Title: [Diary entry: 1 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

May 1. Cool. Wind Northwardly & fresh.


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

2. Cold & chilly wind to the Northward.


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

3. Warm, wind getting Southwardly and Cloudy.


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

4. Very Warm & Sultry, with flying Clouds & appearance of Rain.


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

5. Warm again. Wind Southwardly & fresh.


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

6. Rain in the Morning. Warm afterwards with Clouds.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Wind Eastwardly & not so warm as yesterday—being Cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11. Much Rain fell last Night and this Morning. Evening clear & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Cool Evening and Morning but warm midday.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Warm & sometimes Sultry, with but little wind. In the Afternoon thunder & clouds with Slight Showers.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind at South but not fresh & tolerable warm, & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Ditto——Ditto——Ditto. Note the Horns of this Moon were also up as the two last were tho a little more declining.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Warm and but little Wind which was Southwardly. The weather very hazy as it had been for several days with the Sun and Moon remarkably red.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear, and but little Wind, & that Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Showery all day. Wind pretty fresh from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Wind shifted in the Night to No. Et. Blew and Raind hard all Night & till One or two Oclock this day, when it ceasd. The Afternoon became pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Morning clear but Cool. Afternoon lowering & very Cool wind No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear and somewhat Cool tho’ there was but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 28. Clear & Warm. Wind, tho’ little of it Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear & warm with little Wind & that Eastwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Warm & flying Clouds. Wind abt. South.


Title: Remarks—of the—Weather [May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

May 1. Cool. Wind Northwardly & fresh.

2. Cold & chilly wind to the Northward.

3. Warm, wind getting Southwardly and Cloudy.

4. Very Warm & Sultry, with flying Clouds & appearance of Rain.

5. Warm again. Wind Southwardly & fresh.

6. Rain in the Morning. Warm afterwards with Clouds.

7. Cool Wind Northwardly.

8. Less Cool than yesterday but not warm.

9. Very warm & Sultry. Wind Southwardly.

10. Wind Eastwardly & not so warm as yesterday—being Cloudy.

11. Much Rain fell last Night and this Morning. Evening clear & warm.

12. Cool Evening and Morning but warm midday.

13. Wind Northwardly & rather Cool.

14. Warm & sometimes Sultry, with but little wind. In the Afternoon thunder & clouds with Slight Showers.

15. Not so warm as yesterday.

16. Wind at South but not fresh & tolerable warm, & clear.

17. Warm with but little Wind and that Southwardly.

18. Ditto——Ditto——Ditto.
Note the Horns of this Moon were also up as the two last were tho a little more declining.

19. Warm and but little Wind which was Southwardly. The weather very hazy as it had been for several days with the Sun and Moon remarkably red.

20. Clear, and but little Wind, & that Southwardly.

21. Warm, & clear in the Morning. Afternoon lowering, Wind Southwardly.

22. Showery all day. Wind pretty fresh from the Southward.

23. Wind shifted in the Night to No. Et. Blew and Raind hard all Night & till One or two Oclock this day, when it ceasd. The Afternoon became pleasant.

24. Morning clear but Cool. Afternoon lowering & very Cool wind No. East.

25. Misty all day and Cold with but little Wind.

26. Cloudy & very Cold Wind Northwardly. Sometimes Sun appearg.

27. Clear and somewhat Cool tho’ there was but little Wind.

28. Clear & Warm. Wind, tho’ little of it Southwardly.

29. Clear with a small breeze from the Northward.

30. Clear & warm with little Wind & that Eastwardly.

31. Warm & flying Clouds. Wind abt. South.


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

3. The hound bitch Mopsey brought 8 Puppys, distinguishd by the following Names—viz.—Tarter—Jupiter—Trueman—& Tipler (being Dogs)—and Truelove, Juno, Dutchess, & Lady being the Bitches—in all eight.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. My Carpenters & House People went to Work at my Mill repairing the Dams—hightening of them—& opening the Race.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. The bitch Chanter brought five Dog Puppies & 3 Bitch Ditto which were named as follow—viz.—Forrester—Sancho—Ringwood—Drunkard—and Sentwell. And Chanter—Singer—& Busy.


Title: Observations [May 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

May 2d. My Carpenters & House People went to Planting Corn at Doeg Run after they had finishd fishing.

3. The hound bitch Mopsey brought 8 Puppys, distinguishd by the following Names—viz.—Tarter—Jupiter—Trueman—& Tipler (being Dogs)—and Truelove, Juno, Dutchess, & Lady being the Bitches—in all eight.

23. My Carpenters & House People went to Work at my Mill repairing the Dams—hightening of them—& opening the Race.

29. The bitch Chanter brought five Dog Puppies & 3 Bitch Ditto which were named as follow—viz.—Forrester—Sancho—Ringwood—Drunkard—and Sentwell. And Chanter—Singer—& Busy.


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

4. At Home all day writing.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Went up to Alexandria to meet the Attorney Genl. & returnd with him, his Lady & Daughter, Miss Corbin and Majr. Jenifer.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. At Home with the above Company. Colo. Fairfax, his Lady & Miss Nicholas—Colo. West & his Wife—& Colo. Carlyle Captn. Dalton & Mr. Piper—the three last of whom stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. The Attorney &ca. went away leavg. Miss Nicholas only here.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run and the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Went to Pohick Church and returnd to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went to Belvoir where Mr. Seldon his Lady &ca. were.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Returnd home again, & found Mr. B. Fairfax here. Sent for Doctr. Rumney to Patcy Custis who was seized with fitts. Mr. M. Campbell lodgd here.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Colo. Fairfax & Family together with Mr. Seldon & his dind here as also Doctr. Rumney. Mr. B. Fairfax went in the Mg.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Rid to the Mill Doeg Run and M. Hole. Mr. Campbell came here in the Eveng.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Rid into the Neck and to Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. At home all day prepg. Invoices and Letters for England.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. At home. Do. Do.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Went to Court and returnd at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Went up again and stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Returnd home in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. At Home. Doctr. Rumney went away in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Rid round and examind the Wheat Fields there. Which were fine.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Went to Mr. Bouchers. Dined there and left Jackey Custis. Returnd to Fredericksburg in the Afternn.


Title: [June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

June 1st. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & the Mill.

2. Went into the Neck.

3. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & Mill.

4. At Home all day writing.

5. Went to Church at Alexandria & dined at Colo. Carlyles.

6. Rid to Muddy hole and the Mill, & met with Doctr. Rumney upon my Return who dined here.

   While Rumney was at Mount Vernon, he gave Patsy Custis “a large Julep,” probably a syrupy, nonalcoholic drink intended to soothe her nerves (receipt from William Rumney, 18 Feb. 1769, ViHi: Custis Papers).

