Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Grafted as follows viz. 8 Bullock Heart Cherry’s: these are a fine large bla: Cherry, ripe in May, but not early. They begin the first Row in the Nursery next the Quarter—& at that end next to the Ray Grass Field. Between these and the rest a Stake is drove. Then— 8 of the finest early May Cherry—ending at another Stick. Then— 6 of the large Duke Cherry, ending at a stick likewise all in the same Row. These three Cherrys from Collo. Mason’s. From hence to the end of the Row are Cherry Scions for Grafting upon another year. Grafted also—12 Magnum Bonum Plumbs beginning the 2d. Row at the end next Ray Grass, & ending at a stake. From hence to the end of the Row are Plumb Scions for grafting upon—another year. Note the Magnum Bonum Plumb from Collo. Mason’s. In the 3d. Row (beging. next Ray Grass) the 1st. 4. & 5th. trees are of a pritty little early (June) pair from Collo. Masons. The 2, 3, 6th. and to the 15th. tree Inclusive (at the end of which a stake is drove) are the bla: Pear of Worcester—from Collo. Mason—a large course Pear for Baking. Then 10 Bergamy Pears from Ditto, ending at a Stake. These are a very fine fruit but Cou⟨rser⟩ than most other English Pears. Grafted also—the 3d. Row aforesd. continued. Then—after the 10 Bergamy Pears—one of the Summer Boon Chrn. [bon Chrétien pear]. This from Collo. Mason who had them from Collo. Fairfax—who praises them much. From hence to the end of the Row are apple Scions to Graft upon. 4th. Row all apple Scions to continue Pear Grafts upon next year. 5th. Row—beginning at the end next to Cherry Walk are first 15 New Town Pippins from Collo. Mason—who had them from Mr. President Blair. These end at a Stake & the Remainder of the Row & all the 6th. Row are Maryland red Stricks—68 in number.  Note the last years Grafts from Mr. Digges—this Collo. Mason. Grafted also—In the 7 Row, 43 Gloucester White Apple. 8 Row beginning next Ray Grass 7 more of Do. (in all 50) endg. at a Stake. Note these from Collo. Mason. In the border just above the 2 Fall in the Garden Grafted one of the fine early May Cherry—Collo. Mason. Note this is the 2d. Graff in the Border & stands nearest the middle walk.


Title: March [1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Grafted as follows viz.
8 Bullock Heart Cherry’s: these are a fine large bla: Cherry, ripe in May, but not early. They begin the first Row in the Nursery next the Quarter—& at that end next to the Ray Grass Field. Between these and the rest a Stake is drove. Then—
8 of the finest early May Cherry—ending at another Stick. Then—
6 of the large Duke Cherry, ending at a stick likewise all in the same Row. These three Cherrys from Collo. Mason’s. From hence to the end of the Row are Cherry Scions for Grafting upon another year.
Grafted also—12 Magnum Bonum Plumbs beginning the 2d. Row at the end next Ray Grass, & ending at a stake. From hence to the end of the Row are Plumb Scions for grafting upon—another year. Note the Magnum Bonum Plumb from Collo. Mason’s.
In the 3d. Row (beging. next Ray Grass) the 1st. 4. & 5th. trees are of a pritty little early (June) pair from Collo. Masons.
The 2, 3, 6th. and to the 15th. tree Inclusive (at the end of which a stake is drove) are the bla: Pear of Worcester—from Collo. Mason—a large course Pear for Baking.
Then 10 Bergamy Pears from Ditto, ending at a Stake. These are a very fine fruit but Cou⟨rser⟩ than most other English Pears.
Grafted also—the 3d. Row aforesd. continued.
Then—after the 10 Bergamy Pears—one of the Summer Boon Chrn. [bon Chrétien pear]. This from Collo. Mason who had them from Collo. Fairfax—who praises them much.
From hence to the end of the Row are apple Scions to Graft upon.
4th. Row all apple Scions to continue Pear Grafts upon next year.
5th. Row—beginning at the end next to Cherry Walk are first 15 New Town Pippins from Collo. Mason—who had them from Mr. President Blair. These end at a Stake & the Remainder of the Row & all the
6th. Row are Maryland red Stricks—68 in number.

Note the last years Grafts from Mr. Digges—this Collo. Mason.
Grafted also—In the 7 Row, 43 Gloucester White Apple. 8 Row beginning next Ray Grass 7 more of Do. (in all 50) endg. at a Stake. Note these from Collo. Mason.
In the border just above the 2 Fall in the Garden Grafted one of the fine early May Cherry—Collo. Mason.
Note this is the 2d. Graff in the Border & stands nearest the middle walk.

   All the old standard varieties of pear were derived from Pyrus communis, the European species. In the first catalogue of fruits published in America, gardener William Prince advertised the “black pear of Worcester, or Parkinson’s warden.” It is “dirty brown in color” and does best against a wall (HITTThomas Hitt. A Treatise of Fruit-Trees. London, 1755., 344). A horticulturist writing in 1950 reported that trees of this

variety are said to be more than 200 years old (HEDRICKU. P. Hedrick. A History of Horticulture in America to 1860. New York, 1950., 35). There were several kinds of Bergamot, and the Autumn Bergamot may have been raised in England in the time of the Caesars. GW is following English custom in calling it a “Bergamy.”

   The Gloucester White apple does not appear to be a common variety; GW may simply be describing it on the basis of where he got it. A Gloucester Cheese variety is named in WATSON [1]Alexander Watson. The American Home Garden. Being Principles and Rules for the Culture of Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers, and Shrubbery. New York, 1859., 296–97.


Title: [Diary entry: 7–8 June 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

7 & 8. Dug up abt.  load of Marle to spread over Wheat Land—for experiment.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed Lucerne again in the missing places below Garden.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Began to cut Meadow (Creek).


Title: [June 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

5.
Got one load of Hay from Peach Orchard weight
1483
lbs.

6.
Got the rest in viz.
1979

3462

7 & 8. Dug up abt.  load of Marle to spread over Wheat Land—for experiment.

8. Sowed Lucerne again in the missing places below Garden.

11. Finishd (with two Plows) the Gd. behind the Garden wch. was begun the 4th.

   12. Began to cut Meadow (Creek).

13. Meazured of 64 Gallons & put undr. Bishops care for Harvest &ca.

   This month GW began to make various notations—words, names, abbreviations, letters, numerals, symbols, and other marks—in the margins of the monthly astronomical calendars printed in his almanacs. There are few substantial clues to the meaning of these casual jottings. Varying greatly in form and seldom having any apparent relation to corresponding diary or almanac entries, they appear at random over two widely separated periods: June 1764–Nov. 1775 and Feb. 1795–Dec. 1798. In most cases the editors can make no sense of them, but some can be understood. During the summer of 1770 GW used the calendar pages for a health record, counting his stepdaughter Martha Parke Custis’s recurring epileptic attacks for a period of about three months (see main entry for 31 July 1770). During 1772 and 1774 the calendar notations served on several occasions to remind him of future obligations. The abbreviation “Fred” next to 15 Sept. and 23 Nov. 1772 meant that he had business in Fredericksburg on those days, and another notation next to 18 Sept. 1772 apparently told him that he must return to Mount Vernon by that date for a court-ordered survey and division of land that involved him. Several days in Nov. 1774 were similarly designated for the sale of a friend’s lands (see main entries for 20–27 Nov. 1774). As aids to

    memory and measurement, GW’s notations in each of these cases served the same general purposes that the other parts of his diaries did, but without duplicating the exact functions of those other parts (see illus., p. 328).


Title: [Diary entry: 1–2 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

1 & 2. Sowed Turnips—behind Garden.


Title: [Diary entry: 17–18 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

17 & 18. Brought Oats from Ashfords. Note they were good Oats & a bushl. of them when well cleand weighd 30 lbs. & a bushl. of Spelts—weighd 28.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Trimmed up 52 heads of Tobo. at Creek Quarter for Sweetscented Seed. Began to cut Meadow on Creek.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Peaches require to be gatherd for B[rand]y.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Began to sow Wheat at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Began to sow Do. at Riverside Qr.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Began—Do. at Creek.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Began—Do. at Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Finished curing & Stacking Hay.


Title: [August 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

1 & 2. Sowed Turnips—behind Garden.

10. Sowed Spelts—behind Ditto.

14. Cut Timothy Seed at Doeg Run.

15. Onwards getting Apples for Cyder.

17 & 18. Brought Oats from Ashfords. Note they were good Oats & a bushl. of them when well cleand weighd 30 lbs. & a bushl. of Spelts—weighd 28.

22. Trimmed up 52 heads of Tobo. at Creek Quarter for Sweetscented Seed.
Began to cut Meadow on Creek.

23. Peaches require to be gatherd for B[rand]y.

24. Began to sow Wheat at Muddy hole.

27. Began to sow Do. at Riverside Qr.

28. Began—Do. at Creek.

30. Began—Do. at Doeg Run.

31. Finished curing & Stacking Hay.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed a few Oats to see if they woud stand the Winter (at Doeg Run).


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Sowed Wheat as far as Ransoms Houses at Muddy hole 55 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Began to cut Tops at Muddy H. & R. Qrs.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Finishd Sowing the Wheat in Corn Ground on this side the Run at Doeg Run Qr. Wint[er] (Wheat) from home 36 Bls. thrashed at the Quartr. 38 Bls. in all 74 Busl.   Finishd plan[tin]g. Turnips behind Garden wch. was begun 20th.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. A Negro & Apprentice of Robt. Wrights began to Work upon my Mill. Transplanted Lucerne below Garden & Sowed  Rows of St. Foine.


