Title: To George Washington from Osgood Hanbury & Company, 31 January 1772
From: Osgood Hanbury & Company
To: Washington, George

Esteemed Friend
London 31st Jany 1772

We did ourselves the pleasure of writing Thee ⅌ the Hanbury Capn Esten, the 18th February last, since which We are duly favor’d wth Thine of the 17th July last, ordering Insurance on the 14 hhds of Tobacco, which Thee was so kind as to send to our address ⅌ Capn Esten, from the Estate of our friend Jno. Park Custis, which We accordingly did, valued at £147—premium 2½ ⅌Ct which with our Commission & Policy, amounts to £4.10.2 placed to the debit of the proper Account.
We observe what Thee says respecting our sending the Account Current for the Estate annually, & shall act agreeable thereto. Our Letter to Thee of the 1st of June last by the Lunn & Lloyd Capn Necks, covering the Account with C. & O. Hanbury, to the 1st of November 1770, whereon there is a Balance due from us of £321.6.11, since which nothing further has been posted to the Account, but the abovemention’d Sum of £4.10.2 at the debit thereof, which reduces the said balance to £316.16.9, We are sorry we have it not in our power to forward the Account sales of the Tobacco consign’d us by the Hanbury in 1770, a few hogsheads of that Cargo remaining still unsold, prevents our doing it by this conveyance, but doubt not We shall be able to send them by the return of Capn Necks, The 14 h’h’ds Thee hath favor’d us with by the Hanbury the last Voyage, shall be sold to the best advantage, The prices at present are from 2½d. to 3¾d. ⅌ lb. for Exportation, & from 9¼d. to 11¼d. ⅌ lb.

for home consumption, according to the quality, the very finest sorts will produce something more, though the demand is not brisk at present, nor can We see any great probability of the market advancing, We flatter ourselves with the continuance of Thy assistance, in expediting the dispatch of Capn Esten, whom We have again sent in the Hanbury, & hope he will arrives to an early market, a Circums⟨tance⟩ which We are anxious for, as the Tobacco which arrives first, is most likely to obtain the best prices. We wish Thee many happy years, & are with great regard & esteem, Thy assured Friends

Osgood Hanbury & Co.

P.S. please to forward the Inclos’d to our friend Jno. Park Custis.


Title: Cash Accounts, February 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[February 1772]

Cash

Feby 22—
To Ditto [cash] recd of Colo. [George William] Fairfax £14.0.0 & £2.8.10
£16. 8.10

28—
To Ditto Receivd from Captn [George] Weedon Weavg
2.10. 0

Contra

10—
By Mrs Washington
5. 0. 0

13—
By William Carlin—Taylor
5. 7. 4

By Ditto for Mr Custis
1. 7. 3

18—
By Mrs Washington
0.18. 9

21—
By Cash pd the Revd Mr Boucher on acct of Mr Custis
67.14. 3

22—
By a journeyman Sadler 5 days work
0.12. 6

24—
By Postage paid Mr [William] Ramsay
1. 6. 3

By Cash paid Ditto towards the Support of his Son William at the Jersey Colle
25. 0. 0

26—
By Expences at Colchester
0.17.10

By Ditto at Dumfries
0. 3. 0

By Charity
0. 6. 0

27—
By Expences at Fredericksburg
0. 8. 9

29—
By Cash paid my Br. Charles for a pr of Cart Wheels purchas’d for Lowr Q[uarte]r on Rappk
7. 0. 0

By Ditto advancd my Mother an acct
5. 0. 0

By Exps. at Caroline Ct House
0. 4. 3


Title: From George Washington to Harry Piper, 10 February 1772 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Piper, Harry

Letter not found: to Harry Piper, 10 Feb. 1772. On 15 Feb. Piper wrote to GW: “It was rather late in the day when your Man handed me your favour of the 10th Inst.”


Title: From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 20 February 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

Gentn
Mount Vernon Feby 20th 1772

On the 25th of last Month I drew upon you in favour of the Revd Mr Boucher, Tutor to Mr Custis, for Fifty pounds Sterling which please to pay and place to the Acct of this young Gentlemen.
I have been impatiently waiting for my Goods, being much in want of the Millstones, having heard nothing from you in respect

to them since the 12th of Septr though Captn Montgomerie (immediately from London in about Eight Weeks Passage) arrived in this River about the first of January—I hope to receive them by Walker who I understa⟨nd⟩ is daily expected and am Gentn Yr Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, March 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[March 1772]

Cash

Mar.  4—
To Cards
£ 0. 5. 0

6—
To Cash recd from Richd Croshe Graves for 2139 lbs. of Porke sold Colo. Ruffin from King Wm Quartr
32. 1. 9

10—
To Ditto recd from Do on acct of Porke Sold to Sundries from Mr Custis’s Plantations pr my Credits in his Acct
118. 3.10

To Ditto receivd of Mr James Hill on acct of Rents due Mr Custis
21. 0. 0

25—
To Ditto Recd from James Biggs pr Colo. [Littleton] Eyre for Rent of Smiths Island
15. 0. 0

To Ditto Recd from Peter Gillett & Thos McLin Tenants of Mr Custis £5 each
10. 0. 0

To Cash won at Cards
0. 7. 6

18—
To Cash of Colo. John Tabb, for a Sett of Excha. drawn by Thos Montgomerie on Messrs James Ritchie & Co. Jany 23d 1772 for £200 Sterling @ 20 prCt Excha.
240. 0. 0

To Ditto of Ditto, for a sett of Excha. drawn by Cumbd Wilson on Colin Dunlop Esqr. & Son & Co. of Glasgow Jany 23d 1772 for £100 Sterg @ 20 prCt
120. 0. 0

21—
To Cash of Colo. Lewis Burwell
74. 3. 0

23—
To Colo. Dudley Digges for Prizes in Yk Lotty
10. 0. 0

To Cards
2. 0. 0

30—
To Ditto
9.10. 0

Contra

1—
By Ditto at Todds Bridge
0. 6. 7

By Ferriage at Ruffins
0. 3. 0

2—
By Cards
0. 8. 9

By Coffee
0. 2. 8

By Curry Comb and Brush for Qr. below
0. 3. 6

10—
By Servants differt times
0. 7. 6

11—
By Club at Mrs Campbells in the Eveng
0. 5. 0

12—
By Cards
1. 0. 0

By a pair of Drawers
0. 5. 0

13—
By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 5. 0

16—
By Cards
3.10. 0

17—
By Repairg Mr [Hector] Ross’s Pistols
0.10. 0

By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 5. 0

18—
By a pair of Gloves
0. 2. 0

By Cards
0.15. 0

19—
By Cash paid Thomas Lynch on acct of Mr Custis’s Estate
1. 0. 0

21—
By Cards
0. 5. 0

By Postage of Letters
0. 4. 0

By a Powder Bag & Puff
0. 3. 3

By a Mourning Ring for Mr Wm Triplet
1.10. 0

By Cards
6.10. 0

22—
By Ferriages to Gloucester & Back
0. 4. 0

23—
By Expences in York Town
0. 3. 9

By Club at Mrs Campbells two Nights
0. 7. 6

24—
By Cards
1.17. 6

By Club at Anderson’s
0. 3. 9

25—
By Spinet Strings for my Brothr John
0. 5. 0

By Club
0. 2. 6

26—
By Mounting two Fans pr Jane Hunter [Charlton]
0. 5. 0

By Postage of Letters
0. 3. 0

28—
By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 3. 0

By Cards
6. 5. 0

By Charity
0. 5. 0

30—
By George Lafong—Barber
1.15. 0

By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 5. 0


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 5 March 1772
From: Boucher, Jonathan
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
Prince George’s County [Md.] March the 5th 1772.

At length I have seen an Abstract of the Will of The Lord Baltimore: more absurd, & more vexing than You will easily believe. It appears to have been made Fifteen months before his Death, in Venice, & is as follows.
To Mrs Browning (Sister of Mrs Eden) & Mrs Eden, each—£10,000 on condition, that They sign a Release to all Claim on the Province.
To Robt Eden, Robt Morris (a busy Lawyer, & lately Secretary to the society of the Bill of Rights) Hugh Hammersley (lately Ld B——’s Steward or Agent in England) Richd Prevost (his Attorney, & of a good Character) Esqrs. his Exrs, on Condition They prove the Will within twelve months, each—£1500.
To Robt Eden one hundred pounds per annum.
To Henry Harford (a natl Son, abt 13 years of age) the Province[.] Rem[ainde]r to Frances Harford—Remr to Mrs Eden.
To Henry Harford—£30,000.
Remr to Frances Harford—Remr to Mrs Eden.
To Frances Harford £30,000. Remr to Henry Harford—Remr to Mrs Eden.
To Mrs Hales (a Woman whom He has been dragging round Europe, &, for a Lady of easy Virtue, of good Character) £1000.
To two Miss Haless (his Daughters by the above Mrs Hales) each £2000.
Hen: & Frances Harford residuary Legatees.
I think I remember nothing more; &, if I mistake not, You will think This quite enough. Two Wills that He had left in England, in both of which I believe He had left the Province, & the Bulk of his Fortune, amounting, it is said, to more than £100,000, were remanded & destroy’d: tho’ there has not been known any Coolness between them, but, on the contrary, an increasing

affection, at least, in professions. I am but little able to inform You what Steps the Governor intends to take, tho’ I happened to be with Him, when He received the Will: only that He resolved to try to overset it, & with good Hopes of Success. They suppose the Province to be of that Kind of Property which is not deviseable, contrary to the opinions espoused some time ago, when there was no doubt but the Will was in Favour of Mrs Eden or her Family; & find Precedents in the Case of The Duke of Athol with respect to the Isle of Man. In Case of Success, then, You see, the two Sisters will be Coheiresses, &, of Consequence, Mrs Eden come in for but half: which, however, will be no contemptible Acquisition. You will readily believe how heartily I join with You in wishing Success to this only reputable Branch of a Family once so respectable: but, in Truth, their prospects seem sadly overcast; &, at least, They have a World of Difficulties to encounter.
If any Thing that a wicked & a foolish Man does, cou’d justly be Matter of Wonder, this Will wou’d really be unaccountable. Till now, this Boy was scandalously neglected: his Mother long ago displac’d on a very scanty Pension. Whilst Mrs Hales was thought to possess a plenary influence over Him, was constantly with Him, as well as her Children.
I shall hardly need to say what Confusion this Event is likely to produce amongst us. The general Opinion seems to be, that the Crown, if not urged by an attention to the Safety of the Subject, yet as constitutional Guardian to the illegitimate Boy, will immediately appoint to the Government. The Northern Papers, I hear, have already mention’d Mr Zachary Hood, the Man that came in here as Stamp-Master, for the Govr. I think it far more probable that your Friend Coll Mercer will be the Man; unless Governor Eden & his Friends shou’d apply, which hitherto He seems by no means determined upon. It certainly is, by no means, a very romantic Conjecture, to imagine that We shall now ere long become a royal Government: a Revolution, but little wish’d for by the people here.
I hardly ever have seen a Man bear the Shock of ill news with such Composure as the Governor: undoubtedly, nothing was remoter from his Expectations, than so absurd & reproachful a Distribution of so immense an Estate, which He had been repeatedly assur’d wou’d belong to his Family. Mrs Eden indeed is

more affected. She well may, having been tormented by him thro’ the whole Course of her Life, &, at last, most villainously dup’d & cheated. Cajol’d by his specious Assurances, the Govr was tempted to give up his Prospects in the Army, which were flattering; & Mrs Eden, decoy’d hither ⟨g⟩reatl⟨y⟩ against her Inclination. It is happy for them, that They have ⟨mutilated⟩ & Comfor⟨ta⟩ble Competence to retire to, fortunately out of his Re⟨mutilated⟩.
The ⟨Gov⟩r begg’d Me most cordially to thank You for your Friend⟨mutilated⟩ & to assure You of his great Esteem & Regard for You. I expect ⟨mutilated⟩ next Week, &, had You been at Home, We shou’d certainly have ⟨mutilated⟩ other tempted You to join Us. He has got You a very handsome & ⟨mutilated⟩ Whale Boat, for £20, which, I fancy is by this Time at Mount ⟨mutilated⟩.
I beg the Favour of You to Speak to your two Printers, & p⟨mutilated⟩ my News-Papers, if by this Time, I owe them for a Year. I shall ⟨mutilated⟩ also, You will be so good as remind Them to direct for Me To the Care of ⟨mutilated⟩ Merchts in Bladensburg, as I have hardly seen one Virga Paper since Xmas ⟨mutilated⟩ Purdie & Dixon will oblige Me by sending Me, the Address of the Clergy to ⟨mutilated⟩ward, & Dr Chandler’s Appeal &c. & Gwatkins’s Ansr which I have seen advertis’d by Him.
I hope to see you in Maryland soon after your Return, &, in the mean Time, am, Dr sir, Yr afft. Frd & most obedt hble Servt