   GW today paid £15 for a horse for Jacky Custis (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 274).

7. Went up to Alexandria to meet the Attorney Genl. & returnd with him, his Lady & Daughter, Miss Corbin and Majr. Jenifer.

   The Major Jenifer mentioned frequently in the diaries is Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer (1723–1790), who lived at Stepney, a large estate in Charles County, Md. He served in various public offices in Maryland before the Revolution and was at this time a member of the Maryland Provincial Court. From 1778 to 1782 he was a member of the Continental Congress. In 1785 he was made one of the commissioners to settle the navigation of the Potomac River, and later he was a member of the Constitutional Convention.

8. At Home with the above Company. Colo. Fairfax, his Lady & Miss Nicholas—Colo. West & his Wife—& Colo. Carlyle Captn. Dalton & Mr. Piper—the three last of whom stayd all Night.

9. The Attorney &ca. went away leavg. Miss Nicholas only here.

10. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run and the Mill.

11. Rid to Ditto—Ditto & Ditto.

12. Went to Pohick Church and returnd to Dinner.

13. Went to Belvoir where Mr. Seldon his Lady &ca. were.

   Mary Cary (1704–1775), an aunt of Sarah Cary Fairfax, married Joseph Selden (d. 1727) of Elizabeth City County and had three sons: Col. Cary Selden of Buckroe, Elizabeth City County; Col. Samuel Selden of Salvington, Stafford County; and Rev. Miles Selden (d. 1785) of Henrico County (Va. Mag., 9:109; meade [1][William] Meade. Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1857., 2:205).

14. Returnd home again, & found Mr. B. Fairfax here. Sent for Doctr. Rumney to Patcy Custis who was seized with fitts. Mr. M. Campbell lodgd here.

   Rumney treated this outbreak of epileptic convulsions by bleeding Patsy and prescribing some of the same medicines that he had given her earlier: valerian, “nervous drops,” and ingredients for another medicinal brew (receipt from William Rumney, 18 Feb. 1769, ViHi: Custis Papers).

15. Colo. Fairfax & Family together with Mr. Seldon & his dind here as also Doctr. Rumney. Mr. B. Fairfax went in the Mg.

16. Rid to the Mill Doeg Run and M. Hole. Mr. Campbell came here in the Eveng.

17. Rid into the Neck and to Muddy hole.

18. At home all day prepg. Invoices and Letters for England.

   The “Invoices and Letters” were all dated 20 June 1768, the “Invoices” listing personal and plantation items needed from England for Mount Vernon and the Custis estates. To Charles Lawrence of London, GW wrote for a “Suit of handsome Cloth Cloaths,” reminding the tailor that his long-legged correspondent stood a “full Six feet high” and was “not at all inclind to be corpulent.” GW also ordered new clothes, including a green riding outfit for “Mastr. Custis . . . now 15 Yrs. of age & growing fast” and “a Suit of blew Livery” for Jacky’s body servant (DLC:GW). From John Didsbury of London, GW ordered 32 pairs of shoes and boots for the Washington family, including 2 pairs of satin pumps, one in black and one in white, for Patsy Custis; also ordered were 4 pairs of “strong, course” shoes for Jacky’s body servant (DLC:GW). In his cover letter to Robert Cary & Co., GW complained that for “four years out of five” he had made less profit by consigning his tobacco to Cary to sell in England than he would have made if he had sold it in Virginia (DLC:GW).

19. At home. Do. Do.

20. Went to Court and returnd at Night.

21. Went up again and stayd all Night.

22. Returnd home in the afternoon.

23. At Home all day.

24. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, and the Mill before Dinner, & was sent for by express to come to Alexa. to settle and Arbitrate an Acct. between Mr. George West & Mr. Chs. Alexander wt. Mr. Thomson Mason & Mr. Ellzey.

   George West (d. 1786), son of Hugh and Sybil West and brother of John West, Jr., was a Fairfax County surveyor. He married Ann Alexander, who was a first cousin of Charles Alexander (1737–1806) of Preston in Fairfax County. Charles Alexander married Frances Brown (d. 1823), daughter of Richard Brown of Maryland.

   William Ellzey (d. 1796), a son of Lewis Ellzey by his first wife and thus a half brother to Thomasin Ellzey of Truro Parish, married Frances Westwood and lived in the neighborhood of Dumfries, where he practiced law until about 1773. By 1774 he was living on his father’s land in Loudoun County. GW sought his legal help in several disputes in the late 1760s.

   Jacky Custis rode up to Alexandria with GW this afternoon.

25. Returnd Home & remained there all day. Doctr. Rumney came in the Afternoon & stayd all Night.

26. At Home. Doctr. Rumney went away in the Afternoon.

27. At home. Colo. Fairfax & his Lady dined here & returnd in the Aftern.

28. Set of for, and Reachd Fredericksburg.

   GW was taking Jacky Custis to a boarding school in St. Mary’s Parish, Caroline County, which the parish rector, Rev. Jonathan Boucher, ran in his home on a small plantation about 11 miles from the parish church. Jacky had received no instruction since Christmas when Magowan had ceased tutoring him, and GW was now anxious to have the boy resume his education. To school Jacky took his luggage, a body servant, and two horses (GW to Boucher, 30 May 1768, PHi: Dreer Collection).

29. Rid round and examind the Wheat Fields there. Which were fine.

30. Went to Mr. Bouchers. Dined there and left Jackey Custis. Returnd to Fredericksburg in the Afternn.

   Jonathan Boucher (1737/8–1804), son of a poor English schoolmaster, came to Port Royal in 1759 to earn his living by tutoring gentlemen’s sons. He soon began incurring heavy debts, a habit that would plague him for most of his life, but his fortune took a turn for the better in 1761 when he was offered the rectorship of neighboring Hanover Parish in King George County.

