Title: November 1787
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 1st. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 42 at Night. A frost this morning which crusted the grd. and formed Ice. Early it was calm & not unpleasant but the Wind blew fresh from the No. Wt. & grew cold afterwards.
Rid by the way of Muddy hole where the people were taking up Turnips to transplant for Seed to Alexandria to attend a meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Company. Also the exhibition of the Boys of the Academy in this place. Dined at Leighs Tavern & lodged at Colo. Fitzgeralds after returning abt. 11 Oclock at Night from the performance which was well executed.

   the exhibition of the boys: part of “the public Examinations of the several Schools in the Alexandria Academy, antecedent to the autumnal Vacation. . . . In the Evening the Pupils of the Rev. Mr. M’Whir delivered public Orations before a large and respectable Audience, among whom were present General Washington, and the greater Part of the Principal Inhabitants, Ladies and Gentlemen, of the Town and the Neighbourhood: After which Prizes were distributed” (Va. Journal, 8 Nov. 1787). George Steptoe Washington, GW’s nephew, won a prize in Latin and ancient geography. leighs tavern: George H. Leigh operated the Bunch of Grapes Tavern on the corner of Fairfax and Cameron streets.

Friday 2d. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 44 at Night. Last Night being very cold the grd. this morning was hard frozen. The Weather however through the day was very pleasant.
After breakfast I returned home by way of Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs and the Ferry.
At the first 3 plows were breaking up the remains of field No. 4. The other hands were taking up the Jerusalem Artichoke from the half Acre of experimental ground adjoining the half Acre in which the Irish Potatoes grew. Yield 58½ bushls. The quantity in the dunged, and undunged part was equal but the roots of the 1st. were largest.
At Dogue run all hands were engaged in treading out Wheat.
At Frenchs except the two Plows which were at work, they were employed in digging Irish Potatoes.
At the Ferry in treading out Oats.

Saturday 3rd. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 47 at Night. Clear weather & very pleasant with but little wind.
Rid to all the Plantations. Digging Potatoes at the River, Muddy hole, and Frenchs—at all of which the Plows were also at work. Treading Wheat at D. Run & Oats at the Ferry.

Sunday 4th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 51 at Night. Clear & pleasant with but little Wind.
After the Candles were lighted Mr. & Mrs. Powell came in.

Monday 5th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. But little Wind, clear & pleasant all day.
Mr. & Mrs. Powell remaining here I continued at home all day.

Tuesday 6th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 56 at Night. Little or no Wind. Clear and pleasant all day.

Mr. & Mrs. Powell crossing the river to Mr. Digges a little after Sunrise I accompanied them that far & having my horse carried into the Neck I rid round that and all the other plantations.
From the cut of drilled Corn in the Neck (in wch. the Tobo. house stands) came 45 bushls. of Irish Potatoes from every 3d. interval between the Corn Rows. From the So. Cut on the river came 38 Bushels from the 4 rows and from the Farm yard cut 4th. rows came 98 Bushels in all 181 whereof 21 only were red. Eight Plows were at work here.
At Muddy hole 2 plows were at Work. The driver of the 3d. was after Hogs. The rest of the hands getting Potatoes from a 10 acre cut of Corn, adjoining the experimental ground from whence (every 4th. row) came 25 bushls. of white & 22¾ of red—alternate rows of each sort—In all 47¾.
At Dogue run all hands were engaged in cleaning wheat, stacking the Straw &ca.
At Frenchs two plows were at Work—all the other hands diggg. Potatoes.
At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. The other hands were gettg. Corn from the New ground in front of the Mansn. House.

   In his original Philadelphia journal GW included the notation that “Mr. Rid[ou]t dind & returned.”

Wednesday 7th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—57 at Noon and 60 at Night. A Very thick fog in the morning, & but little wind all day—the fog continuing till near 12 oclock.
Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs and the Ferry.
At Muddy hole 2 plows only at work—the other hands getting Corn in the New ground in front of the Mansion house.
At Morris 4 plows were at Work. All the other hands were digging Potatoes on the right of the road leading from the gate to the Houses. Entered upon this business this morning.
At Frenchs 2 plows were at work. The rest of the hands were digging Potatoes which they finished—quantity 84½ Bushls. from 46 rows 170 yds. long each.
At the Ferry the same work as yesterday.
Majr. Geo. Auge. Washington and his wife returned this evening from Berkley.

Thursday 8th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 54 at Night. Wind Southerly and morning soft. Between 9 and

10 oclock it began to rain moderately & continued to do so (very slowly) for about two hrs. and warm and damp afterwards.
Went up to Alexandria to meet the Directors of the Potomack Compy. Dined at Mr. Leighs Tavern and retd. in the afternoon.
The Ferry part of the New grd. Corn in front of the Mansion house being gathered and measured turned out as follow.

Of that wch. was sound
24

Rotten
 4 1/2
28 1/2

Stopped the Plows at Muddy hole to assist in digging the Potatoes there.

Friday 9th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 59 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. Weather mild & clear.
Went this day to the back line of my land in order to run a strait line 30 feet within the marked trees for a ditch leaving that space without for a road. Was not able to compleat it.
Passed by the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run in going and Muddy hole in returning.
At the 3 first the plows as usual were at work. At the latter the drivers were assisting with the Potatoes.
At the Ferry the hands were husking & securing the Corn they had gathered.
At Frenchs they were grubbing and stopping gullies before the Plows.
At Dogue run they were digging Potatoes.
At Muddy hole doing the same.

Saturday 10th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 52 at Night. The morning was mild & pleasant with the Wind at South. About 5 oclock it thundered & began to rain which it continued to do more or less till 10 oclock at Night.
Went again on the business I quitted yesterday without finishing it.
Passed by the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run, and returned by Muddy hole.
At the Ferry the Plows were at work as usual and the other hands were digging Potatoes.
At Frenchs they were employed as yesterday but were ordered to remove the trash out of the wet part of the Meadow (that had been grubbed) before it got wet.
At Dogue run only 2 plows were at work—the other hands digging Potatoes.

At Muddy hole all were digging Potatoes.
On my return home found the Widow Graham and her daughter here who stayed all Night.

   The widow Graham was probably Mrs. Elizabeth (Cocke) Graham, whose husband John Graham of Graham Park near Dumfries died in 1787. They had two daughters: Margaret Graham, who married Dr. Richard Gustavus Brown in 1769, and Jean Graham (b. 1768).

Sunday 11th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. Morning clear & pleasant with the Wind westerly but not hard nor cold.
After breakfast Mrs. Graham & her daughter went away and to dinner came my Nephew Geo. Steptoe Washington and young Mr. McCrae. In the Evening Colo. Richd. Henry Lee came in.

   mccrae: probably John McCrea (McCrae), a son of Robert McCrea of Alexandria and a schoolmate of George Steptoe Washington (Va. Journal, 8 Nov. 1787).

Monday 12th. Thermometer at 46 in the morning—52 at Noon And 52 at Night. Wind Southerly, weather mild but lowering all day. Towards noon, and from thence till 4 oclock it had much the appearance of Snow after wch. the clouds thinned and the prospect of fair weather brightned.
Colo. Lee went away about 11 Oclock and the young men after dinner. I did not ride as usual.
Finished digging the Irish Potatoes at Dogue run in the cut they began on thursday last—quantity from every 4th. interval between the Corn rows 120 bushl—63 of wch. were red. Red & white were in the rows alternately.

Tuesday 13th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 69 at Night. Very mild & soft morning with the wind Southerly.
Rid to all the Plantations. At the River Quarter 8 Plows were at work. The rest of the people were gathering Beans, and threshing out Pease.
At Muddy hole all hands digging Potatoes. Sent the small gang from the House there to assist, and ordered the Ferry People except the Ferry men & those drawing the Plows to go there tomorrow for the same purpe.
At Dogue Run, 4 plows were at Work. The other hands aided by the People from Frenchs were digging Potatoes on the left of the road leading from the gate to the Houses.
At Frenchs two plows were at Work.

At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. The other hands having finished digging the Potatoes; qty. 41 Bushls. whereof 6½ were red and 34½ white were picking the remainder of the frost bitten pease.

Wednesday 14th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 67 at Night. Clear and very mild in the morning. Cloudy afterwards with slight sprinklings of Rain. Wind at So. West.
Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole.
At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. All the other hands except the Ferry men had gone to Muddy hole.
At French’s they had got done abt. ⅔ of the Stack of Barley and were treading of it. Finding the weather unsettled ordered that which was tread out and the other part in the Stack to be well covered. The Plow horses being employed in treading the Plows were stopped this day.
At Dogue run 4 plows were at work—the other hands about the Potatoes.
At Muddy hole all hands, except the 3 plow people (who were plowing) together with the House people & those from the Ferry were digging Potatoes in No. 1 by the quarter, having yesterday afternoon finished the Corn grd.—The quantity of wch. exclusive of those wch. grew on the 10 Acre cut amounted to 54½ bushels of red and 59½ of white and added thereto makes 84½ of White and 77¼ of red—in the whole 161¾ Bushels from every 4th. interval between the Corn Rows.
Recd. this evening, the last of the Potatoes from the Neck; amounting in the whole, to 181 Bushels; whereof 42 grew in the EAsternmost cut of Corn in field No. 3—every 3d. row betwn. the Corn—39 in the Southernmost cut on the river every 4th. row and the remainder (100 Bushls.) in the Farm yard cut. From the whole of this there came only 21 bushls. of red from seed which had got intermixed (it is presumed at planting) with the White. From this place also came 56½ Bushls. of spring Barley which grew near the Barn in front of the Overseers House in grd. which had been in Turnips last year and might be about 4 acres. 31 Bushels of sound and good Pease were also brought home from thence; and 7½ more of those which had been bit by the frost in a great degree too some of them. These Pease came from the Field No. 3 between the 3d. Corn row in the first mentioned cut & the 4th. of the other two cuts—in like manner the Potatoes—the whole field containing 130 acres.