Title: [September 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed a few Oats to see if they woud stand the Winter (at Doeg Run).

15. Finished Sowing Wheat at Riverside Quarter 50 Bushels.

20. Sowed Wheat as far as Ransoms Houses at Muddy hole 55 Bushels.

   Elizabeth Ransom, a widow, had rented a farm from GW from 1757 to 1760.

21. Began to cut Tops at Muddy H. & R. Qrs.

   The practice in GW’s day was to remove the tops and blades from the cornstalks during the fall, leaving the bare stalks standing while the ears ripened. The tops and blades, and later the harvested stalks, became fodder for livestock.

22. Finishd Sowing the Wheat in Corn Ground on this side the Run at Doeg Run Qr. Wint[er] (Wheat) from home 36 Bls. thrashed at the Quartr. 38 Bls. in all 74 Busl.

Finishd plan[tin]g. Turnips behind Garden wch. was begun 20th.

27. A Negro & Apprentice of Robt. Wrights began to Work upon my Mill.
Transplanted Lucerne below Garden & Sowed  Rows of St. Foine.

   GW tried doggedly to raise sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia), also called esparcet, a crop now in very limited cultivation in the United States. It does not adapt well in areas where red clover and alfalfa will do much better, as Arthur Young knew when GW asked him for seed of the English strain in 1786. Young replied 2 Feb. 1787 that he was sending only a small quantity of seed, “for I cannot conceive that it will succeed at all with you” (DLC:GW). Young was correct. GW wrote Samuel Powel 15 Sept. 1788 that his fall planting in 1787 died by frost and his spring 1788 crop failed to come up at all (ViMtvL). Still, GW continued to plant small quantities of it, hoping to accumulate enough seed for a full crop. Despite the dissatisfaction with the plant, it was still being advertised in the American Farmer, 1 (1820), 376, for sale in Baltimore. The advertisement referred to it also as “Hundred Year’s Clover.”


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Robert Wright began to Work at my Mill. Gathered Apples for Cyder.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Sowed 7 Bushels of Spelts by the Orchard. Morris & George went to Work at Mill along with the Mill wright.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Finishd getting & securing Fodder at Muddy hole & Creek.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Finishd Do. Do. at Doeg Run. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole & began to Sow Spelts.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Finishd securing fodder at Riv. Side.


Title: [October 1764]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Robert Wright began to Work at my Mill.
Gathered Apples for Cyder.

   Robert Wright, a local millwright, finished repairing GW’s mill by 20 Oct.

2. Sowed 7 Bushels of Spelts by the Orchard.
Morris & George went to Work at Mill along with the Mill wright.

13. Finishd getting & securing Fodder at Muddy hole & Creek.

15. Finishd Do. Do. at Doeg Run.
Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole & began to Sow Spelts.

18. Finishd securing fodder at Riv. Side.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Had at the Home House 78 sheep besides the 11 which are up

fattening

78

At the River Plantation there are

60

At Muddy hole

28

At Doeg Run

Cattle at Home House—viz.—

Work Steers

6

Fatting Do. & 3 Cows

8

1 Bull

1

Cows

Yearlings

At Rivr. Plantn. in the whole

         At Muddy hole
         Do.

         At Doeg Run
         Do.

Hogs at Home house besides
}
3

Pigs in a Pen—2 Sows & a boar

Riverside
Grown

Shoats

Pigs

Muddy hole
Grown

Shoats

Pigs

Doeg Run
Grown

Shoats

Pigs

Mill
Grown

Shoats

Pigs


Title: [Diary entry: 5 March 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

5th. March 1765. Grafted 15 English Mulberrys on wild Mulberry Stocks on the side of the Hill near the Spring Path. Note the Stocks were very Milkey.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 March 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

6th. Grafted 10 Cornation Cherrys on growing Stocks in the Garden—viz. 5 of them in and about the Mint Bed, 3 under the Marella Cherry tree 1 on a Stock in the middle of the border of the East square, and just above the 2d. fall (note this Graff is on the Northernmost fork of Do. On the Westernmost one is a Bullock Heart & on the Easternmost one is a May Cherry out of the Cherry Walk) 1 other on a Stock just above the 2d. gate—note this is on the Northernmost prong. The other Graff on the said stock is of the May Cherry in the Cherry Walk.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Grafted 6 Early May duke Cherrys in the Nursery, beginng. at that end of the first Row next to the Lane—the Row next the Quarter is meant—at the end of this a stake drove in. Also Grafted joining to these in the same Row 6 of the latter May dukes—which are all the Cherrys in the Row. Also Grafted 7 Bullock Heart Cherrys in the last Row.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Grafted 48 Pears which stand as follows viz. in the 3d. Row beging. at the end next the Cherry Walk are 12 Spanish Pears. Next to these are 8 Early June Pears then 10 latter Burgamy—then 8 Black Pear of Worcester—and lastly 10 Early Burgamy. Note all these Pears came from Colo. Masons & between each sort a stick is drove down. The Rows are counted from the end of the Quarter. This day also I grafted 39 New Town Pippins, which compleat the 5th. Row and which Row are all of this kind of Fruit now. The 6th. Row is compleated w. Grafts of the Maryland Red Streck, which are all of this sort of Fruit and contains  trees so is the 8th. Row of this Apple. Also 54, in number and 20 in the 9th. Row beginning next the Cherry Walk. The 7th. Row has 25 Graffs of the Gloucester white Apple which compleats this Row with that sort of Fruit.


Title: [March 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

5th. March 1765. Grafted 15 English Mulberrys on wild Mulberry Stocks on the side of the Hill near the Spring Path. Note the Stocks were very Milkey.

   There is no species known as the English mulberry, but Morus nigra, black mulberry, was commonly grown in England for its edible fruits. It was known to eighteenth-century Virginia planters as the English mulberry. While feeding silkworms on mulberry leaves and making paper from the bark were much discussed and attempted in GW’s day, there is no evidence that he raised the trees for anything but ornamentation and fruit. M. alba multicaulis, the white mulberry used in silkworm culture, is not mentioned in any of the Mount Vernon documents. GW purchased four young paper mulberry trees, Broussonetia papyrifera, from William Hamilton in Mar. 1792.

6th. Grafted 10 Cornation Cherrys on growing Stocks in the Garden—viz. 5 of them in and about the Mint Bed, 3 under the Marella Cherry tree 1 on a Stock in the middle of the border of the East square, and just above the 2d. fall (note this Graff is on the Northernmost fork of Do. On the Westernmost one is a Bullock Heart & on the Easternmost one is a May Cherry out of the Cherry Walk) 1 other on a Stock just above the 2d. gate—note this is on the Northernmost prong. The other Graff on the said stock is of the May Cherry in the Cherry Walk.

15. Grafted 6 Early May duke Cherrys in the Nursery, beginng. at that end of the first Row next to the Lane—the Row next the Quarter is meant—at the end of this a stake drove in.
Also Grafted joining to these in the same Row 6 of the latter May dukes—which are all the Cherrys in the Row.
Also Grafted 7 Bullock Heart Cherrys in the last Row.

30. Grafted 48 Pears which stand as follows viz. in the 3d. Row beging. at the end next the Cherry Walk are 12 Spanish Pears. Next to these are 8 Early June Pears then 10 latter Burgamy—then 8 Black Pear of Worcester—and lastly 10 Early Burgamy. Note all these Pears came from Colo. Masons & between each sort a stick is drove down. The Rows are counted from the end of the Quarter.
This day also I grafted 39 New Town Pippins, which compleat the 5th. Row and which Row are all of this kind of Fruit now.
The 6th. Row is compleated w. Grafts of the Maryland Red Streck, which are all of this sort of Fruit and contains  trees so is the 8th. Row of this Apple. Also 54, in number and 20 in the 9th. Row beginning next the Cherry Walk.
The 7th. Row has 25 Graffs of the Gloucester white Apple which compleats this Row with that sort of Fruit.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Finish Sowing Oats at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Sowed Hemp at the head of the Meadow at Doeg Run & about Southwards Houses with the Barrel.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Began to Sow the old Gd. next the Orchard at Muddy hole with the Drill & finish’d 25 Rows & then stopd it sowing two fast.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Sowed 14 Rows more—the drill beg. altered with 1 Bushel of seed.  Sowed two pices more at Doeg Run—viz. the two Orchards. Sowed Lucern—also 4 Rows adjoining with St. Foin—&  other Rows with Fenugreek Seed.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Peter Green came to me a Gardener.


Title: [May 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Finish Sowing Oats at Muddy hole.

12.13.
}
Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole by Swamp. Sowed Do. above the Meadow at Doeg Run.

15. Sowed Do. at head of the Swamp Muddy H.

16. Sowed Hemp at the head of the Meadow at Doeg Run & about Southwards Houses with the Barrel.

   GW had rented some land on Dogue Run from Benjamin Southward in 1761.

18. Began to Sow the old Gd. next the Orchard at Muddy hole with the Drill & finish’d 25 Rows & then stopd it sowing two fast.