During the following year he took holy orders in England and, returning to Virginia, was confirmed as Hanover’s rector. He later moved to his present position as rector of St. Mary’s Parish in Caroline County, where he had a busy bachelor existence, preaching, working his plantation, and running the school for boys that Jacky had come to attend. Boucher was a genial and often witty man, but he also had traits that frequently led him into difficulty, as he readily admitted in his Reminiscences: “There was nothing quite ordinary or indifferent about me; my faults and my good qualities were all striking. All my friends (and no man ever had more friends) really loved me; and all my enemies as cordially hated me. Women, in particular, were apt to be pleased with me, because I had a natural gallantry and attachment to the sex which made them secure of my good-will and friendship. . . . In most respects, when thwarted and opposed, I was obstinate and mulish; yet there was nothing which I might not be coaxed into. A woman might do anything with me. . . . As to my conduct in life, it was of a piece with the rest of me: no man took more pains, or laboured harder, to earn money, but I took no adequate care of it when I had earned it. I always intended well, but often acted ill” (boucher [1]Jonathan Bouchier, ed. Reminiscences of an American Loyalist, 1738–1789: Being the Autobiography of The Revd Jonathan Boucher, Rector of Annapolis in Maryland and afterwards Vicar of Epsom, Surrey, England. Boston, 1925., 80–81; see also clark [3], 19–32).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

June 1st. Warm & still forenoon. Pleast. Afternoon a breeze from So. West.


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

2. Warm morning with Clouds & Thunder & Rain. Towards Night a good deal more Rain & Loud thunder.


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

3. Very warm morning with Rain abt. One Clock & a little thunder.


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

5. Cool with clouds & sometimes a sprinkle of Rain. Wind Westwardly.


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

6. Cool and Cloudy but no Rain the Wind Northwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear & Cool. Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear and Warm, Wind abt. So. West. In the Afternoon Cloudy with Rain, and high wind from W.S.W.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Cloudy Morning but clear & cool afterwards with brisk Wind from No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11. Midling warm—with the Wind at So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Warm. Wind Southwardly & fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Wind Southwardly till the Afternoon when it Shifted to the Westward & blew a mere hurricane attended with hard Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Blustering Wind & varying from So. West to No. West. Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Still & Warm with Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Still & hot till abt. 2 Oclock then thunder & Rain with some Wind which afterwards dyed away.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Cool. Wind fresh from the No. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Wind very fresh from the So. West, and in the Night it blew a mere Hurricane from the same point with a little, & but a little Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Wind fresh from the Westward.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Calm and Still & yet Cool. In the forenoon Wind Eastwardly in the Afternoon & Cloudy.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Cloudy with appearances of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind fresh from the So. West & Warm. In the Afternoon thundr., & Rain for half an hour or more.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 28. Showery till 11 Oclock with very high Wind from the So. West & West all day, & cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Cool with the Wind though not much of it Westwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

June 1st. Upon looking over my Wheat, I found all those places which had been injurd by the March frosts extreamely thin, low & backwards, having branchd but little, & looking puny—indeed in many places the Ground was entirely naked and where it was not, there was but too much cause to apprehend that the Wheat woud be choaked with Weeds. It was also observable that all my early Wheat (generally speaking) was headed and heading. The common Wheat was but just putting out head; & the Red Straw Wheat had but very little or no appearance of head & was lower than any of the other, although first sown. The heads of the whole appeard short & did not promise any great increase. It was also remarkable that the Red Straw Wheat had a great number of Smutty or blasted heads in the same manner it had last year, when they did put out.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8th. Carpenters went to getting the frame for my Barn at the House.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

[1]5. The Maryland hound Bitch Lady took Forrester & was also servd by Captn., & refusd the Dogs on the 11th. Finishd breaking up Corn Ground at Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Finishd breakg. up Corn Ground at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Finishd Do. Do. at the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. About this time Captn. Posey’s Bitch Countess was discoverd Lind to Dabster & was immediately shut up & none but Sterling sufferd to go to her. Musick was also in heat & servd promiscuously by all the Dogs, intending to drown her Puppy’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 25. The Carpenters finishd getting the Frame for the Barn at my Ho. House.


Title: Observations [June 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

June 1st. Upon looking over my Wheat, I found all those places which had been injurd by the March frosts extreamely thin, low & backwards, having branchd but little, & looking puny—indeed in many places the Ground was entirely naked and where it was not, there was but too much cause to apprehend that the Wheat woud be choaked with Weeds.
It was also observable that all my early Wheat (generally speaking) was headed and heading. The common Wheat was but just putting out head; & the Red Straw Wheat had but very little or no appearance of head & was lower than any of the other, although first sown.
The heads of the whole appeard short & did not promise any great increase.
It was also remarkable that the Red Straw Wheat had a great number of Smutty or blasted heads in the same manner it had last year, when they did put out.

8th. Carpenters went to getting the frame for my Barn at the House.

[1]5. The Maryland hound Bitch Lady took Forrester & was also servd by Captn., & refusd the Dogs on the 11th.
Finishd breaking up Corn Ground at Doeg Run.

17. Finishd breakg. up Corn Ground at Muddy hole.

18. Finishd Do. Do. at the Mill.

22. About this time Captn. Posey’s Bitch Countess was discoverd Lind to Dabster & was immediately shut up & none but Sterling sufferd to go to her.
Musick was also in heat & servd promiscuously by all the Dogs, intending to drown her Puppy’s.

25. The Carpenters finishd getting the Frame for the Barn at my Ho. House.

28. Began to cut the upper part of my Timothy Meadow.


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

2. Dined at Dumfries and reachd home.


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

3. At Home all day.


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

4. Rid to see my Wheat at differt. Places. Doctr. Rumney came here in the afternn.


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

5. Went to Muddy hole with Doctr. Rumney to see the Cradlers at work.


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

6. Rid to Muddy hole and Doeg Run after Doctr. Rumney went away. When I returnd found Mr. Wm. Lee & Doctr. Lee here.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Doctr. Lee & all the rest went away & I rid to the Cradlers (cutting my Wheat at the Mill).


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 9. Rid to Muddy hole, the Mill, and Doeg Run before Dinner & to the Mill afterwards—where my People was harvesting.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Went to Church and returnd to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Rid to Muddy hole where three white men were Cradling—& then to the Mill where we were getting in Wheat. Mr. Chichester with his wife Miss S. McCarty, & Dr. Rumney came.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Rid to Muddy hole before breakfast where all hands were harvesting the Wheat. The Company went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went in to the Neck where I this day began my Harvest. Colo. Fairfax & Doctr. Lee dind here and returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Attended in the Neck Again.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Went by Muddy hole & Doeg Run to the Vestry at Pohick Church. Stayd there till half after 3 Oclock & only 4 Members coming returned by Captn. McCartys & dined there.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. In the Neck with my People Harvesting.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. In Ditto with Ditto. Mr. Richd. Graham came here in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. In Ditto with Do. in the Forenoon. In the Afternoon went with them to cut the Wheat at Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Went to the Harvest Field at Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Rid to Ditto in the forenoon—where I met with one Russel, a Tenant of mine upon the Land I bought of Carters Estate, coming down to see upon what terms he coud get the Land.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Went to Pohick Church.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Went to Alexandria & bought a Bricklayer from Mr. Piper & returnd to Dinner. In the Afternoon Mr. R. Alexander came.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Rid with Mr. Alexander to my Meadow & returnd with him to Dinner. Mr. Vale. Crawford here. They went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Rid to the Meadow again. Vale. Crawford & his Br. Wm. both came this Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. But little Wind—that Southwardly—very Warm. Rid to the Meadow in the Afternn. Writg. in the Fore.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Went to Alexa. Church. Dind at Colo. Carlyles & returnd in the Afternoon.


