such items as a new still, clothing, china, food, farm equipment, and books (invoices of goods shipped to GW, 1754–66, DLC:GW). GW wrote Cary & Co. on 18 Sept. 1762 that everything had arrived except some shoes. “There must likewise have been a mistake in Shipping the Plows, for many of the most material parts being wanting, the rest, according to the Bill of Parcells, is entirely useless, and lye upon my hands a dead charge” (DLC:GW).

   frederick & judy: On this date GW paid £115 to Col. Fielding Lewis for two Negroes (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 146).

26. Sowed a little of each kind of Seed that came in, in the Garden to try their goodns.
Opened a Cask bottled Porter contg. as follows

6. 1
full bottles
}
also 3 Casks Dorsets. Beer as follows
{
29.6
full Bs.

3. 4
pieces
1
Piece

1.11
empty
2.1
broken

9
broke
31.8
in all

12.1
in all

27. Crump went over to Bells to work.

29. Tom also went over.

31. Guy finished the 3 sides of Garden all to Capp[in]g Pill[a]r.
B. Mitchell went away.

   Burgis Mitchell of Maryland had been employed 1 May 1762 by GW as overseer of the Home House plantation, the farm on which the mansion house was located. He was to work until the end of October, for which GW was to pay him £6 plus his levy and tax and to provide him with laundry services, lodging, and food. According to the terms of the agreement, if Mitchell did not fulfill his obligations satisfactorily he could be “turned of at any season between this” and the last of October and would forfeit his wages (agreement of Mitchell with GW, 1 May 1762, DLC:GW). He left before the six months were up.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Philip Fletcher came to making Bricks. Sowed a Bushel of Buckwheat in Sandy grd. at Ch[arle]s C[rai]ks.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Inspected 11 hogsheads—Tobo. H[untin]g C[ree]k Warehouse.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Recd. 70 Bags of Salt—abt. 280 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Began Sowing Wheat at Creek Quartr.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Began Sowing wheat at Muddy hole. Began cutting Creek Meadow.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

 31. Winney came from Mountain Quarter. Agreed with Nelson Kelly to Overlook Gists &ca.


Title: [August 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Philip Fletcher came to making Bricks.
Sowed a Bushel of Buckwheat in Sandy grd. at Ch[arle]s C[rai]ks.

   Philip Fletcher was paid £14 10s. for making 78,000 nine-inch bricks, 2,125 tiles for the garden wall, and 1,080 nine-inch-square flooring tiles (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 130).

   After this early trial of Fagopyrum esculentum, buckwheat, GW appears to

   have neglected it as a crop for many years. He next begins to experiment with it when he receives 50 bushels from Leven (Levin) Powell of Loudoun County, as he notes in his entry of 1 Dec. 1786. When Powell sent him several more bushels in April 1787, he included a letter advising GW on raising the crop and explaining that it was fed to cows and horses as a meal mixed with straw or chaff. GW planned to use it both as livestock feed and as green manure to be plowed under. Seven years later he was still learning how to raise the crop. When the Whiskey Rebellion called him into rural Pennsylvania in 1794, he paused at Reading to write William Pearce at Mount Vernon some observations he had made on the methods used by Pennsylvania farmers. Eventually he gave up buckwheat completely, believing that it depleted as much as it enriched the soil.

3. Inspected 11 hogsheads—Tobo. H[untin]g C[ree]k Warehouse.

5. Sowed Turnip Seed.

12. Sowed Rye & Hop Trefoil behind Garden.

   rye: Secale cereale, important to GW in sheep husbandry and in his overall plan when in later years he had developed a seven-year crop rotation. He usually grazed sheep on the young rye, withdrawing them in time to produce a grain crop.

16. Began Sowing Wheat at River Quarter.

20. Began beating Cyder at Ditto.
Recd. 1 hhd. Molasses qty. 120 Gals. & 1 Barl. Sugar wt. 254 lb. of Colo. Walke.
Also recd. of Mr. Thos. Thompson leathr. as follows Viz.