Thursday 15th. Thermometer at 63 in the morning—62 at Noon and 62 at Night. Morning mild and very heavy—the Wind having blown very fresh from the So. West all night. About 10 oclk. (after some previous sprinklings) it began a constant rain which continued till near three oclock without intermission, and at times very powerfully. After this till Night it ceased, but recommenced sometime after dark and continued it is supposed thro’ the Night.
Went to Alexandria to an Election of a Senator, for the district of Fairfax & Prince William. Was accompanied by Mr. William Stuart who with Mrs. Stuart & his Sister came here last evening. Gave my suffrage for Mr. Thos. West who with a Mr. Pope from the other County were Candidates and returned home to dinner through the midst of the rain from an apprehension that the weather was not likely to abate in the evening.
The last of the Potatoes were brought from the left hand cut at Dogue run making therefore 113½ Bushels whereof 57¾ were red and 56½ were white. These added to those on the other side of the road, make 120¾ of red, and 113½ of White; In all 234¼ Bushls. from the 4th. Intervals of the Corn rows. The No. of Acres in Corn may be abt. 57.
In the Evening Mr. Kelly the Dancing Master and my Nepw. G. Steptoe Washington came in.

   Thomas West, eldest son of John West, Jr., and Catharine Colvill West, served in one session (1784–85) of the House of Delegates for Fairfax County. In the polling for this Virginia Senate seat West lost to John Pope, of Prince William County, who remained in the Senate until 1791, after which he served several terms in the House of Delegates for Prince William County (see SWEM AND WILLIAMSEarl G. Swem and John W. Williams. A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918, and of the Constitutional Conventions. Richmond, 1918.). mr. kelly: John B. O’Kelly of Alexandria (O’BRIENMichael J. O’Brien. George Washington’s Associations with the Irish. New York, 1937., 52).

Friday 16th. Thermometer at 57 in the morning—56 at Noon and 57 at Night. A continued rain all day—some times powerful, by which the grd. was made very wet. Wind in the forenoon Southerly—afternn. Easterly—and towards Night at No. West but not hard at any period of it.
Remained within doors all day.

Saturday 17th. Thermometer at 44 in the morning—56 at Noon And 55 at Night. A very clear and pleasant Morning. Day fine, Wind tho’ not much of it at No. West.
Rid to the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run and Muddy hole.
At the first ground being too wet to Plow I sent them to Frenchs which was something drier being lay land.

At the other, cleaning the Barley, aided by some of the Dogue run people—but was not able to finish it.
At Dogue run four plows were at work. The other hands were filling gullies before the Plows.
At Muddy hole 3 plows were at Work. The other people & the small gang from the House were digging Potatoes tho’ it was bad doing it on acct. of the wetness of the earth.
Mrs., Miss Stuart and the Miss[es] Custis together with Harriot W. went up to Abingdon, & Mr. Kelly & Geo. Steptoe Washington to Alexandria, after breakfast.

   The dancing class was over on this day and GW paid O’Kelly for “one quarter’s instruction” of Lawrence and George Steptoe Washington (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 256). The class, organized in August, also included their younger sister, Harriot Washington (1776–1822), and Eleanor Parke Custis (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 248).

Sunday 18th. Thermometer at 41 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 51 at Night. Weather clear and pleasant. The Wind in the morning was at No. Et.—at Noon East and at Night Southerly.
Geo. Auge. Washington and his wife went up to Abingdon. To Dinner came Mr. Potts his wife and Brother and Mr. Wilson from Alexandria and soon after them Colo. Humphreys. The first company went away after dinner and in the evening Mr. Corbin Washington came in.

   John Potts, Jr., was married in June 1786 to Eliza Ramsay (Va. Journal, 29 June 1786). She was the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Ramsay of Alexandria, the widow of Patrick Ramsay, a Scottish merchant, formerly of Blandford, Prince George County, Va.

Monday 19th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—53 at Noon and 51 at Night. Morning clear and calm, with a red sky in the Eastern horizon and some fog on the River.
Rid before breakfast to the Plantations at Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole. Had the Barley at the former fanned, cleaned and Measured—quantity 126½ bushls. from about 9 acres of ground.
At Dogue run, laid down the Barley to tread out.
At Muddy hole digging Potatoes. The hands from the Ferry, and sml. gang from the Mansn. house assisting. The Ploughs would abt. finish breaking up field No. 4 this evening. Mr. Robt. Morris, Mr. Gour. Morris & Doctr. Ruston came in before Dinner.

   On 13 Nov. Samuel Powel wrote GW from Philadelphia to thank the Washingtons for their hospitality, adding: “Messrs. Robert & Gouverneur Morris left this City Yesterday & will probably be with you before the Arrival of this Letter. They will be able to give you a full and ample Detail of all

Matters relative to our grand Question, I mean the Acceptation of the federal Constitution” (DLC:GW). The Morrises were in Virginia for several months “to straighten out difficulties connected with Robert’s contract for a monopoly on the sale of American tobacco to the French Farmers General” (MINTZMax M. Mintz. Gouverneur Morris and the American Revolution. Norman, Okla., 1970., 205).

Tuesday 20th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—57 at Noon and 55 at Night. Morning pleasant, very lowering afterwards. Wind at So. Et., and moderate in the forenoon—but fresh afterwards—veering more Easterly.
Colo. Lyles, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Rumney, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Monshure, Mr. Nelson, and Doctr. Craik came to Dinner and returned in the evening. Mr. Corbin Washington went away after breakfast.

Wednesday 21st. Thermometer at 51 in the Morning—51 at Noon And 46 at Night. A great deal of rain fell in the Night. Cloudy morning but clear afterwards. Wind at No. West all day but neither very hard, nor cold.
Messrs. Morris’s, & Doctr. Ruston went away after Breakfast. With the first two I rid a few miles and then visited my plantations at Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole on my return.
At the first, the Ferry Plows were aiding those of the Plantatn., their own grd. being too wet and the other hands were assisting the Muddy hole people in digging Potatoes. The rest of French’s hands were filling up gullies before the Plows.
At Dogue run 4 plows were at work. The other hands were fillg. up gullies.
At Muddy hole the Plows (three) only finished breaking up No. 4 last night, instead of doing it the eveng. before, as I expected. And began this morning to plow No. 3. The other hands with those from the Ferry were about the Potatoes.
In the Neck, finished breaking up field No. 4.

Thursday 22d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—51 at Noon And 45 at Night. Cloudy morning with the Wind fresh all day at No. West. About Noon it was clear. Lowered again in the Afternoon.
Rid into the Neck and to Muddy hole.
At the first, began to Plow (next the Mouth of Carneys gut) field No. 9 as the first preparation for a wheaten Crop, next fall—to receive in the Mean while Buck Wheat, & some other fallow Crops. 6 plows only at work.

At the Plantation at Muddy hole 2 plows only were at work in No. 3. The third had come down to the House to be repaired; all the other hands, together with those from the Ferry, were digging Potatoes. Examined the squares which I had sowed at this place with grass seeds; and found that the red clover, hop clover, Ray grass, and orchard grass were all up very thick. None of the rib grass could I perceive up and very little if any of the Sainfoin.
The Winter Vetches, red clov. and trafoil which had been sowed in the Neck were also up the two last very thick & well; but I could perceive none of the Burnet, and very little of the Sainfoin above ground.

Friday 23d. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind at No. Wt., but neither cold nor very fresh. Cloudy in the forenoon but clear afterwards.
Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, D. Run and Muddy hole.
At the first the plows belonging to the Plantation were at work at frenchs. The other hands were getting Corn in the flat below the hill in No. 1.
At Frenchs, the Plows were stopped, in order that the Horses might tred out Oats: all hands employed in this business.
At Dogue run, finished cleaning the Oats raised from the Seed sent me by Genl. Spotswood, from an Acre of grd.; 41½ Bushels. The remainder of the Barley, 6¾ bushls. was brot. from this place, which made the whole raised at it 74¼ bushls.—total at all the places 257¼ bushls. 3¼ bushls. of the black Spelt was brot. home from this place also. 4 Plows were at Work. The other hands (after cleang. Oats) were spreadg. Buck Wheat straw and threshing the common Spelts.
At Muddy hole, 3 plows were at work; the other hands, belonging to the Plantation, were digging Potatoes, which they finished doing about Noon. These have not been measured, but spread in the Barn that they might get dry and be sorted. Note—The digging of Potatoes has been too long postponed this fall. The proper season to do this work in is, as soon as the top dies & before it becomes so dry as to fall. At so late a Season the earth is wet, clings to the Potatoes; makes them very dirty, & difficult to dry; from whence many are spoiled without much troubles & attention. Note also. It is too late, where there are not Barns, on the floors of which grain can be threshed dry, & with safety, to have Wheat, Oats, or other Crops of this kind remaining in the Straw. Dirt yards, on which they are tred, get damp; & much grain is buried in the earth; to keep them from freezing is not only troublesome,

but difficult; and the freqt. rains which fall at this Season, are not sufficiently counteracted by the Sun to prepare them for use before they are endangered by a repetition of more.

Saturday 24th. Thermometer at 48 in the morning—48 at Noon And 45 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day with heavy clouds, & great appearances of rain till the evening, when the Clds. broke and the prospect brightned a little.
Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantns.—also to the Carpenters in the Woods.
At the Ferry, the Plows were as yesterday at work at Frenchs. The other hands were husking & lofting of Corn and gathering Beans.
At Frenchs all hands and Horses were treading out Oats.
At Dogue run 4 plows were at Work. The rest of the People were threshing & cleaning the common Spelts—qty. 35½ Bushls. which were left there for the use of the Plantation Horses.
At Muddy hole 3 plows were at Work. The other hands were gathering & husking of Corn, & sorting the Irish Potatoes.
Mrs. Lee (wife of Colo. Henry Lee) came here to dinner and in the afternoon he & Judge Harrison of Maryland arrived.
Mr. Lear went up to Alexa. today on my business.

Sunday 25th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 45 at Night. Clear & pleasant all day—Notwithstanding the Wind (though not brisk) continued at No. East.
Colo. Simms, Mr. Porter, and young Mr. Bowen came here to dinner, and returned afterwards.

Monday 26th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—49 at Noon And 47 at Night. Wind at No. Et. and great appearances of rain all day. About Noon it began to Mizzle after which the clds. broke & the weather looked less threatning.
Colo. Lee & his Lady, & Colo. Harrison going away after breakfast I rid to French’s, Dogue run, and Muddy hole.
At the first, 2 plows were at work; the other hands were cleaning Oats.
At Dogue run, all hands were engaged in getting out Oats, for which purpose the Plows were stopped.
At Muddy hole, 3 plows were at work; the other hands were gathering Corn;
Three plows were at Work at the Ferry. Mrs. Jenifer came here.