Title: [July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

July 1st. Went over to Stafford Court House to a meeting of the Missisipi. Dined and lodged there.

   With another change of ministers in England, and because of the new Indian treaties in progress which opened large parts of trans-Appalachian land to white settlement, the Mississippi Company’s hopes were quickening. Dr. Arthur Lee, brother of the company’s treasurer, William Lee, was taken into the company and chosen as the agent to be sent to England. He probably received his instructions at this meeting (carter [2]Clarence E. Carter, “Documents Relating to the Mississippi Land Company, 1763–1769.” American Historical Review 16 (1910–11): 311–19., 318; carter [1]Clarence Edwin Carter. Great Britain and the Illinois Country: 1763–1774. Washington, D.C., 1910., 109). The new agent, however, had little luck in his petitioning and lobbying. Although the Lee family—the original movers for the company—maintained their hopes up to the outbreak of the Revolution, GW was not so sanguine. While transferring his accounts to a new ledger in Jan. 1772, GW wrote off his £27 13s. 5d. investment in the company as a total loss instead of carrying it over (Richard Henry Lee to William Lee, 15 April 1774, ballaghJames Curtis Ballagh, ed. The Letters of Richard Henry Lee. 2 vols. New York, 1911-14., 1:106; General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 169).

   Stafford County’s courthouse at this time stood on the south side of Potomac Creek about four miles upstream from Marlborough. During the Revolution it was moved to a site near present Stafford, Va. (watkinsC. Malcolm Watkins. The Cultural History of Marlborough, Virginia: An Archeological and Historical Investigation of the Port Town for Stafford County and the Plantation of John Mercer . . .. Washington, D.C., 1968., 115–18), the location shown on the map on p. 1:220–21.

2. Dined at Dumfries and reachd home.

3. At Home all day.

4. Rid to see my Wheat at differt. Places. Doctr. Rumney came here in the afternn.

5. Went to Muddy hole with Doctr. Rumney to see the Cradlers at work.

6. Rid to Muddy hole and Doeg Run after Doctr. Rumney went away. When I returnd found Mr. Wm. Lee & Doctr. Lee here.

   Arthur Lee (1740–1792) was the youngest of the six surviving sons of Thomas Lee (1690–1750), builder of Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, and his wife, Hannah Ludwell Lee (1701–1749/50). He attended Eton and the

   University of Edinburgh, where he took a medical degree in 1764, and then returned to Virginia to practice medicine in Williamsburg. Arthur and his elder brother William (1739–1795) were now preparing for a visit to England which would see Arthur take up the study of law and William enter the tobacco trade in London (lee [1]Cazenove Gardner Lee, Jr. Lee Chronicle: Studies of the Early Generations of the Lees of Virginia. Edited by Dorothy Mills Parker. New York, 1957., 195). During this visit to Mount Vernon the brothers probably discussed with GW the prospects for the Mississippi Land Company, in which both were deeply involved.

7. Mr. Lee went away. Mr. Darnel & Daughter—Mr. Geo. Digges & his two eldest Sisters came here & stayed all Night.

   The Darnall (many spellings) family of Maryland descended from Col. Henry Darnall (d. 1711), who emigrated from England in 1672. This Mr. Darnall may be a great-grandson of Col. Henry, also named Henry, whose daughter Mary married Charles Carroll of Carrollton this same year (rowland [1]Kate Mason Rowland. The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1737–1832, with His Correspondence and Public Papers. 2 vols. New York, 1898., 2:445–47).

   George Digges (c.1742–1792) was the eldest son of William Digges of Warburton Manor. George’s two eldest sisters were Theresa (Tracy) and Elizabeth (Betty).

8. Doctr. Lee & all the rest went away & I rid to the Cradlers (cutting my Wheat at the Mill).

9. Rid to Muddy hole, the Mill, and Doeg Run before Dinner & to the Mill afterwards—where my People was harvesting.

10. Went to Church and returnd to Dinner.

11. Rid to Muddy hole where three white men were Cradling—& then to the Mill where we were getting in Wheat. Mr. Chichester with his wife Miss S. McCarty, & Dr. Rumney came.

   Sinah McCarty (died c.1809) was a daughter of Capt. Daniel McCarty of Mount Air and a sister of Mrs. Sarah McCarty Chichester, with whom she appears here.

   Rumney continued his treatment of Patsy Custis by giving her two capsules of musk, which in the eighteenth century was thought to be a strong antispasmodic agent and was commonly used as a remedy for epilepsy. Four or five days later Rumney apparently sent a dose of valerian to Patsy (receipt of William Rumney, 18 Feb. 1769, ViHi: Custis Papers).

12. Rid to Muddy hole before breakfast where all hands were harvesting the Wheat. The Company went away.

13. Went in to the Neck where I this day began my Harvest. Colo. Fairfax & Doctr. Lee dind here and returnd.

14. Attended in the Neck Again.

15. Went over again & drove back by Rain about One Oclock, which continued all the Afternoon.

16. Went by Muddy hole & Doeg Run to the Vestry at Pohick Church. Stayd there till half after 3 Oclock & only 4 Members coming returned by Captn. McCartys & dined there.

   By Virginia law, the presence of at least 7 of the 12 vestrymen was necessary to form a quorum (heningWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 7:303). The absence of so many members of the vestry on this occasion suggests the beginning of a new strategy by those vestrymen who disliked the location for the proposed new Pohick Church.

17. At home all day.

18. In the Neck with my People Harvesting.

19. In Ditto with Ditto. Mr. Richd. Graham came here in the afternoon.

   Richard Graham (d. 1796) was a Scottish merchant of Dumfries, Prince William County, who was heavily involved in western lands. In 1757 he

married Jane Brent (b. 1738), the youngest daughter of Col. George Brent (d. 1778).