10
Sides Sole leathr.—
wt. 200 lbs.

17
Sides upper Do. &
}
wt. 100 lbs.

2
hides Do. Do.

   Col. Anthony Walke (1692–1768), of Fairfield, Princess Anne County, was a merchant based in Norfolk who imported rum and sugar from the West Indies. By 1762 his son Anthony Walke (1726–1782) had become a partner in the business. In his General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 118, GW records Thompson’s first name as William.

21. Recd. 70 Bags of Salt—abt. 280 Bushels.

25. Began Sowing Wheat at Creek Quartr.

30. Began Sowing wheat at Muddy hole.
Began cutting Creek Meadow.

31. Winney came from Mountain Quarter.
Agreed with Nelson Kelly to Overlook Gists &ca.

   mountain quarter: Bullskin plantation. Winney may be the slave of the same name who was a house servant at Mount Vernon from 1766 until some time after 1773 (Toner Transcripts, DLC).

   According to articles of agreement signed the following day, Kelly, described as a “Planter,” was to oversee the next year’s tobacco and corn crops at GW’s “quarters on Doegs Run known by the names of Gists and Ashfords” and in return he was to receive a part of the crops, some meat provisions, and a cash bonus on the tobacco (DLC:GW).


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Carried the last of my Tobo. to H[untin]g C[ree]k W[arehouse]. Finished sowing Wheat at Muddy hole 15 .


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Began getting Fodder at Muddy hole.


Title: [September 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Carried the last of my Tobo. to H[untin]g C[ree]k W[arehouse].
Finished sowing Wheat at Muddy hole 15 .

13. Began getting Fodder at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Put up 4 Hogs for forwd. Bacon at R[iver] Side.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. At Night set fire to brick Kiln.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

26.

Put up
at
Muddy hole
21
hogs

at
Doag Run
9

at
Ditto from Mill
16

at
Creek Qr.
6

at
Rivr. Side
4

56


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Sowed 3 pints of Timothy Seed below my Meadow at Ashfords. Note—A small part on the So. West Side not broke up, but very light notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 November 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Set of for Williamsburg & returnd Decr. 1st.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 November 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. 28 hogs & 2 Beeves come from Bullskin.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Killed the above Hogs & 6 from Mudy. hol[e] & 10 from Doeg Run—wt. Nett.

from Frederick—
3663

Doegs Run—
1028

Muddy hole—
621

5312
lbs.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 December 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finished Measg. & Lofting Corn.


Title: [December 1762]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finished Measg. & Lofting Corn.

6. 94 Barrls. Corn in great Corn Ho[use] at Muddy hole—when they began to use it.
Mr. Adams 8 Sheep from Mudy. hole.

   GW records this delivery to Robert Adam of Alexandria in his General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 133, as “8 Fat Sheep.”

15. 8 Ditto from Doeg Run.
Killed 28 Hogs viz.

from Muddy hole
11

weighg.
1012

from Doeg Run
11

1056

from Riverside
2

196

from Creek
4

471

2,735

Whereof 16 were sold

1535

4 To Overs[ee]rs

315

8 for Family

885

2,735

To that there has been for the Family this Year
435

5312

885

In all
6,632

   GW made the above entries in The Virginia Almanack for the current year, as was his custom. The 1762 edition, like many eighteenth-century almanacs, contained a printed section of proverbs and anecdotes, appearing in this case near the end of the volume. Of the 100 items there, GW marked 15 with an X, apparently indicating that he found them especially interesting or amusing.


Title: [Diary entry: March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

Brought to D. Run Plantn. 3 of my Stray Steers.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Seven young Pigs at R[iver] Side Qr.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. By this lost 3 of my Sheep viz. a Ram & two young Ewes.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Brot. a strayed Heifer of mine to Rivr. Side Qr.


Title: [March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

Brought to D. Run Plantn. 3 of my Stray Steers.