Jonan Boucher


Title: From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 16 March 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

Gentn
Williamsburg March 16th 1772

Since I came to this place I have been informed of your Letter to Mr Josh Valentine (who is now Dead) respecting the Tobo shipped you by Captn Peterson—I cannot conceive how this mistake has happened, nor is it in my power at this time to remedy it otherwise than by sending the marks and numbers as under from the different Inspection’s not having the Bills of Lading to Inclose—This method I suppose will sufficiently distinguish the property of the Tobo and enable you to make out my Acct of Sales distinct from Mr Custis’s.
I inform’d you in my last of the 20th of Feby of a Draft for Fifty pounds in favour of the Revd Mr Boucher, Tutor to Mr Custis, to whose acct it was to be placed; and I believe I shall have occasion to draw upon you on the same Acct at the April Genl Court to the amount of four or five hundd pounds more to comply fully with a late purchase of Land made on the behalf of this young Gentlemen. I remain Gentn Yr Most Obedt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 26 March 1772
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir.
Annapolis 26. Mar. 1772.

I inclose you a Letter from my Bror John to your Lady he was at my House last week and intended then to have sent it but the post made so little Stay that tho’ my Bror went to the Office several Times he slipped him.
There were some Expences on the Bill passed last Session in favr of Mr Semple it is usual here in Imitation of what I think a bad procedr. in England to tax Fees on private Bills—this was taxed
To the Speaker—6.
the Clk of the Lo. Ho.—3. Common Money i.e. Dollars at 7/6—and I believe in the Upper Ho. as much. I should be obliged by your having the Money remitted as I have paid some of it and promised to write to you on the Subject. I am sr Your most hble Servt

Ths Johnson Junr


Title: Cash Accounts, April 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[April 1772]

Cash

April  3—
To Ditto [cards]
£  5.15.0

9—
To Cash received from Mr Edwd Charlton by his Wife, for Adam Stewarts Bill upon Collin Dunlop Esqr. & Son & Co. of Glasgow Jany 23d 1772 for £200 Sterg @ 20 prCt Excha.
240. 0.0

26—
To Cash receivd from Lund Washington on acct of Corn Sold
58. 3.6

To Ditto Receivd from Thos Bishop for Fish sold
2. 5.6

To Ditto receivd of the Treasury pr Colo. [Burwell] Bassett
36. 9.3

28—
To Ditto recd for Fish
1.12.0

Contra

1—
By Cards
6.10.0

By Club two Nights at Mrs Campbells
0.10.0

By Postage of Letter
0. 1.0

2—
By Cards
5. 0.0

By Club
0. 7.6

3—
By Mrs [Jane Hunter] Charltons Acct against Miss Custis
1. 7.6

By Miss Davenports Acct agt Do
2.15.3

5—
By Charity
1. 0.0

6—
By Mr [William] Rind for the Revd Mr [Jonathan] Boucher
0. 5.0

By Ditto for Colo. [George] Mason
0. 3.0

By Messrs Purdie & Dixon for Mr Bouchr
2. 6.0

By Mr Baker Surgn Dentist
4. 0.0

By a Concert Ticket
0. 6.0

By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 5.0

By Cards
6. 5.0

By Doctr [William] Pasteurs Acct against Mr Custis
14.11.0

By Ditto against self
0. 8.6

By Mr [William] Prentis’s Acct agt Mr Custis
0.16.4

By Purdie & Dixon advertg Meetg Ohio Co.
0. 3.0

7—
By Cards
1. 5.0

By Club at Mrs Campbells
0. 2.0

8—
B[y] Dinners & Clubs thereat, at Mrs. Campbells during my Stay in Willmsburg
7. 7.6

By Mrs Charlton’s acct against Miss Custis
0.16.3

By Ditto for Mrs Washington
0.16.0

By Ditto for my Board there since the 1st of March
11. 0.0

9—
By Sundry Play Tickets for myself & others whilst in Town
5.12.6

By Servants at different times
1. 2.0

By Expences at Southalls during my own & Servants Stay there
2.12.6

By Smith Shoeing my Horses
0. 5.0

By Colo. [Edmund] Pendleton for, & on acct of Jno. West
2.10.0

By Charity
0. 6.0

10—
By Servants
0. 8.6

By Ferriage at Ruffins
0. 3.0

By Expences at Todds bridge
0. 4.7

11—
By Ditto at Hubbards
0. 6.8

By Cards

12—
By Cash left with my Mother, to be given to my Bror Charles, to buy Corn for the upper Quarter on Rappk E: Jones’s
8. 0.0

By ferriages at Hunters
0. 1.6

By Expences at Dumfries
0. 5.4

By Thos Bishops Expens. to Mr Custis
0. 6.7

17—
By Cash receivd for Fish
1. 4.0

By Dominicus Havenor [Gubner]
3. 0.0

20—
By John Alton
17. 0.0

By Christopher Shade
2. 0.0

By Club at Arrells
0. 6.3

By Doctr [William] Savage on Acct of Bryan Fairfax
150. 0.0

27—
By Thomas Williams
8. 0.0

By the Trustees of Colo. Bernd Moore pr Colo. [Burwell] Bassett
100. 0.0

30—
By Captn [John] Posey
2.10.0

By Cash given away
0. 3.9

By Sundries paid on acct of Colo. [Thomas] Colvils Este in order to obtain an Act of the Maryland Assembly, to empower his Exrs to make Deeds for the Maryland Tract of Land viz. To Edwd Tilghman Esqr. Speaker £6.0.0 (Md Cy) Upton Scott Clerk Upr Ho. 3. Jno. Duckett Clk lowr Ho. 3. [Total] 12. deduct 25 prCt 3.
9. 0.0


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 14 April 1772
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Leesburg April the 14th 1772

Doctor Savage tells me that it would be very convenient to him, if you cou’d pay the £150, which you have kindly offered to advance for me, and for which I return You Many Thanks, to him or to Mr Montgomerie at the Genl Court, when the Merchants meet, and has desired me to write to you for that Purose if it should be convenient.
I did myself the pleasure to write to you a few days agoe: so that I have nothing further to add but that I am Dr sir Yr most obedt St

Bryan Fairfax


Title: Memorandum, 27 April 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[27 April 1772]

On the 27th April 1772, Drew 2 Setts of Exchange on Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. in favr of Co⟨lo.⟩ Bassett. one for £200 Sterg the other for £133.6.8 to be sold by him & the Money pd to Mr James Hill to pay Phips Jackson for his Ld bot by Josh Valentine for J. P. Custis.
Also gave Colo. Bassett an Acct agt the Treasury for £36.9.3 and Cash to the amt of £63.10.9 to pay Bernd Moores Trustee’s £100—Mr Nicholas to deduct however out of the £36.9.3 the Money due Lord Bottetourts Estate.
Also desird Colo. Bassett to settle with Colo. Tabb & Mr Charlton for the Excha. of T. Colvills Bill’s.
Sent Colo. Fieldg Lewis the Protest against Armisteads Execrs to settle with Mr Jno. Armistead—and an Acct against Colo. L. Burwell for £55.17.0 desiring him out of these Sums & what Mr Hill shd be able to ⟨Collect⟩ to pay my ⟨mutilated⟩ of him & £15 due Geo. Carter’s Estate.
Sent Mr James Hill the following Sums to Collect & pay to Colo. Lewis.

Frans Foster
£35. 0.0

Exrs P. Claiborne
14.

Mr Willm Dandridge
22. 0.5

Doctr Carter
10.16.

Mr Ths Prosser
7. 5.9

Mr Auge Seaton
2. 3.0

Note—settle the above matters in my Book &ca.


Title: Cash Accounts, May 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[May 1772]

Cash

May  1—
To Ditto [cash] receivd for Ditto [Fish]
£  0.18.0

11—
To Ditto for Fish 3 M Herrings
0. 9.0

To Ditto for Eight thousand Salt Herrings
4. 8.0

12—
To Cash receivd of Mr Willm Triplet
3. 1.9

16—
To Ditto of Mr Hectr Ross for J[ohn] Washington—Suffolk
20. 0.0

To Ditto of Lund Washington for Corn sold
27. 1.0

To Ditto of Do on acct of Do from B[utle]r Ashford
2. 0.0

To Ditto recd on Acct of Smiths Work
0. 2.6

18—
To Ditto of Mr Jno. Baines on Acct of Lieutt James Towers’s part of the Exps. of Surveying the Grant of 200,000 Acres of Ld
10.15.0

19—
To Cash borrowed of Mr Mattw Campbell
65. 0.0

24—
To Ditto Recd from Lund Washington for Corn Sold
19.17.6

Contra

4—
By Cash sent Mr Saml Gallaway pr Mr Custis viz. 24 Dollars
7. 4.0

By Mr Custis for Pocket Expences
4.16.0

By Charity
0. 6.0

By Smiths Work
0. 5.0

By Messrs Robt Adam & Co. for Negroes Anthony, London, & Strephon
185. 0.0

By the Taylor at the Gumspring Cuttg N[egroe]s Cloaths
0. 6.0

By Jonathan Palmer
5. 0.0

11—
By 1030 feet of Inch Pine Plank @ 6/
3. 1.9

By 290 Do of Inch & Qr Ditto 6/8
0.19.4

12—
By Miss Custis for Pocket Money
3. 0.0

16—
By Wm Suttle, pr my Br. Jnos. Order, for Wheat bot of Colo. Jno. Lee’s Estate viz. 103 Bushls @ 4/ and freight @ 3d.
21.17.9

18—
By Mr Humphrey Peake Cash lent
10. 0.0

By Mr William Bernard a Legacy left his Wife by Colo. Ths Colvill
320. 2.9

By Mr Young for Cakes at the last Electn
1. 9.8

22—
By Mr M. Campbell the sum borrowd of him the 19 as pr Contra
65. 0.0

25—
By Expences in a journey to Leesburg
0. 2.0

By a Dark bay Horse of Michl Shryhawke
18. 0.0

By a Chesnut Do of George Lewis
15.10.0

27—
By Expences at Leesburg
1. 9.5

By Ditto at Robert Ashby’s
0.13.3

28—
By Ditto at Snickers
0. 4.6

By Servants
0. 1.3

30—
By Mr Peale Painter, Drawg my Picte £18.4.0 Miniature Do for Mrs Washingtn 13. Ditto Do for Miss Custis 13. Ditto Do for Mr Custis 13.
57. 4.0


Title: To George Washington from William Crawford, 1 May 1772
From: Crawford, William
To: Washington, George