20. Sowed 14 Rows more—the drill beg. altered with 1 Bushel of seed.

Sowed two pices more at Doeg Run—viz. the two Orchards. Sowed Lucern—also 4 Rows adjoining with St. Foin—&  other Rows with Fenugreek Seed.

   Trigonella foenum-graecum, fenugreek, is an annual trefoil grown as forage and bearing a seed with a strong, bitter taste; it was often used as an emollient in poultices. GW does not appear to have gone very seriously into its production.

30. Peter Green came to me a Gardener.

   Apparently Peter Green was on a yearly wage contract of £5. He appears on GW’s tithable lists only for July 1765 and left his position in June 1766. In 1771 GW was trying to find a good “Kitchen Gardener” on a four- or five-year indenture at a moderate wage, and even inquired in Scotland. He hired David Cowan, “late of Fredericksburg,” as a gardener for the year 1773. According to the articles of agreement signed 11 Jan. 1773, Cowan agreed to serve “in the capacity of a Gardener; & that he will work duely & truely, during that time, at the business; and also when need be, or when thereunto required, employ himself in Grafting, Budding, & pruning of Fruit Trees and Vines—likewise in Saving, at proper Seasons, and due order, Seeds of all kinds” (DLC:GW). His salary was £25, plus lodging and food for his family.

31. Cut my Clover for Hay.

   The diary entries for the month of May are taken from a loose sheet in the Dreer Collection, PHi.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed Turnips for forward use.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Began to cut my Meadow by the Sein Landing, and on the 24th. finished securing all my Hay at the Home House out of the three Meadows and on the .


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

25th. Began to cut my Timothy Meadows on Doeg Run & finished making & securing the Hay on the 2d. of July. Rain falling the 28th. otherwise the whole might have been compleated by the 30th.


Title: [June 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed Turnips for forward use.

17. Began to cut my Meadow by the Sein Landing, and on the 24th. finished securing all my Hay at the Home House out of the three Meadows and on the .

25th. Began to cut my Timothy Meadows on Doeg Run & finished making & securing the Hay on the 2d. of July. Rain falling the 28th. otherwise the whole might have been compleated by the 30th.

27. Began my Harvest at the River Plantn.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Began to Sow Wheat at Rivr. Plantn.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Began to sow Do. at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Began to sow Turneps behind the Garden—the upper part of which, & down to a stake is the Norfolk Turnep. From thence to the bottom Naper Turnep.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Sowed Turneps where the Drilld Wheat was, behind the Garden. These of old Seed. Finish’d Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Began to seperate the Male from the Female hemp at Do.—rather too late.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Abt. 6 Oclock put some Hemp in the Rivr. to Rot.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Seperated my Ewes & Rams but I beleive it was full late—many of the Ewes having taken Ram.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Finish’d Sowing Wheat at the Rivr. Plantn. i.e. in the corn ground. 123 Bushels it took to do it.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. The English Hemp i.e. the Hemp from the English Seed was pickd at Muddy hole this day & was ripe. Began to seperate Hemp in the neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Finishd Sowing Wheat in the Corn field, which lyes over the Run at the Mill 27 Bushl.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Put some Hemp into the Water about 6 Oclock in the Afternoon—note this Hemp had been pulld the 8th. Instt. & was well dryed, & took it out again the 26th.


Title: [August 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Began to sow Turneps behind the Garden—the upper part of which, & down to a stake is the Norfolk Turnep. From thence to the bottom Naper Turnep.

5. Finishd sowing Do. & a good shower fell thereon the same day.

   GW wrote to Burwell Bassett 2 Aug. that the weather had rendered the prospects of a good crop “truely melancholy.” “I lost most of my wheat by the rust, so that I shall undergo the loss of a compleat crop here, and am informed that my expectations from below [in York County] are not much better” (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931–44., 2:424).

6. Sowed Turneps where the Drilld Wheat was, behind the Garden. These of old Seed.
Finish’d Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole.

7. Began to seperate the Male from the Female hemp at Do.—rather too late.

   hemp: Cannabis sativa, a highly profitable fiber crop, providing work in the off-season. After the 1720–22 sessions, the General Assembly offered a bounty of 4s. for every “gross hundred” of hemp, water-rotted, bright, and clean, to encourage production (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., 4:96–97). GW speaks of separating the male and female plants. “This may arise from their [the male] being coarser, and the stalks larger” (CALENDAR [1]Bernard M’Mahon. The American Gardener’s Calendar; Adapted to the Climates and Seasons of the United States. Containing a Complete Account of All the Work Necessary to be Done . . . for Every Month in the Year; with Ample Practical Directions for Performing the Same. Philadelphia, 1806., 457). In the 1790s he experimented with a variety from India.

9. Abt. 6 Oclock put some Hemp in the Rivr. to Rot.

10. Seperated my Ewes & Rams but I beleive it was full late—many of the Ewes having taken Ram.

13. Finish’d Sowing Wheat at the Rivr. Plantn. i.e. in the corn ground. 123 Bushels it took to do it.

15. The English Hemp i.e. the Hemp from the English Seed was pickd at Muddy hole this day & was ripe.
Began to seperate Hemp in the neck.

17. Finishd Sowing Wheat in the Corn field, which lyes over the Run at the Mill 27 Bushl.

22. Put some Hemp into the Water about 6 Oclock in the Afternoon—note this Hemp had been pulld the 8th. Instt. & was well dryed, & took it out again the 26th.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Began to Pull the Seed Hemp but it was not sufficiently ripe.


Title: [Diary entry: 5–9 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

5.6.7.9.
}
Sowed Turneps behind the Garden.

 Getting of Fodder at Mill & Muddy H.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. To this date my Carpenters had in all worked 82 days on my Schooner.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. This Week they workd 22 days upon her.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Began to sow Wheat from Colo. Colvils in Peach Orchard, & finishd 24th.—4 Bushls. Began to cut my Meadows at Hell hole & Creek.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Took up Flax which had been in Water since the 12th. viz. 12 days.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. This Week my Carpenters workd 24 days upon the Schooner & John Askew 4 Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Do.—Do. at Rivr. Plantation—too dry.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Finishd pulling Seed Hemp at River Plantation.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Finishd pullg. Do. Do. at Doeg Run. Not much, if any, too late for the Seed.  This Week my Carpenters workd 22 days upon my Schooner & J. Askew 3 Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. This Week the Carpenters workd 18 days which makes in all 190 days & 10 of Jno. Askew.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Began to sow Wheat in Hemp Gd. at Rr. Plantn.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Began to sow Wheat at Doeg Run, on the Corn field on this side.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Began to sow wheat in the Corn field on this side the Run at the Mill. Sowed three Pecks of Wheat (had from Colo. Lewis, of a sort, which he says is early and of an extraordinary Increase, also very large graind) behind the Garden in drills. Note it begins next the ditch & ends at a stake.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Sowd. the residue of P. Orch. with spelts.  B.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Finishd sowing Wheat in Hemp Ground at Rivr. Plantn. & plowd in a good deal of shattered Hemp Seed—27 Bushls. in all 152 .


Title: [October 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. This Week my Carpenters workd 24 days upon the Schooner & John Askew 4 Do.

7. Finish’d gettg. & securing my fodder at Doeg Run.

8. Do.—Do. at Rivr. Plantation—too dry.

10. Finishd pulling Seed Hemp at River Plantation.

12. Finishd pullg. Do. Do. at Doeg Run. Not much, if any, too late for the Seed.

This Week my Carpenters workd 22 days upon my Schooner & J. Askew 3 Do.

19. This Week the Carpenters workd 18 days which makes in all 190 days & 10 of Jno. Askew.

21. Began to sow Wheat in Hemp Gd. at Rr. Plantn.

22. Began to sow Wheat at Doeg Run, on the Corn field on this side.

25. Began to sow wheat in the Corn field on this side the Run at the Mill.
Sowed three Pecks of Wheat (had from Colo. Lewis, of a sort, which he says is early and of an extraordinary Increase, also very large graind) behind the Garden in drills. Note it begins next the ditch & ends at a stake.

26. Sowed the Remaining part of the Turneps in drills with an early Wheat also abt. 3 Bushels more broad[cast] in the same Ground & the residue thereof in spelts—6 Bushels.

28. Sowd. the residue of P. Orch. with spelts.  B.

31. Finishd sowing Wheat in Hemp Ground at Rivr. Plantn. & plowd in a good deal of shattered Hemp Seed—27 Bushls. in all 152 .


Title: [Diary entry: 6 November 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Finishd sowing Wheat at the Mill—viz. 19 Bushls. in the large cut within the Post & Rail fence & 6 B. in the small cut wch. with 27 Bushl. sowed the other side makes in all 52 B.


Title: [November 1765]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Sent 1 Bull 18 Cows & 5 Calves to Doeg Run in all—24 head branded on the left Buttock GW.
Sent 3 Cows, & 20 Yearlings & Calves to the Mill, wch. with 4 there makes 27 head in all viz. 5 Cows & 22 Calves & Yearlgs. branded on the Right shoulder GW.
Out of the Frederick Cattle made the Stock in the Neck up 100 head—these branded on the Right Buttock GW.
Muddy hole Cattle in all  head branded on the left shoulder GW.

6. Finishd sowing Wheat at the Mill—viz. 19 Bushls. in the large cut within the Post & Rail fence & 6 B. in the small cut wch. with 27 Bushl. sowed the other side makes in all 52 B.

