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

Saturday 27th. Went to the Woods back of Muddy hole with the hounds. Unkennelled two foxes & dragged others but caught none. The dogs run wildly & ⟨were⟩ under no command. Passed through Muddy hole Plantation and ordered grass Seeds to be sown in the following places, manner, & quantities—viz.—taking a breadth from field No. 4 across to No. 3 of eql. width with the farm yd. & containing abt. 5 acres, I had it divided into 5 oblong squares (seperated by a parting furrow)—In the westermost of which was sown 8 lbs. of rib-grass—in the next 20 lbs. of red clover—in the 3d. 2 Bushels of Orchard grass—in the 4th. 20 lbs. of Hop clover—In the 5th. 4 bushels of Ray grass and in the 6th. 2 bushels of Sainfoin. After sowing these seeds the ground was first rolled & then harrowed with a bush. The sqr. containing Sainfoin had the Seed harrowed in at the same time the Wheat was over and above the bush harrowing & rolling that the others received. Took up the Potatoes that had been planted under straw for experiments; as mentioned on thursday. Yield as follow.

Bushls.

The 20 yds. sqr.
Green swd.
3 3/4

4 by 14 yds.
washed knoll
3/4

Corn stalks—20 by 8

1/4

and from a rail pen

Do 3/4

 Returned by way of D. Run, French’s & Ferry. At the first finished threshing cleaning & measuring the buck Wheat & had it brot. to the Mansion house—qty. 121 bushls. from abt. 12 Acres.  At frenchs cleaned up the shattered Pease & threshed those that had been picked of the grd. qty. 9 bushls. & 1 peck. At the Ferry set 3 plows to work. Put the girl Eby to learning. The Trial that was made in the Neck of different qties. of Seed Oats to the Acre turned out as follow—

Bls.

2 bushls.
yield
8 1/2

3 bushls.
Do.
7

4 Do.
Do.
5 1/2

 The above 3 Acres were adjoining and as nearly alike as possible in quality of Soil & Situation. They were all sown [the same] day & managed in all respects alike—the grd. on wch. they grew being quite level.


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

Sunday—28th. Went to Pohick Church—Mr. Lear & Washington Custis in the Church with me. Mr. Willm. Stuart came home with me and George Mason came in sooner after. Both stayed all Night.


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

Monday 29th. Raining slowly at day break, how long before I know not. Continued to do so (mixed with flakes of Snow) till One Oclock, when it cleared away pleasantly. But little Wind all day; that at East. Spread 2 bushels of the Plaster of Paris (whilst the Snow and rain was falling) on the So. half of the lawn, beyond the break or small fall therein, qty. about half an acre. After dinner Mr. Geo: Mason went away.


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

Tuesday. 30th. Cloudy in the morning with the Wind fresh from the So. Abt. 8 Oclock it began a slow and misling rain which encreased till it came on to rain fast till ab. 11 Oclock when it ceased. The afternoon a little variable but upon the whole pleasant. Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue Run. In the Morning driven in by the Rain and after it ceased rode to The Ferry and Frenchs’s—Cleaning up the Buck Wheat at the first place—only 57 Bls. of it from 18 Acres of grd. At the 2d. (D[ogue] R[un]) 4 plows were at work, & the other people grubbing & filling gullies before them. At The Ferry the 3 plows were at work, & the other people grubbing. At Frenchs 2 plows were at work and the other hands weeding 2 yards for treadg. out grain.


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

Oct.—Monday—1st. Rid to all the Plantations—work as usual—except that the Plows at Dogue run were putting in Rye in the same field No. . Mr. Craik went away Ditchers went to Muddy hole—&

Tuesday. 2d. Rid to all the Plantations. Sent 2 Plows from Frenchs to Muddy hole—the other 2 preparg. ground within the Meadow for Rye & grass Seeds—on which 1½ bushels of Rye was sown and therewith 1½ bushls. of sainfoin and 6 lbs. of Trefoil on the part next the road, & on the lower part adjoining the branch 2 quarts of Timothy Seed.

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

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

Friday 5th. Rid to all the Plantns. Havg. finished sowing rye 22½ Bls. at Dogue run, sent one plow to Muddy hole. The rest of the horses & hands

were employed in treading out Wheat—the Fodder being also secured. W[en]t to cross[in]g at M. H. being late finishg. ditch to ferry road.
In the Afternoon Mr. Alexr. Donald came in.

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.

Sunday. 7th. After Breakfast Mr. Donald went away and to dinner Mr. Bushrod Washington and his wife came.

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

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.

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.

Thursday—11th. Rid to all Plantations. Began to sow Wheat and Sainfoin in the Orchard in the Neck. Finding the Pease at Muddy hole riper than those remaining to be cut at Frenchs ordered the Scythsmn. to go there tomorrow and leave the greener ones to the last.
In the Evening Genl. Pinkney & his Lady came in.

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.

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. .

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.

Monday—15th. Ordered the Buck Wheat to be immediately cut—beginning with that at Dogue run abt. 15 Acres—which was fin[ishe]d this Morning (the frost being likewise severe) before the Moisture was off the Straw. Had it this also put into small Cocks to dry. Apprehend the Cutting of this grain has been delayed too in expectation of more of its ripening; a good deal of the Seed shed.
Rid to Muddy hole and into the Neck. Took an Acct. of the Stock at both places. Finished Sowing the Orchard with Wheat & Sainfoin—of the first  bushls. and of the latter  bushls. Note this grd. has been plowed & cross plowed—then Wheat sown & harrowed with the heavy harrow—then sowed with Sainfoin & harrowed in like manner—both the way it was last plowed. Ordered 50 lbs. of Trafoil to be sown over the Whole & harrowed with the dble. harrows cross the formr.

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.

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.

Thursday 18th. Rid into the Neck, to Muddy hole, and French’s. At the first dbled. the small heaps of buck Wheat in the Morning whilst the dew was on. Finished sowing & plowing the 6 Bls. of Winter vetches and harrowing in half a bushel of red clover seed between the branch by the Orchard, and the Road leading to and from the Negro quarters.
At Muddy hole finished late in the Afternoon the ditch round the Barn and dug the Irish Potatoes in the experimental ground (adjoining the ½ Acre of Sweet Pot[atoe]s) which being half of the red and half of the white in alternate rows through the pie[ce] (half acre) turned out as follow—

redB[ushels]
Wht.B[ushels]

In the ½ wch. had been dunged—
11
8¼

½ wch. had no dung—
6
3½

Total ½ acre
17
11¾

diffe. betwn. red & whe.
5
4¼

In the afternoon of yesterday the hands from the Ho., except the Carpenters, went after they returned from the Neck, to French’s; to get up, and secure as much of the Pease there as they could & with the hands belonging to the Plantation were employed in the same manner today—great loss by the frost—the ripe pease opening and shedding and the green ones—together with the vines turned quite black and as if parboild. Carried the Pease and Vines which appeared to be cured, into one end of the Tobo. House in field No. .
In the evening Mr. Houston & Lady, and Miss Maria Livingston her Sister, came in and stayed all Night.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Saturday 27th. Went to the Woods back of Muddy hole with the hounds. Unkennelled two foxes & dragged others but caught none. The dogs run wildly & ⟨were⟩ under no command.
Passed through Muddy hole Plantation and ordered grass Seeds to be sown in the following places, manner, & quantities—viz.—taking a breadth from field No. 4 across to No. 3 of eql. width with the farm yd. & containing abt. 5 acres, I had it divided into 5 oblong squares (seperated by a parting furrow)—In the westermost of which was sown 8 lbs. of rib-grass—in the next 20 lbs. of red clover—in the 3d. 2 Bushels of Orchard grass—in the 4th. 20 lbs. of Hop clover—In the 5th. 4 bushels of Ray grass and in the 6th. 2 bushels of Sainfoin. After sowing these seeds the ground was first rolled & then harrowed with a bush. The sqr. containing Sainfoin had the Seed harrowed in at the same time the Wheat was over and above the bush harrowing & rolling that the others received.
Took up the Potatoes that had been planted under straw for experiments; as mentioned on thursday. Yield as follow.

Bushls.

The 20 yds. sqr.
Green swd.
3 3/4

4 by 14 yds.
washed knoll
3/4

Corn stalks—20 by 8

1/4

and from a rail pen

Do 3/4

Returned by way of D. Run, French’s & Ferry. At the first finished threshing cleaning & measuring the buck Wheat & had it brot. to the Mansion house—qty. 121 bushls. from abt. 12 Acres.

At frenchs cleaned up the shattered Pease & threshed those that had been picked of the grd. qty. 9 bushls. & 1 peck.
At the Ferry set 3 plows to work. Put the girl Eby to learning.
The Trial that was made in the Neck of different qties. of Seed Oats to the Acre turned out as follow—

Bls.

2 bushls.
yield
8 1/2

3 bushls.
Do.
7

4 Do.
Do.
5 1/2

The above 3 Acres were adjoining and as nearly alike as possible in quality of Soil & Situation. They were all sown [the same] day & managed in all respects alike—the grd. on wch. they grew being quite level.

Sunday—28th. Went to Pohick Church—Mr. Lear & Washington Custis in the Church with me. Mr. Willm. Stuart came home with me and George Mason came in sooner after. Both stayed all Night.

Monday 29th. Raining slowly at day break, how long before I know not. Continued to do so (mixed with flakes of Snow) till One Oclock, when it cleared away pleasantly. But little Wind all day; that at East.
Spread 2 bushels of the Plaster of Paris (whilst the Snow and rain was falling) on the So. half of the lawn, beyond the break or small fall therein, qty. about half an acre.
After dinner Mr. Geo: Mason went away.