Tuesday 27th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 47 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day and weather very heavy and threatning.
Rid to the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs and Ferry. At the first gathering, and measuring Corn. The whole produce of field No. 3 amounted to no more than  Barrls. 6 plows were at work.
At Muddy hole, 3 plows were at work—the other hands gathering Corn & husking it.
At Dogue run, 4 plows were at Work. The other hands were cleaning the Oats which had been tread out yesterday.
At French’s 2 plows were at Work. All the other hands were cleaning Oats.
At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. All the rest of the hands were gathering & husking Corn.

Wednesday 28th. Thermometer at 44 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 47 at Night. Wind variable, sometimes East, and sometimes West of North. Began to drop rain by or before Sun rise. About 10 Oclock it encreased so as to rain pretty fast; which it continued to do, more or less till abt. 4 oclock when it cleared & the Sun.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run & Muddy hole.
The Plows were at Work at all of them till abt. 10 Oclock when they were stopped by rain—as all other outdoors work was.

Thursday 29th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 49 at Night. Clear and calm in the fore part of the day, & in the afternoon. Cloudy from 12 Oclock till 3, with appearances of Snow & wind at No. West.
In Company with Colo. Humphreys Majr. Washington & Mr. Lear went a hunting, found a fox about 11 Oclock near the Pincushion. Run him hard for near 3 quarters of an hour & then lost him.
Mr. Lund Washington who joined us, came & dined with us and returned afterwards.
Passed through Muddy hole Plantation. 3 plows were at Work, the other hands were gathering & husking Corn.

Friday 30th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 39 at Night. Cloudy in the Morning but clear afterwards. Early in the Morning the Wind was about So. West after which it

got to No. Wt. but neither blew hard nor cold. In the evening it was calm & quite clear.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run & Muddy hole.
At the first three plows were at work in field No. 3, Number 2 being two wet to plow. The rest of the hands were gathering and husking Corn.
At French’s 2 plows were at Work. The other hands were filling gullies before the Plows. The last load of Oats from the stack which had been tread were brot. to the Mansion house from this place—qty. 287½ bushls. from this Stack.
At Dogue run, 4 plows were at Work. The other hands were making drains to let of the water (wch. was ponding in wet weather) from fields No. 4 & 6, now in grain. Brot. the last of the Oats from this place which grew in the ground (abt. 25 acs.) that was winter fallowed in No. 1, adjoining the Ferry road. Qty. 139½ Bushls. All these (last mentioned) Oats, were deposited in the Seed loft, over the Green Ho.
At Muddy hole 3 plows were at work. The other hands were gathering and husking corn.
Mrs. Jenifer went away about Noon.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday first. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 57 at Night. Calm and remarkably clear and pleasant all day. A large white frost in the Morning & grd. froze. Went with Colo. Humphreys, Majr. W. & Mr. Lear a fox hunting. Found a fox abt. 9 Oclock & run him hard till near 10 and lost him. Passed through Muddy hole Plantation, & returned through those of Dogue run, Frenchs, & the Ferry, after the Hunt. At the first 3 plows were at Work. The other hands were gathering & husking Corn. At Dogue run, all hands (Plows being stopped) were treading out Oats. At Frenchs—the same. At the Ferry 3 plows were at Wk. in No. 3. The other hands were gathering & measuring Corn.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 4th. Thermometer at 47 in the Morning—47 at Noon And 46 at Night. Wind Southerly all day—varying sometimes to the East, & then to the . Morning very heavy with slight rain. Clear afterwards & very pleasant. After Mr. Jones went away I rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations. At the first 3 plows at Work in field No. 2. The other hands finished measurg. the Corn qty. as follow—24½ frm. New grd. 7 frm. drilled do. 17 frm. Stony hill & 20 fm. flat—In all 68½ sound besides 3 picked ⟨up in⟩ difft. fields—& soft Corn 22 Bar[rls.] At Frenchs two plows began to work abt. 11 Oclock. The other hands were cleaning Oats. At Dogue run 4 plows were at Work. The other hands were gathering & husking of Corn. At Muddy hole 3 plows were at Work. The other hands had just

finished husking & measuring Corn—qty. 30 Barrls. sound & 11 Hog Corn—7 rotten of wch. 9 Barrls. of the first & 1 of the other grew on the first 10 ac[res] next the experimental Squares. A large proportion of the Corn at all my Plantations is soft & rotten this year. Turned every species of Stock of my Clover at Muddy hole and the five acre lott in the Neck. Took up some Turnips for Table use to day at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 5th. Thermometer at 47 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 46 at Night. The Wind getting to No. Wt. in the Night blew hard but lulled in the Morning, & by Nine Oclock, grew calm and very cloudy. About noon it dropped rain and had appearances of a wet afternoon tho’ it turned out otherwise—a bright horizon about Sundown. Went out, in Company with Colo. Humphreys, with the hounds after we had breakfasted. Took the drag of a Fox on the side of Hunting Creek near the Cedar gut. Carried it through Muddy hole Plantation into the Woods back of it and lost it near the Main road. After which I went to Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs, and the Ferry Plantations. At the first (Muddy hole) 2 plows only were at Work; the third being at the Shop. The other hands after securing their Corn in the Barn began to dig the Carrots in the (quarter of an Acre of the) experimental ground. At Dogue run, the Corn in the East cut of field No. 4 measured 27 barrls. and that which grew in the Small field by Frenchs measured 15 barrls. of sound Corn. The Plows were stopped, and all hands were employed in treading out the only remaining Stack of Oats. The last Stack turned out 129 bushls.; 37½ of wch. came to the Mansn. Ho. & 91½ remd. for the Plantn. At French’s 2 plows were at work, the other hands were employed in cleaning Oats. At the Ferry, three plows were at Work. The other hands were cleaning the tailings of Wheat & threshing out Pease.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 6th. Thermometer at 40 in the morning— at Noon and  at Night. Cloudy & raw in the morning, wind being at No. Et. Abt. Noon it veered to the East, and then to the So. Et. Many changes in the appearance of the Weather, it sometimes threatning immediate Snow or rain, and then promised to be fair. Once or twice a few flakes of Snow fell.  Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, finished husking and measuring the Corn in the South part of field No. 9—quantity  Barls. including what had been given to the Hogs. Plows were stopped in order to tread a stack of Oats whch. grew in the No. Et. part of field No. 2—The hands engaged in this work and housing the Corn. At Muddy hole finished digging the carrots which grew on the half of the half-acre of experimental grd. (the other half thereof, had been sowed with Turnips, and taken up by mistake without Measuring, or weighing). That part of the grd. which had received the usual quantity of 50 bushls. of dung (to the half acre) produced 12 Bushls. of Carrots; and the other part of the ground which had not been dunged yielded 12 Bushels. In the size of the Carrots there was but little difference. In both they were short, and mostly forked; many of them however were thick. Three plows were at Work. In one I put the mule which worked very well. The horse mule is intended also for this Plantation. At Dogue run 5 plows were at work. Moll, with the old dray Mare, & another Mare bot. for me by Mr. Muse ware set to this business. The other hands were cleaning Oats & threshing Pease. At Frenchs two Plows were at Work—the other hands cleaning Oats. At the Ferry 3 plows were at work in field No. 2. The other hands after finishing cleaning the tailings, Pease, & Beans were employed in getting the Cedar Berries. The quantity of Sound Pease only amounted to 3½ Bushls. and the Beans to 1¼ Bushls. 54 Pumpkins were sent from this place to the Mansion Ho. for the Cows. Taking up Turnips, at Dogue by the small gang from the Mann. House. Three men from Do. cutting broom straw for litter.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 7th. Thermometer at  in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Raining good part of the Night moderately. Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning; and continued so pretty fresh through the day and cool. For the most part cloudy. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck 5 plows only were at work—not more through the week. Finished cleaning and measurg. the Stack of Oats wch. was tread out yesterday from the Eastermost cut of field No. 2 quantity 109 bushls. from about 8 acres of grd. After this all hands were employed (except those with the five plows) in gathering Corn. At Muddy hole two plows only were at work—the 3d. at the Smiths shop. Measured the ¼ of an Acre of Carrots which were

taken from the experimental ground—quantity 24 Bushls. half of wch. was from the undunged part, and of equal quality with those which grew on the dunged part (as noticed yesterday). Dug those which grew on the first 10 acres of Corn, adjoining to the experimental grd. (in every 4th. Corn Row). These were of the Orange sort, and very large, but a good deal missing—quantity 22 bushels. The 4th. rows which had been in Irish Potatoes & had yielded 47¾ bushls. as appears by the entry on the 6th. of last Month which makes the difference of 25¾ bushls. in favor of the Potatoes wch. were much less miss[in]g. At Dogue run, 4 plows only were at work; the other hands, after cleaning the Oats & putting them away, quantity 96 bushls.; threshed, cleaned and sent to the Mansn. house the Pease—viz.—14½ bushls. of sound & 6 ditto of frost bitten ones. At Frenchs, 2 plows were at Work. The other hands cleaning of Oats. At the Ferry, 3 plows at work. Other hands preparing and littering the Farm pen and doing other Jobs.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 9th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—38 at Noon And 36 at Night. The Wind having shifted to the No. Wt. in the

Night it cleared and grew cold. In the Morning the ground was hard froze & the Weather very clear as it continued to be all day—the wind tho’ not hard remaining at No. Wt. Colos. Fitzgerald & Gilpin, Captn. Conway & Mr. Herbert, Mr. Hartshorne & Doctr. Craik Junr. came here to Dinner & returned afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 10th. Thermometer at 31 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 34 at Night. Morning & day clear. Wind varying from West to No. Wt. and very cold all day. Ground hard froze—plows stopped till it softened—Ice ¾ of an Inch thick in places. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, gathering and husking Corn with all the hands till the plows could work. At Muddy hole began to put up the Fence between fields No. 3 & 4. At Dogue run gathering and husking Corn—5 plows at Work. At Frenchs all hands treading Wheat—plows stopped for this purpose. At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. The other hands were getting up taking an Acct. of the Stock & Tools previous to Hezekh. Fairfaxs leaving the place—afterwards grubbing in the slash between this Plantan. & Frenchs. This day agreed to give the two Brothers of Cornelius McDermot Roe 20 guineas as Ditchers or labourers till the 1st. of Novr. next the Younger of the two to Work at Brick laying when Cornelius is so employed.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 12th. Thermometer at 28 in the Morning—32 at Noon And 30 at Night. Clear and cold but not unpleasant. Wind

at No. Wt. all day. Grd. very hard froze. Creeks covered with Ice. No plowing any where to day. Mr. Fendall going away after breakfast Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Bushrod Washington, Colo. Humphreys & myself dined at Mr. Lund Washingtons. I rid by the Ferry, Frenchs, and Dogue run Plantations as I went. At the Ferry, grubbing in the swamp as yesterday. At French’s cleaning up the Wheat that had been tread out. At Dogue run, after finishing husking Corn, the Women were employed in cleaning up the swamp in the Meadow above the Houses. Killed the following Hogs to day viz.—

from the Neck.
22
weight
3119

 Ferry
23
Do.
3000

 Dogue run
21
Do.
2498

 Muddy hole
17
Do.
1594

Total
83

10211

Also at the Mill
7
Do.
1166

 Together
90

11377

Out of these the Miller recd.