2. Seven young Pigs at R[iver] Side Qr.

6. Eight Do. at Muddy hole.

9. By this lost 3 of my Sheep viz. a Ram & two young Ewes.

10. Brot. a strayed Heifer of mine to Rivr. Side Qr.


Title: At my Plantation in King William, 24 April 1763
From: Washington, George
To:

15
Negroe Sharers

2
Overseer

17
in all

126
head of Cattle besides Calves—9 of this spring

52
head of sheep besides Lambs—13

8
Sows for Breeding

16
for Porkers at the Fall

18
—of 6 Months old

32
—of 6 Weeks Ditto

28
young Pigs

102
in all

 M 190 Corn holes good Tale. M 170 Tobo. Hills Do. Do.


Title: April 24, 1763
From: Washington, George
To:

At my Plantation in King William

15
Negroe Sharers

2
Overseer

17
in all

126
head of Cattle besides Calves—9 of this spring

52
head of sheep besides Lambs—13

8
Sows for Breeding

16
for Porkers at the Fall

18
—of 6 Months old

32
—of 6 Weeks Ditto

28
young Pigs

102
in all

M 190 Corn holes good Tale.
M 170 Tobo. Hills Do. Do.

   M 190 corn holes: That is, 190,000 corn holes. GW frequently used the roman numeral M to indicate one thousand.


Title: At Bridge Quarter, May 1763
From: Washington, George
To:

Overseer—Cluning

9
Negroe Sharers

10
in all

100,000 holes of Corn
{
110,000
}
lately countd

120,000 Tobo. Hills
106,100

7
Work steers

56
head Cattle

13
old Sheep

12
Lambs

2
Sows

5
Barrows

15
Pigs—6 Weeks old


Title: [May 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

At Bridge Quarter

Overseer—Cluning

9
Negroe Sharers

10
in all

100,000 holes of Corn
{
110,000
}
lately countd

120,000 Tobo. Hills
106,100

7
Work steers

56
head Cattle

13
old Sheep

12
Lambs

2
Sows

5
Barrows

15
Pigs—6 Weeks old

At Ship Landing

Willm. Jackson

7
Negroe Sharers

8
in all

70,000 Corn holes
{
77,056
}
Countd

80,000 Tobo. Hills
81,158

45
Head Cattle

1
Boar

10
young hogs

15
Six Weeks old

5
One Week Ditto

May 13. Told my sheep & cut & Marked Lambs as follows—viz.

Ewes in all here
119
Ewe Lambs at H.
27

At Rivr. Side
1
R. Lambs for Killg.
13

At Creek
5
Weather Lms.
13

Weathrs. at home
18
At Creek Qr.
7

at Creek Qr.
4
At Rr. Side
1

Rams at home
7

61

at Creek Qr.
3

157

Tobo. Ground belonging to Muddy hole

at the Mill
13,100

Cowpen by Gate
4,200

By Muddy hole Swamp
5,800

By Lane & Road at Hannahs
4,200

Slipe below Hill near Do.
6,350

Joing. Rye & Woods
8,700

In all
42,350


Title: [Diary entry: 24 June 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Began to cut Timothy at Ashfords.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Finished Do.—2 days Rain in the time.


Title: [June 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Began to cut Timothy at Ashfords.

30. Finished Do.—2 days Rain in the time.

   On 3 June 1763, GW attended the initial meeting, probably at Stafford Court House, of a group of Potomac valley men who were interested in developing western lands. This meeting followed by only four months the Treaty of Paris, in which France renounced all claim to lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, thus opening these lands to settlement by the American colonists. To this end colonial land companies began forming, and one of the first was the Mississippi Company, organized at this meeting. The regulations agreed upon provided for a limit of 50 members (there were never more than 40), each of whom was to get 50,000 acres, and none of whom could transfer his interest without approval of the company, thus protecting the company from infiltration by members of rival land companies. Assessments were to be provided for as needed. The company would be run by a ten-member executive committee, which was to execute the decisions of the annual meeting of the full company (Mississippi Company regulations, 3 June 1763, DLC:GW; CARTER [1]Clarence Edwin Carter. Great Britain and the Illinois Country: 1763–1774. Washington, D.C., 1910., 109).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Began to cut Rye by Garden.