20. In Ditto with Do. in the Forenoon. In the Afternoon went with them to cut the Wheat at Doeg Run.

21. Went to the Harvest Field at Ditto.

22. Rid to Ditto in the forenoon with my Wife & Patcy Custis.

23. Rid to Ditto in the forenoon—where I met with one Russel, a Tenant of mine upon the Land I bought of Carters Estate, coming down to see upon what terms he coud get the Land.

   George Russell was a tenant on land in Fauquier County formerly owned by the late George Carter (see main entries for 10 and 17 March 1769).

24. Went to Pohick Church.

25. Went to Alexandria & bought a Bricklayer from Mr. Piper & returnd to Dinner. In the Afternoon Mr. R. Alexander came.

   Michael Tracy (Treacy), probably an Irish indentured servant, was bought by GW for £18 4s., a good price if Tracy was an apt bricklayer (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277). In July 1770 a Michael Tracey was advertised in the Virginia Gazette as a runaway from Andrew Wales, brewer, of Alexandria (R, 26 July 1770).

26. Rid with Mr. Alexander to my Meadow & returnd with him to Dinner. Mr. Vale. Crawford here. They went away.

27. Rid to the Meadow again. Vale. Crawford & his Br. Wm. both came this Afternoon.

28. Went to the Meadow with the above two.

29. But little Wind—that Southwardly—very Warm. Rid to the Meadow in the Afternn. Writg. in the Fore.

30. Rid into the Neck and from thence to Doeg Run where we were Haymakg. Colo. Carlyle & Lady came last N. & went to Day.

31. Went to Alexa. Church. Dind at Colo. Carlyles & returnd in the Afternoon.

   The Fairfax vestry decided 27 Nov. 1766 to replace the parish’s two church buildings with new brick structures, one near Four Mile Run called Falls Church, and one at Alexandria, later called Christ Church. The vestry advertised

for bids and on 1 Jan. 1767 agreed with James Parsons (d. 1785) to build the church at Alexandria for £600. Because work on the new church was not yet finished, the worship services GW attended in town today must have been held in the old building (see entry for 3 Feb. 1760; powellMary G. Powell. The History of Old Alexandria, Virginia: From July 13, 1749 to May 24, 1861. Richmond, 1928., 85–87).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

July 1st. Cloudy & Cool in the Morning—but clear and very warm in the Afternoon and Night.


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

2. Clear and exceeding Hot with but little Wind. Night also Warm.


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

3. Clear and Warm but Windy from the So. West.


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

4. Cool in the Morning, warm afterwards & Cool at Night again—but little Wind.


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

5. Warm & Cloudy—with appearances of Rain. Wind Southwardly. The Afternoon, & Evening Cool.


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

6. Drizling in the Morning, & very cloudy, all day—with the Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Cool & clear—with the Wind at No. West & westwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear & tolerably cool. Wind at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear, warm, & still abt. Noon. Afterwards cooler Wind being risen from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Very warm and Sultry with appearances of Rain—but none fell. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Warm and but little Wind—& that Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear & Warm with a little Wind from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 15. Cloudy Morning & drizling & rainy Afternoon—with wind westwardly. Note this Rain continued slow till some time in the Night and with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Clear & cool in the forenoon with thunder abt. 11 Oclock. Abt. 2 Oclock a black Cloud with Wind and Rain from the No. West & at 5 a Secd. Cloud from the same Quarter.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Wind Westwardly and little of it. Day moderate.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Warm & but little Wind. Some appearance of Rain—but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Clear and very warm with a small breeze from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear & Exceeding hot till abt. 10 Oclock—then a little cooler by the Wind Rising from the Southward. Note—last Night & the Night before makes but the 4 or 5th. warm Night we have had this year.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22d. Clear & very warm—with the Wind Southwardly. Last Night warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Clear & very warm, with but little Wind & that variable. Hot Night again.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Very warm notwithstanding the Wind blew high from the So. W. In the Afternoon some Rain & Wind here but a good deal towards Alexa.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Cool & showery in places. Very cool in the Eveng. Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Wind at No. West & cool & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Wind Westwardly, clear, & somethg. warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 29. But little wind & that Southwardly. Very warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Very warm, with Rain flying abt. but none fell with us. Wind fresh from the southward in the Afternoon.


Title: Remarks—of the—Weather [July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

July 1st. Cloudy & Cool in the Morning—but clear and very warm in the Afternoon and Night.

2. Clear and exceeding Hot with but little Wind. Night also Warm.

3. Clear and Warm but Windy from the So. West.

4. Cool in the Morning, warm afterwards & Cool at Night again—but little Wind.

5. Warm & Cloudy—with appearances of Rain. Wind Southwardly. The Afternoon, & Evening Cool.

6. Drizling in the Morning, & very cloudy, all day—with the Wind Southwardly.

7. Cool & clear—with the Wind at No. West & westwardly.

8. Clear & tolerably cool. Wind at So. West.

9. Clear, warm, & still abt. Noon. Afterwards cooler Wind being risen from the Southward.

10. Very Sultry and hot—although the Wind blew fresh from So. & So. West. Clear.

11. Wind Southwardly—Warm—& showery abt. 2 Oclock.

12. Very warm and Sultry with appearances of Rain—but none fell. Wind Southwardly.

13. Warm and but little Wind—& that Southwardly.

14. Clear & Warm with a little Wind from the Southward.

15. Cloudy Morning & drizling & rainy Afternoon—with wind westwardly. Note this Rain continued slow till some time in the Night and with but little Wind.

16. Clear & cool in the forenoon with thunder abt. 11 Oclock. Abt. 2 Oclock a black Cloud with Wind and Rain from the No. West & at 5 a Secd. Cloud from the same Quarter.

17. Wind Westwardly and little of it. Day moderate.

18. Warm & but little Wind. Some appearance of Rain—but none fell.

19. Clear and very warm with a small breeze from the Southward.

20. Very warm with but little Wind and that Southwardly. Clear.

21. Clear & Exceeding hot till abt. 10 Oclock—then a little cooler by the Wind Rising from the Southward.
Note—last Night & the Night before makes but the 4 or 5th. warm Night we have had this year.

22d. Clear & very warm—with the Wind Southwardly. Last Night warm.

23. Clear & very warm, with but little Wind & that variable. Hot Night again.

24. Very warm notwithstanding the Wind blew high from the So. W.
In the Afternoon some Rain & Wind here but a good deal towards Alexa.