599

 Bishop 100 & R. B. Walker 100

200

  remain

799

 The last Potatoes having been brought home from Muddy hole, from the grd. by the Quarters, the qty. in that piece amounted to 275¾ Bls. and makes the whole from that Plantation 468 Bushls. From all the Plantations 997¾ Bushls. whereof 409 Bushels of large white 153½ bushls. of large red—246 bushls. of Small White and 60 bushls. of small red were put into the Cellars. The deficiency have been made use of and got injured and were given to the Cows.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 13th. Thermometer at 31 in the Morning—35 at Noon And 30 at Night. Clouds & Sunshine alternately, sometimes great appearances of Snow. Wind West—varying Sometimes to the No. & sometimes to the So. of it. Rid to all the Plantations except the Neck. Ground too hard froze to plow at any of them. At the Ferry, all hands grubbing the Swamp except 1 man getting stakes for fence.  At Frenchs—all hands cleaning Wheat. Cornelius & his two brothers began to deepen the parting ditch betwn. this Plantation & the ferry. At Dogue Run—the women were digging Carrots—grd. very improper for it, being hard froze, & wheat hurt by it. Men cutting rail timber except those who were at the Mansn. House abt. the Hogs. At Muddy hole, the Men being employed at the Mansn. house abt. the Hogs the women were cutting Corn stalks.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 16th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 37 at Night. Wind at No. Et. in the morning—then calm—then So. Et. Cloudy all day with great appearances of Snow.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 17th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at Night. But little wind all day, & that at No. Et. Weather much more moderate than it has been. In the morng. and alternately through the day, great appearances of Snow. At times a little fell, but not enough to whiten the ground. In the afternoon the Sun appeared. Rid to the Ferry, French’s, & Muddy hole Plantations. No Plowing any where. A hand from each Plantation sent to the

Mansn. Ho. to cut wood for Christmas—the Carts from the Ferry, Frenchs & Dogue run accompanying them in order to draw it in, & to carry out dung. At the Ferry the Women were grubbing the Slash. At Frenchs they were getting out Oats. At Dogue Run, except the Men who were at home, getting Rail timber, the rest were at Frenchs cleaning the Meadow as they had been on Saturday agreeably to the order given on Friday. At Muddy hole the Women were fencing between fields No. 5 & 6. On Saturday last brot. home the 2 Maltese Jennys, and 2 Mules one from the bla. dray Mare at D. run—the other from a Grey Mare at the Ferry—Also the 2 Stallion Colts from the Neck—to Winter. The Bullocks which had been in the Mill Meadow and intended for Stall feeding—6 in number—were brot. home to their racks this day also.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 18th. Thermometer at 31 in the Morning—42 at Noon And 38 at Night. Wind Northerly and variable. Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs and Muddy hole. At the first grubbing the Swamp or slash. At French’s, Treading out Oats. The hands from Dogue run cleaning up the Meadow at this place as yesterday. At Muddy hole fencing. Finished gathering, husking and Housing the Corn at the River plantation—qty. as follow.

Sound barrls.
Soft or Rottn.Barrels

From field No. 3
drilled
92 1/2
8

 Wood cut 9

17
2

 Old gate do.
do.
86 1/2
17

 Next Wms.
do.
8
6

 New gate cut
do.
93 1/2
49

 East cut
do.
44
48

341 1/2
130

Of the above sound Corn 290was Housed, the rest eaten by Hogs &ca.

Crop at Muddy hole

30
18

 Ferry

71 1/2
22

 Dogue run

64
unknown

   Total

507
170


Title: [Diary entry: 19 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Wednesday 19th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—44 at Noon And 40 at Night. Wind variable from No. Et. to So. East. Snowing by spirts & sometimes fast (but never so as to whiten the ground) from Sun rise till 11 Oclock. Rid to all the Plantations. At the Neck—Men getting Posts for Fencing, & some, with the Women, covering & getting Farm pen in order. Brought the (Waggon here to assist in getting in wood). At Muddy hole—The people were fencing. At Dogue run, except those who were mauling & cuttg. Rails they were cleaning the Meadow at Frenchs as yesterday. At Frenchs, on acct. of the weather, no Oats were tread out to day but those which had been tread out were cleaning up. At the Ferry cleaning up the Swamp which had been grubbed.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 21st. Thermometer at 33 in the Morning—38 at Noon And 35 at Night. Morning clear and tolerably pleasant. Wind Westerly, but getting to No. Wt. it blew fresh & turned cold but continued clear & not unpleast. The frost since it set in being a continued one, has stopped all plowing. The ground quite dry and roads dusty.  Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run French’s & the Ferry Plantatns. At Muddy hole began to fence between No. 1 & 2. Brought two Sorrel Colts from thence rising two. Magnolio’s. At Dogue run the people having finished the Meadow at Frenchs yesterday were (the Women, the Men getting rails) employed in cleaning their own Meadow. Counted all the Stock at this place and brot. to the Mansn. House to be wintered 8 Mares with fold—2 Sorrl. Colts rising two—a young bay mare rising three—a young bay horse for Washington Custis and the Chariot horse Partner. At French’s all the hands that were at home, were cleaning Oats and that this business might be dispatched I sent 4 hands from the Ferry to work a 2d. Fan. At the Ferry the women were levelling the Ditch in No. 2 ordered to be done yesterday. Killed the following Hogs to day.

From the
Neck
18
weight
1650

Ferry
4
Do.
335

1985

Disposed of them as follow

Thos. Bishop & T. Green
800

Richd. B. Walker
152

Overseer Morris
300

Ditto at Frenchs
300

Ditto Muddy hole
228

Carpenter Isaac
202

1982

 Overseer Da[v]y retained 3 of his Hogs agreeably to order, as did the Farmer at the Ferry. The first weighed 311 lbs.: of the weight of the latter—if killed, no acct. has yet been rendered. The 2 reserved by him when the first hogs came from the Ferry weighed 243 lbs. The General Acct. stands thus.

hogs

Early killg. from the Mill Novr. 12th.

7
1342

2d. Killing—12th. Inst.—viz. includg. 2 to the Farmer
{
92
11620

3d. Killing, exclusive of 3 left for him & includg. 3 left for Davy
}
25
2286

Total

124
15248

Disposed of to the Ovrs. & others pr.

the foregoing Accts. remaing. for Fam[il]y

12712


Title: [Diary entry: 22 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 22d. Thermometer at 27 in the Morning—27 at Noon And 26 at Night. Wind at No. Et. & the weather varient till abt. Noon when it turned very cold & cloudy. Towards Night it began to Snow & continued to do so whilst I sat up but in the Night it turned to rain. The Snow was not more than 2 Inches deep and is the first time the ground has been whitened with it this Fall or Winter. After our usual breakfasting, Colo. Humphreys, Majr. Washington & myself with Mr. Lear went out with the hounds. Dragged up the Creek to the Gum Spring and then the Woods between Muddy hole, Dogue run & Colo. Masons Quarters, without touching on the trail of a fox. I visited the Plantations (in going out & coming home) except the Neck. At Muddy hole the people were Making the fence they were upon yesterday. At Dogue run cleaning the swamp as yesterday. At French’s cleaning Oats & At the Ferry grubbing a small part of the Swamp that runs into Frenchs Plantation. In the Afternoon Mrs. Stuart and her 4 Children and Mr. George Calvert came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 23d. Thermometer at 33 in the Morning—36 at Noon And 34 at Night. Mizling at times and Cloudy all day. Wind at No. Wt. but not very cold. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 27th. Thermometer at 35 in the Morning—44 at Noon And 40 at Night. Calm and very mild, with but little wind & that at South. Mr. Lund Washington & his wife and Miss Nancy Stuart came here to Dinner. The latter remained.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 29th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 48 at Night. Remarkably fine, clear & moderate. Very little Wind & that Southerly. Rid (the hollidays being ended) to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs Dogue run, and Muddy hole. At the Ferry the Men were getting Stakes for fencing, and the Women levelling the ditch in field No. 2. At Frenchs all hands were cleaning Oats. At Dogue run 5 Men were cutting & mauling rails & the rest cleaning up the swamp between the Meadows. At Muddy hole—the People were about fencing except 1 Man getting stakes for Do. & 3 after Noon plowing. Doctr. Craik and Mr. Roger West came to Dinner; and in the evening, with Mr. Wm. Craik & the two girls, returned; but the Postillion boy, Paris, getting his Jawbone broken by the kick of a horse; the Doctr. was pursued & brought back after he had got as far as Dorrels hill.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 December 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 30th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—35 at Noon And 32 at Night. Wind at So. Et. and Snowing fast all or the greater part of the day—but being wet it did not accumulate fast. Doctr. Craik and Mr. OKelly went away after breakfast and abt. 11 Oclock Mr. Paradise & his Lady lately from England but now of Williamsburgh came in on a visit.


Title: Editorial Note
From:
To:

The following diary is GW’s Philadelphia journal (Regents’ No. 34), a rough diary (from 11 May through 15 Nov. 1787) from which GW

drew information for his more complete diary entries for those dates which appear earlier in this volume (see entry for 8 May 1787).