Sir
May the 1 day 1772

I have Still Keept your Land but With much dificulty I turnd six men of in the first of March ho had built a house and cleared about 2 or 3 Acres for which paid them five pounds and I have Built houses on each part, four in all and Cleared som Land and hired a man to stay and Keep possesion till I Return as nothing will do now but parsision and hardly that I do not find I can get you the Quantety of Land you Spook to me for without I co[u]ld stay all Summer and be on the spot as People Croud out in such numb⟨ers⟩ the Like was never Seen I beleve thay Setled as Low as wheelin and som Lower down as Low as Grave Creek I have hord that ⟨the⟩y Charter Goverment is Confi[r]md but on what terms they Land will be I do not now.
Colo. Croghan is still survaying of Land and Selling to any body that will by but I can hear nothing of any Confirmation of his Grant by any Person but himself when the Survayor com up Vale Crawfo⟨rd⟩ will Attend the survay of your place at the Great Madows and have the Draft Sent you by the first oppertun⟨ity⟩. I am Sir your most Humb. Sarvant

W. Crawford


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 4 May 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon May 4th 1772

After a tiresome, and in my opinion, a very unimportant Session, I return’d home about the middle of last Month accompanied by Colo. Bassett &ca.
The expediency of an American Episcopate was long, & warmly debated, and at length rejected. as a substitute, the House attempted to frame an Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, to be composed of a President and four other Clergymen, who were to have full power and authority to hear and determine all matters & causes relative to the Clergy, and to be vested with the [power] of Suspension, deprivation, & visitation—From this jurisdiction an appeal was to be had to a Court of Delegates, to consist of an equal number of Clergymen & Laymen; but this Bill, after much canvassing, was put to Sleep, from an opinion that the Subject was of too much Importance to be hastily entered into at the end of a Session. An Act has passed this Session empowering Trustees (to be chosen by the Subscribers to the Scheme) to raise money by way of Subscription, & Lottery, for the purpose of opening, & extending the Navigation of Potomack from Tide Water, to Fort Cumberland; & for perpetuating the Toll arising from vessells to the adventurers in the Scheme—but the Execution of it must necessarily be suspended till some thing similar passes into a Law in your province. An Act has also passed for Erecting a Light House on Cape-Henry, from which I think the Shipping will derive great advantages—and a Bill went through the House, but rejected in the Council, for having Septennial Vestry’s, and a general dissolution of all those now in existance.
Herewith I send the Pamphlets you desird me to get, together with your Accts from both Printing Offices dischargd; both Printers being desired to forward your Gazettes for the future to the care of Mr Lowndes of Bladensburg.
I expected to have made you a visit soon after my return from Williamsburg, and to have gone from thence to Annopolis, but am a little uncertain now when it will be in my power to enjoy this pleasure; as I have business that will call me into Loudoun, Fauquier, and Berkley (one of the New Counties taken from Frederick, the other Dunmore) sometime between the middle,

& last of this month; & am now engaged in Fishing and other matters, which seems I think, to require my attendance. Mrs Washington presents her Compliments to you and Miss Boucher, to which please to add those of Dr Sir, Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Galloway, 4 May 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Galloway, Samuel

Sir,
Mount ⟨Vernon⟩ May ⟨4th⟩ 1772

By Mr Custis I send you Nine pounds Maryld Curry for the last Box of Claret you were obliging enough to get for me—I am not sure that this is the exact Sum due, but have desired Jack to pay the difficiency if any there be. I have not yet got the Claret, but as it is in the care of Mr Barnes of Port Tobacco I shall fetch it from thence by Land. If a Cargo of this kind of Wine should arrive in the coarse of the Summer, and a favourable oppertunity offers to this River I should be much obliged to you for a Box or two of it; the cost of which, & freight round, shall be paid upon delivery. I am with very great esteem Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 5 May 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon May 5th 1772.

As I wrote to you yesterday, I should scarcely have found any thing to have said today, had not Mr Ballendine’s desire of laying before Govr Eden & the Gentlemen of Annapolis, a Scheme which he has been encouraged to adopt, of visiting the Duke of Bridgewaters Works, & other things of the kind in England, with a view of bringing himself better acquainted with the true principles of that sort of knowledge, laid me under a kind of necessity of giving him a line to Govr Eden &ca (not that I would mean to recommend, either the Man, or his Measures further than they deserve) whilst I was doing this, it occurd to me from an advertisement of a desired meeting of the Clergy in Annapolis, that you might possibly be there; & therefore I recommended

it to Mr Ballendine to shew you the Plan also; as he has met with pretty considerable incouragement on this side the Potomack, and has got Letters (as he says) from Lord Dunmore to Mr Brinley, & other’s, from whom he expects the Insight necessary to enable him to be instrumental in carrying into execution the present attempt of extending the Navigation of Potomack from Tidewater upwards, as far as Fort Cumberland—At the sametime that I acknowledge that, Mr Ballendine has a natural genius to thing’s of this sort, which if properly encouraged may tend much to publick utility, I cannot help adding, that, his Principles have been loose; whether from a natural depravity, or distressd circumstances, I shall not undertake to determine; how far therefore a Man of this cast is entitled to encouragement every one must judge for themselves, for my part I think if he applies the Money Subscribd, to the end proposed, the Publick will derive great advantages from it; on this acct it is, alone, I wish to see him encouraged, and on this principle it is, I have taken the liberty of mentioning of him to Govr Eden, Colo. Sharpe, Majr Jenifer and yourself; because, I think the opening of the Potomack will at once fix the Trade of the Western Country (at least till it may be conductd through the Mississipi, by New Orleans) through that Channel; and end, in amazing advantages to these two Colonies—I shall not trouble you further on this Subject—Mr Ballendine says he must be at Annapolis this Night, I am therefore detaining him—I am very sincerely Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Balfour, 10 May 1772
From: Balfour, James
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Wmsburg May 10th 1772

A power of Attorny has just come to hand from the heir of Magdalin Stott, who claims under the Will of Thos Colvill deced by virtue of the enclos’d paragrapth of his will.
I shall be extremely Oblig’d to you to drop me a line of information as I am perfectly unaquainted in this affair—what steps I ought to take in behalf of the claimant, and whether any money on Account of the Residuary Legatees have ever been remmitted to London—or what this claimant has a prospect to expect—or rather I mean what will be the sum that the Residuary Legatees may expect, or any other information you think necessary to enable me to fullfil the trust reposed in me.
Pardon me for this trouble and permit me to remain with respect Your Ob. Sert

James Balfour

N.B. please to mention what Claimants have offerd as Stotts heir desires to Know.


Title: To George Washington from Horatio Gates, 10 May 1772 [letter not found]
From: Gates, Horatio
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Horatio Gates, 10 May 1772. On 3 July GW wrote Gates: “Your favour of the 10th of May came to my hand.”


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 10 May 1772
From: Johnson, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir
Annapolis 10th May 1772

Mr Tilghman the Speaker of our House of Assembly not being in Town I could not procure a Receit from him I send you one from myself for £6. as received for his Use if that is not sufficient I will get one from himself and inclose it to you as soon as I have an Opportunity—I inclose you a Receit from the Clerk of the Upper Ho. and another from the Clerk of the Lower House for £3 each I thought there was the like Fee to the President of the Upper House as to the Speaker but on Inquiry finding myself mistaken I return you 16 Dollars.
Mr Ballendine has been here two or three Days but Mr Mason has not yet come I fear our Governor is still under an Impression that a Concurrence by our Assembly in a Scheme with yours for clearing Potowmack may weaken the proprietary Claim of Jurisdiction over that River and consequently that he is not at Liberty to assent to such Bill tho’ I believe in his own Judgment clearing the River is an Object which deserves immediate Attention and that he wishes to see it effected. If the Governr should be under such Impression and should not write Home to be set more at large or should write unsuccessfully as the delay that might be thereby occasioned would at all Events be highly prejudicial I would submit to your Consideration whether it might not be prudent that a strong Representation should be sent to England, to be made use of in Case it should be necessary, to procure an Intimation from thence that a Bill ought to pass here; If Instructions ought at all to be sent to Governors as the Rule of their Conduct I have no Idea but that proprietary Instructions might properly be superseded by Instructions from the King in Council and if so I cannot apprehend there would be the least Difficulty in obtaining an Order for the

passage of a Bill in which the Trade and Subjects are so much interested though it might possibly collatterally affect the proprietors Claim of Jurisdiction—I shall be glad that our Govrs Letters to Virginia may evince that my Apprehensions are Groundless but if my Conjectures are well founded I much wish that no Time may be lost. I am Sir Your most obedient Servant

Ths Johnson Junr


Title: To George Washington from Burwell Bassett, 13 May 1772
From: Bassett, Burwell
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Wmsburg 13 May 1772

We got to Eltham the third day after we left you & found the Children & family pritty will, my Eyes was so much afected by the dust that I was afraid I should have lost my sight they are a little Better now Mrs Bassett and Betsey have been very unwell since we left you But are better now the other Children are very well, I did not get to town before Colo. Fairfax had left it or should have wrote by him I apply’d to Colo. Moores Trustees & let them know that you had sent the Money by me that you agreed to lend Colo. Moore & the terms that you expected to advance it on, there answer was that you was upon different terms with others for you had wrote to them to give Colo. Moore Cr. for £100 & that you would pay the Money upon which I pay the Money by there order to Geo. Brookes a day or two after this Mr John Walker come to town & I spoke to him on the subject & he has agreed that you shall be on the same terms as others & has given me and Instrement in writing Obliging himself to make us a Deed for the Negroes to return to us after the Death of Colo. Moore & his Lady.
I have engaged the Bills you sent by me for 20 pr Ct & the Rise’s & expect to get the Money to day & pay it to Hill, I mention to the Hanover Mercht what you desire about the fish But could get know infermation from them as the thing had never been tri’d, they all promis’d to make Enquiry when they went up & let me know & as soon as they do I will write to you, Colo. Banister took the Horse at thirty two pounds ten & will pay you in October, Let Miss Patsey know that I sent her the things that her Ant promes’d to get her by Mr Mongory, please to let Mrs Washington know that her Sister will write to her & send the Letter to Ruffins to go up by some of the Mercht.

I desire you’ll offer my best respects to Mrs Wn & Love to Patsey & Except the same from Dr Sr Yr affnate Hble Servt

Burl Bassett


Title: To George Washington from James Hill, 14 May 1772
From: Hill, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Yorke County 14th May 1772

On my way to Rockahock the 9th of this Instant I met with Colo. Bassett with your letter & instructions to Receive some money for You I made all the dispatch I coud back & have waited on all the gent. you Directed, & received from Colo. Geo. Brook Executor to Mr Phillip Claiborne 14£ the 11th of this Inst. of Mr William Dandridge Junr for Mr Willm Dandridge Senr £22.0.5d. the 13th, & of Mr Thomas Prosser £7.5.9 the 13th & have ⟨seen⟩ Augustine Seaton & he told me he Expected the mony Had been Paid Long ago by Colo. Moore & believe there is but Little chance to Get any at all from him, & Mr Foster I went to him from Rockahock & he coud not Pay the Hole till New Kent Co[ur]t & have sent to C[our]t But have not had the returns yet, as it was out of my Power to go up myself Colo. Basset has paid me 400£ & I have Paid Jackson off & have Taken a Rect on the Back of the Note of Hand in full & Stopd the 50£

for Chrosia Graves which will pay him immediately—I have not made Sail of But very little of the corne for the Easten shore Vessels run over & sold at 14/ & Didnot care to take less then 15 for what I had which will not be Near so much as I expected for the Spring Proving so very Backward & the weather so cold & the fodder has been out Ever Since you went away at Every Plantation was oblige to Keep the Stocks up upon Corne & have Lossd but few Below & not many above they have Destroyed a good deel of corne—the Seins at Rockahock Rented for 90£ which was £7.10 for Every man that took a day & made out his Gang I expected when you was down the Seins would hire at £9 instead of 7£ 10 But when I went up the People woud not Give it & Recd all the money to £3 which I lookd upon to be bad & woud not be concernd with it—The fellow that always run away in Mr Vollentines time is gone of again his Name is Will Shagg & I have not Struck him a blow since I Lived on the Place I wish you woud agree to sell him I was offerd £80 By Jackson cash if he coud be Got, for him.
I have Hired a man to worke with Carpenters at a very high Price I coud not get a young man for Less then 30 od[d] Pounds & I had an Extrodinary carriter of this man & he formerly workd in the Estate his name is Roger Tandey I coud not get him for Less then 45£ a year tho we are not confined to Each other for more then 6 Months tho think it a very High Price but applyed to Several Good Judges & they advised me to give it rather then a young man at 30£ tho woud not agree for More then 6 month’s, & if you disapprove of it Believe I may Get of Sooner for he ant fond of takeing that his Price was 50£ he at last fell to 45 & he woud not confine him Self for more then 6 months—I have Purchased a horse of the Miller at 9£ for a worke Horse at Mill Quarter & think worke Horsees are much wantg in the Estate but they are so Excessive deer there is no such thing as Purchaseing Down with us if its in your Power to Purchase on Reasonable Terms with you shoud be much oblige to you to Purchase one or two by the fall as I immagine they dont sell so deer up the country as they do below—in regard to our Crops there appears to be aplenty of Plants but the weather Proveing very Dry & Cool the fly destroys them very fast & at Rockahock they are Very Backward they have not worke Horses Enough for that Plantation as I think it an Extrodinary Place for