13. Finishd sowing Wheat at Doeg Run,

viz.—on the other side—find. in Sepr
38
Bushl.

Corn Gd. & Do. in one adjg. this
108

Early wheat in Tobo. Gd. &ca
5½

large white Do. in Orchd.
½

In all at Doeg R.
152

Do. in the Neck
152

Do. at Mudy. hole
75

Do. at the Mill
52

Do. at home
9

The whole years Sowg.
440

Finishd getting Corn at the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Flax at the Mill put out to Rot.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Flax at Doeg Run put out to Rot.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Sowed Hemp about the old Tobo. House at Muddy hole. Note, the latter part of Feby., & all Mar. till the 19th. was extreamely wet and disagreeable—scarce two fair days together & sometimes hard Frosts, insomuch that neither Hoe nor Plow coud be stuck into the Ground, which prevented my sowing Hemp till the 21st. as above.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Began to sow Hemp (adjoining the Lane going to Mrs. Wades) at the Mill. Sowed as far as a stick drove into the Ground. Also sowed Ditto in the lower part of new Ground at Muddy hole—to a stake. First part of this day warm Sun & southerly Wind. Latter part showery—high Wind at same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the second stake. Hard frost—clear, but very cold the first part of the day—the Wind being at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Hard frost—afterwards warm & hazy. Wind Southwardly. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the third Stake, and at the Mill to the Second stake.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Constant close Rain, from sometime in Night till 3 in the afternoon. Wind at North East—when it shifted to No. Wt. but did not blow hard.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

 27. Cloudy, Wind at No. Wt. but not hard, nor very cold. Ground exceeding wet. No Hemp sowed this day.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 4th. stake. Ground too wet. No Hemp sowed elsewhere. Wind Westerly, with Clouds, & Raw.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 5th. Stake & at Doeg Run (in the Orchard round Gists House) to the first (beginng. at that end of it next the Gate). Hoeing in Farm Dung at the Mill. Wind at No. West, with some Clouds, & Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Cool, & Cloudy all the day. Wind Northwardly.


Title: March [1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Sowed Hemp about the old Tobo. House at Muddy hole.
Note, the latter part of Feby., & all Mar. till the 19th. was extreamely wet and disagreeable—scarce two fair days together & sometimes hard Frosts, insomuch that neither Hoe nor Plow coud be stuck into the Ground, which prevented my sowing Hemp till the 21st. as above.

22. Began to sow Hemp (adjoining the Lane going to Mrs. Wades) at the Mill. Sowed as far as a stick drove into the Ground.
Also sowed Ditto in the lower part of new Ground at Muddy hole—to a stake.
First part of this day warm Sun & southerly Wind. Latter part showery—high Wind at same place.

   Mrs. Valinda Wade, widow of Zephaniah Wade (died c.1746), lived with her three daughters, Valinda, Sarah, and Eleanor, on a 193–acre tract of land adjoining GW’s mill plantation.

23. High wind at No. Wt.—cold & Cloudy.

24. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the second stake.
Hard frost—clear, but very cold the first part of the day—the Wind being at No. West.

25. Hard frost—afterwards warm & hazy. Wind Southwardly.
Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the third Stake, and at the Mill to the Second stake.

26. Constant close Rain, from sometime in Night till 3 in the afternoon. Wind at North East—when it shifted to No. Wt. but did not blow hard.

27. Cloudy, Wind at No. Wt. but not hard, nor very cold. Ground exceeding wet. No Hemp sowed this day.

28. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 4th. stake. Ground too wet. No Hemp sowed elsewhere.
Wind Westerly, with Clouds, & Raw.

29. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 5th. Stake & at Doeg Run (in the Orchard round Gists House) to the first (beginng. at that end of it next the Gate). Hoeing in Farm Dung at the Mill.
Wind at No. West, with some Clouds, & Cool.

30. Cool, & Cloudy all the day. Wind Northwardly.

31. Sometimes cloudy but warm and pleasant. Wind at South.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Day warm & fine. Wind Northwardly in the Morning—Southwardly afterwards. Ground too wet to prepare for or Sow in Hemp.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the first Stake (beging. at the and next the woods)—at the Mill to The 4th. stake—and at Doeg Run (by the Lane) to 1st. stake beginng. at the great Mulberry. Clear & pleasant—but not warm—the Wind being Northwardly in the forenoon—calm in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 2d. stake, at the Mill to the 5th. & at Doeg Run to the 2. Hazy—Wind Southwardly & Rain. At 6 in the afternoon began to Rain. Ground full Wet for sowing, or Working before.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

 5. Constant Rain all Night, and till 10 O’clock this day (Wind hard at No. Et.) & cloudy afterwards. At 6 in the Evening sat into close Raining again. No Hemp sowd to day.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Wind at No. Et. & raining all day—Sunday.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Cloudy the first part of the day—wind westwardly. Ground very wet.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear, wind hard at Northwest. Sowed Hemp at the mill to the 6th. stake. None sowed elsewhere—ground too wet.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Cloudy, with light showers all day, wind briskly from the Southard. Sowed Hemp at the Mill to the 8th. stake—at Muddy hole to the 4th. & at Dog Run to the third. Sowed a little Flax by the Peach orchd. Ground very wet.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 April 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Sunday—clear & warm—wind South.


Title: April [1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the Road—at the Mill to the 3d. Stake—and finished the Orchard at Doeg Run.
Wind at up No. Et. & very cloudy the whole day. At one O’clock it sat in to Raining which at 6 turnd to Snow.

   The April entries in this diary are missing from the diary at DLC. The entries of 1–8 April are taken from a facsimile in the Toner collection at DLC and those of 9–13 April from a transcript in the same collection.

2. Day warm & fine. Wind Northwardly in the Morning—Southwardly afterwards. Ground too wet to prepare for or Sow in Hemp.

3. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the first Stake (beging. at the and next the woods)—at the Mill to The 4th. stake—and at Doeg Run (by the Lane) to 1st. stake beginng. at the great Mulberry.
Clear & pleasant—but not warm—the Wind being Northwardly in the forenoon—calm in the Evening.

4. Sowed Hemp at Muddy hole to the 2d. stake, at the Mill to the 5th. & at Doeg Run to the 2.
Hazy—Wind Southwardly & Rain. At 6 in the afternoon began to Rain. Ground full Wet for sowing, or Working before.

5. Constant Rain all Night, and till 10 O’clock this day (Wind hard at No. Et.) & cloudy afterwards. At 6 in the Evening sat into close Raining again. No Hemp sowd to day.

6. Wind at No. Et. & raining all day—Sunday.

7. Raining till 10 Oclock—very cloudy afterwards till Night when it began to Rain again. Wind at No. East. Ground exceeding wet.

8. Cloudy the first part of the day—wind westwardly. Ground very wet.

9. Clear, wind hard at Northwest. Sowed Hemp at the mill to the 6th. stake. None sowed elsewhere—ground too wet.

10. Fine clear day till late in the afternoon when it cleared. Being little wind Sowed Hemp at the mill in the 7th. stake at Muddy hole to the 3d stake. At dog Run none sowed.

11. Cloudy, with light showers all day, wind briskly from the Southard. Sowed Hemp at the Mill to the 8th. stake—at Muddy hole to the 4th. & at Dog Run to the third.
Sowed a little Flax by the Peach orchd. Ground very wet.

12. Sowed Hemp at the Mill—none elsewhere ground being wet. Clear wind Northwardly.

13. Sunday—clear & warm—wind South.

   On this day GW set out for the lower Tidewater, stopping at Fredericksburg to pick up Fielding Lewis. After stopping at Eltham, they crossed the James River and visited the Dismal Swamp. They then returned to spend a week at Eltham and in Williamsburg, where GW settled some accounts, including the purchase of two indentured servants. GW was back at Mount vernon by 10 May.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Finishd Do. & brought it into Barnes. Weather often Raining—Hay hurt.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

 26. Began to Cut my Timothy Meadow at Doeg Run & did not finish it till the 8th. of July—the Weather being Rainy & bad—which almost spoil’d 30,000 weight of Hay.


Title: June [1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Began to cut my Meadows at Home.

   GW hired an extra hand, Thomas Plummit, who worked seven days on the mowing at 2s. 6d. per day (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 232).

25. Finishd Do. & brought it into Barnes. Weather often Raining—Hay hurt.

26. Began to Cut my Timothy Meadow at Doeg Run & did not finish it till the 8th. of July—the Weather being Rainy & bad—which almost spoil’d 30,000 weight of Hay.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Cut my early Wheat behind Garden.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Began to cut Wheat in the Neck with the hands there.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Set into it with my whole force & two Cradlers hired. My Hay at D. Run finishd yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. My Schooner arrivd at Colchester.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Finished cuttg. binding & shocking Wheat in the Neck—152 Bushels sowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Began Harvest at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Finished it—in Shocks 75 Bushels sowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Began Harvest at Doeg Run. My Schooner also came up with 10,031 feet of Plank from Occoquan Saw Mills.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Securd all my Harvest in shocks at D[ogue] R[un].


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. Put into the House.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Sowed Turneps in the flax patch at Home. Also sowed Do. at Muddy hole and ditto at Morris’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Pulld a small patch of Flax at Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Began to Sow Turneps in Drills behind Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Sowed Do. in Do.—Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Sowed a few Do. Do.—Do. Hard Rain 28 & 9.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Sowed Do. in Neck.