Tuesday. 30th. Cloudy in the morning with the Wind fresh from the So. Abt. 8 Oclock it began a slow and misling rain which encreased till it came on to rain fast till ab. 11 Oclock when it ceased.
The afternoon a little variable but upon the whole pleasant.
Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue Run. In the Morning driven in by the Rain and after it ceased rode to The Ferry and Frenchs’s—Cleaning up the Buck Wheat at the first place—only 57 Bls. of it from 18 Acres of grd. At the 2d. (D[ogue] R[un]) 4 plows were at work, & the other people grubbing & filling gullies before them.
At The Ferry the 3 plows were at work, & the other people grubbing.
At Frenchs 2 plows were at work and the other hands weeding 2 yards for treadg. out grain.

Wednesday. 31st. Clear pleasand & warm in the forenoon. Towards Noon it grew cold. Wind hard at No. West.
Rid to all the Plantns. In the Neck 6 plows were at work & 2 more were put at it this morning one of wch. broke immediately. The other hands were getting Irish Potatoes in the further cut (Tob. Ho.) in Timber landg. f[iel]d.
At Muddy hole—finished Sowing Wheat 12½ bushls. in the cut right of the road leading to the Barn with the Barrel—The other hands getting the remainder of the frost-bitten Pease and taking up those turnips in the experimental

grd. (which not having the tops taken of, as they were for seed, the yield cannot be ascertained).
At Dogue run the Plows and People were employed as yesterday.
At French’s the same Ditchers went to this pl[ac]e this Morng.


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

Thursday 1st. A frost this Morning which crusted the ground and formed Ice. The Morning early was calm and not unpleasant but the Wind blew fresh and cold afterwards at No. Wt. 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 and the Exhibition of the Boys at the Alexa. Acadamy. Dind. at Leighs Tavern and Lodged at Colo. Fitzgeralds after returning abt. 11 at Night from the performance which was very well executed.


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

Friday 2d. The past Night being very cold, the ground this Morng. was hard froze. The weather however through the day was mild and pleasant. After breakfast I returnd. home by way of Muddy hole Dogue run Frenchs & the Ferry. At the first—three plows were breaking up in field No. 4. The other hands were taking up the Jerusalem Artichokes—qty. 58½ bushls.—in dunged & undunged eql.—the 1st. largest. At Dogue run all hds. were engaged in treading out Wheat. At Frenchs except the two plows wch. were at work, they were employed in digging Irish Potatoes and at the Ferry in treading out Oats.


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

Saturday 3d. Day clear and very pleast. with but little Wind. Rid to all the Plantations. Digging Potatoes at the River—Muddy hole, and Frenchs Plantations—at wch. the Plows were also at work—Treading Wheat at Morris and Oats at the Ferry.


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

Wednesday 7th. Very little Wind all day—a very thick fog which contd. till near 12 oclock. Rid to Muddy hole D[ogue] R[un] Frenchs and the Ferry—at the first 2 plows only at work—the other hands getting Corn in the N. Grd. At Morris’s 4 plows at Wk. all the other hds. digg[in]g Potatoes right of the Road—began to day. At Frenchs 2 plows at Wk. rest of the People digging Potatoes—finished—the whole qty. 84½ B. from 46 rows 170 yds. long each. At the Ferry—the same work as yesterday. Majr. G. W——n & wife retd. this evening.


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

Thursday—8th. Wind Southerly and Morning soft. Between 9 and 10 Oclock it began to rain moderately & contd. to do so (very slowly) for about two hours—continuing warm and damp afterwards. Went up to Alexandria to meet the Directors of the Potomack Company. Dined at Mr. Leighs Tavern and returned in the aftern. The Ferry part of the New grd. Corn (in front of the Mansn. House) being all gathered & measured, was found to yield

Barls.

of that wch. was sound

24

Rotten

4 1/2

In all
28 1/2

 3 Barls. had been given to the Hogs at this place from the other fields. Stopped the Plows at Muddy hole to assist in digging the Potatoes there.


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

Friday. 9th. Wind at So. West and weather clear and mild. Went this day to the back line of my Tract in order to run a strait course between Colo. Mason & my self 30 feet within my bounds in order to digg a ditch, and make a road without it. Was not able to compleat it. Went by the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue Run Plantations and returned home by Muddy hole. At the 3 first the Plows as usual were at Work. At the latter the drivers were aiding with the Potatoes.  At the Ferry the hands were securing the Corn they had gathered. At Frenchs they were grubbing, & stopping gullies before the Plows. At Dogue run they were digging Potatoes. At Muddy hole the same.


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

Saturday—10th. Morning Mild & pleasant with the Wind at So. Abt. 5 ock. it thundered began to rain & contd. to do so more or less till 10 oclk. at night. Went again on the business I was upon yesterday, but could not finish it. Passed by the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run Plantations, and returned home by Muddy hole. At the first, the Plows were at work as usual, and the other hands were digging Potatoes. At French’s 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 & her daughter here who stayed all Night.


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

Tuesday 13th. Very mild & soft morning—wind at South. Rid to all the Plantns. At the Neck 8 plows were at work the rest of the People gathering beans & threshing out Pease. At Muddy hole all hands digging Potatoes. Sent the small gang from the Mansion House there; and ordered the Ferry People to assist them to morrow. At Morris’s, 4 plows at wk.; the other hands (aided by the People from Frenchs) were digg[in]g Potatoes on the left of the Road leading from the gate to the Houses. At Frenchs—two Plows at Work.  At the Ferry 3 plows were at Work. The other hands had finished digging the Potatoes and were getting the remainder of the Frost bitten Pease that they might go to Muddy hole in the Morning.


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

Wednesday. 14th. Clear and very mild morning—Clouds afterwards and a sml. Sprinkle—Wind abt. So. W. Rid to the Ferry, French’s D. Run & Muddy hole. At the first 3 plows at work, all the other hands execpt the Ferry men, were sent to Muddy hole. At Frenchs treading out Barley—Plows stopped for this purpose. At D. Run 4 plows at Wk. The other hands digging Potatoes. At Muddy hole all hands digging Potatoes—the Small gang from the H[ous]e and the Ferry People assisting. The quantity of Potatoes taken from the remg. part of the Corn ground at this place amounted to 54½ Bls. of red, and 59¼ white—which added to those that came off the 10 acres in the same corn field make 84½ Whe. & 77¼ red—In all 161½ Bushels from the Corn ground—every 4th. row. Received 14¾ bushls. of Irish Potatoes from the Neck to day—wch. added to those that were brot. over on Saturday make 21¼ bushls. of red and 160 bushls. of white—In all 181¼ Bushels. Recd. from the same place 56½ Bushls. of Barley which grew on about 5 Acres near the Barn wch. had been in Turnips last year—also 31 Bushls. of Pease sound and good; and 7½ of Ditto which had been bit with the frost in different degrees—some very bad.


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

Thursday 15th. Morning mild and very heavy with the wind fresh from So. Wt. Which produced sprinkling rain till abt. 10 Oclock and constant rain afterwards till about 2 Oclock when it moderated, but continued very cloudy with slight drippings all the afternoon. Went to Alexandria to an election of Senator for this district—Mr. Thos. West of Fairfax & Mr. Pope of Prince William being the Candidates. I gave my vote for the first & immediately as the weather promised to be getting worse. The last of the Potatoes from Dogue run came home to day; viz. 113½ Bushels, where⟨of⟩ 57¾ were red, and 56½ White. ⟨Th⟩ese came out of the cut on ⟨the⟩ left of the road leading from ⟨the⟩ gate to the houses and with ⟨th⟩ose of the other cut, make ⟨12⟩0¾ of red and 113½ of white—In all 234¼ Bushels from every 4 row between the Corn rows.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 2d. Thermometer at 21 in the morning—30 at Noon and 25 at Night. Clear Morning but variable afterwards—not much wind, but that Southerly & cold—at least raw. Colo. Humphreys & Myself accompanied Mr. Paradise and his lady to Alexandria. Dined with Mr. Charles Lee and returned in the Evening—leavg. Mr. & Mrs. Paradise there.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 3d. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—30 at Noon And 26 at Night. Clear all day and Cool. Wind for the most part at So. Et. Visited the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, and Muddy hole. At the first the Women were taking up and thinning the Trees in the swamp which they had before grubbed. The Men were getting stakes & trunnels for fencing & making racks to feed the Creatures in. Began yesterday & would about finish today sowing the New Meadow at this (which was too thin of timothy) with a quart of timothy Seed to the Acre. At Frenchs they were putting up Racks to feed the Cattle in. One man was getting stakes for fencing. At Dogue run—The Women began to hoe the Swamp they had

grubbed in order to prepare it for Sowing in the Spring with grain and grass Seeds. The Men were cutting the Tops of the Trees which had been fallen for rails into Coal Wood. At Muddy hole, the Women after having threshed out the Pease, went about the fencing—two Men getting Stakes &ca. for it. All the Pease from the broadcast sowing at this place, amounted to no more than ⟨7 bushels of good⟩ & 5 pecks of defective ones which was far short of expectation bad as the year proved.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 5th. Thermometer at 17 in the Morning—21 at Noon And 19 at Night. Day clear, wind (though not hard) at No. Wt.