25. Cool & showery in places. Very cool in the Eveng. Wind at No. West.

26. Wind at No. West & cool & clear.

27. Wind Westwardly, clear, & somethg. warmer.

28. Clear & something warmer still. Wind Southerly.

29. But little wind & that Southwardly. Very warm.

30. Very little Wind but very hot with appearances of Rain tho none fell.

31. Very warm, with Rain flying abt. but none fell with us. Wind fresh from the southward in the Afternoon.


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

4. Began to cut my Wheat at the Mill—but upon examination, finding it too green desisted. Note, upon looking into my Wheat the Rust was observd to be more or less in it all—but, except some at Doeg Run it was thought no great damage woud follow as the Wheat was rather too forward.


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

5. Jonathan Farmer coming down last Night, & examining my Wheat to day was of opinion that some of Muddy hole field was fit, at least might be cut with safety. Accordingly began it with himself 3 other White Men & 4 Negroe Cradlers letting the grain lye upon the stubble abt. 2 days to dry.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Began to cut the Wheat at the Mill in the field round the Overseers House which was cut, & abt. 4 Acres in the other this day by 10 and sometimes 11 Cradlers which were all that worked amounting in the whole to abt. 40 Acres.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Six and sometimes 7 Cradlers, cut the remainder of the field (abt. 28 Acres) on this side to day. The Wheat at Muddy hole, was (that is all that was cut down) got into Shocks by 11 Oclock to day—and abt. ¾ of the field round the Overseers House at the Mill. Pulld the Flax at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 11–12 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 11 & 12th. Pulld the Flax at home. Got in the most of the Mill Wheat but was prevented finishing by Rain. Three white Men (Cradlers) cut down abt. 10 or 12 Acres of Muddy hole Wheat. Hands Went to Muddy hole & finishd Harvesting the Wheat there—that is cutting & securing it in shocks.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Began cuttg. the Wheat next to it on the Riverside. Abt. One Oclock was stopd by Rain which continued the whole afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Finishd this cut, & began the one next to the House. This day it also Raind & stopd the Harvest abt. an hour or two.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Dischargd three Cradlers keepg. only Jonathan Palmer & Eliab Roberts.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Finishd one quarter of the above field abt. 2 Oclock. Note this cut was, in places, greatly injured by the Rust.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. About 2 Oclock finishd another Cut in this field being of the same Size of the last. This was also injured by Rust—as well as by the frosts.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Finishd the last cut abt. One Oclock this day (Monday) part of wch. was much hurt by the Rust—& cut down the small piece at home & securd it. Note—from the most accurate experiments I coud make this year, upon Wheat siezd with the Rust before it is fully formd & beginning to Harden, it appears to be a matter of very little consequence whether it is cut down so soon as it is siezd with this distemper (I mean the parts of the field that are so)—or suffered to Stand—for in either case the grain perishes & has little or no flower in it. That indeed wch. is sufferd to stand may gain a little, & but a little in respect to the grain & the other in respect to the straw so that I think it is nearly equal wch. of the two methods is followed. Note also—from this year’s experiments, it appears certain that Wheat may be cut down (suffering it to take a day or two’s Sun) much Sooner than it generally is. I took Wheat of three differt. degrees of Ripeness i.e., some whose Straw and head was green (but the grain of full size and Milky)—some whose Straw from the upper joint was colouring—and some that the Straw from the said joint was col[ore]d but the Knots (at the Joints) Green, & observd after they had lain 2 or 3 days in the sun that the grain of the first was but little shrunk—the 2d. scarce perceptable—& the last plump & full by wch. it evidently appear’s that to cut Wheat Knot green is not only safe but the most desirable state it can be cut in—& that where there is a large qty. the question is, whether it may not be better to begin while the wheat is colouring from the upper joint as the grain will loose but little (if any) than to cut it in an overripe state when it may loose a good deal more by shattering. For my part I am clear it is better to cut it green & shall have no reluctance to practice where the whole cannot be cut at the exact period one woud choose it.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Began to cut my Timothy Meadow.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Finished Do. & got into Stacks without damage.  About the 27 and 28 Sowed some Turnep Seed in Corn Ground at Morris’s—that is at Doeg Run Plann. Memm. On the 30th. of this Month I agreed with Jonathan Palmer to come and Work with my Carpenters; either at their Trade—Cowpering—or, in short at any thing that he may be set about—In consideration of which, I am to pay him £40 pr. Ann. allow him 400 lbs. of Meat & 20 Bushels of Indian Corn. I am also to allow him to keep two Milch Cows (one half of whose Increase I am to have) and to have Wheat for which he is to pay. He is to be allowed a Garden & I am to get the old dwelling House at Muddy hole repaird for him. I am also to take his Waggon at £17, if he brings it free from damage and it is no older than he says—that is about a 12 Month. Note he is to be here as early as possible in April—if not in March.


Title: Observations [July 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

July 2d. Finishd going over my Corn ground in the Neck—both with the Plows & Hoes.

4. Began to cut my Wheat at the Mill—but upon examination, finding it too green desisted.
Note, upon looking into my Wheat the Rust was observd to be more or less in it all—but, except some at Doeg Run it was thought no great damage woud follow as the Wheat was rather too forward.

5. Jonathan Farmer coming down last Night, & examining my Wheat to day was of opinion that some of Muddy hole field was fit, at least might be cut with safety. Accordingly began it with himself 3 other White Men & 4 Negroe Cradlers letting the grain lye upon the stubble abt. 2 days to dry.

   The three white cradlers were Eliab Roberts, Abner Roberts, and Andrew Jones. The text clearly reads Jonathan “Farmer,” but GW meant to write Jonathan Palmer, who was hired as head harvester for 10s. per day (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 274, 277).

8. Began to cut the Wheat at the Mill in the field round the Overseers House which was cut, & abt. 4 Acres in the other this day by 10 and sometimes 11 Cradlers which were all that worked amounting in the whole to abt. 40 Acres.

9. Six and sometimes 7 Cradlers, cut the remainder of the field (abt. 28 Acres) on this side to day.
The Wheat at Muddy hole, was (that is all that was cut down) got into Shocks by 11 Oclock to day—and abt. ¾ of the field round the Overseers House at the Mill.
Pulld the Flax at Muddy hole.

   On this day GW paid off Abner Roberts and Andrew Jones, giving them a total of £3 1s. 6d. for their work (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 274).

11 & 12th. Pulld the Flax at home.
Got in the most of the Mill Wheat but was prevented finishing by Rain.
Three white Men (Cradlers) cut down abt. 10 or 12 Acres of Muddy hole Wheat.
Hands Went to Muddy hole & finishd Harvesting the Wheat there—that is cutting & securing it in shocks.