Title: July [1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Cut my early Wheat behind Garden.

7. Began to cut Wheat in the Neck with the hands there.

8. Set into it with my whole force & two Cradlers hired. My Hay at D. Run finishd yesterday.

   The two hired cradlers were James and Daniel Starke, who worked about 2½ weeks for 5s. per day each. GW also hired another helper, Amoriah Bonham, for a total of 23 days, which apparently was the duration of the harvesting. Bonham was also paid 5s. per day (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 232, 234).

9. My Schooner arrivd at Colchester.

12. Finished cuttg. binding & shocking Wheat in the Neck—152 Bushels sowing.

   GW has added the following additional entries out of order in the diary. In the manuscript he placed them between 21 and 22 July.

   “5. Pull’d my flax at home.

   7. Pulld two patches at Doeg Run.

   8. Put part of what I pulld at Home in Water.

   12. Took it out, & spread it on the Green.”

14. Began Harvest at Muddy hole.

15. Finished it—in Shocks 75 Bushels sowing.

16. Began and finishd at the Mill, in shocks 52 bushels Sowing.

17. Began Harvest at Doeg Run. My Schooner also came up with 10,031 feet of Plank from Occoquan Saw Mills.

   Among the group of mills established on Occoquan Creek were two sawmills, which at this time were being operated by John Semple (see main entry for 23 Jan. 1770).

21. Securd all my Harvest in shocks at D[ogue] R[un].

22. Put into the House.

23. Sowed Turneps in the flax patch at Home. Also sowed Do. at Muddy hole and ditto at Morris’s.

24. Pulld a small patch of Flax at Doeg Run.

25. Began to Sow Turneps in Drills behind Quarter.

26. Sowed Do. in Do.—Do.

27. Sowed a few Do. Do.—Do. Hard Rain 28 & 9.

30. Sowed Do. in Neck.

31. Finishd Sowing behind Quartr. in Drills.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Began to Sow Do. at Muddy hole. Finished Sowg. Do. in clovr. patch at the Mill—9 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Began to Sow Wheat at Doeg Run. Finishd Sowing up Cut in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Finishd sowing Wheat altogether at the Mill 46½ Bushls. the other side—in all 55½ Bl.


Title: [Diary entry: 4–6 September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. 5. & 6th. Spreading flax at Doeg Run. Do. Do. pulling Peas at Ho[me] House.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Began to Cut my Meadows a Second time.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Began to get Fodder at Muddy hole Quarter & at the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Began to get Fodder in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Finishd getting & securing fodder at the Mill.


Title: [September 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. 5. & 6th. Spreading flax at Doeg Run.
Do. Do. pulling Peas at Ho[me] House.

   pulling peas: Lathyrus sativus, field pea, of which GW tried many varieties. His diaries and other farm records refer to the crowder pea; early, or “forward,” pea; red pea; small white pea; small round pea; small gray pea; Yateman pea; and the “Albany or field pea,” which persisted through more than a decade of GW’s crop experiments. His diary entry for 16 April 1785 indicates a planting of the Albany variety, and he wrote Thomas Jefferson 6 July 1796 that it grew well but was subject to the same insect pests as the garden pea. The field pea differs from the cowpea, Vigna sinensis, of which the best known is the black-eyed variety, which GW called the Indian pea.

8. Began to Cut my Meadows a Second time.

10. Began to get Fodder at Muddy hole Quarter & at the Mill.

12. Began to get Fodder in the Neck.

15. Do.—Do.—Do.—at Doeg Run. Turnd flax at Home House.

27. Finishd getting & securing fodder at the Mill.

30. Ditto—Ditto at Doeg Run—that is, exclusive of what belonged to that Plantation at the River Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 1–4 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. 2, 3, & 4. Sowing Wheat Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Finished getting & securing Fodder at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Getting Peas at Ditto—too late a good many of which being rotten on the Ground.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Finishd Sowing the little field at Doeg Run with 16 Bls.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Put my English Ram Lamb to 65 Ewes. Sheep at home as follows viz.

                  Old Ewes
                  64

                  Ewe Lambs
                  1

                  Old Weathers
                  18

                  Young Do. this yrs. Lbs.
                  11

                  1 Ram Lamb Engh.
                  1

                  95 in all

                  Sent
                  33
                  Ewe Lambs to Doeg Run &

                  2
                  Rams, 1 of them this yrs. Lamb.

                  35
                  in all.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

⟨8.⟩ Finishd getting & securing Fodder in the Neck also that which belongd to Doeg Run there.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Sowed a piece of Hemp Gd. at the Mill in wheat 2½ Bls. which makes in all th⟨r.⟩ 58 B.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1766]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Finishd Sowing large field with  Bls. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole—170 Bushels in all—18 of wch. white Wheat in the little field.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Cloudy & Cool in the forenoon & till towards night. Wind at No. West. Gd. not froze.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Frozen Morning, clear still & pleast. afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Frozen—clear & Windy abt. 10, from the Northwest but thawing.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Soft, calm, & pleasant. Wind rising from No. West abt. 10 & blew hard but not cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Frozen morning. Clear & cold Wind still at No. West & fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Frozen Morng., brisk & cold Wind from the Southward. Clear till the Afternoon then cloudy. In the Evening clear again.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Soft, clear, & Warm. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Soft, warm & Lowering, high Wind from the Southward. Hard rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Soft, cloudy & light showers of Hail Rain &ca. till ten Oclock—then excessive hard Wind from No. West. Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Soft & cloudy till Noon. Afterwards clear & still. Wind No[rth]wardly in Mg.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Soft Morning & snowing all day more or less from the Northward.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Hazy in the Morng. Clear afterwards; w. hard wind from the No. West. Snow abt. 3 or 4 Inches deep.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Hard frost. Wind Westwardly & then Southwardly & cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Grey & frosty Morning. Wind Southwardly & thawing. Also clear afterwd.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear & cool. Wind at No. West. Morng. frozen thawing afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Frozen Morning. Thawing afterwards & pleasant tho somewhat Cool. Wind No. & No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Soft Morng. Somewhat Cloudy & still.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Soft Morng. Brisk wind from So. Wt. with which the Ground much dried. Snow all gone two days ago.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Ground not froze. Wind came to No. Wt. early in the Morning & blew very hard & turnd very cold towards Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cloudy & Cold Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Hard frost. Clear & not very cold. Wind at No. West—not high.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Soft clear, warm, & Still.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Soft, Mild & pleasant. Wind Southwardly. Somewhat hazy & smoaky. A little rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13th. Vestry to meet by 2d. appointmt.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16th. Vestry to meet at Pohick.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Sale of Colo. Colvills Negroes.


Title: [February 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13th. Vestry to meet by 2d. appointmt.

   Some of GW’s diary entries, such as these three in February, are appointment reminders rather than a record of occurrences. The vestry of Truro Parish met on 23 Feb.

16th. Vestry to meet at Pohick.

26. Sale of Colo. Colvills Negroes.

   Thomas Colvill had died in 1766, and these slaves apparently were sold to pay some of his debts. On his deathbed Colvill had persuaded GW to be one of his executors by assuring him that he would be expected only to give his good name to the administration of the will and to check occasionally on its progress, while the actual work was done by the other executors: Colvill’s wife Frances (d. 1773) and John West, Jr., husband of Colvill’s niece Catharine. As it happened, the estate was so troublesome and Mrs. Colvill and West proved to be so unequal to their task that GW had to take an active part in the matter, which was to plague him until 1797 (GW to Bushrod Washington, 10 Feb. 1796, DLC:GW). One difficulty was that Colvill had left legacies to English relatives who could not be easily identified and whose confusing claims were almost impossible to authenticate. A second problem was that in May 1765 Colvill, as executor for his brother John, had sold Merryland, a 6,300–acre tract in Frederick County, Md., to John Semple (d. 1773) of Prince William County, Va., for £2,500 sterling. That sum was to have paid John’s debts, including £742 owed to Thomas, but Semple gave a bond for the £2,500, which he was later unwilling or unable to honor. Thus, neither Colvill estate could be settled until some agreement could be reached with the contentious Semple (see main entry for 31 Dec. 1771; GW to William Peareth, 20 Sept. 1770, DLC:GW).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Soft mild, still, & pleasant. Somewhat cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. (No frost) Cloudy till abt. 11 Oclock then Rain & almost all Night very hard Wind at No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Fine clear Morning & Warm Wind southwardly. Cloudy abt. 1 Oclock & at 3 began to Rain hard & constant.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Clear, warm & pleast. forenoon. Wind southwardly. Afterwards hazy & lowerg.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Wind in the same place & Raing. more or less all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Fine, clear & mild day. Wind for the most part Westwardly & No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Turnd cold abt. 10 oclock & after spittg. snow—wind hard at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Ground very hard froze & exceedg. Cold. Wind hard at No. West & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Ground exceeding hard froze & cold in the Morning but pleasant afterwards, clear. Wind Westward.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear & tolerably pleasant. Wind westwardly. Little frost.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Fine & Pleasant. Very warm wind at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Cloudy & cold. Wind Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Constant & hard Rain till 11 Oclock. Wind Southwardly. Afterwds. Westwd. & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cloudy Morning. Abt. 11 Constant Rain & contind. till 5. Wind varying.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear & pleasant tho cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear pleast. & warm. Wind Southwardly & fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear but cool. Wind fresh from the No. Et.—exceeding hard in the Evening—with Rain all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Rain till 9 Oclock. Cloudy the remainder of the day with a brisk eastwardly Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Cloudy all day. Wind at No. East and cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 March 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Cloudy, raw, & disagreeable Wind continuing at No. East.