Title: [Diary entry: 5–9 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

5.6.7.8.9.
}
Cut and secured all my Wheat (by Stacking) at River & Creek Quarters—abt. 60 Acres. Carpenters, Smiths, & home Gang employd.


Title: [Diary entry: 14–18 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

14.15.16. &18.
}
Cut & made Hay of Clover at River Quarter with part of the hands—the Rest Workg. at D[ogue] R[un].


Title: [Diary entry: 21–22 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

21.22.
}
Makg. Do.—Rainy.


Title: [Diary entry: 28–29 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

28.29.
}
Cut Timothy Seed at Ashfords & new topd. the stack there.

 Note. This seed was cut too soon & did not stand long enough in the field wch. occasioned gt. loss.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Doing Jobs.


Title: [July 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Began to cut Rye by Garden.

5.6.7.8.9.
}
Cut and secured all my Wheat (by Stacking) at River & Creek Quarters—abt. 60 Acres. Carpenters, Smiths, & home Gang employd.

   Writing to Burwell Bassett 5 July, GW reported that his wheat crop was largely destroyed by rust and other defects, “and our Crops of Indian Corn and Tobacco in a manner lost in Weeds and Grass, occasioned by continual and excessive Rains” (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931–44., 2:401).

11. Cut & Stacked wheat at Mudy. hole & Cut Rye there.

12.13.
}
Cut & Stackd Do. at Dogue Run & Stackd Rye at Muddy hole.

14.15.16. &18.
}
Cut & made Hay of Clover at River Quarter with part of the hands—the Rest Workg. at D[ogue] R[un].

19.20.
}
Cutg. Hay at Hell hole.

21.22.
}
Makg. Do.—Rainy.

23. People doing Jobs.

25.26.27.
}
Cutting & makg. Hay at Sein Landg.

28.29.
}
Cut Timothy Seed at Ashfords & new topd. the stack there.

Note. This seed was cut too soon & did not stand long enough in the field wch. occasioned gt. loss.

30. Doing Jobs.


Title: [Diary entry: 1–6 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1.2.3.4.5.6.
}
Cutting curing and Stackg. Hay from Creek Meadow.

 Note. Too late cutting Hay for first Crop this year.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Sowed Turnips at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Sowed Do. at Rivr. Quartr. Do. at home in Peach Orchard—English seed from Clifton & Posey.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Sowed Do. below Garden. Seed from England.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Counted sheep pr. List Inclosd.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

 26. Sowed a little English cloverseed at Quince tree in Garden to see if it was good.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Began sowing Wheat at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. In Turnips below garden and Peach Orchard sowed about a Peck of Spelts in Drills—also abt. a Hat ful in Apple Orchard lower corner.


Title: [August 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1.2.3.4.5.6.
}
Cutting curing and Stackg. Hay from Creek Meadow.

Note. Too late cutting Hay for first Crop this year.

15. Sowed Turnips at Muddy hole.

16. Sowed Do. at Rivr. Quartr.
Do. at home in Peach Orchard—English seed from Clifton & Posey.

17. Sowed Do. below Garden. Seed from England.

18. Ditto in Apple Orchard. Some English seed & some Country Do.
Sowed likewise at Creek Qr. & Doeg Run—Country Seed.
Note. No Rain upon them until the ⟨ ⟩ Inst.

20. Counted sheep pr. List Inclosd.

26. Sowed a little English cloverseed at Quince tree in Garden to see if it was good.

   quince tree: Cydonia oblonga, an unimportant fruit in GW’s orchard scheme.