and very cold. The river a good deal covered with Ice wch. prevented any attempts to land Corn till after Noon when 16 Barls. only were got on Shore & deposited in the Corn loft. Majr. G. Washington & his Wife set off abt. 11 Oclock for Eltham—to take the Marriage of Mr. Burwell Bassett with Miss McCarty of Pope’s Creek in their way down but their horses (being unused to a Phaeton &) running restive they were obliged to return after having proceeded abt. 5 Miles on their journey. I remained at home all day. About Eight oclock in the evening we were alarmed, and the house a good deal endangered, by the soot of one of the Chimneys taking fire & burning furiously, discharging great flakes of fire on the roof—but happily, by having aid at hand and proper exertion no damage ensued.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 6th. Thermometer at 14 in the Morning—21 at Noon And 19 at Night. Notwithstanding the Wind blew fresh all night, the River was quite closed this Morning and the Ice on the flats hard, and sufficiently thick to bear a Man. The Major & his wife, recommenced their journey to day, aided by a pair of my horses to take them over the worst of the roads.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 8th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind at East in the Night, and this fore noon—afterwards at West. About 2 Inches of Snow fell in the Night. About day break it turned to hail, and then to rain, which continued till after 12 oclock when the Sun came out. I remained at home all day. My Carriage brot. Betsy & Patsy Custis down—their mother having gone to Maryland occasioned by the death of her father—the Honble. Benedict Calvert Esqr.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 9th. Thermometer at 27 in the Morning—34 at Noon And 32 at Night. Clear and cold, frost hard again, the wind having got to No. West. Colo. Carrington came here to Dinner. I continued at home all day. Yesterday & this day, employed as Monday in collecting for, and ramming Ice, in my Ice house.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 10th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Clear and tolerably pleasant—the Wind being at So. Wt. all day. Colo. Carrington left this after breakfast (on my horses) for Colchester; to meet the Stage. Giles, who with a pair of my horses assisted G. A. Washington on his journey, returned about Noon. Getting Ice as yesterday, House not yet half full.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Friday 11th. Thermometer at 16 in the Morning—20 at Noon and 19 at Night. The Wind having shifted in the night to the No. West and blowing pretty fresh it turned very cold but continued clear all day. Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs & the Ferry. The hands at Muddy hole, except 2 men who were cutting & mauling rails were grubbing at the Mansion house & some about the Ice. The hands at Dogue run were grubbing (that is the women) in the Mill swamp and had been so since Tuesday—Men cutting Wood & Mauling rails. At French’s the Women that were well (except one at the Ice house) were ⟨thres⟩hing pease—one man cutting and mauling stakes for fences. At the Ferry the Women were grubbing at the Mansion Ho. The Men getting Stakes &ca. Collecting, filling & pounding Ice for the Ice house as had been the employment of the Week.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 12th. Thermometer at 19 in the morning—24 at Noon and 24 at Night. Wind at So. Et. and weather variable. About Noon, & before, there were great appearances of Snow—some falling. Afterwards it brightned and the afternoon became clear, mild & pleasant. Upon which, Colo. Humphreys & myself set off for the meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Co., to be held at the Falls of Shanandoah—but meeting a letter from Colo. Fitzgerald enclosing one from Governer Johnson requesting that the meeting might be postponed till Tuesday we turned back & I returned home by the way of Dogue run. Getting Ice as usual, which makes the 6th. day (except some interruption from the Weather on Tuesday) that as many people & Carts have been engaged in this work as could be advantageously employed altho’ Six feet of Space was yet left.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 16th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 36 at Night. Wind at So. Et. & pretty fresh all day with constant rain—notwithstanding which little or no impression was

made on the frozen ground by either for it still continued hard. Snow in the open grd. almost entirely carrd. away.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 17th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—39 at Noon And 38 at Night. The Wind shifting in the night to the No. Wt. blew fresh, and froze hard. Towards Noon it moderated, and the afternn. became very pleasant & thawing. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck the [men] were getting Posts and Rails for Fencing. Women, in part were cleaning Oats and in part cutting down Corn Stalks in No. 9. At Muddy hole 2 Men were getting Rails—one Carting of them and the Women that were well, were grubbing at the Mansn. House. At Dogue run, the Men were getting Rails, and the Women, as the Mill swamp had a good deal of Water in it, with the Overseer came to the home house to grub. At French’s except two Men who were getting stakes and trunnels for Fencing the rest were cleaning the Pease which had been threshed. At the Ferry, the women were at the New ground at home—the Men getting stakes &ca. for Fencing.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 18th. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—35 at Noon And 35 at Night. In the Morning the Wind was at East, afterwards Southerly, clear, moderate & thawing but not more than an Inch in the ground. Rid to the Mill, French’s & Ferry Plantation. Work at all the places as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 19th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 34 at Night. Raining at times, & mizling all day, with the Wind at So. Et. I remained at home all day. From Muddy hole there was brought 21 Bushls. of Pease whereof 9 only were sound & good. The others were hurt by the frost & rotten. A Mr. Copley (a considerable Manufacturer of Cloth) from Leeds in Yorkshire came here in the evening introduced by letter from Doctr. McHenry of Baltimore.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 20th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 36 at Night. A thick vapour or fog in the Morning early but

the wind coming out, a little after Sun rise very fresh from the No. Wt. it soon dispelled & the day became clear. Mr. Ingraham, and Mr. Porter came here to dinner and returned to Alexandria in the evening. Mr. Bushrod Washington and his wife came here in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 21st. Thermometer at 28 in the Morning—38 at Noon And 36 at Night. In the Morning the wind was at No. West. Afterwards it shifted to the So. Ward & became calm & lowered a little in the evening. Rid to the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations. The Women of the first were at wk. in the new grd. The Men were set to getting Rails. At Frenchs—two Men were cutting Trunnels for Fences and the Women were carrying Rails from the Swamp side to the division fence between the two Plantations. At Dogue run, The Men were cutting & Mauling of Rails—the Women at the New ground at the home House. At Muddy hole 2 Men were cuttg. & mauling—1 Carting and the Women at the New ground. From the Neck eight Women were also at this place grubbing.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 22d. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. But little wind all day—& that Easterly & Southerly: towards Noon it clouded & about 3 Oclock began to Snow but not more than would barely cover the earth. The Ice on the river began to break this morning and move with the tide, for the first time since the river closed. Visited the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole, & Dogue run. At the former the Men were getting Posts & rails—some of the women cutting down Corn Stalks & gathering them into heaps—8 others of them at the Mansn. House. At Dogue run the hands were all of them were employed as yesterday. So likewise were those of Muddy hole. On my return home found Mrs. & Miss Stuart, and Mr. Lund Washington here. And just after we had dined Doctr. Ruston came in—all of whom except Mr. L. Washington stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 23d. Thermometer at 30 in the morning—42 at Noon And 36 at Night. Early in the Morning the wind was at So.

Wt. tho there was but little of it. Soon after it inclined to the West, & No. West and grew colder and towards Night it got more round to the Northward & Eastwd. Doctr. Ruston going away about 10 Oclock I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run. At all of them, as also at Muddy hole and in the Neck, the hands were employed as usual, except at French’s where the People were carrying Rails improperly. From this place 13½ Bushels of Pease were brought which with those brought from thence in the fall were all, except the frost bitten ones that were raised at this place in broadcast. Those which suffered by frost were considerable, and as has been observed formerly great waste was experienced in gathering them from the uneveness of the ground.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 24th. Thermometer at 23 in the Morning—23 at Noon and 22 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day with threatning appearances of Snow all the forenoon. About 12 Oclock it sett in to do [so] and continued without intermission till some time in the Night when the Wind shifting to the No. West and blowing violently it ceased but the Snow drifted much. Mrs. & Miss Stuart, and Betcy & Patcy Custis went away after breakfast. I continued at home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 25th. Thermometer at 22 in the Morning—24 at Noon and 23 at Night. The Wind high, & disagreeably cold all day from the No. West—tho’ by the Thermometer was not so high as it has been some other days. The Snow drifted a good deal. River closed again. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 26th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—26 at Noon And 26 at Night. But little Wind—morning cloudy with appearances of Snow but about Noon it cleared. The wind got to the Southward and grew pleasant. Rid to the Ferry & French’s. The hands at the first employed as before. At French’s part of them were in the New ground at the Mansion House where they began to Work on Thursday and the others were repairg. fences wch. had been blown down.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Sunday 27th. Thermometer at 14 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night. Morning cold, but pleasant afterwards wind tho’ not fresh being at So. Wt. Thawed a little. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 28th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Wind Southerly, but not fresh. Fore part of the day clear & pleasant—latter part mild & lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 30th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. The wind having got to No. Wt. in the Night it froze hard again. It continued at this point all day and was very raw and cold, with great appearances often of Snow till towards evening when it became clear. Rid into the Neck—To Majr. Washingtons Plantation—to Muddy hole and the Carpenters. The fence between the Majr. and me was nearly compleated to the River above the Fish House at Johnsons. Hands at all the places at Wk. as usual.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 31st. Thermometer at 20 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night. Morning clear and calm. What little air stirred was from the Southward—at which point it continued all day but freshened & was cool with but little thawing. Visited the Plantation at Dogue run. Men there cutting and Mauling as usual. The Women were putting up cross Fences in the Meadow by the Overseers House. Hands at all the other places employed as Usual.


Title: January 1788
From: Washington, George
To:

[Tuesday 1st.] Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 27 at Night. Clear and moderate in the forenoon there being but little Wind and that Southerly. Towards night it clouded—after which the wind getting to No. Wt. it cleared and turned cold.
Mr. Lee returned to Alexandria after breakfast—as Mrs. Stuart did from Mr. Lund Washington’s.
I remained at home this day also.