Title: [The Weather] March [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Soft mild, still, & pleasant. Somewhat cloudy.

2. (No frost) Cloudy till abt. 11 Oclock then Rain & almost all Night very hard Wind at No. Et.

3. Fine clear Morning & Warm Wind southwardly. Cloudy abt. 1 Oclock & at 3 began to Rain hard & constant.

4. Soft morning. Clear day, & very high wind from No. West but not cold.

5. Clear, warm & pleast. forenoon. Wind southwardly. Afterwards hazy & lowerg.

6. Raining constantly the whole day. Wind at No. Et. but not cold.

7. Wind in the same place & Raing. more or less all day.

8. Flying clouds in the forenoon. Wind brisk from the No[rth]ward. Clear afternn.

9. Lowering Morning. Clear afternoon. Wind southwardly.

10. Fine, clear & mild day. Wind for the most part Westwardly & No. West.

11. Turnd cold abt. 10 oclock & after spittg. snow—wind hard at No. West.

12. Ground hard froze; wind high at No. West. Often spittg. snow in the forenoon & very cold.

13. Ground very hard froze & exceedg. Cold. Wind hard at No. West & clear.

14. Ground exceeding hard froze & cold in the Morning but pleasant afterwards, clear. Wind Westward.

15. Clear & tolerably pleasant. Wind westwardly. Little frost.

16. Little frost again but exceedg. pleast. Afterwards wind at south West.

17. Fine & Pleasant. Very warm wind at So. West.

18. Wind at No. Et. Somewhat cool in the Morning. Cloudy in the afternoon with Thunder Lightning—Hail Rain & Snow.

19. Cloudy & cold. Wind Northwardly.

20. Continual Rain. Wind at No. East.

21. Constant & hard Rain till 11 Oclock. Wind Southwardly. Afterwds. Westwd. & clear.

22. Clear. Wind westwardly & South[ward]ly.

23. Clear Morning. Cloudy afterwds. Wind Southwardly, & eastwardly.

24. Cloudy Morning. Abt. 11 Constant Rain & contind. till 5. Wind varying.

25. Fine & clear. Wind Southw[ard]ly & brisk.

26. Clear & pleasant tho cool.

27. Clear pleast. & warm. Wind Southwardly & fresh.

28. Clear but cool. Wind fresh from the No. Et.—exceeding hard in the Evening—with Rain all Night.

29. Rain till 9 Oclock. Cloudy the remainder of the day with a brisk eastwardly Wind.

30. Cloudy all day. Wind at No. East and cold.

31. Cloudy, raw, & disagreeable Wind continuing at No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Sowed a little flax at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Sowed a little more of Do. by the Road at Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Began to Plant Corn in the Neck & at the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Planted Irish Potatoes behind Do.


Title: April [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Sowed a little flax at Muddy hole.

18. Sowed a little more of Do. by the Road at Ditto.

21. Began to Plant Corn in the Neck & at the Mill.

27. Began to Plant Ditto at Doeg Run & Muddy hole.
Sowed behind the Quarter 1320 sqr. yds. of flax with a little more than a Peck of Seed.
Sowed the same quantity of Ground along side of the flax with little more than ½ Bushel of Hemp Seed.

29. Sowed more flax seed behind the quarter.

30. Planted Irish Potatoes behind Do.

   Solanum tuberosum, Irish potato. GW’s plantings included red potatoes and white, with small and large varieties of each, grown both as a table product and a field crop. He instructed Anthony Whitting 4 Nov. 1792 to plant them early so they could be harvested before the planting of wheat on the same

ground. More commonly he planted potatoes with corn. Thomas Jefferson described GW’s method in this way: “He puts them in alternate drills, 4 f. apart, so that the rows of corn are 8 f. apart, & a single stalk every 18 i. or 2 f. in the row” (Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 11 Aug. 1793, DLC: Jefferson Papers).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Fine clear morning. Cloudy & cold afterwards. Wind at No. Et. all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Cloudy morng. Hard & violent Rain from 10 Oclock till 4. Wind Eastwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear morning. Somewhat cloudy in the Afternoon. Wind at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Weather lowering. Wind at No. Et. & Eastwardly all day. At Night Rain but not much.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Wind at No. East & very cloudy till abt. Noon—then constant Rain but not hard the remaindr. of the day & all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Very cloudy & drizley all day. Wind still Eastwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear middle day. Eveng. & morng. Cloudy with Rain & heavy Rain at Night. Wind So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Clear and cloudy alternately with some Rain & variable wind. Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Clear & pleasant tho somewhat cool. Winds Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Morning clear. Wind very high from So. West. Afterwards cloudy with frequent showers of Rain & hail.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear & cool. Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Clear Morning. Cloudy & threatng. Afternoon. Wind at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear Morng. Wind at No. West & afterwards Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Grey Morning. Clear Noon. Lowering Afternoon. Wind varying—chiefly Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear with the Wind Eastwardly & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Lowering with intervening sunshine till 5 Oclock then very cloudy & hard shower of Rain for 10 or 15 Minutes & high gust of Wind from So. West where it was all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Wind Eastwardly & fresh all day with some Showers of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Cloudy with some gleams of Sunshine & Showers in the Afternoon. Wind very high & boisterous the whole day from South Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Squaly kind of a day. Wind mostly at So. West & fresh with some showers of Rain & hail & cool their falling a good deal of Rain at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind for the most part of the day at No. Et. & cloudy. Afternoon clear the whole day cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Clear. Wind at No. West & moderate.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear. Wind Nor[th]wardly—moderate & pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear, still, warm & pleast. Wind what little there was Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Very warm & pleast. Wind So. Westwardly with clouds & appearances of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 April 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 29. Warm & pleasant. Wind Southwestwardly till abt. 7 Oclock then fresh from No. East & Wind cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed Flax at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. My Schooner returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Finishd plantg. Corn at the Mill, & began to break up the field round the Overseers House. Cut 22 old Rams in the Neck & began to shear my Sheep.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Finishd plantg. Corn at Muddy Hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Sowed flax at Muddy hole by the Pond. Also began to plow Corn at Doeg Run with 3 plows. Set into plowing at Muddy hole w. 3 plows—1 plow has been at work a day or two there.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Morris finishd plowing his first cut (Doeg Run) with 3 plows by 12 oclock.  Finishd plowg. the 5½ foot cut in the Neck with 4 plows, & replanted this & the 5 foot cut there.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Early Wheat at Muddy hole beginng. to head—that is the heads of some out some bursting the blade & others swelling Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Sowd. Hemp over again with near 5 pecks of Seed—the first comg. up much too thin.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Finishd plowing the 3–9 Inch cut in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Finishd plowg. all the Mill Corn.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Finishd plowg. the other Cut in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Cloudy & cool in the Morning. Wind Eastwardly. Clear & warm afterwards till 5. Wind Southwardly—then Eastwardly again.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Cool in the Morning. Wind Eastwardly. Clear & pleasant afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Cloudy. Wind at So. Et. & fresh. Rain in the Night but not much.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Hard Rain early in the morning. Wind abt. So. Et. & fresh with Clouds. Afternoon Rainy with hard wind & Hail from So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Clear and cool. Wind at No. West & hard.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear & warm. Wind southwardly till about Sunset—then No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Still the first part of the day. Wind Eastwardly afterwards & cool—with flyg. Clouds.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cloudy more or less all day. Wind at No. Et. & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 10. Wind at No. East. Cool & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Clear. Wind Northwardly & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear. Wind Do. & warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Warm & still. Wind what little there is Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Very warm clear & still. Wind what there was of it Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Brisk Wind from same place in the Morning. Cloudy & still afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Cloudy & lowering till the Afternoon. Wind southwardly then clear & cool wind Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear. Wind Southwardly in the Morning. Afternoon cloudy & likely for Rain but went of with cold No[rthw]ardly Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. ⟨Wind⟩ Southwardly, clear & some⟨what⟩ cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Very cloudy all day. Wind at No. Et. and very cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Cloudy till Noon with the Wind at No. Et. then Sunshine & somewhat warmer, afterwards cloudy with Lightning & rumbling in the No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Good Rain in the Night. Cloudy & often drisling till the Afternoon when it cleard. Wind for the most part at No. Et. but not cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 25. Clear & pleast. Wind Southwdly. & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Lowering & warm, wind South.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear—cool in the morning. Wind at No. West. Afterwards very warm & still.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind Southwardly. Warm, & cloudy in the afternoon with lightning.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Rain last night, but not much, then refreshing Shower. Calm & warm in the Morning. Clear & cool afterwards. Wind at No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear. Wind southwardly & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 May 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Clear. Wind abt. So. West & warm.


Title: [The Weather] May [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1. Cloudy & cool in the Morning. Wind Eastwardly. Clear & warm afterwards till 5. Wind Southwardly—then Eastwardly again.

2. Cool in the Morning. Wind Eastwardly. Clear & pleasant afterwards.

3. Cloudy. Wind at So. Et. & fresh. Rain in the Night but not much.

4. Hard Rain early in the morning. Wind abt. So. Et. & fresh with Clouds. Afternoon Rainy with hard wind & Hail from So. West.