29. Began sowing Wheat at Muddy hole.

31. In Turnips below garden and Peach Orchard sowed about a Peck of Spelts in Drills—also abt. a Hat ful in Apple Orchard lower corner.

   Spelt is Triticum aestivum var. spelta or any other variety of wheat in which the chaff adheres to the grain. It therefore cannot be threshed like other wheats but must be milled. GW raised white and black varieties.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Sowed a Bushel & half of Winter Barley on an Acre of Ground in Apple Orchard.


Title: [Diary entry: 3–4 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

3.4.
}
Sowed Rye in Ditto & began Stilling Cyder.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Agreed with Thomas Nichols a farmer to Overlook my People at Home & work wt. them for £20.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Began to sow wheat at C[ree]k Qrs.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Began to sow Do. at Doag Run. Finished sowing Do. at Muddy hole 25 ⟨Bls.⟩


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Planted in 11 holes on the West side of the Garden 22 English Walnuts.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Began to sow Rye at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Frost bit Tobacco at D[ogue] Run.


Title: [September 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Observed that my yg. Corn was just beginning to show, occasioned by Rains falling abt. the 25th. Quere has it time to make or Ripen.

2. Sowed a Bushel & half of Winter Barley on an Acre of Ground in Apple Orchard.

3.4.
}
Sowed Rye in Ditto & began Stilling Cyder.

8. Agreed with Thomas Nichols a farmer to Overlook my People at Home & work wt. them for £20.

9. Began to sow wheat at C[ree]k Qrs.

   On this day GW attended the first annual meeting of the Mississippi Company, held at Thomas Ludwell Lee’s home, Belleview, on the south side of Potomac Creek in Stafford County. At the meeting the company agreed upon a formal memorial to the crown, appointed William Lee treasurer-secretary, and chose its ten-member executive committee, which was to meet semiannually at Westmoreland Court House. GW was not one of the ten, probably because the members were chosen on the basis of their proximity to the meeting place; John Augustine Washington, who lived in Westmoreland County, was on the committee. GW paid his company quota of £8 5s. for hiring an agent in England who was to prosecute the memorial and also invite into the company not more than nine English members “of such influence and fortune as may be likely to promote its success” (CARTER [1]Clarence Edwin Carter. Great Britain and the Illinois Country: 1763–1774. Washington, D.C., 1910., 170). The meeting also authorized special meetings of the full company.

   Four weeks after this meeting the crown promulgated the Proclamation

Line of 1763, which prohibited any settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Although GW later observed to William Crawford (21 Sept. 1767, DLC:GW) that he could “never look upon that Proclamation in any other light . . . than as a temporary expedient to quiet the Minds of the Indians and must fall of course in a few years,” the presence of the Line, coupled with the instability of British ministries during the 1760s and the claims of competing land companies, caused the Mississippi Company’s petition to remain dormant for the next four years.

10. Began to sow Do. at Rivr. Qr.

12. Began to sow Do. at Doag Run.
Finished sowing Do. at Muddy hole 25 ⟨Bls.⟩

15. Planted in 11 holes on the West side of the Garden 22 English Walnuts.

17. Began to sow Rye at Muddy hole.

19. Began getting fodder at Do.

21. Frost bit Tobacco at D[ogue] Run.

22. Frost bit Do. at Do. and at Muddy hole also bit Fodder very much.
Began to get fodder at Creek Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Finished sowing 7 Bushels of Spelts in 7 Acres of Corn Ground at Muddy hole—the Sowing of which was began the day before.


Title: [October 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Finished sowing 7 Bushels of Spelts in 7 Acres of Corn Ground at Muddy hole—the Sowing of which was began the day before.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finished sowing Wheat at Doeg Run—viz. 33 Bushls. in the large Cut 24 in the next adjoining 4½ by the Gate & 3 in the other Tobo. Ground. In all 64½ Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Put up 10 Hogs to fatten at River Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

 8. Put up 15 to fatten at Mudy. Hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Put up 24 to fatten at Doeg Run. Got done Sowing Wheat at the Mill & home House viz. 32 at the first and 4½ at the last.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Put up 10 Hogs at Doeg Run from the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 November 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Killed 5 Hogs from Creek Quartr. nett wt.—590 lbs.