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 11th. Set out before breakfast and rid 12 Miles to Skirrets Tavern, where we baited, and proceeded to the Ferry at Havre de grass to dinner. The wind being high, & the weather Squally I did not cross the river—frequent Showers thro’ the day with Mists and sun shine alternately.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 12th. Crossed the river early in the morning and breakfasted at the ferry house on the east side. Dined at the head of Elk and lodged at Wilmington. At the head of Elk Mr. Corbin joined me, and took a seat in my carriage to Wilmington.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 13th. About Nine o’clock Mr. Corbin and I set out, and dined at Chester, where I was met by Genls. Mifflin, Knox & Varnum—Colonls. Humphreys and Minges and Majors Jackson and Nicholas. After dinner we proceeded for the City. At the Ferry (Grays) I was met by the Troop of City light horse by whom (and a large concourse, I was escorted to Mrs. Houses—after passing the Artillery officers (who saluted) at the entrance of the City. On my arrival a peal was rung and Mr. Robt. Morris & his Lady again pressing me to lodge with them I had my baggage moved and took up my Quarters at their House—after paying my respects to the President of the State Doctr. Franklin.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—15th. Repaired to the State Ho. at the hour appointed. No more States represented, tho’ there were members (but not sufficient to form a quoram) from two or three others—viz. No. Carolina, & Delaware as also Jersey. Govr. Randolph of Virginia came in to day. Dined with the Society of the Cincinnati.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 20th. Went into the Country with Mr. & Mrs. Morris and dined at their place at the Hill. Returned in the afternoon and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 21 Delaware State was represented. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Binghams—great splender shewn.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 23d. No more States represented. Rid to Genl. Mifflins to breakfast—after wch. in Company with him Mr. Madison, Mr. Rutlidge & others, crossed the Schuylkill above the Falls. Called at Mr. Peters’s Mr. Penns and Mr. Hamiltons and repaired at the hour of one to the State House. Dined at Mr. Chews with the wedding guests & drank Tea there in a large Circle of Ladies.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 24th. No more States represented. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Ross’s. One of my Postilion boys (Paris) being ill sent for Doctr. Jones to him.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 25th. Another delegate coming in from the State of New Jersey made a quoram; and Seven States being now represented, the body was Organized and I was called to the Chair by a unanim. vote. Major Jackson was appointed Secretary—and a Com[mitt]ee consisting of Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Chs. Pinkney chosen to prepare rules & regulations by which the Convention was to be governed. To give time for this it adjourned till Monday 10 Oclock. Returned many visits in the forenoon and dined at Mr. Thos. Willings. Spent the Evening at my quarters.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 26. Returned all my visits this forenoon (where I cd. get an Acct. of the Lodggs. of those to whom I was indebted for them). Dined at a club at the City Tavern and spent the Evening at my Quarters writing lett[ers].


Title: [Diary entry: 27 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 27th. Went to the Romish Church, to high Mass. Dined, drank Tea, and spent the evening at my lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 30th. Convention as yesterday. Dined with Mr. Vaughan. Drank Tea and spent the Evening at Mr. & Mrs. Lawrences.


Title: [May 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 11th. Set out before breakfast and rid 12 Miles to Skirrets Tavern, where we baited, and proceeded to the Ferry at Havre de grass to dinner. The wind being high, & the weather Squally I did not cross the river—frequent Showers thro’ the day with Mists and sun shine alternately.

Saturday 12th. Crossed the river early in the morning and breakfasted at the ferry house on the east side. Dined at the head of Elk and lodged at Wilmington. At the head of Elk Mr. Corbin joined me, and took a seat in my carriage to Wilmington.

Sunday 13th. About Nine o’clock Mr. Corbin and I set out, and dined at Chester, where I was met by Genls. Mifflin, Knox & Varnum—Colonls. Humphreys and Minges and Majors Jackson and Nicholas. After dinner we proceeded for the City. At the Ferry (Grays) I was met by the Troop of City light horse by whom (and a large concourse, I was escorted to Mrs. Houses—after passing the Artillery officers (who saluted) at the entrance of the City. On my arrival a peal was rung and Mr. Robt. Morris & his Lady again pressing me to lodge with them I had my baggage moved and took up my Quarters at their House—after paying my respects to the President of the State Doctr. Franklin.

Monday 14th. This being the day appointed for the meeting of the Convention such members of it as were in town assembled at the State House where it was found that two States only were represented—viz. Virginia and Pensylvania. Agreed to meet again tomorrow at 11 Oclock. Dined (in a family way) at Mr. Morris’s & dr[an]k Tea there.

Tuesday—15th. Repaired to the State Ho. at the hour appointed. No more States represented, tho’ there were members (but not sufficient to form a quoram) from two or three others—viz. No. Carolina, & Delaware as also Jersey. Govr. Randolph of Virginia came in to day. Dined with the Society of the Cincinnati.

Wednesday 16th. Only two States represented. Agreed to meet at one oclock. Doctr. McClerg of Virginia came in. Dined at Doctr. Franklins. Drank Tea & spent the Evening with Mr. Jno. Penn.

Thursday. 17th. Mr. Pinkney of So. Carolina coming in from New York and Mr. Rutledge being here before formed a representation from that State. Colo. Mason getting in this Evening from Virginia compleated the whole number of this State in the delegation.
Dined at Mr. Powells and drank Tea there.

Friday 18th. The State of New York was represented. Dined at a club at Greys ferry over the Schuylkill & drank Tea at Mr. Morris’s—after wch. went with Mrs. Morris & some other Ladies to here a lady read at the College Hall.

Saturday. 19th. No more States represented. Agreed to meet at one Oclock on Monday. Dined at Mr. Ingersolls and spent the evening at home—going to bed soon.

Sunday 20th. Went into the Country with Mr. & Mrs. Morris and dined at their place at the Hill. Returned in the afternoon and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.

Monday 21 Delaware State was represented. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Binghams—great splender shewn.

Tuesday. 22d. North Carolina represented. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Morris’s.

Wednesday 23d. No more States represented. Rid to Genl. Mifflins to breakfast—after wch. in Company with him Mr. Madison, Mr. Rutlidge & others, crossed the Schuylkill above the Falls. Called at Mr. Peters’s Mr. Penns and Mr. Hamiltons and repaired at the hour of one to the State House. Dined at Mr. Chews with the wedding guests & drank Tea there in a large Circle of Ladies.

Thursday 24th. No more States represented. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Ross’s. One of my Postilion boys (Paris) being ill sent for Doctr. Jones to him.

Friday 25th. Another delegate coming in from the State of New Jersey made a quoram; and Seven States being now represented, the body was Organized and I was called to the Chair by a unanim. vote. Major Jackson was appointed Secretary—and a Com[mitt]ee consisting of Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Chs. Pinkney chosen to prepare rules & regulations by which the Convention was to be governed. To give time for this it adjourned till Monday 10 Oclock. Returned many visits in the forenoon and dined at Mr. Thos. Willings. Spent the Evening at my quarters.

Saturday 26. Returned all my visits this forenoon (where I cd. get an Acct. of the Lodggs. of those to whom I was indebted for them). Dined at a club at the City Tavern and spent the Evening at my Quarters writing lett[ers].

Sunday 27th. Went to the Romish Church, to high Mass. Dined, drank Tea, and spent the evening at my lodgings.

Monday 28th. Met in Convention at 10 Oclock. Two States more—viz., Massachusetts and Connecticut being represented, made nine on the floor. Proceeded to the establishment of rules for the government of the Convention and adjourned about 2 Oclock.
Dined at home and drank Tea in a large Circle at Mr. Francis’s.

Tuesday 29th. Dined at home and went to Mr. Juhans benefit Concert at the City Tavern. The same Number of States met in Convention as yesterday.

Wednesday 30th. Convention as yesterday.
Dined with Mr. Vaughan. Drank Tea and spent the Evening at Mr. & Mrs. Lawrences.

Thursday. 31st. Convention representation encreased by the coming in of the State of Georgia occasioned by the arrival of Majr. Pierce & Mr. Houste[n].
Dined at Mr. Francis’s and drank Tea with Mrs. Meridith.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday. 2d. Majr. Jenifer coming in with powers from the State of Maryland authorizing one member to represent it, added another State (now eleven) to the Convention. Dined at Club, at the City Tavern, and Spent the evening at my q[uarte]rs.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday—4th. Convention as on Saturday. Dined with Genl. Mifflin. Reviewed the light Infantry—Cavalry—and part of the Artillery of the City and dined. Drank Tea with Miss Cadwalader.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 6th. Dined at the Presidents with a large Company & drank Tea there after wch. came home & wrote Letters for France.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday—7th. Dined at a Club at the Indian Queen. Drank Tea & spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 9th. Dined at the Club at the City Tavern. Drank Tea and sat till 10 oclock at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday. 11th. Dined—Drank Tea and spent the Evening (in my own room) at Mr. Morris[’s.]


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 13. Dined at Mr. Clymers & drank Tea there. Spent the evening at Mr. Bing[h]ams.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday—14th. Dined at Majr. Moores and spent the evening at my own lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—15th. Dined at Mr. Powells & drank Tea there.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday—16th. Dined at the Club at the City Tavern and spt. the evening at my own lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday. 19th. Dined in a family way at Mr. Morris’s and spent the evening there in a large party.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 21st. Dined at Mr. Pragers and spent the evening in my own room.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—22d. Dined in a family way at Mr. Morris’s and drank Tea at Mr. Francis Hopkinsons.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 23d. Dined at Doctr. Rustons and drank Tea at Mr. Morris’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday—24th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the Evening at Mr. Meridiths in drinking Tea only.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday. 25th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea there and spent the Evening in my own Room.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—26th. Took a family dinner with Govr. Randolph and made one of a party to drink Tea at Grays ferry.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday. 27th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s drk. Tea there, & spent the Evening in my own room.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday—28th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s in a large Compy. Drank Tea there & spent the Evening in my own room.


Title: [June 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday June 1st. Convention as yesterday. Dined with Mr. John Penn and Spent the evening at Bush-hill at a very elegant entertainment given to a numerous company by Mr. Hamilton the owner of it.

Saturday. 2d. Majr. Jenifer coming in with powers from the State of Maryland authorizing one member to represent it, added another State (now eleven) to the Convention.
Dined at Club, at the City Tavern, and Spent the evening at my q[uarte]rs.

Sunday—3d. Dined at Mr. Clymers and drank Tea there.

Monday—4th. Convention as on Saturday. Dined with Genl. Mifflin. Reviewed the light Infantry—Cavalry—and part of the Artillery of the City and dined. Drank Tea with Miss Cadwalader.