Grain you desired to enquire what Mr Vollentine did with your Horseses upon brakg up your Plantations he sold one to a man that ant worth one farthing & dont think it worth while to bring Suit for not one friend he has will be his Securety & he has Parted with the Horse his Name is Wm Blasingham Mr Vollentine has taken his Note of Hand & I offerd if he woud Give Securety I woud wait 6 months but he cant get any one to undertake Mr Lyon applyd to me to Know what to do with Frazier as the Suit abates on Mr Vollentines death as the Bond was taken in his Name & the Exrs wants to Assign it to me but I woud not be concernd without yr Instructions for if the Suit had not abated the money might a been got for since his death Trimbles is gone off by the bond ⟨beening⟩ taken in his Name that if youl Please to write to me your advise I will follow your Instructions but Shant be concernd with the Bond untel I hear from you; & Mr Lyons desires to know what you’l have done in it from your Mo. Hble Servt

James Hill


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 21 May 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Dear Sir,
Mount Vernon May 21st 1772

Inclination having yielded to Importunity, I am now, contrary to all expectation under the hands of Mr Peale; but in so grave—so sullen a Mood—and now and then under the influence of Morpheus, when some critical strokes are making, that I fancy the skill of this Gentleman’s Pencil, will be put to it, in describing to the World what manner of Man I am. I have no doubt of Mr Peales meeting with very good Incouragement in a Tour to Williamsburg; for having mentioned him to some Gentlemen at our Court, they seem desirous of employing him in his way down.
Your excuse for denying us the pleasure of your Company with Governr Eden & Lady, thô not strictly warranted by Scripture, is nevertheless highly admissable, and I sincerely congratulate you upon the prospect of happiness; as I think there is a fair Field of it opening to your view, from the judiciousness of your choice—Whether Mrs Washington ever stretches as far as An⟨mutilated⟩ot, we shall certainly take som⟨mutilated⟩ppertunity of making y⟨mutilated⟩n this occasion[.] In the meanwhile with Compliments to yr self & Miss Boucher in which she joins I am with very sincere regard Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 25 May 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

Gentn
Mount Vernon May 25th 1772

On the 27th Ulto I drew two Setts of Excha: on you in favour of Burwell Bassett Esqr.—the one Sett for Two hundd pounds Sterg and the other for £133.6.8 to answer in part, the purchase of Land mentioned to you in a Letter of the 16th of March which sevl Sums you will please to pay & place to Acct of Mr Custis. I am Gentn Yr Most Obedt

Go: Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, June 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[June 1772]

Cash

June  1—
To Ditto [cash] from Colo. Saml Washington on Acct of Interest due to Mr Custis
£75. 0.0

3—
To Ditto of Colo. Saml Washington for J[ames] Cleveland
5.14.9

To Ditto of Lund Washington for Corn & Flour
82. 2.9

9—
To Ditto Receivd for Wool
0. 6.0

10—
To Ditto for Corn
1.18.3

15—
To Ditto for Ditto 5 Barrls
4. 0.0

17—
To Ditto from Lund Washington (Includg

45/ receivd from Jas Cleveland myself) for Corn
37. 8.9

22—
To Cash of Mrs [Sally Cary] Fairfax for a Box of Claret
7.10.0

30—
To Ditto recd from my Bror Jno. Washington for Interest due Mr Custis
7.10.0

To Cash Won at Cards
4.17.0

Contra

2—
By Cash paid a Chain Carrier
0. 2.6

By Cards
1. 0.0

6—
By William Roberts
4. 0.0

By Jno. Prescot (wch with a Barl of Corn) is in full
2.17.9

8—
By Captn Posey for his Six acres at Rovrs delight which with a Horse Saddle & Bridle is in full of his Right to the Land Houses & Ferry
50. 0.0

9—
By Cash paid Edwd Williams
3. 5.4

10—
By 36 Ells Cotton Check
2.14.9

By 6 yds Blew Duffield & 2¼ thread 31/6 & 11/2
2. 2.8

13—
By Doctr [William] Rumney’s acct agt Colo. [Thomas] Colvills Este
27. 9.6

By Thos William’s in full of acct to date
5.19.9

By John P. Custis
3. 0.0

By Cash paid Thomas Bishop
9. 0.0

15—
By Cards
0. 8.9

16—
By Mr Hough Quitrents of 12463 Acs. Ld
15.11.7

By Eliza. Hollingsburg’s Legacy
25.10.0

By bringing the two Horses I bot at Leesbg here
0.10.0

By Repairing my Boots in Alexa.
0. 5.0

By Pierce Bayley Sheriff
4. 1.6

By Thos Bishops Wife for delivg House Sall & Kitt
1. 0.0

By a pair of Black knee Garters
0. 1.8

By Locks &ca
0. 0.7

17—
By Servants
0. 1.3

By Freight of my Whale Boat from ⟨Patuxt⟩
0.18.0

By T. Etherington 6 day’s Work Plaistg
1.10.0

19—
By a pair of Shoes for House Frank
0. 7.6

By Charity
0.12.0

24—
By Doctr Rumney’s acct agt myself £15.17.6 Ditto against Mr Custis 2.10. Miss Custis 4.2.
22. 9.6


Title: From George Washington to Hugh Stephenson, 2 June 1772 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Stephenson, Hugh

Letter not found: to Hugh Stephenson, 2 June 1772. On 12 Sept. Stephenson wrote to GW: “I Receved yours of 2d of June.”


Title: Memorandum List of Tithables, 10 June 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[c.10 June 1772]

A List of Tythables—in Truro Parish Fairfax County—June 10 1772.
Geo: Washington, Lund Washington
 Thos Bishop, Jonan Palmer, Chr. Shade, John Alton.  [house servants] Breechy, Will, Frank, Giles, Herculas, Doll, Jenny, Betty, Moll, Sall, Alice, Sarah.  [tradesmen] Frank, Will, Tom, Davy, George, Ned, George.  [Home House] Schomberg, Peter, Jack, Lewis, Arlington, Bacchus, London, Anthony, Winney, Sue, Kitt, Sarah, Frank, Daphne, Lydia, Phœbe.  [Ferry farm] Michael, Harry, Cæsar, Sam, Cupid, Jack, Peter, Moll, Lucy, Betty, Doll, Daphne, Hannah, Lucy.  [Muddy Hole] Will, Adam, Will, Morris, Kate, Nan, Sarah, Jenny. [Dogue Run] Morris, Matt, Bath, Jupiter, Robin, Bob, Walley, Hannah, Sue,

  Betty, Jone, Moll, Lucy.  [Mill farm] Davy, Robin, Sam, Judah, Moll, Jenny.
In all—82.
Ferrymen—2
 80
List of Tythables—in Fairfax Parish 10th—June—1772.
James Cleveland
Frederick, Essex, Ben, Natt, Will, Neptune, Abram, George, Schomberg, Dick, Ruth, Peg, Murria, Doll, Daphne, Cloe, Nan, Judah, Milly. In all—20.


Title: From George Washington to Lord Dunmore, 15 June 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Dunmore, John Murray, fourth earl of

My Lord,
Mount Vernon 15th June [1772]

The very obliging offer your Lordship was pleased to make me the day I left Williamsburg, in behalf of the Officers & Soldiers who (under Faith of Governmt) lay claim to 200,000 acres of Land, on the waters of Ohio (promis’d them by Proclamation in 1754) I did not embrace, because it is evident to me, who am in some degree acquainted with the situation of that country, & the rapid progress that is making in the Settlemt of it, that delay at this time in the prosecution of our plan, wou’d amount to the loss of the Land, inasmuch as Emigrants are daily & hourly settling on the choice spots waiting a favourable opportunity to sollicit legal Titles, on the ground of preoccupancy

when the Office shall be open’d—I therefore hoped (& the Officers & Soldiers who have suffered in the cause of your country still do hope) that tho’ your Lordship was of opinion you cou’d at that time vest them with an absolute & bona fide Grant of the Land, yet that you would permit them to take such steps (at their own expence & risk) as others do to secure their quantity agreeably to Proclamation, there being no doubt of the powers of Government to issue it at the time it was done; especially too as their claim is prior to, & better founded than any other, having a solemn Act of Government & the General voice of the Country in their favor.
This is the light my Lord, in which the matter appeard to me, & in this light it is also consider’d by the Officers with whom I have lately had a meeting, Since which, the report gains ground, that a large tract of Country on the Ohio (including all the Land which this Government voted £2500 for the purchase & survey of, in short every foot of Land to the westward of the alleghany mountains) is granted to a company of gentlemen in England, to be formed into a seperate Government—If this report is really founded, there can be no doubt of your Lordship’s having the earliest & most authentic accounts of it, as it so essentially interferes with the interests & expectations of this Country.
To request the favor of your Lordship to inform me whether this report be true, & if true, whether any attention has been, or probably will be paid, to the order of Council and Proclamation of 1754 may be presumptious, but as the Officers & Soldiers confide in me to transact this business for them, & as it wou’d be a real advantage to them to know the truth of this report, & how it is likely to affect them, must be my apology for taking the liberty of addressing this request, in hopes that your Lordship will condescend to do me the honor of writing a line by the next post to Alexa. on this subject, which will be acknowledged as a very singular obligation conferred on My Lord Your Lordships most Obt Servant.

G. Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, July 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[July 1772]

Cash

July  1—
To Ditto [cash] Recd from Lund Washington for Corn
£42. 9.4

10—
To Ditto recd from Mr Jas Tilghman for 30 Barrells of Shad at 4½ dollars each
40.10.0

23—
To Cash for a Barrel of Corn of Captn [Samuel] Brodie
0.16.0

27—
To ditto from Colo. [Fielding] Lewis for ½ ps. of Chintz of Messrs Robt Adam & Co.
2.16.0

30—
To Ditto of Alexr Cleveland Balle of old Acct
1. 3.5

31—
To Ditto from Lund Washington for Corn (Includg £2.6.3 wch I recd from Jas Cleveland)
62.11.0

To Cash recd of Jno. Dyer in March & omitted
10. 0.0

Contra

1—
By Jonathan Palmer
8. 0.0

2—
By Cards
0. 8.9

By Cash given away
0. 5.0

7—
By Susanna Bishop deliverg Muddy Hole Kate
0.10.0

By Charity
0. 6.0

15—
By Cards
0.15.0

By Barber
0. 2.6

By Benja. Buckler in part for Reaping
0. 3.9

By Cards
0.15.0

23—
By Leonard Milsford for taking up a Run away Negro belonging to Mr Custis’s Estate
1. 0.0

27—
By Cards
1.10.0

By Mr Custis for Pocket money
5. 0.0

28—
By William Roberts—Miller
10. 0.0

By Cash given away
0. 2.6

30—
By two Dutch Plows pr Alexr Cleveland
1.14.2


Title: From George Washington to John Bradshaw & James Davidson, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Bradshaw, John,Davidson, James

Gentn
[Mount Vernon] Virginia July 15th 1772.