Title: Novembr. [1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finished sowing Wheat at Doeg Run—viz. 33 Bushls. in the large Cut 24 in the next adjoining 4½ by the Gate & 3 in the other Tobo. Ground. In all 64½ Bushels.

5. Finished Sowing Wheat at C[ree]k Qr. in all 32½ Bushls.
Finished sowing Do. at River Qr. in all 47½ Bushels.

7. Put up 10 Hogs to fatten at River Quarter.

8. Put up 15 to fatten at Mudy. Hole.

9. Put up 24 to fatten at Doeg Run.
Got done Sowing Wheat at the Mill & home House viz. 32 at the first and 4½ at the last.

15. Put up 10 Hogs at Doeg Run from the Mill.

18. Killed 5 Hogs from Creek Quartr. nett wt.—590 lbs.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Transplanted to the Corner of the Borders by Garden House a Cherry Graft—from the Cherry tree at the other Corner of the said Bord⟨er⟩ by the first Fall.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Grafted 12 Quinces on Pear and Apple Stocks and planted them next the vines in Bd. [Border] Row in Nurs⟨ery⟩. Also grafted 10 of a pretty little early (June) Pear from Collo. Mason’s and planted them at the end of the Quinces except 3 wch. begins the 4th. Row at the other end. Transplanted about 350 hundd. young Crab Scions from Creek Quarter into the Nursery.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1763]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Grafted, & planted as followeth. viz. 12 Spanish pairs from Collo. Masons. They hang till November & are a very valuable Fruit—these stand next the little early pair in the 4 Row beging. with the 4th. Tree in the said Row. Also grafted 12 Butter pears from Collo. Masons—these esteemed among the finest pears, & stand next the Spanish pears. Grafted 10 black Pear of Worcester from Collo. Mason’s next the Butter Pear—these are a large course fruit for baking. Grafted 10 of the Winter Boon Chrns.—from Collo. Masons—who had them from Collo. Fairfx. who praises them much—these begin the 5th Row next Grass Ground. Grafted 8 of the Summer Boon Chrns. next these. From Do. who had them from Do. &ca. Grafted 10 of the Bergamy Pears from Collo. Masons next the Sumr. Boon. These are a very fine Fruit but Co⟨arser⟩ than most other English Pears. Grafted 10 of the New Town Pippin from Collo. Masons who had them from Mr. Presidt. Blair. Grafted 43 of the Maryland Red Strick—had the Grafts from Mr. Wm. Digges—these are the whole of the 6th. Row.


Title: From George Washington to the Great Dismal Swamp
From:
To:

Editorial note. The following entry, recording details of GW’s visit to the Dismal Swamp, appears faintly in pencil on the front of the 1763 diary and is repeated, in ink, in the diary for 1764. Variations between the two texts are minor. Although the entry is dated 15 Oct., it covers his first visit to the swamp in May, while he was attending meetings of the General Assembly in Williamsburg. The notes apparently were prompted by his second visit to the area in October, during which he did not enter the swamp. The Dismal Swamp, in southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina, is a coastal swamp about twenty miles long which at one time extended over some two thousand square miles. It is geologically unusual in that it is higher than the surrounding land, and water drains out of it rather than into it. At its center is Lake Drummond, about three miles across, which GW calls “the Pond” (see main entry for 28 Oct. 1768). In 1763 GW and several partners including Fielding Lewis and Burwell Bassett formed a company, “Adventurers for Draining the Dismal Swamp,” and the General Assembly of Virginia empowered them to construct canals and causeways through private land without being subject to suits for damages (HENINGWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 8:18). The purpose of the undertaking was to harvest lumber while the swamp was draining and to farm the land once it became dry. Early developers including Washington showed little interest in the digging of a canal for boat traffic between Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound, a project which was accomplished a generation later. Although GW acquired land in the area and helped to finance some draining, his interest waned about twenty years after the following memorandum was written. His Dismal Swamp activities will be dealt with more fully in notes accompanying his correspondence on the subject. Here GW documents a trip from Suffolk, down the west side of the swamp, across the Perquimans River to a site near present-day Elizabeth City, N.C., then back along the eastern side of the