   The three white cradlers were Jonathan Palmer, Eliab Roberts, and Robert Langley.

13. Some hands went & got the residue of the Mill Wheat into the House & all the Rest with the Cradlers went into the Neck & cut down & securd little more than 20 Acres of Wheat.

14. The hands from the Mill joind the others, & altogether finishd the Cut of Wheat (containing 50 Acres) at the Orchard point great part of which was very thick, Rank, & heavy Cuttg.

15. Began cuttg. the Wheat next to it on the Riverside. Abt. One Oclock was stopd by Rain which continued the whole afternoon.

16. Finishd this cut, & began the one next to the House. This day it also Raind & stopd the Harvest abt. an hour or two.

17. Dischargd three Cradlers keepg. only Jonathan Palmer & Eliab Roberts.

   The three discharged cradlers, each of whom was paid 5s. per day, were David Kinsey, paid for 2 days of work; William Black, for 1¾ days; and Robert Langley, for 6 days (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 274).

18. Nine Cradlers at work including the two white men.

20th. About 11 Oclock finished Harvesting the Wheat in the Neck; that is cutting it down, & securing it shocks. In the whole, allowing for the time lost by Rain we were six days doing it.
About 2 Oclock in the Afternoon began to cut the Field at Doeg Run containing 150 Acres with 10 Cradlers—3 of them sorry hands.

21. Finishd one quarter of the above field abt. 2 Oclock.
Note this cut was, in places, greatly injured by the Rust.

22. About 2 Oclock finishd another Cut in this field being of the same Size of the last. This was also injured by Rust—as well as by the frosts.

23. At 12 Oclock finishd the third cut of 37½ Acres at Doeg Run & clapd into the last one.

25. Finishd the last cut abt. One Oclock this day (Monday) part of wch. was much hurt by the Rust—& cut down the small piece at home & securd it.
Note—from the most accurate experiments I coud make this year, upon Wheat siezd with the Rust before it is fully formd & beginning to Harden, it appears to be a matter of very little consequence whether it is cut down so soon as it is siezd with this distemper (I mean the parts of the field that are so)—or suffered to Stand—for in either case the grain perishes & has little or no flower in it. That indeed wch. is sufferd to stand may gain a little, & but a little in respect to the grain & the other in respect to the straw so that I think it is nearly equal wch. of the two methods is followed.
Note also—from this year’s experiments, it appears certain that Wheat may be cut down (suffering it to take a day or two’s Sun) much Sooner than it generally is. I took Wheat of three differt. degrees of Ripeness i.e., some whose Straw and head was green (but the grain of full size and Milky)—some whose Straw from the upper joint was colouring—and some that the Straw from the said joint was col[ore]d but the Knots (at the Joints) Green, & observd after they had lain 2 or 3 days in the sun that the grain of the first was but little shrunk—the 2d. scarce perceptable—& the last plump & full by wch. it evidently appear’s that to cut Wheat Knot green is not only safe but the most desirable state it can be cut in—& that where there is a large qty. the question is, whether it may not be better to begin while the wheat is colouring from the upper joint as the grain will loose but little (if any) than to cut it in an overripe state when it may loose a good deal more by shattering. For my part I am clear it is better to cut it green & shall have no reluctance to practice where the whole cannot be cut at the exact period one woud choose it.

26. Began to cut my Timothy Meadow.

   GW discharged Eliab Roberts today, paying him £5 13s. (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277).

30. Finished Do. & got into Stacks without damage.

About the 27 and 28 Sowed some Turnep Seed in Corn Ground at Morris’s—that is at Doeg Run Plann.
Memm. On the 30th. of this Month I agreed with Jonathan Palmer to come and Work with my Carpenters; either at their Trade—Cowpering—or, in short at any thing that he may be set about—In consideration of which, I am to pay him £40 pr. Ann. allow him 400 lbs. of Meat & 20 Bushels of Indian Corn. I am also to allow him to keep two Milch Cows (one half of whose Increase I am to have) and to have Wheat for which he is to pay. He is to be allowed a Garden & I am to get the old dwelling House at Muddy hole repaird for him. I am also to take his Waggon at £17, if he brings it free from damage and it is no older than he says—that is about a 12 Month. Note he is to be here as early as possible in April—if not in March.

   On this day GW paid Edmund Palmer 17s. for 1 day of cradling and 4 days of mowing. He also settled accounts with his head harvester, Jonathan Palmer, who was paid £6 for 18 days of cradling and 4 days of mowing, plus a bonus of £1 4s. “in considn. of his g[oo]d. behaviour” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277). The contract with Palmer is typical of the time: while the form is standard, the content, being the product of bargaining by both sides, reflects the particular strengths and needs of each party. Such contracts were usually annual, and their renegotiation tended to reflect the changed circumstances of one or both parties.

   cowpering: an older spelling of coopering.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Aug. 1st. Went to Belvoir & dined. Returnd in the Afternoon.


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

2. Rid to the Mill, Doeg Run, and Muddy hole. Miss Manly dind here & Mr. Alexr. came in the Evening.


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

3. Mr. Alexander & Miss Manly went away. Rid to the Mill & Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Rid to the Mill Doeg Run and Muddy hole and returnd to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & Mill & returnd when I found Doctr. Rumney.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. The hounds havg. started a Fox in self huntg. we followd & run it after sevl. hours chase into a hold when digging it out it escapd. The Doctr. went home.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 17. Dined at Belvoir with the above Gentlemen & returnd in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Rid round all my Plantations after the above gentlemen went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Set of for my Brother Sam’s & Nomomy. Crossd at the Mouth of Nangamy & went to my Brothers.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. At my Brothers. Colo. Lewis & my Brothr. Charles came there.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Still at my Brothers with other Company—his Child being Christned.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Hauling the Sein under Mr. Lawrence Washington’s shore.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Imbarkd on board my Schooner for Nomomy. Lay of Captn. Laidler’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Hauling the Sein upon the Bar of Cedar point for Sheeps heads but catchd none. Run down below the Mouth of Machodack & came to.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Went to Nomony Church & returnd to my Brother’s to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Went into Machodack Ck. fishing and dind with the Revd. Mr. Smith.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Hauling the Sein on the Bars near Hollis’s Marsh & other places.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Dined with Mr. Jno. Smith who was marryed yesterday to the widow Lee.


Title: [August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Aug. 1st. Went to Belvoir & dined. Returnd in the Afternoon.