5. Very cold & cloudy. Wind hard from No. West & West.

6. Clear and cool. Wind at No. West & hard.

7. Clear & warm. Wind southwardly till about Sunset—then No. East.

8. Still the first part of the day. Wind Eastwardly afterwards & cool—with flyg. Clouds.

9. Cloudy more or less all day. Wind at No. Et. & cool.

10. Wind at No. East. Cool & clear.

11. Clear. Wind Northwardly & cool.

12. Clear. Wind Do. & warmer.

13. Warm & still. Wind what little there is Southwardly.

14. Very warm clear & still. Wind what there was of it Southwardly.

15. Warm & clear. Wind brisk from abt. SS. Wt.

16. Brisk Wind from same place in the Morning. Cloudy & still afternoon.

17. Cloudy & lowering till the Afternoon. Wind southwardly then clear & cool wind Northwardly.

18. Clear. Wind Southwardly in the Morning. Afternoon cloudy & likely for Rain but went of with cold No[rthw]ardly Wind.

19. ⟨Wind⟩ Southwardly, clear & some⟨what⟩ cool.

20. Cloudy & sometimes dropping of Rain in the forenoon with the Wind Southwardly. Afterwards clear. Wd. at No. West & Cool.

21. Very cloudy all day. Wind at No. Et. and very cool.

22. Cloudy till Noon with the Wind at No. Et. then Sunshine & somewhat warmer, afterwards cloudy with Lightning & rumbling in the No. West.

23. A little Rain in the Night with lightning & pretty loud thunder. Morng. Cloudy, as it was all day. Abt. 10 Oclock a fine shower fell with thunder & lightning for an hour. Wind variable but not cold.

24. Good Rain in the Night. Cloudy & often drisling till the Afternoon when it cleard. Wind for the most part at No. Et. but not cold.

25. Clear & pleast. Wind Southwdly. & warm.

26. Lowering & warm, wind South.

27. Clear—cool in the morning. Wind at No. West. Afterwards very warm & still.

28. Wind Southwardly. Warm, & cloudy in the afternoon with lightning.

29. Rain last night, but not much, then refreshing Shower. Calm & warm in the Morning. Clear & cool afterwards. Wind at No. Wt.

30. Clear. Wind southwardly & warm.

31. Clear. Wind abt. So. West & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Wind abt. So. West & warm. Cloudy in the afternoon & some Rain (in Fredk.).


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Cloudy with Rain & thunder in the Morning. Afterwards clear—in Fred.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Do. & very warm—Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Do.—Do.—travelling down.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Do. & extreame Hot. Wind what little there was Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Very hot & Sultry. Wind Southwardly. Some Clouds & a little thunder in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 10. Very warm & Sultry but no Rain. Wind for the most part Eastwardly but little of it.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Exceeding Sultry. Little or no Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Very warm with some appearance of Rain but none fell hereabouts.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Warm with Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Cooler wind at No. West & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Drisling till abt. 9 Oclock then constt. & close Rain for abt. an hour or two—this pretty genl. & wet the gd. very well. Wind abt. So. Wt. & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind Northwardly & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. But little Wind & variable. Warm and grewing weather.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Exceeding warm & still.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Warm. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Wind Southwardly & not very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Warm wind Southwardly, with a good shower of Rain abt. 3 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Pleasant in the Morning, Wind Southwardly. Warm & still afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear. Wind Eastwardly & not very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear & warm. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Wind Southwardly & exceeding hot. Little rain in the Evening wth. some thunder and a good deal of Lightning.


Title: [The Weather] June [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Wind abt. So. West & warm. Cloudy in the afternoon & some Rain (in Fredk.).

2. Cloudy with Rain & thunder in the Morning. Afterwards clear—in Fred.

3. Clear & warm—in Fredk.

4. Do. & very warm—Do.

5. Do.—Do.—travelling down.

6. Do. & extreame Hot. Wind what little there was Southwardly.

7. Very hot & Sultry. Wind Southwardly. Some Clouds & a little thunder in the Afternoon.

8. Wind ⟨at No.⟩ West but warm in the Evening.

9. Wind Northwardly with much appearances of Rain in the fore noon but none near home.

10. Very warm & Sultry but no Rain. Wind for the most part Eastwardly but little of it.

11. Exceeding warm & but little wind wch. blew from the So[uth]ward. In the Evening a refreshing shower from the Westward for abt. 15 Minutes with severe lightning & thunder none of wch. or very little reached. either Doeg Run or the Mill.

12. Exceeding Sultry. Little or no Wind.

13. Very warm. In the Afternoon a fine Shower here & in the Neck but little at the Mill again, less at Doeg Run & not much at Muddy h[ole.]

14. Very warm with some appearance of Rain but none fell hereabouts.

15. Warm with Do. Do.

16. Cooler wind at No. West & clear.

17. Cool wind at No. West in the Morning. In the Afternoon at No. Et. & cloudy.

18. Drisling till abt. 9 Oclock then constt. & close Rain for abt. an hour or two—this pretty genl. & wet the gd. very well. Wind abt. So. Wt. & warm.

19. Wind Northwardly & warm.

20. But little Wind & variable. Warm and grewing weather.

21. Exceeding warm & still.

22. Warm. Wind Southwardly.

23. Wind Southwardly & not very warm.

24. Wind Southwardly & hot. Morng. cloudy as was the Afternoon with some thunder. In the Night a fine shower of Rain. Less at Doeg Run than elsewhe.

25. Warm wind Southwardly, with a good shower of Rain abt. 3 Oclock.

26. Cool & pleast. morng. Wind Northwardly afterwards, still & warm.

27. Pleasant in the Morning, Wind Southwardly. Warm & still afterwards.

28. Clear. Wind Eastwardly & not very warm.

29. Clear & warm. Wind Southwardly.

30. Wind Southwardly & exceeding hot. Little rain in the Evening wth. some thunder and a good deal of Lightning.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Pulled some Flax & put it into the water at the Wharf at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Finishd setting Corn at Muddy hole & Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Began to cut Wheat at Muddy hole. Note—the straw of a good deal of wch. was green.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Took out & spread the flax this Morng.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Finishd my Wheat Harvest.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Began to cut my Timothy Meadow which had stood too long.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Finishd Ditto. Sowed Turnep seed from Colo. Fairfax’s in sheep pens at the House. Sowed Winter Do. from Colo. Lees in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Waggon to be down.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Sowed Colo. Fairfax’s kind in Flax Gd. joing. sheep pens.


Title: July [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Finishd my Wheat Harvest.

16. Began to cut my Timothy Meadow which had stood too long.

25. Finishd Ditto.
Sowed Turnep seed from Colo. Fairfax’s in sheep pens at the House.
Sowed Winter Do. from Colo. Lees in the Neck.

26. Waggon to be down.

27. Began to Sow Wheat at the Mill with the early White Wheat wch. grew at Muddy hole.

28. Began to Sow Wheat at Muddy hole with the mixd Wheat that grew there.
Also began to Sow Wheat at Doeg Run of the red Chaff from Home.
Also sowed Summer Turnep behd. Garden.

29. Sowed Colo. Fairfax’s kind in Flax Gd. joing. sheep pens.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Clear and very Cool. Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Do. Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Do. Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Winds varying. Cool & cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Winds Southwardly. Cool & cloudy with a good shower of Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Cool & clear, wind No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Do. Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear & still but not hot.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Brisk Southwest Wind with clouds & a small sprinkle of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Brisk southwest Wind in the forenoon. Very warm Afternoon with light Rain introduced with high Wind from No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Southwardly Wind & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear & pleasant. Wind northwardly in the morning.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear and not very warm. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear with the Wind at South Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Warm & woud have been Sultry but for a pleasant breeze fm. S.W.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Very warm with the Wind at So. West. In the Afternoon a fine Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear. Wind No[rth]wardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Cloudy & Cool. Wind Eastwardly with a little light Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Rainy & Misty all day. Wind Eastwardly. Gd. very wet.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Warm and pleasant, growg. Weathr.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Very warm and still.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Cloudy & warm the first of the day—with Rain for some hours in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Cloudy with Rain now & then but not hard. Wind Southwardly & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Warm & Clear. Also calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear Warm and still.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Warm & clear. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Warm & clear in the forenoon. Afterwards slight Rain.


Title: [The Weather] July [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Clear and very Cool. Wind at No. West.