   swamp to Suffolk. Among the landowners named by GW were some from the prominent Nansemond County families of Riddick, Sumner, and Norfleet. Miles Riddick, from whom GW later bought land, was a member of the House of Burgesses for many years.


Title: 15 Octobr. 1763
From: Washington, George
To:

 Memm. From Suffolk to Pocoson Swamp is reckoned about 6 Miles, and something better than 4 perhaps 5 Miles from Collo. Reddicks Mill run (where the Road x’s it). The land within this distance especially after passing Willis Reddicks is Level & not bad. The banks down to this (Pocoson) Swamp declines gradually, and the Swamp appears to be near 75 yds. over, but no Water in it at present. Note—Mills Riddicks Plantn. seems to be a good one the land being level and stiff. So does Henry Riddicks above. From Pocoson Swamp to Cyprus Swamp (which conducts more Water into the great Dismal than any one of the many that leads into it) is about 2½ Miles. This also is dry at present, but appears to be 60 or 65 yards across in the wettest part. The next Swamp to this is called Mossey Swamp and distant about 3 Miles. Near this place lives Jno. Reddick on good Land, but hitherto from Pocoson Swamp, the land lyes flat, wet, & poor. This Swamp is 60 yards over and dry. Between Cyprus Swamp, and the last mentioned one, we went on horse back not less than ½ a Mile into the great Swamp (Dismal) without any sort of difficulty, the horse not sinking over the fetlocks—the first quarter however abounding in Pine and Gallbury bushes, the soil being much intermixed with Sand but afterwards it grew blacker and richer with many young Reeds & few pines and this it may be observed here is the nature of the Swamp in general. From Mossey Swamp to a branch and a large one it is, of Oropeak (not less than 80 yards over) is reckoned 4 Miles—two Miles short of which is a large Plantation belonging to one Brindle near to which (on the South side) passes the Carolina line. The Main Swamp of Oropeak is about ½ a Mile onwards from this, where stands the Widow Norflets Mi⟨ll⟩ & luke Sumners Plantations. This Sw⟨amp⟩ cannot be less than 200 yards across but does not nevertheless discharge as much Water as Cyprus Swamp. At the Mouth of this Swamp is a very large Meadow of 2 or 3000 Acr⟨es⟩ held by Sumner, Widow Norflet, Marmaduke Norflet, Powel & others & valuable ground it is. From Oropeak Swamp to loosing Swamp is about 2 Miles, and this 70 yards across.  From hence again to Bassey Swamp the lower Road may be allowed 2 Miles More but this Swamp seems trifling. And from Bassey Swamp to Horse Pool (which is the last, & including Swamp running into the Dismal) is about 2 Miles more & 35 yards across only. The whole Land from Pocoson Swamp to this place and indeed all the way to Pequemen Bridge is in a manner a dead level—wet & cold in some places—sandy in others and generally poor.  This last named Swamp—viz. the Horse pool, is called 9 Miles from the upper Bridge on Pequemin River; within a Mile of which lives one Elias Stallens, and within 5 Miles is the lower Bridge—from whence to the bridge, or Ferry over little River is 15 measured Miles the course nearly due South as it likewise is from Suffolk to the said Bridge the Dismal running that course from that place. From little River Bridge (or Ferry) to Ralphs Ferry on Paspetank is (I think we were told) abt. 16 Miles, the course East or No. East; and from thence if the ferry is not crossed along up the West Side of the River to the Rivr. Bridge of the said Paspetank is reckoned—Miles and about a No. Wt. course the Dismal bordering close upon the left all the way. Note—the above Acct. is from Information only, for instead of taking that Rout, we crossed from Elias Stallens (one Miles above the upper bridge on Pequemin) across to a set of People which Inhabit a small slipe of Land between the said River Pequemen & the Dismal Swamp and from thence along a new cut path through the Main Swamp a Northerly course for 5 Miles to the Inhabitants of what they call new found land which is thick settled, very rich Land, and about 6 Miles from the aforesaid River Bridge of Paspetank. The Arm of the Dismal which we passed through to get to this New land (as it is called) is 3¼ Miles Measured—Little or no timber in it, but very full of Reeds & excessive Rich. Thro. this we carried horses—without any great difficulty. This Land was formerly esteemed part of the Dismal but being higher tho’ full of Reeds People ventured to settle upon it and as it became more open, it became more dry & is now prodigeous fine land but subject to wets & unhealthiness. It is to be observed here that the tide, or still Water that comes out of the Sound up Pequemen River flows up as high as Stallens, and the River does not widen much untill it passes the lower Bridge some little distance. At Ralphs ferry upon Paspetank the River is said to be 2 Miles over, and decreases in width gradually to the bridge called River bridge, where it is about 30 yards across and affords sufficient Water for New England Vessels to come up and Load. From what observations we were capable of making it appeared, as if the swamp had very little fall (I mean the Waters out of the great Swp.) into the heads of these Rivers which seems to be a demonstration that the Swamp is much lower on the South & East Sides because it is well known that there is a pretty considerable