Wednesday 2d. Thermometer at 21 in the morning—30 at Noon and 25 at Night. Clear Morning but variable afterwards—not much wind, but that Southerly & cold—at least raw.
Colo. Humphreys & Myself accompanied Mr. Paradise and his lady to Alexandria. Dined with Mr. Charles Lee and returned in the Evening—leavg. Mr. & Mrs. Paradise there.

   On the ride home GW contracted “a very severe cold” and for the next week or more was plagued almost continually by a bad cough and “slow fevers” (GW to John Fitzgerald, 9 Jan. 1788, DLC:GW).

Thursday 3d. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—30 at Noon And 26 at Night. Clear all day and Cool. Wind for the most part at So. Et.
Visited the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, and Muddy hole.
At the first the Women were taking up and thinning the Trees in the swamp which they had before grubbed. The Men were getting stakes & trunnels for fencing & making racks to feed the Creatures in. Began yesterday & would about finish today sowing the New Meadow at this (which was too thin of timothy) with a quart of timothy Seed to the Acre.
At Frenchs they were putting up Racks to feed the Cattle in. One man was getting stakes for fencing.
At Dogue run—The Women began to hoe the Swamp they had

grubbed in order to prepare it for Sowing in the Spring with grain and grass Seeds. The Men were cutting the Tops of the Trees which had been fallen for rails into Coal Wood.
At Muddy hole, the Women after having threshed out the Pease, went about the fencing—two Men getting Stakes &ca. for it. All the Pease from the broadcast sowing at this place, amounted to no more than ⟨7 bushels of good⟩ & 5 pecks of defective ones which was far short of expectation bad as the year proved.

Friday 4th. Thermometer at 35 in the Morning—30 at Noon And 25 at Night. The morning was neither cold nor unpromising but the Wind coming out from the No. Wt. about 10 Oclock it blew fresh & keen.
Rid to all the Plantans. In the Neck the Men were getting Posts & rails for fencing; & the Women were threshing Oats.
At Muddy hole, the Men were getting rails and the women makg. fences.
At Dogue run, the Men were cutting Coal wood and the Women Hoeing Swamp as yesterday.
At Frenchs the Men were cuttg. & mauling fence Stakes and the women levelling old ditches and grubbing. From this Plantation 120 Bushls. of clean Oats had been sent to Muddy hole, 108 brot. to the Mansn. House and 100 left for the Plow horses on the Plantation. These with some which had been carried to Muddy hole in the straw, and what the Plow horses have all the Fall & Winter been fed on, constitute the amount of what grew in field No. 1 whereof 15 acres were in Wheat leaving abt. 40 in Oats.
At the Ferry—the Men were getting Stakes, making Racks &ca. & the Women thinning trees in the Swamp.
Doctr. Craik dined here & returned afterwards to Alexandria.
A Vessel with 130 Barls. of Corn, sent by Colo. Mercer arrived here but from mismanagement of the Overseer on board no notice thereof was given till Sundown. Consequently no endeavor used to land it tho’ the Weather indicated a severe frost.

   “The almost total loss” of GW’s 1787 corn crop “by the drought” obliged him “to purchase upwards of eight hundred Barrels of Corn” for use at Mount Vernon until the next harvest (GW to Charles Lee, 4 April 1788, DLC:GW). John Francis Mercer’s 130 barrels cost GW £102 18s. 4d., a sum which was credited against a large debt owed GW by the estate of Mercer’s father, John Mercer of Marlborough (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 221; GW to John F. Mercer, 11 Jan. 1788, DLC:GW).

Saturday 5th. Thermometer at 17 in the Morning—21 at Noon And 19 at Night. Day clear, wind (though not hard) at No. Wt.

and very cold. The river a good deal covered with Ice wch. prevented any attempts to land Corn till after Noon when 16 Barls. only were got on Shore & deposited in the Corn loft.
Majr. G. Washington & his Wife set off abt. 11 Oclock for Eltham—to take the Marriage of Mr. Burwell Bassett with Miss McCarty of Pope’s Creek in their way down but their horses (being unused to a Phaeton &) running restive they were obliged to return after having proceeded abt. 5 Miles on their journey.
I remained at home all day. About Eight oclock in the evening we were alarmed, and the house a good deal endangered, by the soot of one of the Chimneys taking fire & burning furiously, discharging great flakes of fire on the roof—but happily, by having aid at hand and proper exertion no damage ensued.

   Burwell Bassett, Jr., of Eltham married Elizabeth McCarty, daughter of Daniel McCarty (d. 1795) of Popes Creek, in Westmoreland County, on 10 Jan. 1788 (WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 1st ser., 15 [1906–7], 187).

Sunday 6th. Thermometer at 14 in the Morning—21 at Noon And 19 at Night. Notwithstanding the Wind blew fresh all night, the River was quite closed this Morning and the Ice on the flats hard, and sufficiently thick to bear a Man.
The Major & his wife, recommenced their journey to day, aided by a pair of my horses to take them over the worst of the roads.

   George Augustine Washington was to return to Mount Vernon from this trip some time in February, but Fanny, who was now about six months pregnant, planned to remain at Eltham until she had her child. “Her ill luck with her first child,” Martha Washington wrote Elizabeth Willing Powel 18 Jan. 1788, “is the only reason of her wishing to change the place of her laying inn this time, If her child lives, it will be sometime in may before she can come up, and the distance is two farr for me to goe down to see her.” Fanny was, Mrs. Washington confessed, “as a child to me, and I am very lone some when she is absent” (ViMtvL). For Fanny’s first child, see entries for 10 and 25 April 1787.

Monday 7th. Thermometer at 17 in the Morning—24 at Noon and 22 at Night. But little Wind all day—weather much moderated; but variable with respect to Sunshine & clouds—the appearances of Snow, at times being great. What wind there was, came from the So. Wt. but no thawing.
Visited the Plantations at Dogue run & French’s. At the first the Women (though the grd. was too hard frozen to Hoe) were grubbing & otherwise preparing the Swamp for Meadow. The Men were cutting as usual.

At Frenchs (except Abram who was cutting stakes) the rest were threshing out Pease.
Set the Women belonging to the Ferry, and to Muddy hole, to grubbing the woods in front of the House, adjoining the last years Corn.
Began to day to fill my Ice house, and for expediting the business, brought 3 Carts from the Plantations & some hands.
The ground being too hard to Ditch, the Dutchman came home & broke flax and the Negro men were employed in cutting rail stuff and Brick Wood.

   the dutchman: Daniel Overdonck.

Tuesday 8th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind at East in the Night, and this fore noon—afterwards at West. About 2 Inches of Snow fell in the Night. About day break it turned to hail, and then to rain, which continued till after 12 oclock when the Sun came out.
I remained at home all day. My Carriage brot. Betsy & Patsy Custis down—their mother having gone to Maryland occasioned by the death of her father—the Honble. Benedict Calvert Esqr.

   Benedict Calvert died at his Prince George’s County home, Mount Airy, on 9 Jan. 1788 (NICKLIN [2]John Bailey Calvert Nicklin. “The Calvert Family.” Maryland Historical Magazine 16 (1921): 50–59, 189–204, 313–18, 389–94., 314; BOWIEEffie Gwynn Bowie. Across the Years in Prince George’s County: A Genealogical and Biographical History of Some Prince George’s County, Maryland and Allied Families. Richmond, Va., 1947., 101).

Wednesday 9th. Thermometer at 27 in the Morning—34 at Noon And 32 at Night. Clear and cold, frost hard again, the wind having got to No. West.
Colo. Carrington came here to Dinner. I continued at home all day.
Yesterday & this day, employed as Monday in collecting for, and ramming Ice, in my Ice house.

Thursday 10th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Clear and tolerably pleasant—the Wind being at So. Wt. all day.
Colo. Carrington left this after breakfast (on my horses) for Colchester; to meet the Stage.
Giles, who with a pair of my horses assisted G. A. Washington on his journey, returned about Noon.
Getting Ice as yesterday, House not yet half full.

   The slave Giles served GW as a driver and stabler for more than 20 years (see entry for 18 Feb. 1786).

Friday 11th. Thermometer at 16 in the Morning—20 at Noon and 19 at Night. The Wind having shifted in the night to the No. West and blowing pretty fresh it turned very cold but continued clear all day.
Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs & the Ferry.
The hands at Muddy hole, except 2 men who were cutting & mauling rails were grubbing at the Mansion house & some about the Ice.
The hands at Dogue run were grubbing (that is the women) in the Mill swamp and had been so since Tuesday—Men cutting Wood & Mauling rails.
At French’s the Women that were well (except one at the Ice house) were ⟨thres⟩hing pease—one man cutting and mauling stakes for fences.
At the Ferry the Women were grubbing at the Mansion Ho. The Men getting Stakes &ca.
Collecting, filling & pounding Ice for the Ice house as had been the employment of the Week.

Saturday 12th. Thermometer at 19 in the morning—24 at Noon and 24 at Night. Wind at So. Et. and weather variable. About Noon, & before, there were great appearances of Snow—some falling. Afterwards it brightned and the afternoon became clear, mild & pleasant.
Upon which, Colo. Humphreys & myself set off for the meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Co., to be held at the Falls of Shanandoah—but meeting a letter from Colo. Fitzgerald enclosing one from Governer Johnson requesting that the meeting might be postponed till Tuesday we turned back & I returned home by the way of Dogue run.
Getting Ice as usual, which makes the 6th. day (except some interruption from the Weather on Tuesday) that as many people & Carts have been engaged in this work as could be advantageously employed altho’ Six feet of Space was yet left.