2. Do. Do. Do.

3. Do. Do. Do.

4. Still & somewhat warmer.

5. Winds varying. Cool & cloudy.

6. Winds Southwardly. Cool & cloudy with a good shower of Rain in the Night.

7. Cool & clear, wind No. West.

8. Do. Do. Do.

9. Clear & still but not hot.

10. Brisk Southwest Wind with clouds & a small sprinkle of Rain in the Afternoon.

11. Brisk southwest Wind in the forenoon. Very warm Afternoon with light Rain introduced with high Wind from No. West.

12. Southwardly Wind & clear.

13. Clear & pleasant. Wind northwardly in the morning.

14. Clear and not very warm. Wind Southwardly.

15. Clear with the Wind at South Wt.

16. Warm & woud have been Sultry but for a pleasant breeze fm. S.W.

17. Very warm with the Wind at So. West. In the Afternoon a fine Rain.

18. Clear. Wind No[rth]wardly.

19. Ditto—Do. Do. and Cool.

20. Cloudy & Cool. Wind Eastwardly with a little light Rain.

21. Rainy & Misty all day. Wind Eastwardly. Gd. very wet.

22. Cloudy & warm first part of the day with Rain in the Aftern.

23. Warm and pleasant, growg. Weathr.

24. Very warm and still.

25. Cloudy & warm the first of the day—with Rain for some hours in the Afternoon.

26. Cloudy with Rain now & then but not hard. Wind Southwardly & warm.

27. Warm & Clear. Also calm.

28. Ditto—Ditto in the forenoon. Afterwards Rain.

29. Clear Warm and still.

30. Warm & clear. Wind Southwardly.

31. Warm & clear in the forenoon. Afterwards slight Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Finishd sowing the cut of Corn on the other side at the Mill with 43 Bushels of Wheat. Finishd sowing the 4 foot cut in the Neck with Wheat viz. 45½ Bushl.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Finishd sowing the 39 Inch Cut of Corn in the Neck with 44½ Bushl. Wheat. Finishd sowing that half of Muddy hole Corn field with Wheat round the Barn  Bushel.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Finishd sowing the 5⟨⟩ Cut of Corn in the Neck with 53 Bushels Wheat.


Title: August [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Finishd sowing the cut of Corn on the other side at the Mill with 43 Bushels of Wheat.
Finishd sowing the 4 foot cut in the Neck with Wheat viz. 45½ Bushl.

15. Finishd sowing the 39 Inch Cut of Corn in the Neck with 44½ Bushl. Wheat.
Finishd sowing that half of Muddy hole Corn field with Wheat round the Barn  Bushel.

22. Finishd sowing Wheat on this side at the Mill viz. 28 Bushels which makes in all sewed there 71 Bushls.

25. Also finishd the 18 Inch cut at Doeg run. Sowd therein 35 Bushels of Wh. The 6 by 3 foot cut was sowed with 40½ Bushels abt. the 13th.

26. Finishd sowing the 5⟨⟩ Cut of Corn in the Neck with 53 Bushels Wheat.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

1st. Calm & still. Also warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Cloudy for the most part & wind southwardly with some thunder & showers abt. 4 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Close and Cloudy the greatest part of the day. In the Afternoon Rain where I was (at Mr. Moodys).


Title: [Diary entry: 4 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Warm with some Clouds & sprinkles of Rain abt. the long Glade.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Very Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Very warm. Arrivd at the Warm Springs.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Very warm also with some Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Warm and Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Cool & pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11. Not very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Tolerably pleasant but w.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Very warm, & Cloudy in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Much Rain fell last Night & the forepart of this day—The Weather Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Cloudy & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Finishd sowing the other half of Muddy hole field with Wheat viz.  Bushl. wch. make in all there  Bushels. Also finishd the two foot Cut at Doeg Run with 39 Bushels.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Finishd Sowing the 6 by 4 feet Cut at Doeg Run with 36 Bushels. Sowed the simling Rows at Do. with 1½ Bushels which makes in all there 152.


Title: September [1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Finishd sowing the other half of Muddy hole field with Wheat viz.  Bushl. wch. make in all there  Bushels.
Also finishd the two foot Cut at Doeg Run with 39 Bushels.

12. Finishd sowing the 5½ foot cut in the Neck with Wheat viz. 51 Bushels which make in all there 194.

18. Finishd Sowing the 6 by 4 feet Cut at Doeg Run with 36 Bushels. Sowed the simling Rows at Do. with 1½ Bushels which makes in all there 152.

   simling[?]: a conjectural reading. GW did include the cymling, or summer squash (Cucurbita pepo var. condensa), in his crop rotations. In his instructions for the operation of River Farm, 10 Dec. 1799 (DLC:GW), he directed that one quarter of field No. 2 be planted to pumpkins, “simlins,” turnips, and Yeatman peas.

   The diary entries for August and early September can only be retrospective, perhaps compiled from reports submitted by GW’s cousin Lund Washington. GW and Mrs. Washington set out with the George Fairfaxes for Warm Springs, now Berkeley Springs, W.Va., about 3 Aug. By the next day they were in Leesburg and by 8 Aug. were settled at the Springs in a house owned by George Mercer. The expenses for the trip are recorded in an account headed “Expences in going to, from, and at the Springs [10 Sept.] 1767” (DLC:GW). The family cook who accompanied the Washingtons had soon laid in a quarter each of veal and venison and such sundries as butter, eggs, squash, corn, cucumbers, watermelons, peaches, and apples. Mrs. Washington’s two children, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, remained at Mount Vernon under the care of Lund, who reported in letters of 17 and 22 Aug. and 5 Sept. to GW (ViMtvL) that they were well. In his letter of

5 Sept., Lund acknowledges GW’s letter of 27 Aug., not found, and says he is glad to learn that the mineral waters have benefited Mrs. Washington. When GW and Fairfax split their expenses 10 Sept., the amount each owed was £7 8s. 7d. in Virginia currency. In a later letter to Rev. Jonathan Boucher, 9 July 1771, GW mentions having spent two seasons in the Mercer house at the Springs (DLC:GW).


Title: [November 1767]
From: Washington, George
To:

Nov. 20. Vestry in Truro Parish.

   This entry is from Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 1:240; the manuscript containing the entry has been lost since Fitzpatrick used it.

   At the vestry meeting it was resolved to replace the old frame Pohick Church in Mason’s Neck. Because the church was so near the southern boundary of the parish, it was no longer in a central location convenient to all of the Pohick parishioners, many of whom by the 1760s were settled in the northern half of the area served by Pohick Church. After a warm debate over a more central location for the new Pohick building, the new majority was able, by a vote of seven to five, to locate the new church in Pohick Neck, two miles north of the old Pohick Church at a site called the Crossroads (mvarAnnual Report of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union. Mount Vernon, Va., 1854–., 1964, 22–25; slaughter [2]Philip Slaughter. A History of St. Mark’s Parish, Culpeper County, Virginia, with Notes of Old Churches and Old Families, and Illustrations of the Manners and Customs of the Olden Time. Baltimore, 1877., 64).

Publick Levy 1767  8 lbs. Tob[acco] pr. Poll—No.

                  No. of Tythables in
                  1762 – 121022

                  1764 – 128000

                  1766 – 131799

Depositum—in 1767

                  Brunswick
                  11983

                  Charles City
                  15184

                  Dinwiddie
                  896

                  Gloucester
                  17514

                  Henrico
                  5757

                  James City
                  5299

                  Isle of Wight
                  8522

                  Louisa
                  10182

                  Middlesex
                  5163

                  New Kent
                  7569

                  Southampton
                  13882

                  Surry
                  6663

                  Sussex
                  6250

                  114864
                  total

Sold & applied to the fund for giving a Bounty on Hemp

   publick levy: These notes appear on one of the last blank pages of the 1767 almanac. Except for GW’s notation of the number of tithables for 1762,

1764, and 1766, the rest of this entry is an abstract of an act of the assembly passed in April 1767 entitled: “An act for raising a public levy” (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., 8:273–75; the 34 acts in this series are incorrectly dated by 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. as Nov. 1766). In the act, which set the new levy at 8 pounds of tobacco per tithable (or poll), the above-named counties are listed as being in arrears for the 1764–66 levy period, and the respective number given for each county is the amount of arrearage in pounds of tobacco. The act provided that the income from this arrearage tobacco would be set aside as a “depositum” to support the colony’s bounty for growing hemp. From time to time the assembly would lay a “general” or “public” levy colonywide on a per capita basis, which in the eighteenth century ranged between 4½ and 12½ pounds of tobacco per tithable. In 1767 a tithable was any white male aged 16 or over and every black and mulatto aged 16 and over, which in essence defined tithables as all adult workers. Although there was a technical difference between the terms poll and tithable, the two were commonly used interchangeably. Of the three years for which GW here notes tithable totals, the figure for 1762 is exactly the same as that reported by Governor Fauquier (greene [2]Evarts B. Greene and Virginia D. Harrington, eds. American Population before the Federal Census of 1790. New York, 1932., 141).


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Surveying some Lines of my Mt. Vernon Tract of Land.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. At Home with Doctr. Rumney.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Rid to Muddy hole, D. Run, & Mill Plantns.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Went into the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Rid to Doeg Run and the Mill before Dinner. Mr. B. Fairfax and Mr. Robt. Alexander here.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Hunting again in the same Compy. Started a Fox and run him 4 hours. Took the Hounds off at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. At Home with Mr. B. Fairfax.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Running some Lines between me and Mr. Willm. Triplet.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Attempted to go into the Neck on the Ice but it wd. not bear. In the Evening Mr. Chs. Dick Mr. Muse & my Brother Charles came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. At Home with them—Col. Fairfax, Lady, &[ca.]


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Ditto—Do. Colo. Fx. & famy. went home in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. At home all day at Cards—it snowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. At Home with Mr. Dick &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Went to Court & sold Colo. Colvils Ld. Returnd again at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went to Belvoir with Mr. Dick, my Bror. &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Returnd from Do. by the Mill Doeg Run and Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Went out again—started a Fox abt. 10. Run him till 3 and lost him.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Returnd Home. Found Mr. Tomi Elsey there.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Dined at Belvoir and returnd in the Afternoon. Borrowd a hound from Mr. Whiting—as I did 2 from Mr. Alexr. the 28th.