Tuesday. 5th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s with a large Company and spent the evening there.

Wednesday 6th. Dined at the Presidents with a large Company & drank Tea there after wch. came home & wrote Letters for France.

Thursday—7th. Dined at a Club at the Indian Queen. Drank Tea & spent the evening at home.

Friday—8th. Dined—drank Tea and spent the Evening at home.

Saturday 9th. Dined at the Club at the City Tavern. Drank Tea and sat till 10 oclock at Mr. Powells.

Sunday 10th. Breakfasted by agreemt. at Mr. Powells; and in company with him, rode to see the Botanical Garden of Mr. Bartram—which though stored with many curious Trees, Shrups, & flowers was neither large nor laid off in much taste.
From hence we rode to the Farm of one Jones to see the effect of the Plaister of Paris. This appeared obvious—first on a piece of Wh. stubble, which he says has never recd. any Manure, and the Wheat so indifferent as to be scarcely worth cutting; The White clover on this (without any Seed be putting in the grd., & the Plaister laid on the Stubble without breaking) was full high to Mow and very thick. The line was fairly, & most obviously drawn between the grass where the powder was spread and that where it ended, for in the latter the grass was not only thin, and very indifferent, but scarcly any of the White clover. The same difference was equally apparent on a piece of mowing ground. The grass there, principally White clover, with a mixture of Red far overstepped, and was much thicker than that which surrounded it. The Soil of these pieces appeared to be a loam—very slightly mixed with Isenglass originally good, but according to Mr. Jones’s acct. a good deal exhausted. He informed us of the effect of the Plaister on a piece of heavy, stiff meadow (not subject however to be wet) and that it was still more obvious here.
This manure according to his acct. was laid on the 29th. of October in damp or wet weather, & at the rate of about 5 bu. to the Acre—Moon in the Increase (2d. quarter) wch. he says (though there certainly can be nothing in it) the farmers tell him ought to be attended to. When it is laid on grass land, or Meadow, the ground ought first to be well furrowed, so as to raise the mould.
From hence visited Mr. Powells farm, after which I went to Mr. Morri[s’s] country seat to dinner by appointment and returned to the City about dusk.

Monday. 11th. Dined—Drank Tea and spent the Evening (in my own room) at Mr. Morris[’s.]

Tuesday 12th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s & drank Tea there. Went afterwards to the Concert at the City Tavern.

Wednesday 13. Dined at Mr. Clymers & drank Tea there. Spent the evening at Mr. Bing[h]ams.

Thursday—14th. Dined at Majr. Moores and spent the evening at my own lodgings.

Friday—15th. Dined at Mr. Powells & drank Tea there.

Saturday—16th. Dined at the Club at the City Tavern and spt. the evening at my own lodgings.

Sunday 17th. Went to Church. Heard Bishop White Preach & see him Ordain two Gentlemen into the Order of Deacons.
After which rid 8 Miles into the Country dined with Mr. Jno. Ross and returned to Town agn. about dusk.

Monday—18th. Dined at the Quarterly meeting of the Sons of St. Patrick at the City Tavern and drank Tea at Doctr. Shippens with the party of Mrs. Livingston.

Tuesday. 19th. Dined in a family way at Mr. Morris’s and spent the evening there in a large party.

Wednesday—20th. Dined at Mr. Meridiths and drank Tea there.

Thursday 21st. Dined at Mr. Pragers and spent the evening in my own room.

Friday—22d. Dined in a family way at Mr. Morris’s and drank Tea at Mr. Francis Hopkinsons.

Saturday 23d. Dined at Doctr. Rustons and drank Tea at Mr. Morris’s.

Sunday—24th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the Evening at Mr. Meridiths in drinking Tea only.

Monday. 25th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea there and spent the Evening in my own Room.

Tuesday—26th. Took a family dinner with Govr. Randolph and made one of a party to drink Tea at Grays ferry.

Wednesday. 27th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s drk. Tea there, & spent the Evening in my own room.

Thursday—28th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s in a large Compy. Drank Tea there & spent the Evening in my own room.

29th. Friday. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the Evening at home.

Saturday 30th. Dined at a Club of Genn. & Ladies at the Cool Spring—Springsbury and spt. the Evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 1st. Dined and spent the Evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday. 2d. Dined with some of the Members of Convention at the Indian Queen. Drank Tea at Mr. Binghams & walked afterwards in the State Ho. yard. Sat for Mr. Pine.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Tuesday [3d]. Sat for Mr. Peal This Morn. Dined at Mr. Morris. Drank Tea at Mr. Powells and went with him to the Agricultural Society at Carpenters hall.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 4th. Visited Dr. Chuvats Anatomy. Heard at the Calvanist church, an Oration on the Anniversary of Independence. Dined afterwards with this State Society of Cincinnati and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 5th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea and spent the Evening there.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—6th. Sat for Mr. Peale to draw my Picture in the Morning. Dined at the City Tavern with some gentn. of the Convention and spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday—8th. About 12 Oclock rode to Doctr. Logans near Germn. Town where I dined. Returned in the Evening and dk. Tea at Mr. Morris’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday—9th. Sat in the Morning for Mr. Peale. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drk. Tea at Dr. Redmans.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 10th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s—Drank Tea at Mr. Binghams and went to the Play.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 11th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 12th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and Drank Tea with Mrs. Livingston.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 13th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, Drank Tea, there, & spent the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 14th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and went to the Play in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday—15th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s & Remained there all the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 16th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—17th. Dined at Mrs. Houses, & made an excursion with a party to Grays Ferry to Tea.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 18th. Dined at Mr. Milligan’s and drank Tea at Mrs. Meridiths.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Thursday. 19th. Dined at Mr. John Penns (the Younger) drank Tea, and spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—20th. Dined at home, and drank Tea at Mr. Clymers.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 21st. Dined at the Cold Spring Club, and went to the Play in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 22d. Left town by 5 Oclock, breakfasted at General Mifflins—rode up to the Spring Mills and returnd. to Genl. Mifflins to Dinner, after which came to the City.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 23d. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, and drank Tea at Lansdown—the Country Seat of Mr. Jno. Penn. Returned in the evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday—25th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea & spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—27th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday—28th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and after drink Tea there—returned to Mr. Morris’s & spent the eveng. there.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 30th. In company with Mr. Governr. Morris went into the Neighbourhood of the Valley Forge to a Widow Moores a fishing at whose house we lodged.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—31st. Before breakfast I rid to the Valley forge and over the whole Cantonment & works of the American Army in the Winter of 1777–8 and on my return to the Widow Moores found Mr. & Mrs. Rob: Morris. Spent the day there fishing &ca. & lodged at the same place.


Title: July [1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 1st. Dined and spent the Evening at home.

Monday. 2d. Dined with some of the Members of Convention at the Indian Queen. Drank Tea at Mr. Binghams & walked afterwards in the State Ho. yard. Sat for Mr. Pine.

Tuesday [3d]. Sat for Mr. Peal This Morn. Dined at Mr. Morris. Drank Tea at Mr. Powells and went with him to the Agricultural Society at Carpenters hall.

Wednesday 4th. Visited Dr. Chuvats Anatomy. Heard at the Calvanist church, an Oration on the Anniversary of Independence. Dined afterwards with this State Society of Cincinnati and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.

Thursday 5th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea and spent the Evening there.

Friday—6th. Sat for Mr. Peale to draw my Picture in the Morning. Dined at the City Tavern with some gentn. of the Convention and spent the evening at home.

Saturday 7th. Dined at the Cold Spring, with the Club. Returned in the evening, and drank Tea at Mr. Meridiths.

Sunday—8th. About 12 Oclock rode to Doctr. Logans near Germn. Town where I dined. Returned in the Evening and dk. Tea at Mr. Morris’s.

Monday—9th. Sat in the Morning for Mr. Peale. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drk. Tea at Dr. Redmans.

Tuesday 10th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s—Drank Tea at Mr. Binghams and went to the Play.

Wednesday 11th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the evening at home.

Thursday 12th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and Drank Tea with Mrs. Livingston.

Friday 13th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, Drank Tea, there, & spent the Evening.

Saturday 14th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and went to the Play in the Afternoon.

Sunday—15th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s & Remained there all the afternoon.

Monday 16th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.

Tuesday—17th. Dined at Mrs. Houses, & made an excursion with a party to Grays Ferry to Tea.

Wednesday 18th. Dined at Mr. Milligan’s and drank Tea at Mrs. Meridiths.

Thursday. 19th. Dined at Mr. John Penns (the Younger) drank Tea, and spent the evening at home.

Friday—20th. Dined at home, and drank Tea at Mr. Clymers.

Saturday 21st. Dined at the Cold Spring Club, and went to the Play in the afternoon.

Sunday 22d. Left town by 5 Oclock, breakfasted at General Mifflins—rode up to the Spring Mills and returnd. to Genl. Mifflins to Dinner, after which came to the City.

Monday 23d. Dined at Mr. Morris’s, and drank Tea at Lansdown—the Country Seat of Mr. Jno. Penn. Returned in the evening.

Tuesday—24th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drank Tea at Doctr. Rush’s.

Wednesday—25th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea & spent the evening at home.

Thursday. 26th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s. Drank Tea there & stayed within all the afternoon.

Friday—27th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.

Saturday—28th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and after drink Tea there—returned to Mr. Morris’s & spent the eveng. there.

Sunday 29th. Dined and spent the whole day at Mr. Morris’s.

Monday 30th. In company with Mr. Governr. Morris went into the Neighbourhood of the Valley Forge to a Widow Moores a fishing at whose house we lodged.