That I may have my Seins Nett exactly agreeable to directions this yr I give you the trouble of receivg this Letter from me to desire that 3 may be made—One of them 80 fathom long another 70—& the 3d 65 fathom—all of them to be 12 feet deep in the Middle & to decrease to 7 at the end when Rigged & fit for use—to be so close Meshd in the Middle as not to suffer the Herrgs (for wch kind of Fishery they are intended) to hang in them because, when this is the case it gives us a good deal of trouble at that busy hurrying Season to disengage the Sein & often is the means of Taring it—But the Meshes may widen as they approach the ends—the Corks to be no more than 2 feet & half asunder & fixd on flat ways that they may Swim & bear the Sein up bettr wt. a float right in the middle to shew the approach of the Sein with greater certainty in case the Corks should Sink—the Leads to be 5 feet apart—The Sein I had from yo. last yr (by ordr of R. Cary Esqr. & Co.) had two faults, one of wch is that of havg the Meshes too open in the Middle; the other of being too strait rigd; to avoid wch I advice you to loose at least ⅓ of the length in hanging these Seins; that is, to let your 80 Fathom Sein be 120 in the strait meas[ur]e (before it is hung to the Lead & Cork Lines) & the other 2 to bear the same propn—I cd wish to have these Seins Tan’d but it is thought the one I had from you last yr was injd in the Vat for wch reason I leave it to you to have these Tan’d, or not, as you shall judge most expedient. Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. will pay you for them also for 25 lbs. of twine wch I desire may accompany them—It is absolutely necessary that I shd have these Seins in as soon as possible for wch Reason I hope no disappt will happen from you as I possibly may be a pretty good customer for the time to come if you do me justice in these now ordered—I would not wish to have them made of thick ⟨he⟩avy twine as they are more liable to heat & reqe greatr force to work them—keep this Letter by you & I can from time to time point out any alterns I may find necessary to make in future with greater ease & certainty. I am Gentn Yr Hble Sert.


Title: From George Washington to John Didsbury, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Didsbury, John

Sir,
[Mount Vernon] Virginia July 15th 1772

Please to send the following Shoes & Boots and apply to Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. for Payment.

For Geo: Washington

 3 pair of strong but neat Shoes
}
By the last Meas[ur]e Sent

 3 pr of neat & light Do

 1 pr of Morrocco Leather Slippers

For Mr Custis

 2 pair of neat dble Chand Pumps
}
pr Meas[ur]e now sent

 3 pr strong but neat Shoes

 4 pr neat & thin Do

 2 pr of neat dressd Pumps

 1 pr neat red Morrocco Slippers

 1 pr neat but strong Boots

The Shoes which you sent me last fitted very well, but were in my opinion very ill shap’d; at least they do not please my taste as I am not fond of either long, or low hind Quarters, or sharp Toes—I beg that none of the Shoes you now, or hereafter may send me, may be made of Dogskin unless particularly required to be so. I am Sir Yr Hble Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Mr Custis desires his Shoes may be made long & low in the hind Quarters—In short that they may be made fashionable.


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Gibson, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Gibson, Thomas

Mr Gibson,
[Mount Vernon] Virginia July 15th 1772.

The Coat and Waistcoat which you sent me last year (by order of Robt Cary Esqr. & Co.) fitted very well, except having the fault you apprehended of being too long in the Skirts (for I was obliged to cut of near three Inches from the length) and being at the sametime, a little too tight in the Sleeves—with an allowance for these alteration’s I have to desire you to make the following Cloaths for me now.
A Fashe Suit of Cloaths, made of a handsome, Superfe Broad Cloth for dress.
A Fashe Ditto made of Cassimer for Summer Wear—well fancied & only faced & Lined in the foreskirts.
A Riding Frock of a handsome Drab colour’d broad Cloth with plain dble gilt Button’s
A Riding Waistcoat of Superfine Scarlet Cloth—and gold Lace with Button’s like those of the Coat.
A Blew Sartoot Coat—and
A pair of best black Silk Nett Breeches—made longer than the Measure sent last yr—all the Breeches to be worn wt. Drawers
I have also to request you to send the following Cloaths for Mr Custis—desiring at the sametime that they may be made larger than those you sent him last year as the Breeches were too small for him every way especially in the Seat, and the Coats too narrow across the Shouldrs over & above these alteration’s you are to make a proper allowance for his growth since as he is not only Taller, but lustier in evy othr respt.
A Fashe Suit of Cloaths made of a handsome Super[fin]e brd Cloath for dress
A Fashe & handse Suit of Do for Summer Wear to be faced & Lined in the Foreskirts only.
A Fashe Riding Frock—& Buffcloath Waistt wt. a gold Lace
A pr of Fashe Silk Nett Breeches—&
a pr of very fine Black Everlasting Do
Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. will pay you for these things and I am Sir Yr Hble Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Send Mr Custis also, a Waistcoat of Superfine Scarlet Cloth with a Neat light gold Embroidery (if Embroidery is in Fashion, if not then to have a gold Lace on it)—In short he wants a fashe Winter Waistcoat which you will please to let this be. Yrs &ca

G. W——n


Title: From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

Gentn
Mount Vernon July 15th 1772

Inclosed you have mine, Mr & Miss Custis’s Invoices for this River—The Goods you will please to forward by the first Vessell for Potomack (which possibly may be Captn Jordan the bearer of this) as there are some articles that will be a good deal wanted especially the Sein, which will be altogether useless to me if I do not get them early in the Spring, or in other words I shall sustain a considerable disappointment, & loss, if they do not get to hand in time. The Invoices for York River must be sent by some other oppertunity as the Steward there (Mr James Hill successor to Mr Valentine) has not yet furnished me with an Acct of the Goods wanting.
The Wheat Riddles sent with my last Goods by Mary Vaughan are by no means such as I desired, or such as I can make use of, & therefore I return them—I wanted these Riddles made open enough to let every thing smaller than the broken heads of Wheat & straw through—In short to have had the Wire 5/8ths of an Inch apart, & thought my directions on this head would have been expressive enough of my meaning to have obtaind my desire. I should still be glad to get such Sieves as these as they are very usefull in taking out the broken heads and Straws before the Wheat is winnowed, but want no others as we have a different method of cleaning Wheat here than that used in England.
Whatever Freight other’s are charged for the Tobacco Shipped in Peterson last year I shall expect to pay, for Mr Custis & myself but cannot help observing nevertheless that I have

heard of no other Ships going at £10 pr Tonn from this Colony & have good Reason’s to believe that they went at a much lower freight from Maryland.
Mr Adam is not yet returned to Virginia, so that I do not know what success he met with in procuring a Gardner for me in Scotland—I am obliged to you however for the trouble you took in endeavouring to get one in London notwithstanding the attempt proov’d fruitless—It was not my Intention to give high Wages, Mr Adam was right therefore in declining the matter when he found they were not to be had upon reasonable terms.
Peterson’s late Sailing will, I fear, proove very detrimental to us, not only in receiving our Goods so late in the Season but on acct of our Tobacco’s not getting to an early Market. I remain Gentn Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Enclosure: Invoice to Robert Cary & Company, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

15th July 1772.

Invoice of Goods to be Shipped by Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. for the use of Geo: Washington—Potomack Rivr—Virga—viz.
Wearing Apparel for myself pr Letter herewith Inclosed to Mr Thos Gibson Shoes of Mr Didsbury pr Letter to him
Seins pr Ditto Messrs Bradshaw & Davidson
1 piece of best India Paduasoy—of a fine Mazarine blew
A White Sattin quilted Coat—£3
A piece of fine & well fancied India Chintz of the bordered kind
2 handsome Caps of Minionet Lace one

to wear in dress, the other with a Night gown
2 Patent Nett handkerchiefs
2 Do Do Hoods
4 handkercfs of Jackanot Muslin with borders to them
1 piece of pretty trimgs for Washing Gowns
15 yards of fashe Ribbon difft sorts
6 pieces of fine Tape ½ an Inch brd
6 Flat white Silk Laces
A Blew Sattin Bonnett
A pr of Jean’s Stays pr Meas[ur]e sent
2 Oz. of black Silk
4 Oz. of ditto difft colours properly sorted
3 fine Ivory Combs
3 M large Pinns
3 M midling Do
3 M short whites
20/ worth of Paste & Garnet Pins for the hair
A Small neat Gold Seal proper for a Lady’s Watch
Womens—6 pr of White Kid Mitts, 2 pr of Purple Do, 4 pr of White Kid Gloves, 1 pr of White Silk Do, 2 pr of Do Do Mitts
2 pr of Mens strong & Course bro: thrd Gloves with slits in the forefingr & thumbs
15 lb. best Shoe thread
20 lbs. brown Do
5 lb. Coloured Do
1 lb. Whited brown Do
3 pr Women’s thread hose @ 3/
3 pr Do fine white Silk Do
6 pr smal Mens thrd Do @ 2/6
12 pr larger Do Do Do @ 3/
6 pr large Do best bro: Do @ 5/
6 pr sml Mens knit worsted Do @ 2/6
12 pr largr Do Do Do @ 3/
3 pr of Womens strong Leather Shoes
2 pr Do Do Pumps
8 pr Do black Callimanca Do
1 pr Toed Clogs—to be made by the Shoe sent (having Martha Washington wrote therein) by Gresham at the Crown in Covent Garden who is desired to keep the Shoe by him to save the trouble of sendg a Mea[sur]e evy yr
6 pieces best brown Rolls
7 pieces best Hempen Oznabrigs
2 ps. Irish Linnen @ 1/3
1 ps. Do Do 2/
2 ps. Do Do 4/
1 ps. of Cambrick at abt 3/ pr Yd
1 ps. very fine Do at £5.0.0
3¾ yds fine 6/4 Jackanot Muslin
4 yds fine Book Muslin 5/4 wide
60 Ells of fine Sheeting @ 4/
8 Damask Table Cloths 10/4 long and abt 7/4 wide at abt 25/ each
1 ps. of Jean’s (or Fustion) of the colr & finess of the Inclosed Patern
12 Loaves of dble refind Sugar
12 Do single Do
2 Jarrs best Raison’s
1 Do Do Currants
30 lbs. Do Jordan Almonds
4 lbs. White Ginger
4 Oz. of Mace
4 Oz. Nutmegs
4 Oz. Cinnamn
4 Oz. Cloves
2 lb. Fig Blew
1 Pottle Bottle Anchovies
4 Do of French Olives
2 Do of Walnuts
2 Do of Capers
1 Gallon best Salid Oil
6 Bottles best Durham Mustard
10 lbs. flour of Sulpher
A small Box of orange Chips
The true & essential Salt of Lemons (to be had of Wm