   The purpose of this meeting was to inspect the progress made in clearing the upper falls of the Potomac. GW expected to be gone from home for ten or more days of “cold houses and Bad Beds” (GW to John Fitzgerald, 9 Jan. 1788, GW to Lafayette, 10 Jan. 1788, and GW to John Francis Mercer, 11 Jan. 1788, DLC:GW).

Sunday 13th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—28 at Noon and 24 at Night. Weather more temperate with respect to cold but

about 11 oclock it began to Snow and continued to do so more or less till 9 Oclock at Night adding about 2 or 3 Inches to what had fallen before. Wind was at So. East all day but at Night shifted to No. Wt.
The Weather prevented my settg. out for the meeting at Shanandoah.
Colo. Hooe, a Mr. Wickoff and a Captn. Thomas came here to dinner and returned in the evening.

   mr. wickoff: Isaac Wikoff (d. 1814) or Peter Wikoff, both merchants of Philadelphia (RUSHL. H. Butterfield, ed. Letters of Benjamin Rush. 2 vols. Princeton, N.J., 1951., 2:676, n.10; PA. ARCH.Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949., 2d ser., 8:274–75, 3d ser., 10:664–65, 14:166, 171, 298).

Monday 14th. Thermometer at 10 in the Morning—20 at Noon, and 16 at Night. Wind, though not hard, continued at No. Wt. all day & was exceedingly keen.
The cold—apprehension of the Horses balling with the Snow that had fallen—and insufficiency of time to reach the place of meeting agreeably to appointment induced me to relinquish the journey altogether.
I remained at home all day—employed as last week getting & pounding Ice for the Ice house.

Tuesday 15th. Mercury in the ball this Morning the cold being very intense—25 at Noon And 24 at Night. Wind in the early part of the morning was at East, and afterwards at So. Et. which occasioned a considerable abatement of the cold, but very little thaw.
Rid to the Plantations at Dogue run, French’s, & the Ferry. At the first, the Men were cutting and mauling of rails; & the women grubbing in the Mill swamp.
At Frenchs, the Women were still threshing Pease, and two Men cutting trunnels for Fences.
At the Ferry, the Men were gettg. stakes & trunnels; and the Women grubbing at the Mansn. House.
As were also the People belonging to Muddy hole.
Employed at the Mansion House as yesterday in getting Ice into the Ice [House] but did not compleat it, it wanting near three feet to fill it.

Wednesday 16th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 36 at Night. Wind at So. Et. & pretty fresh all day with constant rain—notwithstanding which little or no impression was

made on the frozen ground by either for it still continued hard. Snow in the open grd. almost entirely carrd. away.

Thursday 17th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—39 at Noon And 38 at Night. The Wind shifting in the night to the No. Wt. blew fresh, and froze hard. Towards Noon it moderated, and the afternn. became very pleasant & thawing.
Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck the [men] were getting Posts and Rails for Fencing. Women, in part were cleaning Oats and in part cutting down Corn Stalks in No. 9.
At Muddy hole 2 Men were getting Rails—one Carting of them and the Women that were well, were grubbing at the Mansn. House.
At Dogue run, the Men were getting Rails, and the Women, as the Mill swamp had a good deal of Water in it, with the Overseer came to the home house to grub.
At French’s except two Men who were getting stakes and trunnels for Fencing the rest were cleaning the Pease which had been threshed.
At the Ferry, the women were at the New ground at home—the Men getting stakes &ca. for Fencing.

Friday 18th. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—35 at Noon And 35 at Night. In the Morning the Wind was at East, afterwards Southerly, clear, moderate & thawing but not more than an Inch in the ground.
Rid to the Mill, French’s & Ferry Plantation.
Work at all the places as yesterday.

Saturday 19th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 34 at Night. Raining at times, & mizling all day, with the Wind at So. Et.
I remained at home all day. From Muddy hole there was brought 21 Bushls. of Pease whereof 9 only were sound & good. The others were hurt by the frost & rotten.
A Mr. Copley (a considerable Manufacturer of Cloth) from Leeds in Yorkshire came here in the evening introduced by letter from Doctr. McHenry of Baltimore.

   Burrow Copley of Hunslet Parish, borough of Leeds, Eng., was among the first cloth makers in the Leeds area to use water-powered machinery to card and slub wool (CRUMPW. B. Crump, ed. The Leeds Woollen Industry, 1780–1820. Leeds, England, 1931., 32:11–12).

Sunday 20th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 36 at Night. A thick vapour or fog in the Morning early but

the wind coming out, a little after Sun rise very fresh from the No. Wt. it soon dispelled & the day became clear.
Mr. Ingraham, and Mr. Porter came here to dinner and returned to Alexandria in the evening.
Mr. Bushrod Washington and his wife came here in the afternoon.

Monday 21st. Thermometer at 28 in the Morning—38 at Noon And 36 at Night. In the Morning the wind was at No. West. Afterwards it shifted to the So. Ward & became calm & lowered a little in the evening.
Rid to the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations.
The Women of the first were at wk. in the new grd. The Men were set to getting Rails.
At Frenchs—two Men were cutting Trunnels for Fences and the Women were carrying Rails from the Swamp side to the division fence between the two Plantations.
At Dogue run, The Men were cutting & Mauling of Rails—the Women at the New ground at the home House.
At Muddy hole 2 Men were cuttg. & mauling—1 Carting and the Women at the New ground.
From the Neck eight Women were also at this place grubbing.

Tuesday 22d. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. But little wind all day—& that Easterly & Southerly: towards Noon it clouded & about 3 Oclock began to Snow but not more than would barely cover the earth.
The Ice on the river began to break this morning and move with the tide, for the first time since the river closed.
Visited the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole, & Dogue run.
At the former the Men were getting Posts & rails—some of the women cutting down Corn Stalks & gathering them into heaps—8 others of them at the Mansn. House.
At Dogue run the hands were all of them were employed as yesterday.
So likewise were those of Muddy hole.
On my return home found Mrs. & Miss Stuart, and Mr. Lund Washington here. And just after we had dined Doctr. Ruston came in—all of whom except Mr. L. Washington stayed all Night.

Wednesday 23d. Thermometer at 30 in the morning—42 at Noon And 36 at Night. Early in the Morning the wind was at So.

Wt. tho there was but little of it. Soon after it inclined to the West, & No. West and grew colder and towards Night it got more round to the Northward & Eastwd.
Doctr. Ruston going away about 10 Oclock I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs and Dogue run.
At all of them, as also at Muddy hole and in the Neck, the hands were employed as usual, except at French’s where the People were carrying Rails improperly.
From this place 13½ Bushels of Pease were brought which with those brought from thence in the fall were all, except the frost bitten ones that were raised at this place in broadcast.
Those which suffered by frost were considerable, and as has been observed formerly great waste was experienced in gathering them from the uneveness of the ground.

Thursday 24th. Thermometer at 23 in the Morning—23 at Noon and 22 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day with threatning appearances of Snow all the forenoon. About 12 Oclock it sett in to do [so] and continued without intermission till some time in the Night when the Wind shifting to the No. West and blowing violently it ceased but the Snow drifted much.
Mrs. & Miss Stuart, and Betcy & Patcy Custis went away after breakfast.
I continued at home all day.

   Ten-year-old Patsy was “a little unwell” during her stay at Mount Vernon, but apparently improved (GW to David Stuart, 18 Jan. 1788, ViU).

Friday 25th. Thermometer at 22 in the Morning—24 at Noon and 23 at Night. The Wind high, & disagreeably cold all day from the No. West—tho’ by the Thermometer was not so high as it has been some other days. The Snow drifted a good deal. River closed again.
At home all day.

Saturday 26th. Thermometer at 26 in the Morning—26 at Noon And 26 at Night. But little Wind—morning cloudy with appearances of Snow but about Noon it cleared. The wind got to the Southward and grew pleasant.
Rid to the Ferry & French’s. The hands at the first employed as before.
At French’s part of them were in the New ground at the Mansion House where they began to Work on Thursday and the others were repairg. fences wch. had been blown down.

Sunday 27th. Thermometer at 14 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night. Morning cold, but pleasant afterwards wind tho’ not fresh being at So. Wt. Thawed a little.
At home all day.

Monday 28th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Wind Southerly, but not fresh. Fore part of the day clear & pleasant—latter part mild & lowering.

Tuesday 29th. Thermometer at 35 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 47 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. and moderate all day. A good deal of rain fell in the course of the Night which with the dissolution of the Snow, occasioned much water in the Brooks and places from whence [it] had no discharge. The Thaw also to day was great⟨er than it has been since the 10th.⟩ of Decr. and yet the top of the ground only was softened not more than an Inch deep.
Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, and Dogue run Plantations. Found Colo. Gilpin on my ret[urn]
Employed as usual at each. 3 Men began to cut rail timber yesterday afternoon at Dogue run for the fence which is to divide fields No. 2 & 3.

Wednesday 30th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. The wind having got to No. Wt. in the Night it froze hard again. It continued at this point all day and was very raw and cold, with great appearances often of Snow till towards evening when it became clear.
Rid into the Neck—To Majr. Washingtons Plantation—to Muddy hole and the Carpenters. The fence between the Majr. and me was nearly compleated to the River above the Fish House at Johnsons.
Hands at all the places at Wk. as usual.