Tuesday—31st. Before breakfast I rid to the Valley forge and over the whole Cantonment & works of the American Army in the Winter of 1777–8 and on my return to the Widow Moores found Mr. & Mrs. Rob: Morris. Spent the day there fishing &ca. & lodged at the same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday Augt. 1st. Returned abt. 11 Oclock with the above Company to Philadelphia. In this Town I understood—that the usual time of Sowing Buck Wheat was from the 10th. to the 20th. of July—that the grd. ought to be Twice plowed and at least as often harrowed & the grain harrowd. in—That it is

considered as an uncertain Crop—liable to injury (whilst in the blossom) by a hot Sun—and very apt to in[ju]ry by frost in Autumn—That it is excellent food for Horses (to puff them up) Milch Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, also for fattin[g] beeves; and to feed Colts when they are weaned. That 2 quarts of Buck Wheat meal, & ½ a peck of Potatoes (at first, the quantity to be reduced as the fatting creature falls off in stomach, or in other words encreases in fat) given 3 times a day is fully sufficient. That the Buck Wheat ground into Meal & given in wash—is most excellent to lay on fat for Hogs (to be hardened with Corn) & that this meal and Potatoes (given raw, but washed, and cut small, is excellent for the weaning of Colts. And that the quantity to the acre is (on an average) 25, Bush. About 3 pecks of Seed is sufft. for an Acre of ground.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—3d. Went up to Trenton on a Fishing party with Mr. & Mrs. Robt. Morris, & Mr. Govr. Morris. Dined and lodged at Colo. Saml. Ogdens. In the evening fished.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday—6th. Again met in Convention agreeably to adjournmt. & recd. the report of the Com[mitt]ee. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drank Tea at Mr. Meridiths.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 8th. Dined at the City Tavern and remained there till near 10 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 9th. Dined at Mr. Swanwicks and spent the evening in my own room—reading letters & accts. from home.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 11th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and after Tea returned & spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 12th. Dined at Bush-hill with Mr. William Hamilton. Spent the evening at home—writg.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 14th. Dined & drank Tea at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—17th. Dined and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 20th. Dined and drank Tea at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 21st. Did the same.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 22d. Dined at the Hills—Mr. Morris’s and visited at Mr. Powells in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 23d. Dined at home and drank Tea there.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 24th. Dined at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 25th. Dined at the Club and spent the evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 27th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—28th. Dined at home and drank Tea there.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 30th. Did the same.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—31st. Dined at home and in Company with others went into the Country and drank Tea with Mr. Penn.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday. Sepr. 1st. Dined at home and drank Tea there.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday—2d. Rode to Mr. Bartrams & other places in the Country and dined & drank Tea at Mr. Grays.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 3d. Dined and drank Tea at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 4th. Dined and did the same after visiting a machine at Doctr. Franklins for smoothing Clothes, instead of Ironing of them after washing which appears to answer exceeding well for every species of them that has not pl[e]ates & folds.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 5th. Dined at Mrs. Houses, and drank Tea at Mr. Binghams.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 6th. Dined at Doctr. Hutchinsons and spent the afternoon & evening at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—7th. Dined and spent the afternn. at home (except whilst riding a few miles).


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday. 8th. Dined at the cold spring club and spent the afternoon at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 10th. Dined at home and drank Tea there.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 11th. Dined at home in a large Company & drank Tea & spent the evening there.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 12th. Dined at the presidents & drank Tea at Mr. Pines.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday. 13th. Dined at the Vice Presidents Chs. Biddles, & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 14th. Dined at the City Tavern at an entertainment given on my Acct. by the City Troop of light horse. Spend the Evening at Mr. Meridithes.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 15. Finished the business of the Convention all to signing the proceedings to do which the House set till 6 Oclock. Spent the evening at my lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Sunday 16th. Wrote many letters in the forenoon. Dined with Mr. & Mrs. Morris at the Hills & returned to Town in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 17th. Met in Convention & Signed the proceedings—all except Govr. Randolph, Colo. Mason & Mr. Gerry. Dined all together at the City Tavern & returned to my lodgings.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 20th. Sett off after an early breakfast. Crossed the Susquehannah & dined in Havre de grass at the Ho. of Colo. Rogers & lodged at Skirretts Tavern.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 21st. Breakfasted in Baltime.—dined at the Widow Balls formerly Spurriers and lodged at Majr. Snowdens.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 22d. Breakfasted at Bladensburgh—passed thro George Town—dined at Alexandria and reached home by Sun set after being absent 4 Months & 14 days.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 25th. Mr. Blair set out before Sun rise, in my Chariot, to meet the stage at Boggess’s.  After breakfast I rid into the neck—hands chiefly employed in getting fodder.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 26th. Rid to all the Plantations where the hands were generally employed as yesterday & gettg. Fodder.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 27th. Did the same & the same work was going on. In the evening Mr. Corbin Washington, his wife and Miss Fanny Ballendine came in.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 28th. Rid to the Plantns. at the Ferry—French’s, Dogue run & Muddy hole—work as usual. Mrs. Jenifer came here to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 29th. Rid into the Neck and set 6 plows to breaking up the orchard Inclosure for Wheat and grass Seeds. After breakfast Corbin Washington, his wife and Miss Ballendine left this & in the afternoon Majr. G. A. W. set off for Fredericksburgh.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 30th. Mrs. Fanny Washington, Mrs. Jenifer, and Nelly Custis & Hariot Washington went up to Abingdon. Colo. Gilpin & Mr. Wm. Craik came to dinner. The latter stayed all Night.


Title: [September 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday. Sepr. 1st. Dined at home and drank Tea there.

Sunday—2d. Rode to Mr. Bartrams & other places in the Country and dined & drank Tea at Mr. Grays.

Monday 3d. Dined and drank Tea at home.

Tuesday 4th. Dined and did the same after visiting a machine at Doctr. Franklins for smoothing Clothes, instead of Ironing of them after washing which appears to answer exceeding well for every species of them that has not pl[e]ates & folds.

Wednesday 5th. Dined at Mrs. Houses, and drank Tea at Mr. Binghams.

Thursday 6th. Dined at Doctr. Hutchinsons and spent the afternoon & evening at home.

Friday—7th. Dined and spent the afternn. at home (except whilst riding a few miles).

Saturday. 8th. Dined at the cold spring club and spent the afternoon at home.

Sunday—9th. Dined at home after paying a visit to Mr. Gardoqui (Minister from Spain) who had come from New York on a visit to me.

Monday 10th. Dined at home and drank Tea there.

Tuesday 11th. Dined at home in a large Company & drank Tea & spent the evening there.

Wednesday 12th. Dined at the presidents & drank Tea at Mr. Pines.

Thursday. 13th. Dined at the Vice Presidents Chs. Biddles, & drank Tea at Mr. Powells.

Friday 14th. Dined at the City Tavern at an entertainment given on my Acct. by the City Troop of light horse. Spend the Evening at Mr. Meridithes.

Saturday 15. Finished the business of the Convention all to signing the proceedings to do which the House set till 6 Oclock. Spent the evening at my lodgings.

Sunday 16th. Wrote many letters in the forenoon. Dined with Mr. & Mrs. Morris at the Hills & returned to Town in the Evening.

Monday 17th. Met in Convention & Signed the proceedings—all except Govr. Randolph, Colo. Mason & Mr. Gerry. Dined all together at the City Tavern & returned to my lodgings.

Tuesday. 18th. Finished what private business I had to do this forenoon. Dined abt. 1 Oclock at Mr. Morris’s and set off afterwards—in Company with Mr. Blair, who took a Seat in my Chariot with me—on my return home. Reached Chester, where we lodged.

Wednesday 19th. Prevented by Rain much of wch. fell in the Night f[ro]m setting off early. Baited at Wilmington—dined at Christiana bridge and lodged at the head of Elk—at the bridge near whch. I narrowly escaped an ugly accidt. to my Chariot & horses. One fell through & another with the Chariot was on the point of following but by exertions was saved.

Thursday 20th. Sett off after an early breakfast. Crossed the Susquehannah & dined in Havre de grass at the Ho. of Colo. Rogers & lodged at Skirretts Tavern.

Friday 21st. Breakfasted in Baltime.—dined at the Widow Balls formerly Spurriers and lodged at Majr. Snowdens.

Saturday 22d. Breakfasted at Bladensburgh—passed thro George Town—dined at Alexandria and reached home by Sun set after being absent 4 Months & 14 days.

Sunday—23d. Mr. Blair remained here Cols. Fitzgerald, Simms, Ramsay & Lyles, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Murray Mr. Taylor Doctr. & Mrs. Stuart & the Girls dined here, all of whom except Mr. Blair Doctr. & Mrs. Stuart, went away afterwards.

Monday 24th. After breakfast I rid to the Plantn. at the Ferry—Frenchs Dogue run, & Muddy hole. At the first the hands were getting out wheat & rye, and the plows putting in wheat in No. 6. At the next the Plows 4 were putting in Rye in No.  and the other hands grubbing in the New Meadow. At Dogue run the Plows were covering wheat in No.  and the other hands employed chiefly in grubbing the Swamp between the Meadows. At Muddy hole the plows were fallowing in No.  for wheat—the rest gathering fodder.
In the afternoon Doctr. Mrs. Stuart & the girls returned to Abingdon.

Tuesday 25th. Mr. Blair set out before Sun rise, in my Chariot, to meet the stage at Boggess’s.

After breakfast I rid into the neck—hands chiefly employed in getting fodder.

Wednesday 26th. Rid to all the Plantations where the hands were generally employed as yesterday & gettg. Fodder.

Thursday 27th. Did the same & the same work was going on.
In the evening Mr. Corbin Washington, his wife and Miss Fanny Ballendine came in.

Friday 28th. Rid to the Plantns. at the Ferry—French’s, Dogue run & Muddy hole—work as usual.
Mrs. Jenifer came here to dinner.

Saturday 29th. Rid into the Neck and set 6 plows to breaking up the orchard Inclosure for Wheat and grass Seeds.
After breakfast Corbin Washington, his wife and Miss Ballendine left this & in the afternoon Majr. G. A. W. set off for Fredericksburgh.