   fall on the West side through all the drains that make into Nansemond River & the Western Branch of Elizabeth at the North End of the Dismal. From the River Bridge of Paspetank to an Arm of the Dismal at a place called 2 Miles Bridge is reckoned 7 Miles, & a branch of Paspetank twice crossed in the distance. This Arm of the Dismal is equally good & Rich like the rest & runs (as we were informed) 15 or 20 Miles Easterly, and has an outlet (as some say) into Curratuck Inlet by No. West River, or Tulls C[ree]k but these accts. were given so indistinctly as not to be relied upon. However it is certain I believe that the Water does drain of at the East end somewhere, in which case a common causay through at the crossing place woud most certainly lay all that Arm dry. From this place wch. is 2 Miles over to the Carolina line is about 4 Miles, and from thence to No. West landing on No. West Rivr. a branch of Curratuck, is 3 Miles more. Note—the Carolina line crosses the Swamp in a West direction, and is 15 Miles from the place where it enters to its coming out

of the same near Brindles Plantation. Flats and small Craft load at No. West landing. To the great Bridge from No. West landing is accounted 12 Miles the Lands good, as they are on all this (East) side and highly esteemed valued in general according to the Propretors own Accts. from 20/. to £3. pr. acre but we were told they were to be had for less. This gt. Bridge is upon the South Branch of Elizabeth River & abt. 10 Miles from Norfolk and heads in the Dismal as does likewise No. West River Paspetank little River & Pequemen. From the Great Bridge to Collo. Tuckers Mills is about 8 Miles within which distance several small Creeks making out of South Rivr. head up in the Dismal. Farleys Plantation at the Forks of the Road is reckoned 5 Miles from the aforesaid Mills near to which the dismal runs. From hence to Roberts’s Ord[inar]y is 6 Miles and from thence to Suffolk 10 more. The lands from the Great bridge to within a

Mile or two of Roberts’s is generally sandy & indifferent. From hence to Cowpers Mill they are good & from thence to Collo. Reddicks Mean again. Note—from the River B. on Paspetank to the Great Bridge on South River the Road runs nearly North and from thence to Farleys Plantation it seems to be about West from this again to Collo. Reddicks (or Suffolk) So. Wt. and from thence to Pequemen B. & little Rivr. South as beforemend. the Swamp bordering near to the Road all the way round—in some place close adjoining & in others 2 and 3 Miles distant.