Thursday 31st. Thermometer at 20 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night. Morning clear and calm. What little air stirred was from the Southward—at which point it continued all day but freshened & was cool with but little thawing.
Visited the Plantation at Dogue run. Men there cutting and Mauling as usual. The Women were putting up cross Fences in the Meadow by the Overseers House.
Hands at all the other places employed as Usual.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 3d. Thermometer at 42 in the morning—46 at Noon and 45 at Night. Mild, Wind tho’ not much of it Southerly & thawing. Towards evening it lowered and at Night began to rain. Colo. Fitzgerald, Messrs. Porter, Ingraham, Murray & Bowen, Doctr. Stuart & Craik Junr. and a Mr. O’Conner came to Dinnr. & returned except Doctr. Stuart.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 4. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—42 at Noon And 38 at Night. Clear with the Wind at South in the Morning—West afterwards, & violent. The Ice very much broken by it. Visited the Plantation at Dogue run. Women still about the cross fence. Attempted to plow, but found it impracticable the ground not being thawed more than two or 3 Inches. All other work as usual. Doctr. Stuart went away after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 5th. Mercury in the Ball of the Thermometer in the Morning, from whence it never rose the whole day, being intensely cold. In the preceeding Night the wind having got to No. Wt. blew at times, exceeding hard. It continued to blow hard all day, and was very piercing from Morng. to evening. The River, which had opened very much yesterday and promised a free Navigation was entirely closed again to day, in all the malignancy of the frost. I remained within all day. Mr. Lear went up to Mr. Porters Wedding—in Alexandria.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 6th. Mercury in the Ball all day and the weather exceeding cold but not so piercing as yesterday. In the Morning the Wind was at East. Afterwards it was abt. So. Wt. Rid out, but finding the cold disagreeable, I returned. Hands of all the places (except the Men) working in the New ground at the Mann. House.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 7th. Mercury in the Ball in the Morning. By noon it rose to 24 and by Night was at 26. The Wind tho’ not much of it, was at So. Wt. all day. The appearance of the Weather varient—

sometimes threatning Snow—at other times promising to be fair. At home all day. Mr. Lear returned about 2 oclock from Alexa.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 8th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—29 at Noon and 28 at Night. Wind tho not much of it, was at No. Et. in the Morning, and continued there all day with fine snow & sometimes Mists. Visited the Plantations at Frenchs and the Ferry; at Work at both as usual. The Neck & Muddy hole people, with the Women belonging to the above two, were at Work in the New Grd. in front of the House. The Dogue run [people] were not there but at work in the Great Meadow at the Mill. Sowed yesterday and to day, on the fallowed Wheat at the Ferry (about 25 Acres) at the rate of a quart of clean Timothy Seed & 5 lbs. of red Clover Seed to the Acre on the Snow wch. was about 2 or 3 Inches deep & very level.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 10th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—42 at Noon And 40 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. all day—moderate and pleasant. The Snow in the open ground had almost disappeared. At home all day. Majr. G. A. Washington returned from New Kent about 1 oclock and just before Dinner Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, Miss Stuart & Betcy & Patcy Custis came in.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 11th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—50 at Noon And 48 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. & fresh till toward Sun down when it veered more to West & then got to No. Wt. in the Night, but not very hard. Snow quite gone. Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole & Dogue-run. The Women from every place were in the New Ground at home. Those at Dogue run were in the G. Meadow at home but there was too much Water to Work to advantage.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 13th. Thermometer at 45 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Clear and pleasant with the Wind at So. Wt. all day. The Marqs. de Chappedelaine (introduced by letters from Genl. Knox, Mr. Bingham &ca.) Captn. Enys (a British Officer) Colo. Fitzgerald, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Nelson & Mr. Ingraham came here to Dinner—all of whom returned after it except the last. I remained at home all day. The Plows at Muddy hole were usefully employed. At Dogue run it seems the grds. were in bad order. At the Ferry & Frenchs they cd. not work for the Frost and In the Neck they were not set to work till late.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 14th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—54 at Noon And 50 at Night. The wind was at No. West all day & about Noon blew hard, but moderated towards evening—not very cold. Visited all the Plantations. In the Neck 7 Plows were at Work in the field by the Barn—frost some interruption to the Plows. The Women grubbing along the Branch below the Spring. Men at work as usual. At Muddy hole 3 plows going on very well. Women grubbing before them.  At Dogue run 4 plows were at work in field No. 3, but it was so wet that I ordered them to Muddy hole after they had fed the Horses. Women in N[ew] Gr[oun]d Ho[me] H[ouse]. At neither French’s nor the Ferry could the Plows Work. The Women at each were levelling the old ditches. Began yesterday to Ditch again at French’s and with Cornelius & his two Brothers to dig the foundation for the Barn between the Ferry & French’s Plantations. On my return from riding, I found the Marqs. de Chappedelaine and Doctor Lee here—both of whom stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 16th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 34 at Night. The Wind remained at No. Et. till near night when it came out fresh from No. Wt. and cleared till when it rained and sleeted so as to surcharge the Trees and every thing else with Ice. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 19th. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—40 at Noon And 38 at Night. Morning clear with the wind, tho’ not much of it at West & Cool tho’ it thawed a good deal in the middle of the day. Visited the Plantations in the Neck and at Muddy hole. At the first the Men were getting & preparing for fencing. The Women, some were grubbing and others throwing down old fences in order to erect them a New. At Muddy hole, The Women had just finished spreading dung on part of No. 1. At the other places the Men were cutting & mauling and the Women grubbing at the Mansion House.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 20th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at Night. The Wind was at No. Wt. and the frost severe. River close this Morning but opened with the tide & by the wind. Rid to the Plantations in the Neck and at Muddy hole. In the Neck the Women were putting up (as far as rails were in place) the fence between fields No. 7 & 8. At Muddy hole they were sprouting the stumps & taking up grubs in the Winter fallow of No. 4. The People at the other places and at the Mansion house were working as usual.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 22d. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—28 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind at No. Et. and North; and fresh & cold. About 10 Oclock last Night it began to Snow & continued to do so all Night and till afternoon this day—but as it drifted much the depth cd. not be ascertained. Colo. Wm. Heth, who came here to dinner yesterday was sent by me to Alexandria to pursue his journey to New York in the Stage. I remained at home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 24. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Clear Morning with the Wind still at No. W. where it continued all day but went down with the Sun. In the Evening the Revd. Mr. Fairfax came in.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 26. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—46 at Noon And 42 at Night. Clear Morning & calm, but the Wd. soon rose & blew fresh from the No. Wt. till evening when it ceased. It thawed pretty considerably to day but not sufft. to admit the Plows. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, French’s & the Ferry Plantations. At all, the People belonging to them were at work. Set in the Inclosure below the Garden, Seven bushels of Carrots to raise Seed from—6 of which, on the upper side, were of the Lemon kind. The other Bushel were of the Orange sort; and are between the 2d. & 3d. Stakes, reckoning from the upper one.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 27th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 28 at Night. The wind came hard from the No. Wt. about day break and blew violently all day. The ground was hard frozen and the day very cold—but little thawing. Rid to all the Plantations. No plowing at any. Grubbg. at most.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 28th. Thermometer at 20 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 32 at Night. Clear and very cold. The River frozen to the Channel. Wind at No. Wt. all day. Mr. Porter & his wife, and Mr. Ingraham and a Mr. Koch a dutch Gentleman came here to dinner. The two first stayed all night. The latter to Alexandria. I remained at home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 February 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 29th. Thermometer at 22 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 36 at Night. Clear with the Wind at No. Wt. but moderate and towards night not unpleast.  Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, D. Run & Muddy hole. Cutting down Corn stalks at the first, grubbing at the other, and fencing at the two latter.


Title: February [1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 1st. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Morning clear & pleasant with the Wind (but not much of it) Southerly, at wch. point it continued all day, & grew Milder. The top of the ground for about an Inch thawed—but not deeper.
Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, Frenchs and the Ferry.
Work at all as usual. The Women belonging to Dogue run having returned to the New ground at the Mansion house.
Employed the five Negro Ditche[r]s who had been cutting wood for burning Bricks in getting the same out of the Swamp where it grew.

Saturday 2d. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind Southerly, & day moderate.
Visited my Ferry, Frenchs & Dogue run Plantations.
At all, the same work as usual, except that the Dogue run Women were employed in pulling up a cross fence in the Meadow by the Overseers house—being the 2d. cross fence in this Meadw.

Set the home house gang to cording the Wood which had been cut for Bricks.
Began with a pair of Sawyers, this day, to cut the flooring planks for a Barn, proposed to be built between the Ferry & French’s Plantations of 2 Inch Oak.
Doctr. Craik came down to visit Mathew Baldridge but returned before dinner.
My Nephew Geo. Steptoe Washington came here this Evening to proceed to Lancaster to visit his Brother Ferdinando Washington who lay dangerously ill of a Consumption.

   The barn was to be a two-story brick structure built according to a plan obtained from Arthur Young the previous year, but with some changes by GW to adapt it to his particular needs. Jacques (Jean) Pierre Brissot de Warville, a French visitor who saw GW’s new barn in an advanced stage of construction later this year, described it as “a huge one . . . about one hundred feet long and of an even greater width, which was to store all his grain, potatoes, turnips, etc. [from Ferry and French’s plantations]. Around it he had also built stables for all his cattle, horses, and donkeys [on those two plantations]. . . . The barn is so well planned that a man can fill the racks with hay or potatoes easily and without any danger.” Because most of the building materials came from Mount Vernon, the cost of the whole undertaking, GW told Brissot, “amounted to no more than £300.” The barn and barnyard, Brissot noted, “were innovations in Virginia, where they have no barns and do not store fodder for cattle” (BRISSOTJ. P. Brissot de Warville. New Travels in the United States of America, 1788. Translated by Mara Soceanu Vamos and Durand Echeverria. Edited by Durand Echeverria. Cambridge, Mass., 1964., 343; SCHOEPFJohann David Schoepf. Travels in the Confederation [1783–1784]. Translated and edited by Alfred J. Morrison. 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1911., 2:48). GW wrote Young 4 Dec. 1788 that he believed his barn to be “the largest and most convenient one in this Country” (DLC:GW).