Sunday 30th. Mrs. Fanny Washington, Mrs. Jenifer, and Nelly Custis & Hariot Washington went up to Abingdon.
Colo. Gilpin & Mr. Wm. Craik came to dinner. The latter stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 3d. Went up with Mrs. Washington to Abingdon. Dined at Mr. Herberts in Alexa. on our way up.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 4th. Dined at Abingdon and came home afterwards. Brot. Fanny Washington with us. Found 2 more plows from Frenchs at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday. 6th. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run & Muddy hole. At the first having got out all the Wheat and Rye the Fodder next employed the hands. Colo. McC. & Wife & Mrs. Craik & Sally & two Mrs. Jenifers came here & retd. In the Afternoon Mr. & Mrs. Powell of Phila. came in.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday—8th. Rid with Mr. Powell to my Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs, and the Ferry. Work as usual.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 9th. Rid with him and Mrs. Powell to see the Ruins of Belvoir. Called at Frenchs as we returned where I had begun with grass Scythes (a Cradle having been found not to answer) to cut the Pease wch. had been sown in broadcast—part being ripe and many green—owing either to their being too late sown or kept back by the drought wch. had been so severe. In cutting these Pease the Pods [or] heads of many were left without means of getting them up without picking them up by hand. Hence, the grd. shd. always be rolled to give it a smooth Surface that the rakes may gather better. Note this loss would not be very material if there had been no other crops in the same field to prevent the turng. in of Sheep. Doctr. Griffth came. Raked the Pease into small Cocks. Finishd. ditch to lane.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 10th. Mr. & Mrs. Powell & Mr. B. W. & wife went away after an early breakfast; I rid to all the Plantations after Doctr. Griffith who came here last Night went away. Same kind of Work going on.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday. 12th. Genl. Pickney going away after breakfast I rid to Muddy hole Dogue run & Frenchs—also to the Ferry. Attempted (to avoid the loss by cutting) to pull up the Pease by the roots but found it too tedious & returned to the Scythes again. Sent Dogue run & Frenchs Plows home.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 13th. Rid to Morris, Frenchs & the Ferry. At the two first took an Acct. of the horses Cattle & Sheep. Finished cutting & putting into sml.

Cocks the Pease at Muddy hole. Sowd. W[heat] on P[ease] w[ithou]t plowg.—but plowed them in—abt. .


Title: [Diary entry: 14 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 14th. At home all day. Wind having got to the No. Wt. abt. Noon Yesterday it turned very cold and this Morning the frost was so severe as to bite the Buck Wheat, Pease, Potatoe Vines Pompions &ca. & turn them quite black.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—16th. Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue, & Muddy hole Planns. At the former took an account of the Stock. At the latter cut & put the buck Wheat into small shocks & dug the Country Potatoes—waste as at Morris’s. At Dogue run treading out Wheat and at Frenchs Plowing & filling gullies in the New Meadow. At the Ferry pulling Pease.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 17th. Rid to all the Plantations except the Ferry. Cut the Buck Wheat in the Neck. A good deal of it shattered but whether it ought to have been cut sooner I cannot (for want of more knowledge of it) determe. Finished getting in the Fodder in the Neck the last at all the Places. Sowed yesterday & today (wind preventing it sooner) the trefoil 50 lbs. on the Wheat & Sainfoin in the Orch[ard] in the Neck and began to sow under furrow the Winter Vetches at the No. end of the same inclosure crossing therewith the first plowing and intending to run the light dble. harrows over the grd. after Sowing. The Pease in broadcast at French’s were much injured by the frost. It was unfortunate that they had not been cut a day or two sooner. Note the ground in which Pease & Buck Wheat are sowed ought always to be rolled if it is expected the Crop is to be taken off clean. The Pease however that are left would be fine for Sheep—especially fatting wethers. The Sweet Potatoes made at Muddy hole from the half Acre of experimental ground are as follow—viz.—the No. Wt. quarter wch. was in hills, & dunged as formerly mentioned, produced 4 bushels eatable, & 3½ fit only for Seed; the So. Wt. qr. also in Hills but not dunged, produced 2½ eatable & 3½ for seed—The No. Et. qr. in 4 foot rows and dunged, produced 2½ bushls. eatable,

and 2 Seed—and the So. Et. qr. 2½ eatable & 2 Seed—In all 11½ of bush⟨ls.⟩ eatable and 11 bushls. of seed. The Potatoes in the dunged part of the ground were much the largest and turned out from

eate.
seed

The hills

4 . . .
. & 3 1/2

In 4 feet rows

2 1/2
. . 2

Undunged

6 1/2
5 1/2

In Hills

 2 1/2
3 1/2

In 4 feet Rows

2 1/2
2

5
5 1/2

differe.

1 1/2

6 1/2
5 1/2

 Upon remeasuring of the foregoing Potatoes. after they came home they turned out (heaped measure) only 7½ Bushls. eatg. Potatoes & 10½ of Seed—short in

The eatable

4 bush.

Seed

1/2 Bl.

 Whether this was occasioned by the diffe. of measure or Stolen by the driver of the Cart remains to be discovered.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Friday. 19th. Mr. Houston &ca. going away about 10 Oclock I rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole. At the first the People were making a farm Pen—at the next getting in Pease as yesterday—some of which (Vines) appeared to me to be not sufficiently cured. At Dogue run, getting out Wheat & removing brush frm. the Swamp to gullies. At Muddy hole began this morning to ditch between the fields No. 1, 2, 3, & 4. and to sow Wheat with a Barrel 6 feet long perforated with holes strapped Round with leather bands in order to drop the Wheat in sqrs. of 6 Inches—but the leather not being equally stretched and binding in all parts equally, and the sides opening a little—it discharged Seeds from the Sides as well as from the holes wch. in some measure defeated my intention. On my return home found Mr. Dunlap (a West Indian) Mr. Cary, Mr. Donaldson, and Mr. Porter here who went away after dinner. In the afternoon it began to rain slow & moderately with the wind (tho’ not much of it) from the No. Et.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 20th. The rain which began in the afternoon of yesterday, continued fm. appearances in the same slow manner through the Night and until the night of this day in which it rained much faster—Wind continuing at No. Et. all the while. No out doors work done this day on acct. of the Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday. 21st. Cloudy all day, but little or no rain. At home alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday. 22d. Went up to a meeting of the Potomack Company at George Town. Called at Muddy hole Plantation to see how a barrel, which I had designed to drop 5 or 6 grains of Wheat in clusters at 6 Inches equidistant from each other performed. Found instead of doing this that it scattered the grains and having no time to alter, I directed it to proceed in that manner till I returned. After finishing the business I got back to Abingdon.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday—23d. Left this place before Sunrise. Coming to Muddy hole by 8 oclock and finding the alterations which were intended to be made in the barrel were not easy to be effected without some materials of which I was not possessed and the season not admitting of delay I took the bands from the barrel in order that it might sow more regular & thicker in broadcast. Went round by Dogue run, French’s, & the Ferry Plantations; At the first getting out Wheat—at the second securing Pease & at the last Treading out oats.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 24th. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, found that the Sowing of the Orchard Inclose. had been compleated on Monday last—That what may properly be called the Orchard part of it had been sown with Wheat—Sainfoin—and Trafoil as has been mentioned—That the slipe between the Water course from the Road to the Spring & the Road to and from

the Quarters had been sown with Wheat & red Clover as has been noted—That the No. Wt. part of the Inclosure had been sown (to a stake) with the Winter vetch alone and all the other part with Wheat alone. The Orchd. Part had been plowed & cross plowed—Then the Wht. harrowed in—next the Sainfoin harrowed in; both the same way the ground had been last plowed—and lastly, after the Trafoil was sown—the whole cross harrowed with a light harrow. The part that had the clover sown, was plowed & cross plowed as above, the Wheat then harrowed in & cross harrowed to bury the clover Seed. The ground in wch. Vetches were sown was cross plowed, which plowing, put them in—after which, it was harrowed to Smooth it. The remainder of the Inclosure which only had Wheat, was plowed—cross plowed and the Wheat harrowed in. Ordered the Buck Wheat at every place to be got in, and threshed out, as soon as possible. Had that in the half Acre of experimental ground at Muddy hole, cut. About ¼ at the So. Wt. corner was entirely missing (occasioned, I believe, by the low situation of the ground) At Frenchs they would about get in all the Pease (tho’ with great loss) tonight and at the ferry the people were cleaning the Oats which had been tread out yesterday. Mr. R. Lee & Sistr. came here in the evening yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 25th. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck Began with 4 plows to break up flush field No. 4 (in 6 feet ridges) for Indn. Corn & Potatoes next yr. and began also to get to a yard wed for the purpose the Buck Wheat—also to get up the Hogs for Porke. At Muddy hole began also to get in, and thresh out the Buck Wheat. That which grew on the experimental half acre yielded only 3¾ Bushls. & ½ a peck—Whereof 2¼ Bushl. grew on the dunged part the residue on the undunged part whereof one half (that is a quarter of the whole) was missing. The half acre of experimental grd. at this place which had been divided into 3 equal divisions yielded as follow—of the bunch homony beans (gathered before I came home) 3 pecks—of the Common homony bean, just gathered only 1 peck—and of the small round bla. eyed pease (the 2d. gathering of which lately accomplished) 3 pecks. Each of these 3ds. contained the 6th. of an Acre. Note, of the experimental ½ acres, there remains to be got—Jerusalem Artichokes (of which 417 hills out of 1442 are missing)—Carrots, & Turnips—the last of which are much missing & very thin. In the half Acre of Irish Potatoes there were 27 Rows 4 feet apart & 60 yards long. These were also missing in places & more in the undunged, than dunged part. Ordered the Irish Potatoes at this place, wch. had been planted under Straw & Corn Stalks, to be taken up. The first were in two spots the largest (intended to be 20 yards square) wch. had been laid on green sward. The smallest, 14 by 4 yards, had been laid on a poor washed yellow clay. The other (under the Corn Stalks) had been laid on green sward 20 by 8 yards. At Dogue run the hands were getting in, & threshing out Buck Wheat. At Frenchs the Hoe people & Cart were filling up Gullies whilst two Plows were at Work. At the Ferry, two plows began to break up No. 2 for Barley & Oats. The

rest of the Negroes were measuring & carrying off Oats—Stacking blades & otherwise securing the fodder. At home house Setting Turnips (raised from the seed sent by Mr. Young) to propogate Seed. On my return home fd. Mrs. Stuart & her two youngest Children here and Mr. & Miss Lee whom I had left.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday—26th. Clear, Wind pretty fresh from the Southward. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck finished gathering to a yard in the field all the Buck Wheat which was threshed & cleaned & got to the Barn but not measured—6 Plows at work there to day. At Muddy hole finished sowing (with the Barrel) the grd. on the left of the road going from the ferry road up to the Barn with 18½ Bushl. of Wht. and thinking this quantity inadequate ordered the Barrel home to be perforated with more holes. Got all the Beans into the Barn yard at this place which were cut down with Scythes—also the remains of the Buck Wheat. At Dogue Run gathered all the Buck Wheat to the Wheat yard & began to thresh & clean it. At French’s, filling gullies, & plowing (2 plows) part of field No. 2 left unharrowed in the Spring. At the Ferry treading out Oats. Began with two ploughs to break up field No. 2, the lay part of it.