Bayley in Cockspur Street near the bottom of the Hay Market @ 1/ the Box)—with directions how to use it
1 Oz. of Amber Grease for perfumes
6 Papers of Doctr James’s Powders
1 lb. of Blister Plaister
1 Oz. of Oil of Pepper Mint
1 Do Do of Commn Mint
6 Oz. Spirits Lavender
6 Do Spirits Salvolatile
1 lb. of best Jesuits Bark in Powder
4 Oz. of Jallup
5 lb. Glauber Salts
4 Oz. Balsam Capivi
1 Galln Stouton’s Bitters in 2 Pottle Bottles
2 best dble Gloucester Cheeses—abt 40 lbs.
1 Do Cheshire Do ab. Do
2 Groce best Porter from Ben. Kenton that sent last year by Hugh Innis is very indifferent
10 Groce of Corks
1 ps. best Dutch Blanketting
350 Yds best Welch Cotton
300 yds best Do Do Brown
1½ dozn pr best plaid Hose No. 3
3½ dozn pr Do Do 4
5 dozn Do Do 5
1 best White Saddle Cloth bd with straps & Leather Flaps—abt 5/
1½ dozn pr strong dog Couples, with Rings, Swivels & Straps
2 pr best Sheep Shears
2 pr strong Scissars propr for Trimg Horss
2 dozn pr large Chinese green Ivory Table knives & Forks, to suit those sent last year by Thos Squire & charged at 36/ a dozn
6 Table Spoons made of Iron
6 Clamps for dry Rubg Brushes
2 Table Brushes
3 Plate Do for cleaning Silver
4 Hair House Brooms
6 Mop’s
1 dozn best Ivory blackg Balls for Shoes
2 dozn best Agate Flints—sorted
1 lb. of very best red Sealg Wax ½
Rheam best qte Post Writg Paper Cut
½ Rheam best small Folio Cut Do
½ Rheam course & cheap kind
½ dozn Smiths large Flat Files
½ dozn Do Do half round Do
2 large Rubbers
2 Pewter Funnels
3 Block Tinn Coffee Pots—1 to hold a Pottle—1 three Pints—& the other a Quart ½ a Barrel of best dble FF Gunpowder
4 Neat & fashe Cut glass Decanters wt. brd Bottms—that they may stand firm on the Table
6 Neat & fashe Cut Beer Glasses to suit Ditto
2½ dozn Do Do Wine Do to Suit Do to be rather low, & strong, as well as Neat
1 pr of best Buck Breeches pr Mea[su]r[e] sent last yr to J. Coleman—to have a Side Pocket, & Buckle behind
A Gentleman’s Huntg Cap—Coverd with black Velvet—to fit a pretty large head—cushiond round or stuffd to make it sit easy thereon—A Silk Band, & handsome Silvr Buckle to it
1 pr of Silver Spur’s of the newt Fash⟨n⟩
1 Neat and Fashe Silver

Pencil Case
1 dozn spare Pencils for Do—some of them red, some black, & pretty hard—at least not too soft
1 Best whole hunting Whip, pretty Stout & strong, cap’d with Silver & my name & the yr engravd thereon
1 pr of fashe gold enameld Sleeve Buttons
A Ditto Broach Do
A Neat & very good two bladed Knife middle size to cost 5/
30 yards of yard wide Floor Mattg
1 dozn Neat & light 18 Feet Oars for a Light Whale Boat—the Blades scoop’d &ca & Painted
1 Dozn large Breakfast Tea Cups & 1 dozn Saucers, with 8 Coffee Cups & 8 Saucers—Also 1 dozn Smaller Tea Cups & the like number of Saucers together with 8 Coffee Cups & Saucers to them with a Tea Pot, Milk Pot, Sugar Dish, & Slop Bowl to each Set—the whole to be of the same kind of China—of a fashe but not of a costly sort

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Webster & Son, 15 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Webster & Son

Memm
[July 15th 1772]

The Inclos’d new Watch Key, is one of the 3 wch were sent me last year by Webster & Son in consequence of my desiring them to be very neat—the other two are exactly like it, & chargd at 1/6 each, when I could have bought as many as I pleasd in the Shops here (rather neater) at 6d. or 7½ a piece this Cy. I again wish to have two very different from this Common sort—to be of the size of the old one, & one of them to work like it, the other

as the new one; but both to be of the best kind, & much handsomer and neater than either.

G. W——n


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 15 July 1772
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Towlston July the 15th 1772

I have received a Letter lately from Mr Smith wherein he makes no mention at all of the Tract of 600 Acres on Goose Creek & chattins Run; so that I may dispose of it [to] you without waiting longer for the Man he had agreed with, which it was kind in You to propose. I wish we could agree about the Land on Pohick or that on the Kittocktan for which I must take a less price still than I have fallen to; especially considering the Sum you still purpose to advance on Accot of Mr Muirs Bill which Mr Baynes lately pressed me to pay. I had some thoughts of riding to Mt Vernon soon, in order to attend You to pohic⟨k⟩ but being uncertain, on Account of my harvest and haying being backward, I take the Opportunity My Sister Washington affords me of writing. Mrs Fairfax & Sally desire their Compliments with Dr Sir Yr most Obedt & obliged hble Servt

Bryan Fairfax

If it should happen that either of the Hounds sent down lately should not please you I beg to have the first offer of them; I mention this because I am convinced that all Sportsmen do not look on Dogs in the same Light, of which you are also satisfied from the many super excellent dogs you have had given you, which have not answered yr Expectation. Some allowance must be made for prejudice, perhaps therefore You’l not think Rouser equal to Ringwood, tho’ I do except that he is close mouthed. Dabster tho’ a great Babler at first I liked the best of the three; which I mention lest he should at first for want of

Practice return to his Babling and you should condemn him too soon. Tho’ you did not seem to like Ranger I really think he was as good a Dog as ever I had except his want of a good Nose—Rouser is exactly such another in every ⟨Re⟩spect. Two of my hounds running a Fox yesterday great part of the day hath revived the Subject in my Mind & hath caused this postscript.


Title: From George Washington to Daniel Jenifer Adams, 20 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Adams, Daniel Jenifer

Sir,
Mount Vernon July 20th 1772

If the price of Superfine Flour in Barbadoes is not under Twenty five Shillings prCt I would have mine sold there rather than hazard any other Market; but if it should be lower than this, I would in that case, take the chance of some of the other Islands (if you should call at them in your way to Jamaica) in any of which, if you can get such a price as to nett me two pence a pound Virga Curry by the Invoice exclusive, of Freight, Commission’s, & every other Incident charge, I would take it; unless there should be a moral certainty of its selling higher in Jamaica—If all these chances fail, the Flour must then be sold in Jamaica for what it will fetch, unless it should be very low, & a prospect of rising; in which case I would have it left with Mr McMickan & Co. to sell, provided, (upon examination⟨)⟩ it is found to be in a condition to keep. In the disposal of this Flour, I recommend its being lump’d of, rather than sold in small parcels for tryal, as it was ground out of indifferent Wheat, & will, I fear, look better to the eye, than it will proove agreeable to the taste, being a little Musty.

The Money arising from the Sales I would have laid out in Negroes, if choice ones can be had under Forty pounds Sterl.; if not, then in Rum & Sugar from Barbadoes, or any of the Windward Islands; and Sugar & Molasses if the Flour shd be sold in Jama.
If the Return’s are in Slaves let there be two thirds of them Males, the other third Females—The former not exceeding (at any rate) 20 yrs of age—the latter 16—All of them to be strait Limb’d, & in every respect strong & likely, with good Teeth & good Countenances—to be sufficiently provided with Cloaths.
I have also to request the favour of you to bring me the following Articles.
A Cask of about 50 or 60 Gallns of the best old Spirits especially from Barbadoes
A Barrel of best Oranges
1 Ditto of Lemon’s or Lymes
1 Pott of about 5 lb. best green Sweet Meats Mixed
1 Ditto of Ginger
10 lbs. of best Tamarinds—all of them preservd with White Sugr
A Pot of good dryed Figs if to be had upon good terms
1 lb. of Kian Pepper
Some Pine apples & a dozn or two of Coco Nuts
Wishing you a pleasant and prosperous Voyage I remain Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Carlyle, 20 July 1772
From: Carlyle, John
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
Alexa. July 20 1772

Capt. Brodie woud Inform you the reason I did not Call on You, If he did not I Assure You it was for no Other reason but the great Company I See & heard of at Yr house & I thought myself & my little Companion not In A proper Dress for Straingers You or Yr family I woud have made free with, Therefor hope for Yr Excuse.
The Captain Comeing Up this Evening Surprised me & tells me You wanted bills of Lading I have filled Up Two as many as I think Necessary Without You Conssigne Yr Cargo to any person on the Iselands In that case you may Take three I have Consigned mine & Mr Daltons Interest on board to the Captain & Mr Adams Joyntly, & therefor take but Two bills of Lading the Freight I Intend is the Curruncy Of the Iseland where the Comodity is Sold & No more.
I hope Yr Sailes & returns will please You, & that the Vessell

may make A Short Voyage for the bennifit of All Concerned, tho’ Mr Lun Washington has not given the Assistance he promised but Suppose he Was Tyerd with harvest & now rejoyceing the Labr is over—I am with great regard Dr Sir Yr Very Hble Sert

John Carlyle


Title: To George Washington from James Hill, 24 July 1772
From: Hill, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
WmsBurgh July 24th 1772.

I received your Letter the 18th of June after I had set of from Home to the Easten Shore where I was gone a fortnight & Have been over the Hole Estate there & have Acted in the best Manner I coud in respect to the Stocks of Sheep on Mockon Isleland wherein Mr Vollentine Joind Stocks with one Mr John St[r]atton & I have broke up the Partnership & am desireous of no Persons Joining without your Concent, I shou’d have Wrote to you Sooner But have waited for the Ship to come in that I might write to you for Instructions abt Shipg the Tobo whe⟨t⟩her the Hole go on board Capt. Peterson as he tells me he Expec⟨ts⟩ the Hole & Capt. Easten was at my House this morng & Say he Always Carried 10 or 12 Hhds that in Particular from the Easte⟨n⟩ Shore which is ⟨6⟩ Hhds which will not be as much as he wants & he goes of Next week that if he is to have any I must get an answer from you as Quick as Possable—I shoud have Shipd the Hole on board Capt. Peterson if Capt. Easten had no⟨t⟩

Applyed, but shant do any thing abt it untill I receive yr Answer—you wrote me concerning the money that I had not Sent you an Acct of the Hole money I recd the reason the 10£16 was not mentiond in my Letter Colo. Lewis received it him self & After I had wrote to you he gave me a rect for it & I had seald my Letter to you & knew he woud Give you an Acct of it which I immagined woud make no Mitereal Difference whether I gave you an acct or not as I was certain he woud as he received it tho I stateed it in my Acct with you—I have not sold The corne yet am now waitg in Town to make Sail but the Price of corne appear to be falling I cant get more than 13/ & 13/6 ⅌ Barl what I sell from Home I get 15/ for there is one or two Gent. from the Easten Shore that wants to Purchase that Corne from there but they offer but 13/ ⅌ Barl & am waitg for a Better Price I am in hopes the Price will rise before the court Brakes there is Severall Gent. that is now waitg to make Sail of theres & they tell me they Expect a better Price—our Crops are Likely as can Possably be Expected for Quantity of Poor Groun⟨d⟩ we are obliged to tend only Rockahock & there is but a very Indifferent Prospect ther for Every thing we have Lost a fine young wench in childbed there Doctor Pasture was sent up to her but She was Deliverd before he got up & appeard to be Tollerable ⟨we⟩ll & drank Cold water & Killd her immediately.
I have Lost an old fellow from Mill Quarter with the consumtion & a negro child from yr Quarter in King William That I had brought down to be convenient to the Docter that we might [not] be at the Expence of Paying for Visits but the child Did not Live more then 3 or 4 days after I got it down it appea⟨red⟩ To have the mange as bad as I ever Saw a Pigg & has been in That Condition for some time & the overseer told me he had Purged it Several times but to no Purpose & I gave it a Purge as soon as i⟨t⟩ Came down but I saw it was Past cure I sent it to the Docter & he was from Home[.] all the Rest at this time is very well only a wench at Rockahock has a Complaint in her Eyes & have orderd her down to get curd—I have not got that Fellow Will Shag that was run away But I think to send him to The Easten Shore as soon as I get him being in a Hurry the Post Just going of Yr Mo. Hble Servt

James Hill


Title: From George Washington to Samuel Washington, 28 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Washington, Samuel

Dear Brother,
July 28th 1772.

I should be much obliged to you for your care of those matters committed to Mr Johnston, respecting my Tenants; that is, that you would be kind enough to see that they go properly on; as I find Mr Johnston had other Suits against Kennedy besides my Distress ⟨wch⟩ may possibly be the cause of the Sheriffs delay in Serving it.
You disappointed us greatly in not seeing you down according to promise—My Love, in which Mrs Washington & Miss Custis join is offered to you my Sister &ca and I am Dr Sir Yr Most Affecte Br.