Sunday 3d. Thermometer at 42 in the morning—46 at Noon and 45 at Night. Mild, Wind tho’ not much of it Southerly & thawing. Towards evening it lowered and at Night began to rain.
Colo. Fitzgerald, Messrs. Porter, Ingraham, Murray & Bowen, Doctr. Stuart & Craik Junr. and a Mr. O’Conner came to Dinnr. & returned except Doctr. Stuart.

   John O’Connor, who styled himself “a barrester at law of the kingdom of Ireland,” arrived in America in 1787 and was now traveling through Virginia, peddling subscriptions for a proposed multivolume geographical and topographical history of the Americas, “Collected and compiled” by himself (Md. Gaz., 6 Dec. 1787). That work, he told subscribers in Alexandria, was now “nearly finished, and . . . the first volume was absolutely in Press at Philadelphia.” However, one subscriber who had occasion to visit Philadelphia in April inquired at the printing office about the progress of O’Connor’s history and was greatly surprised to learn that the printers had not “received one shilling” from the author, nor had they “ever seen the manuscript” (Md. Journal, 22 April 1788). Although O’Connor continued for the next year and a half to assure everyone of his determination to publish his work as advertised, it never appeared (Md. Journal, 13 May 1788; O’Connor to GW,

5 Oct. 1789, DNA:PCC, Item 78; O’BRIENMichael J. O’Brien. George Washington’s Associations with the Irish. New York, 1937., 44–45). GW did not subscribe to O’Connor’s history.

Monday 4. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—42 at Noon And 38 at Night. Clear with the Wind at South in the Morning—West afterwards, & violent. The Ice very much broken by it.
Visited the Plantation at Dogue run. Women still about the cross fence.
Attempted to plow, but found it impracticable the ground not being thawed more than two or 3 Inches.
All other work as usual. Doctr. Stuart went away after Dinner.

Tuesday 5th. Mercury in the Ball of the Thermometer in the Morning, from whence it never rose the whole day, being intensely cold. In the preceeding Night the wind having got to No. Wt. blew at times, exceeding hard. It continued to blow hard all day, and was very piercing from Morng. to evening.
The River, which had opened very much yesterday and promised a free Navigation was entirely closed again to day, in all the malignancy of the frost.
I remained within all day. Mr. Lear went up to Mr. Porters Wedding—in Alexandria.

   At Alexandria on this date, according to reports heard by the British traveler John Enys when he reached the town a few days later, “farenhights Thermomether was so low as ten Degrees, others say so low as seven or Eight within doors.” When Enys visited Mount Vernon on 13 Feb., David Humphreys told him that the mercury in GW’s Fahrenheit thermometer “which is . . . placed in an exposed Situation was in the Ball for some hours” on 5 Feb. (ENYSElizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Syracuse, N.Y., 1976., 349, n.21).

   “The Navigation of this river,” GW today wrote Henry Knox, “has been stopped for near five weeks. At this moment we are locked fast by Ice, and the air of this day is amongst the keenest I ever recollect to have felt” (MHi).

   Thomas Porter married Sarah (Sally) Ramsay, daughter of William and Ann McCarty Ramsay of Alexandria.

Wednesday 6th. Mercury in the Ball all day and the weather exceeding cold but not so piercing as yesterday. In the Morning the Wind was at East. Afterwards it was abt. So. Wt.
Rid out, but finding the cold disagreeable, I returned. Hands of all the places (except the Men) working in the New ground at the Mann. House.

Thursday 7th. Mercury in the Ball in the Morning. By noon it rose to 24 and by Night was at 26. The Wind tho’ not much of it, was at So. Wt. all day. The appearance of the Weather varient—

sometimes threatning Snow—at other times promising to be fair.
At home all day. Mr. Lear returned about 2 oclock from Alexa.

Friday 8th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—29 at Noon and 28 at Night. Wind tho not much of it, was at No. Et. in the Morning, and continued there all day with fine snow & sometimes Mists.
Visited the Plantations at Frenchs and the Ferry; at Work at both as usual.
The Neck & Muddy hole people, with the Women belonging to the above two, were at Work in the New Grd. in front of the House.
The Dogue run [people] were not there but at work in the Great Meadow at the Mill. Sowed yesterday and to day, on the fallowed Wheat at the Ferry (about 25 Acres) at the rate of a quart of clean Timothy Seed & 5 lbs. of red Clover Seed to the Acre on the Snow wch. was about 2 or 3 Inches deep & very level.

Saturday 9th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—39 at Noon And 38 at Night. Clear Wind at No. Wt. all day but neither fresh nor cold. Thawing.
Visited all the Plantations except the Neck.
At All, working as usual—that is the Men getting Materials for fencing and the Women, except those of Dogue run, grubbing at the Mansion house. The Dogue run Women grubbing in the G. Meadow.

Sunday 10th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—42 at Noon And 40 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. all day—moderate and pleasant. The Snow in the open ground had almost disappeared.
At home all day. Majr. G. A. Washington returned from New Kent about 1 oclock and just before Dinner Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, Miss Stuart & Betcy & Patcy Custis came in.

Monday 11th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—50 at Noon And 48 at Night. Wind at So. Wt. & fresh till toward Sun down when it veered more to West & then got to No. Wt. in the Night, but not very hard. Snow quite gone.
Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole & Dogue-run.
The Women from every place were in the New Ground at home. Those at Dogue run were in the G. Meadow at home but there was too much Water to Work to advantage.

Tuesday 12th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 53 at Night. Clear, pleasant & thawing. Wind at So. Wt. & pretty fresh; Ice breakg. for the 3d. time.
Doctr. Stuart (alone) returned to Abingdon after Breakfast.
I visited the Plantations of Muddy hole, French’s & the Ferry.
The People at all of them, and in the Neck at the usual work. The Women from Dogue run had, on account of the wetness of the Swamp come to the New ground at the Mansn. House It appearing that the ground would be sufficiently thawed I ordered the whole of them to take their Tools home & try to put up their Fences, and do other work at their respective Plantations.
Ordered the Plows also to be tryed to morrow.

Wednesday 13th. Thermometer at 45 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Clear and pleasant with the Wind at So. Wt. all day.
The Marqs. de Chappedelaine (introduced by letters from Genl. Knox, Mr. Bingham &ca.) Captn. Enys (a British Officer) Colo. Fitzgerald, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Nelson & Mr. Ingraham came here to Dinner—all of whom returned after it except the last.
I remained at home all day. The Plows at Muddy hole were usefully employed.
At Dogue run it seems the grds. were in bad order.
At the Ferry & Frenchs they cd. not work for the Frost and
In the Neck they were not set to work till late.

   This party of visitors intended to come to Mount Vernon on 11 Feb. to congratulate GW on the occasion of his fifty-sixth birthday, but bad weather that morning and an Alexandria town election the next day forced postponement of their visit to this day (ENYSElizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Syracuse, N.Y., 1976., 244–45).

   The marquis de Chappedelaine, “a Captain in the first Regt of french Dragoons” who was touring the United States, had previously visited New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore (ENYSElizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Syracuse, N.Y., 1976., 238–40). “The Marquis . . . ,” wrote Henry Knox in his letter of introduction to GW, “thinks that he should have come to America to little purpose were he to depart without having seen your Excellency” (Knox to GW, 2 Nov. 1787, DLC:GW). Julien-Joseph Hyacinth de Chappedelaine (c.1754-1794) was apparently a member of the noble Breton family of Chappedelaine, for in late 1790 or early 1791 he and several Breton nobles fleeing from the French Revolution landed on the island of Sapelo off the coast of Georgia, where they established an émigré colony for a time (ENYSElizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Syracuse, N.Y., 1976., 341–42, n.81; Chappedelaine to GW, 9 Jan. 1791, DLC:GW; LOVELLCaroline Couper Lovell. The Golden Isles of Georgia. Boston, 1933., 97).

   John Enys (1757–1818) was commissioned an officer in the 29th Regiment of Foot in 1775 and served with that unit on garrison duty in Canada 1776–82 and 1784–87. Before returning to England, he made a tour of scenic and historical places in the United States, passing through Albany, N.Y., New York City, Princeton, N.J., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Alexandria on his way to Norfolk where he took a ship for home. Letters of introduction to John Fitzgerald and William Hunter, Jr., enabled Enys to include Mount Vernon in his itinerary. “We had no sooner alighted,” Enys wrote of his visit, “than the Immortal General came to receive us at the door and conducted us into his Parlour.” After some conversation about the new federal Constitution and a tour of the grounds, dinner was served. “It was a very good one,” Enys reported, “but the part of the entertainment I liked best was the affable easy manners of the whole family. . . . The Ladies left the room soon after Dinner but the Gentlemen continued for some time longer. There were no public toasts of any kind given, the General himself introducing a round of Ladies as soon as the Cloath was removed, by saying he had always a very great esteem for the Ladies, and therefore drank them in preference to any thing else.” The visitors did not leave until “it was near dark” (ENYSElizabeth Cometti, ed. The American Journals of Lt. John Enys. Syracuse, N.Y., 1976., xviii-xxxv, 244–52).