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Lord Dunmore, 30 July 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Dunmore, John Murray, fourth earl of

My Lord,
Mount Vernon July the 30th 1772

The death of Mr Horracks has I dare venture to say, opened a door to numberless applications to your Lordship, among which the Revd Mr Scott of Prince William County, desires to be introduced as a Candidate for the Office of Commissary. However odd it may seem in me, who has but barely the honour of being known to your Lordship, to appear in behalf of another, I cannot help adding that, Mr Scott is a Gentleman that has long dischargd the Pastoral duty in this Colony with reputation to himself; and satisfaction to his Flock; and would, I am perswaded, endeavour to deserve any notice your Lordship may please to shew him on this occasion.
We were in high expectation of receiving the honour of a Visit from your Lordship in this Neighbourhood, immediately after the June Court—from whence the report of your coming took its rise I never could well learn; but Colo. Fairfax and myself look’d every hour, for Eight or ten days, for your Lordships Yacht—Lord Fairfax, came down to meet you, as Govr Eden intended to do. The honour and satisfaction of seeing your Lordship in this part of your Government will, at all times, be very pleasing, & acceptable to Yr Lordships Most obedt & Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, August 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[August 1772]

Contra

Augt  8—
By Cash paid William Gray—Ditcher
£ 1.10. 0

10—
By Ditto paid for 18 Water Mellons
0. 4.10

12—
By Charity
0. 3. 0

14—
By Mrs Cox making and altering Gowns for Mrs Washington
0.12. 6

16—
By Ditto Makg & alterg Do for Miss Custis
0.15. 0

By Cash pd for Water Mellon’s
0. 3. 0

By Servant
0. 3. 0

18—
By Cash pd Mr Robt [Hanson] Harrison on acct of Colo. Thos Colvils Estate
3.17. 6

By Cash pd for 2½ dozn dble gilt Buttons
0. 6. 0

20—
By Ditto paid Mr Geo. West on Acct of Colo. Thos Colvills Estate
34. 9. 0

By Ditto pd Ditto his Acct agt the Exrs of Do
5.11. 0

By Ditto pd Mr Harrison Services in my Suit against Jno. Barry & Son
1.16. 0

By Ditto paid Mr Wm Ellzey on same Acct
1. 4. 0

By Ditto lost at Cards
0. 5. 0

21—
By Mr [William] Ramsay Postage Acct to this date
2. 3. 0

By James Connell puttg locks to Beaufets
0. 5. 0

By 5 yds black silk Ferriting for Mrs W—n
0. 1. 8

23—
By Cash paid for 1 Dozn Mellons
0. 3. 0

25—
By Ditto paid Dominicus Havenor [Gubner]
1. 0. 0

26—
By Ditto paid John Alton
5. 0. 0

27—
By Servants
0. 2. 0

31—
By Cash paid Levin Hart 8130 Red Oak Staves £20.6.3 Maryld Cury eql to
16. 5. 0


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 3 August 1772
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir,
Towlston August the 3d 1772.

I am about setting off for the Springs, & as I have very little time to spare, having been busy at my Meadow to day & been at the Mill & Great Falls, & having some other Letters to write this Evening, I hope you’l excuse the conciseness of this.
As to the most material Business of Mrs Savages I have received a Letter also from Mr Bomford. On the Receipt of your Favor at Alexandria I went to Mr Harrison and asked him about the deeds of Settlement when he told me there must have been such before Marriage because the Bond relates to them—and these must be the deeds together with an authentic Copy of the Bond which Mr Bomford writes for, but where they were recorded neither of us knew but we supposed in the Genl Court or in Loudon where the Lands lie. and if I omitted to mention this in my subsequent Letters it was thro’ Forgetfulness. As Mr Montgomerie as you mentioned was expected to be at Alexandria at June Court I desired Mr Harrison to let me know if he came up and I would go down with his Receipt however inconvenient—And now I have thoughts of sending it by your Boy as I am to be a month from home but am doubtful at present in case it should miscarry. I imagine the Deeds executed at Dumfries are not what Mr Bomford writes for because he mentions all Deeds and Papers executed on or before her marriage.
I have sent inclosed the patent for the 600 Acres which is the only title I have except another deed of the same Tenor & date, I inherit it as heir at Law to My Brother Wm—I shall be ready to go with you to Pohick when it may suit you after my Return. I am not uneasy tho. disappointed a little (tho’ indeed I have no Reason to call it a disappointment as I could not have raised the

money without your Assistance) And shall wait till it may suit your Convenience.
As I pass thro’ Loudon I will write to Rogers & direct him to send copies of the deeds to you if any such as I mentioned above be recorded in that office.
What you mention about your Puppies is surprising—Musick’s Litter last year decreased daily from 8 to 4 and she was observed each day carrying one out.
Mrs Fairfax tells me it was conjectured by some at Mt Vernon that I wanted my hounds back again that I had sent down; but altho’ I have given away hounds before now & been afterwards sorry for it I should never ask for them again even in an indirect manner. but that was not the case with these. I was glad I could accommodate you so well without any disadvantage to myself and it is not unusual with me to ask for the return of good hounds if they should not please, because as I said before Sportsmen differ, and I should be sorry that you should have occasion to return ’em. mine have been reduced in their speed I hope by parting wth them, having run a Fox lately so long that I had time to come home to Breakfast & to Dinner before the chace ended to the disgrace of the whole tired pack.
Mrs Fairfax &c. Complts with mine to Mrs Washington & Family. and I remain with much Esteem Dr Sir Yr most obedt Servt

Bryan Fairfax


Title: From George Washington to James Hill, 3 August 1772 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Hill, James

Letter not found: to James Hill, 3 Aug. 1772. On 30 Aug. Hill wrote to GW: “I recd your Letter from the Post office dated August 3d.”


Title: To George Washington from Matthew Campbell, 4 August 1772 [letter not found]
From: Campbell, Matthew
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Matthew Campbell, 4 Aug. 1772. On 7 Aug. GW wrote Campbell: “In reply to your Letter of the 4th.”


Title: From George Washington to Matthew Campbell, 7 August 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Campbell, Matthew

Sir,
Mount Vernon August 7th 1772

In reply to your Letter of the 4th I think it a piece of Justice due to you to acknowledge that I was not lead to enquire into the price of the Goods I had purchased of your already, & might hearafter take from any thing that passed between us at the time I offered to discontinue my own Importations (upon Condition I could get my Goods at nearly what they would cost to Import them myself)—I very well remember that nothing conclusive passd between you & me on that occasion—as a proof of wch I made out my own Invoice & sent it home by Captn Jordan as usual, consequently you were not restraind on that Acct from charging me what you pleased—My enquiry arose from an opinion that I was dealing with you upon better terms than common, & this opinion was founded upon what Mr Adam told me of his Scheme when I came therefore to see an Article advanced a good deal higher than I expected I own to you that I was alarm’d & thought it high time to know upon what footing I was purchasing—If after this acknowledgement which I thought it incumbant on me to make in order that you might be released even from the apprehension of an engagement you still think proper to let me have the Goods I may find occasion to buy in the Country at 25 prCt Sterling advance upon the genuine Cost dischargeable at the Currt exchange I will confine my whole Country dealings to your Store & will endeavour to throw the Wages which I pay to hirelings into your hands also; provided you will let me know upon what certain reasonable advance they can have their Goods (upon the strength of my Credit) for unless they can deal with you upon better terms than with others I should not think myself justifyable in attempting to influence their choice, and this knowledge I must come at in order that I may convince them (if satisfied myself) of the propriety of the Measure.
You may believe me sincere when I assure you that no Man wishes to see your Company prosper in Trade more than I do and self Interest apart, I have always thought the way to do this was to Import largely and Sell low provided you could get a ready Vend & quick payments for your Goods but do not deceive yourself by the ready dispatch you have hitherto met with;

for thô I do not pretend to dispute your Selling at a low advance in general (having had no oppertunity at all of Judging) yet give me leave to add that the progress you have hitherto met with is by no means an evidt proof of it—The Mind of Man is fond of Novelty—Curiosity led many to your Store, & Inclination when there tempted them to be doing—to this they were excited by an opinion which most People had imbibd of your large Importation, & intended Scheme of Trade but my good Sir this is but the Work of a day, & like the Evening of it will Sink into obscurity unless by a Steady adherance to your Plan you convince the judgment as well as Satisfie the curiosity of your Customers—You see that I have used a freedom which Friendship only can excuse me for—If I did not wish well to your undertaking, I should not take the liberty of troubling you with my Sentiments which however different from your own, or wrong in your principles, are truely genuine. I am, with very great esteem Dr Sir Your Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. If you are in any doubt, in respect to the advance upon the Goods I may get for my own use, or are got upon my Credit, I do not want to hurry you into a determination. The matter may rest till the arrival of Mr Adam. Yrs &ca

G. W——n


Title: From George Washington to Amos Strettell, 14 August 1772 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Strettell, Amos

Letter not found: to Amos Strettell, 14 Aug. 1772. On 18 Aug. Strettell wrote to GW: “Your Favour of 14th Currt has enabled me to compleat your Insurance.”


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 18 August 1772
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Dear Sir,
Alexandria Augt 18th 1772

Harvest, Company, and one thing or another, equally unforeseen and unavoidable, has hitherto prevented Mrs Washington & myself from paying our respects to Mrs Boucher and you; but if nothing happens more than we at present know of, you may expect to see us the first Week in September, perhaps the middle of it—This I have mentiond, that, in case you should have any call out abt that time you may [be] free enough to signify it, as any other time will be equally convenient & agreeable to Dr Sir, Yr Most Obedt Hble Ser⟨vt⟩

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Amos Strettell, 18 August 1772
From: Strettell, Amos
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Philada 18th Augst 1772

Your Favour of 14th Currt has enabled me to compleat your Insurance ⅌ the Fairfax as ⅌ above acct (say annexed acct,) so far as the Nature of your Adventure will admit without running you to an extra. advance of præmo subject to conditional Returns afterwards, which on several accts might prove disadvantageous to you, altho’ is often done on risques not commencing in our own Port.
I presume Coll Lewis may not be returnd Home from the warm springs, & defer writing to him until next Post. I am very Respectfully, Sir, Yr assd frd & servt

Amos Strettell


Title: To George Washington from Margaret Savage, 19 August 1772
From: Savage, Margaret
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Whitehaven [England] Augt 19th 1772

I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind & agreeable favour conveyed to me by my Friend Mr Dixon, with the amount of the Bill £53, you were so good as send for my relief which believe me my dear Friend came most seasonably; my situation is terrible, but without it, it would have been wretched indeed. It would argue a base, & ungratefull mind to omitt this opportunity of tendering you all in my power to bestow, the tribute of an Honest Sincere & gratefull Heart for this Act of generosity & Friendship, which suffer me to solicet your continuance of, & under your protection, I doubt not the recovery of my Settlement, from that cruel Man, by which I shall, I trust in God, be able to spend the remainder of my days with some little peace, which, or Comfort, I have been a Stranger to since I parted with you. The loss of the four Years Annuity was a terrible stroke on me, but this I was fearfull of, for before his departure he made me Sign a paper, the Contents I knew not; I refused it, ’till my life was in danger from him, for Oh did you know all you would truly pitty me. My kind friend Mr Dixon gives me some little glimering hope that you will yet be able to recover the £400—that Mr Montgomery was going to pay you, to assist which he advises my making a declaration on Oath, that I did not know the Contents of the paper I signed, & that he compelled me to the Execution, this I intend to do before I leave this, & indeed was one principal cause of my coming here, & to consult with Mr Dixon, to whom any Letters you are so kind as send me, will come safe: The Money you will be so good as continue to pay Mr Piper, who has my Power for the same, who will remitt it in like manner, this I must intreat Mr Piper to adhere to, being my real wish & desire, & should he

receive Letters to the Contrary he must not attend to them, for my Situation may be such, as to cause me to write in a manner I do not like, for my desire & Order is for Mr Piper to remitt the Money to Mr Dixon ’till that Gentlemn receives it him self. The Negro Wench Sarah & Children I apprehend to be my property under the deed of Settlement, as such could wish they were turned into Money, & remitted me by Mr Piper, should be rejoiced She would Suit you, in which case any price you should fix on them would be agreeable to me. May I now Solicet my most Affectionate Compliments being tendered your Lady, Colo. Fairfax, & Lady, and all my other good Friends, relying on your goodness & protection I remain Dear Sir, Your ever obliged & Affect. Hble Servt

margt Savage


Title: To George Washington from James Hill, 30 August 1772
From: Hill, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Sunday Morng 30th of August 1772

I recd your Letter from the Post office dated August 3d & it did not Come to me in Several days after & yr Directions in respect to the Tobo coud not be complyed with for I was informd that Capt. Easten Had his Load so that I never Heard from him after yr Letter came to hand & our Tobo in New Kent happend not to be Inspected & I have had more Trouble to get it Inspected then I ever had abt any one thing in all my Life I offerd the Tobo to the Inspecters in April Last & they desired me not to have it Brought for they were Quite full & Begd that I might continue the old Custom wch was when the Ship was in & sent for the Tobo they Brought the Tobo & had it inspected & carried of immediately & before The Inspection was out I goes three Different times to have the Tobo inspected & they desird

the overseers not to bring it for they coud Not take it they were Quite full & they sd if the Ship made it Late they woud inspect it after the Inspection was out, & when the Ship carried down the Tobo They woud not Inspect it they sd the Law was against it & must wait to have the Lawyers opinions & some was of oppinion they might Look at it & others to the contrary at Last they agreed if I woud Get Mr Wallers oppinion they woud Inspect it wch Mr Waller readily gave as it was through there Instigations it was not Lookd at in time they ought to do it wch was done a wednesday & thursday Last, & have Purchased the overseers parts at the Cash Price which shoud be Glad to know if you approve of it or not, as I had not yr Instructions to do it I was informd it was Generally done in Mr Vollentines time—As John Vollentine was not there I left a Hhd for him & when he swore to his fathers agremt with him I woud Setle with him Accordgly & left word with one of the overseers to let him know if he woud take the same Price as the Rest did I woud take it the Ships flat is to take the Ballce tomorrow—Rockohock 9 Brick House 9 old Quarter 4 Harlows 5 Homehouse 11 Mill Quarter 10 Jacksons 6 Mallory over the Mill 2 Claibornes K. Wm 14 Easten Shore 7 & 1 for Rent in Hanover I coud not get a price to my Likeing & Shipd it on board Peterson the Hole if John Vollentine let us have his is 78 Hhds Shipd on board Peterson, I have turnd of two of the overseers the one at the white House & the other at Brick House & the two that Intend to replace has Large familyes one has 6 Children & the other 5 tho. they agree to take 600 wt meat & a grass beef at the fall They are two men that I am well acquainted with in respect to there Honesty which if you dont Dislike there family being two Large believe they will Answer very well tho. think it my Duty to inform you before I finally engage with them, wch if you dislike will be off & get others I have agreed for 6 Sping wheels at 10/⅌ wheele to have Sping done at Every Quarter in Bad weather & times when the wenches Lays in, & at Rockahock there is a wench that is Kept for Sping & has been all this year aspin[in]g 47 ⟨lb.⟩ wool & Says that Mrs Washgton orderd that she shoud Spin no more then 3 ⟨lb.⟩ a week & old Nanney wont Spin a thread & Says her Mistress left her only to Sew wch we have a great deal of wool to Spin from the Easten Shore for I cant sell it for more then a bit a lb. & think we had better have it Spun up & wove for the

wenches & children if you think Proper, & this wench Nanney has Raisd 71 Turkeys Besides other Fowles of all Sorts & Says her Mistress allows of it please to apply to her & let me Have yr Directions how to Proceed in them Particulars there is Several Old wenches that might Spin for the Estate that cant worke out one on the Easten Shore that might Spin that dont worke out not ⅓d of her time only minds the Children, I send you inclosed Strattons agremt with Vollentine in Respect to the Sheep on Mockon Isleand which is a very Great dispute wth Stratton & me he wants his 40 Ews & to let me have the 20 & then divide the Balle after Lettg the man that he Put on take the Sixth Part with some the man Put on for Lookg after them this man was owing of Stratton money as I am informd & he agreed with this man if he woud Put on some Small Quantity that he shoud have the 6th Part for Lookg after them without the consent of Mr Vollentine only the consent of Biggs wch Stratton has Bought the sheep yearly of this man untill he has got Paid as I am informd now whether I must Continue the Man & let him find Part & believe he will take the 8th Part for Lookg after them & is to Bring of & carry on all the Cattle & Bring of what Ever we Want of for his Living there; Ive got Jacksons Depposition in regard to the agremet with Stratton & Vollentine tho. it was not mentiond Particularly that he Lookd upon it that when Ever a Division they were to Divide Equally the other Says he will Swear the Same wch are the two Witnesses to the agremt tho. Stratton Says he has three that will swear to the Contrary tho. they did not assign the agremt as witnesses I am agoing upon receiving yr Answer to my Letter to the Easten Shore in order to have it finishd & the Sheep Divided as the Lambs were two Small & the weather two hot when I was over or Shoud Endeavord to have finishd when I was over the man that is on the Island Bears the Carreter of a very Honest man tho. Stratton at this time has A very Great Dislike to him & wants him turnd off his name is John Handby But from the Carreter that other People gave him I thought to continue him if you was agreable as there must be some one to look after the Stock or they woud Be all Killd by the Watermen Stratton wants to rent the Place But I told him I chose to make tryal my Self Before we woud Rent it; as for an Invoice you wrote to me for I am at this time at a loss to know what we have in already & as you have a list of Every negro & the

Invoice of what came in this Year immagined you knew Better then I did that woud Serve them tho. the Calculation to Every Grown fellow & wench woud be 3 Ells of Bro. Ling to Shirt or Shift, & 5 yards of Cotten to suit for a wench or fellow there is a number of the negroes that has applyd for Shirts that had but one last year & am informd by the overseers that there Shirts was always so small in General that they were of Little or no service to them.
I have got a mill right to come & View the mill & he Says she must Be Rebuilt that she is not Sufficient to Hold a head of water & has given me a Bill of Scantling & after I have the timber Brought in place he will worke with our Carpenters at £3.15 ⅌ month till I get her done I had a notion of haveing her Patched up but he thinks its runing of a great Risk so have concluded to have her Rebuilt if you think Proper & there Will Be wantg A pr of Mill Stones for the wheat mill.
You desire to know How our Crops are frequently when I wrote to you Before they were Extreamly Likely But at this time they are much to the Contrary for we hant had a rain to wet the Ground 1½ Inches since last thursday was 4 Weeks that our Tobo has moulterd Prodiously at Bottom & fird away with the Dry weather; & they are as much to the Contrary up at the new Kent Quarters they are full Wet up there, that if there woud come Rain now in a few days it woud be of Great service both to Tobo & Corn for our Crops below.
In selling our corn below people dont care to take because I dont care to take there money by count they Say it has always been taken in that way & others in Neighbourhood take money by count, therefore dont care to do it without you’l take it of me in the same way which is takeing Pistereens, & as the rest of the Neighbours does it, I think we had better take it in that way for I trade but Slowly—as to the Bro. Ling & Cotten Ive had no kind of Memo. of what came in & I take it out the Bales no faster then we make Use of it as the Store house is much Pesterd wth Leather Salt & Iron &c. that I had not Room to take the goods out only as we make Use of them, that I dont know what has come in tho. am Doubtfull there wont be Linning Enough as there is Several of the People that has had Shirts out as they had but one this winter which was oblige to give them another & we were Short of Broad Hoes & if y⟨e⟩ coud not have Spared us

some out of yr Store I must been oblige to abought[.] I Shoud amade an Exact List of the Hole but have been so very Ill wth the fever & Ague that I am Scarce Able at this time to set up But hope as you have an Exact List of negroes you can make out the cloathg & tools & Nails the Same Quantity as came in this year I believe will do another tho. think it a good way to have aplenty as it woud be Bad to buy Hose at there Extravegant Prices—& as to the other Meterials I send you a list of what I can recollect—please to Excuse my desireing you to put yr Self to so much Trouble, I woud have Waited till I got better but did not know but it might make a Meterial Difference with you wch was Willing to let you know how Every thing was as quick as posable & upon receiving yr Answer if you cant conveniently do it if I Get able will let you have a list of the Hole but in case you shoud Send By a rough Draft for two much you may depend on the Greatest care Being taken of it; at a rough Calculation 896 Ells ozngs & 544 yds Cotten.
I have Shipd to Norfolk on board of Chrosia Graves Vessel 30 Barrels of corn from the New Kent Quarters which he tells me he can Get me 14/Cash or 15/Apl pay & he is to Engage yours at yr Quarter in King William & what there is to spare at the Highest Price he can Get But did not know how to direct him in respect to the price which you might chuse the cash or to give the Cr. which youl please to inform me he is now gone to Norfolk with mine & 200 of Mr Foster Webbs Mr George Webb wants him to take his but I had engaged him—& he tells me Colo. Bassett is gone to Norfolk to make Sail of his I cant Get more for the Easten Shore corn then 13/6 & that Mr Wilkins who Lives very near the Place has offerd & have waited a great while in order to see if it woud not Rise, the Market, but dont perceive it does in any other way then as I write you above. what Narrow Hoes you send for Please to write for them to be Larger for they are so small that they are of Little or no Service being so very Sick ant able to write any more & conclude Yr Mo. Hble Servt

James Hill

P.S. I wanted to aknown if you woud chuse that I shoud Buy wheat at 5/⅌ Bushl for what we Shall Want to sew after Sewg what the Estate makes or to make Tobo untill we can raise Grain of our own.

& likewise if I must dispose of the oats upon the Easten Shore or Intend them for yr own Use.


Title: To George Washington from Peter Wagener, 31 August 1772 [letter not found]
From: Wagener, Peter Jr.
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Peter Wagener, Jr., 31 Aug. 1772. This letter is listed in Thomas Birch’s Sons catalog no. 663, item 74, 21–23 April 1891.


Title: Cash Accounts, September 1772
From: Washington, George
To:

[September 1772]

Cash

Septr  5—
To Cash Won at Cards
£ 1.15.0

29—
To Ditto of Edward Wathing for 1 Barl Corn
0.16.0

To Ditto of Ditto on Smiths Acct
0. 3.0

Contra

4—
By Cash to Mr Custis
4.16.0

By Servants
1. 3.0

7—
By Cash pd Colo. [William] Fitzhugh, by Govr [Robert] Eden for a Whale-Boat £19.15. Maryd Cy eql to
15.16.0

By Mr [Jonathan] Bouchers Servants
0.18.0

9—
By Mr [Benedict] Calverts Servants
0.18.0

11—
By Mr Ignateus Digges’s
1. 4.0

15—
By Expences at Peytons Ordy & other places to, & from Fredericksburg
1. 3.6

17—
By Servants
0. 1.6

By repairing Watch
0. 2.6

By Charity
0. 6.0

By Cash paid my Mother
30. 0.0

By Ditto lost at Cards
1. 5.0

18—
By Ditto paid Thos Davis in full for Wea[vin]g
1.16.6

By Ditto pd Jno. Javings carrying Chain
0. 3.9

21—
By Charity
0. 6.0

By Postage of 2 Letters
0. 1.3

22—
By dble gilt Button’s
0.11.0

25—
By Cash paid Thomas Bishop
1.10.0

26—
By Mr Wm Carlin
5.12.0

29—
By Cash pd Edwd Wathing for 30 Bls Wheat 5/
7.10.0

By Ditto pd Do for Jno. Javings 20½ Do Do 5/
5. 2.6

By Ditto repairg Mr Thos Gists Watch
0.12.0

30—
By Ditto paid Lund Washington
23. 0.0

By Ditto lost at Cards
2. 0.0