Thursday 14th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morning—54 at Noon And 50 at Night. The wind was at No. West all day & about Noon blew hard, but moderated towards evening—not very cold.
Visited all the Plantations.
In the Neck 7 Plows were at Work in the field by the Barn—frost some interruption to the Plows. The Women grubbing along the Branch below the Spring. Men at work as usual.
At Muddy hole 3 plows going on very well. Women grubbing before them.

At Dogue run 4 plows were at work in field No. 3, but it was so wet that I ordered them to Muddy hole after they had fed the Horses. Women in N[ew] Gr[oun]d Ho[me] H[ouse].
At neither French’s nor the Ferry could the Plows Work. The Women at each were levelling the old ditches.
Began yesterday to Ditch again at French’s and with Cornelius & his two Brothers to dig the foundation for the Barn between the Ferry & French’s Plantations.
On my return from riding, I found the Marqs. de Chappedelaine and Doctor Lee here—both of whom stayed all Night.

Friday 15. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 32 at Night. Cloudy with the Wind at No. Et. all day during which it snowed twice fast but not enough fell to cover the ground. At Night it began to rain, and continued to do so quite through it.
Let out a Fox (which had been taken alive some days ago) and after chasing it an hour lost it.
The Marquis de Chappedelaine & Mr. Ingraham returned to Alexandria after Dinner.

Saturday 16th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 34 at Night. The Wind remained at No. Et. till near night when it came out fresh from No. Wt. and cleared till when it rained and sleeted so as to surcharge the Trees and every thing else with Ice.
At home all day.

Sunday 17th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 30 at Night. Early in the Morning the Wind was at So. Wt. but it soon shifted to No. Et. and overcast. About Noon it began to Snow & continued to do so till Sun down when it ceased soon after wch. the Wind got to No. Wt. blew fresh and grew cold. The Snow was about two Inches deep.
At home all day with the Family. Mrs. Stuart, Miss Stuart & Betcy and Patcy Custis going away after breakfast.

Monday 18th. Thermometer at 22 in the Morning—32 at Noon, & 29 at Night. Morning clear with the Wind at No. Wt. but towards evening shifted to the So. Wt. keeping clear; Navigation again stopped.
Visited the Plantations at Muddy hole and Frenchs.
The Ploughs were stopped every where.

The Women of Dogue run, Frenchs and the Ferry were all at Work in the New ground at the Mansn. House.
At Muddy hole they were spreading dung.
George Steptoe Washington who went down to see his Brother Ferdinand who died before he got to Lancaster returned about 12 oclock. And Mr. Harry Peake dined here.
Finished landing the last of the Corn sent here by Colo. Jno. Fras. Mercer.

   Henry Peake (b. 1762) was a son of Humphrey and Mary Stonestreet Peake (MCDONALDCornelia McDonald. A Diary with Reminiscences of the War and Refugee Life in the Shenandoah Valley, 1860–1865. Nashville, 1935., 449).

Tuesday 19th. Thermometer at 25 in the Morning—40 at Noon And 38 at Night. Morning clear with the wind, tho’ not much of it at West & Cool tho’ it thawed a good deal in the middle of the day.
Visited the Plantations in the Neck and at Muddy hole. At the first the Men were getting & preparing for fencing. The Women, some were grubbing and others throwing down old fences in order to erect them a New.
At Muddy hole, The Women had just finished spreading dung on part of No. 1.
At the other places the Men were cutting & mauling and the Women grubbing at the Mansion House.

Wednesday 20th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at Night. The Wind was at No. Wt. and the frost severe. River close this Morning but opened with the tide & by the wind.
Rid to the Plantations in the Neck and at Muddy hole.
In the Neck the Women were putting up (as far as rails were in place) the fence between fields No. 7 & 8.
At Muddy hole they were sprouting the stumps & taking up grubs in the Winter fallow of No. 4.
The People at the other places and at the Mansion house were working as usual.

   sprouting: removing sprouts from.

Thursday 21st. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 28 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. with Clouds and appearances of Snow.
Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run Frenchs and Ferry.
At the first working as yesterday.

At Dogue run the same; except that the cutters and maulers had shifted to the East Side of the Plantation in order to get rails to repair the meadow fence.

Friday 22d. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—28 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind at No. Et. and North; and fresh & cold. About 10 Oclock last Night it began to Snow & continued to do so all Night and till afternoon this day—but as it drifted much the depth cd. not be ascertained.
Colo. Wm. Heth, who came here to dinner yesterday was sent by me to Alexandria to pursue his journey to New York in the Stage.
I remained at home all day.

   William Heth (1750–1807), a Henrico County landowner and distinguished veteran of the Continental line, was going to New York as commissioner for the state of Virginia to settle with Congress the state’s accounts “for the expences incurred in the acquisition and Defence of the Western Territory”—the lands north of the Ohio that Virginia had ceded to the Confederation in 1781 (VA. COUNCIL JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia. 5 vols. Richmond, 1931–82., 3:514; 4:209, 226, 244). After spending the night of 20 Feb. with George Mason, Heth had set out for Mount Vernon after breakfast on 21 Feb. “I was fortunate enough,” he recorded in his diary, “to find the General without any other company than Colo. Humphreys who has been here some months. Dined & spent an agreeable day—find that the General is very anxious to see the proposed federal constitution adopted by all the States. He recd. letters this evening from Boston & New York informing him that the Convention of Massachusetts then sitting would unquestionably accept of it” (DLC). Definite word of Massachusetts’s ratification arrived on the evening of 22 Feb. (George Augustine Washington to Frances Bassett Washington, 22 Feb. 1788, ViMtvL; Heth’s obituary is in Va. Gaz. [Richmond], 1 April 1807; see also LEE [7]Ida J. Lee. “The Heth Family.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 42 (1934): 273–82., 275–76).

   The northern stage at this time left Alexandria from George H. Leigh’s Bunch of Grapes Tavern on the corner of Fairfax and Cameron streets (Va. Journal, 11 Oct. 1787).

   The accumulation of snow on this day, according to George Augustine Washington, amounted to “5 or 6 Inches” (George Augustine Washington to Frances Bassett Washington, 22 Feb. 1788, ViMtvL).

Saturday 23d. Thermometer at 27 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 35 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. Fresh & cold all day but clear.
I remained at home all day.

Sunday 24. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Clear Morning with the Wind still at No. W. where it continued all day but went down with the Sun.
In the Evening the Revd. Mr. Fairfax came in.

Monday 25th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 46 at Night. Calm and clear Morning. Wind Southerly afterwards which occasioned a considerable thaw.
Mr. Fairfax going away directly after breakfast I rid to the Plantations in the Neck—at Muddy hole and Dogue run.
At the first (that is the Neck) the Women were grubbing & fencing along the Creek.
At Muddy hole doing the same. The Women from Dogue run, Frenchs & Ferry were at work in the New grd. at the Mansn. house.

Tuesday 26. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—46 at Noon And 42 at Night. Clear Morning & calm, but the Wd. soon rose & blew fresh from the No. Wt. till evening when it ceased. It thawed pretty considerably to day but not sufft. to admit the Plows.
Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, French’s & the Ferry Plantations.
At all, the People belonging to them were at work.
Set in the Inclosure below the Garden, Seven bushels of Carrots to raise Seed from—6 of which, on the upper side, were of the Lemon kind. The other Bushel were of the Orange sort; and are between the 2d. & 3d. Stakes, reckoning from the upper one.

Wednesday 27th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 28 at Night. The wind came hard from the No. Wt. about day break and blew violently all day. The ground was hard frozen and the day very cold—but little thawing.
Rid to all the Plantations. No plowing at any. Grubbg. at most.

Thursday 28th. Thermometer at 20 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 32 at Night. Clear and very cold. The River frozen to the Channel. Wind at No. Wt. all day.
Mr. Porter & his wife, and Mr. Ingraham and a Mr. Koch a dutch Gentleman came here to dinner. The two first stayed all night. The latter to Alexandria.
I remained at home all day.

   Nathaniel Ingraham, who was to sail to Amsterdam within a few weeks, agreed to try to procure a Dutch gardener for GW. He returned by way of Philadelphia in late November but apparently brought no gardener (GW to Ingraham, 22 Mar. 1788, DLC:GW; GW to Clement Biddle, 27 Nov. 1788, PHi: Washington-Biddle Correspondence; Pa. Packet, 11 Oct. and 13 Nov. 1788; see also entry for 15 Nov. 1788).

Friday 29th. Thermometer at 22 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 36 at Night. Clear with the Wind at No. Wt. but moderate and towards night not unpleast.

Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, D. Run & Muddy hole.
Cutting down Corn stalks at the first, grubbing at the other, and fencing at the two latter.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 March 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday the first. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—24 at Noon and 24 at Night. The Wind, which had considerably encreased in the Night, blew cold from the No. Wt. and clouded up. About 11 Oclk. it began to Snow, and continued to do so fast till about 2 Oclock covering the grd. about an Inch & half when it ceased and the Sun came out. Rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole, D. Run and Frenchs. Fencing at the first, cutting corn stalks at the 2d., & grubbg. at the other. Having sent my Waiter Will to Alexandria to the Post Office he fell at Mr. Porters door and broke the Pan of his other Knee & was not able to return. The Letters were sent down by Mr. Ingraham by his assistant.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 March 1788]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 2d. Thermometer at 18 in the Morning—28 at Noon And 28 at Night. Wind high from the No. Wt. and cold all day. Weather clear. At home all day.