2. Rid to the Mill, Doeg Run, and Muddy hole. Miss Manly dind here & Mr. Alexr. came in the Evening.

   miss manly: probably Mary (Molly) Manley, eldest daughter of Harrison and Margaret Manley.

3. Mr. Alexander & Miss Manly went away. Rid to the Mill & Muddy hole.

4. Went a fox hunting in the Neck with Lund Washington & Mr. Thos. Triplet. Started nothing.

5. Went by Muddy hole—the Mill—& Doeg Run Plantations to a Race at Cameron. Returnd in the Evening.

   Cameron was the name of the neighborhood which began at the junction of several major roads leading into Alexandria, between one and two miles west of town, and thence extending several miles west along Cameron Run, the stream which fed into Hunting Creek. In GW’s lifetime Cameron lent its name to a proposed town, several family homes, a mill, and an ordinary. In the sense that GW uses the name here, Cameron was probably the junction point itself, a convenient location for horse-racing fans who lived in Alexandria or in the surrounding countryside (see harrison [1]Fairfax Harrison. Landmarks of Old Prince William: A Study of Origins in Northern Virginia. Berryville, Va., 1964., 414–15; riceHoward C. Rice, Jr., and Anne S. K. Brown, eds. The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783. 2 vols. Princeton, N.J., 1972., 2:89).

6. At home all day.

7. Ditto—Ditto.

8. Went a fox hunting but Started nothing. Visited Plantation’s in the Neck & Mill.

9. At home all day.

10. Rid to the Mill Doeg Run and Muddy hole and returnd to Dinner.

11. Rid to the same places as yesterday & returnd to Dinner.

12. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & Mill & returnd when I found Doctr. Rumney.

13. The hounds havg. started a Fox in self huntg. we followd & run it after sevl. hours chase into a hold when digging it out it escapd. The Doctr. went home.

14. At home. Mrs. Fairfax & Miss Nicholas came in the Afternoon.

15. Went to Court. Mr. Igns. Digges Mr. Lee and Mr. Hill came here.

   Ignatius Digges (1707–1785) of Melwood, Prince George’s County, Md., was the grandson of William Digges (d. 1698), who moved from Virginia to Maryland in the late seventeenth century. Ignatius, a first cousin to William Digges of Warburton, married Elizabeth Parnham, and after her death Mary Carroll, daughter of Daniel Carroll of Duddington (1707–1734). His only child, a daughter Mary Digges (1745–1805) by his first wife, married Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819), of Prince George’s County, Md., who is probably the Mr. Lee mentioned here. Lee was a grandson of Philip Lee (1678–1718), who moved from Virginia to Maryland in 1700.

   In the mid-seventeenth century Clement Hill settled in Maryland, where he sat on the council. Since Hill had no issue, his nephew, also named Clement Hill (1670–1743), inherited his uncle’s lands in Maryland, migrated from England to Maryland in 1696, and eventually settled at the Woodyard, Prince George’s County. This Clement had three sons, John (d. 1800), Clement (1707–1782), and Henry (d. 1796), and two grandsons, Clement Jr. (1743–1807) and Henry Jr., all of whom were alive in 1768 (mackenzie [1]George Norbury Mackenzie, ed. Colonial Families of the United States of America. 7 vols. 1907-20. Reprint. Baltimore, 1966., 2:310–17).

16. At home with the above Gentlemen. Mrs. Fairfax & Miss Nicholas went home after Dinner.

17. Dined at Belvoir with the above Gentlemen & returnd in the afternoon.

18. Rid round all my Plantations after the above gentlemen went away.

19. At home—settled & paid the Sheriff.

   Once a year the justices of each county would submit the names of three of their number to the governor and council, who would choose one of the three to be sheriff for the ensuing year. The Virginia county sheriff was more an administrator than a law officer, having the major responsibility for running elections, serving summonses, and collecting the annual levies in his county, which included those laid by the county and the parishes within the county as well as public levies set for the entire colony by the General Assembly. Much of this collecting was done by sub-sheriffs; in 1768 Sampson Darrell was sheriff of Fairfax County and Pierce Bayly was the sub-sheriff who appears here to collect the balance owed by GW for this year, £1 15s. 3d. (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277).

   For the Fairfax County levy this year GW paid for 85 tithables at 14 pounds of tobacco each. Sixty-seven of these tithables lived in Truro Parish and thus came under that parish’s levy of 41 pounds of tobacco per tithable. GW also paid the public tax of £1 10s. on his chariot and his chair as well as some minor fees he owed for government services. The total of the levies paid by GW in 1768 was 3,937 pounds of tobacco and £3 14s. 4d. cash. Because GW no longer grew tobacco at Mount Vernon, he paid his tobacco levies in local tobacco warehouse, or transfer, notes, mostly on tobacco paid

him by his local Mount Vernon renters. With tobacco worth 2d. a pound, these notes were equivalent to £32 16s. 2d. in currency (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 236; Truro Vestry Book, 128, 130, DLC. See also flippinPercy Scott Flippin. The Royal Government in Virginia, 1624-1775. New York, 1919., 312–17; sydnorCharles S. Sydnor. American Revolutionaries in the Making: Political Practices in Washington’s Virginia. 1952. Reprint. New York, 1965., 68–70, 78; heningWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 7:643–44).

20. Set of for my Brother Sam’s & Nomomy. Crossd at the Mouth of Nangamy & went to my Brothers.

   Mrs. Washington and Patsy Custis accompanied GW on this trip, and Jacky Custis, taking a vacation from his studies, met them today at Samuel Washington’s house (GW to Jonathan Boucher, 19 Aug. 1768, owned by Mr. Sol Feinstone, Washington Crossing, Pa.). During the family’s stay in the Chotank area, GW loaned Samuel £1 and apparently played cards twice, losing £1 on one occasion and winning 3s. 9d. on the other (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277).

21. At my Brothers. Colo. Lewis & my Brothr. Charles came there.

22. Still at my Brothers with other Company—his Child being Christned.

   This child was one of several that did not live to maturity (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748–1799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 1:285n).

23. Hauling the Sein under Mr. Lawrence Washington’s shore.

24. Imbarkd on board my Schooner for Nomomy. Lay of Captn. Laidler’s.

   John Laidler (d. 1773), of Laidler’s ferry, just above Lower Cedar Point in Charles County, Md. Laidler’s was the major ferry crossing to the Virginia shore on that part of the Potomac River.

25. Hauling the Sein upon the Bar of Cedar point for Sheeps heads but catchd none. Run down below the Mouth of Machodack & came to.

   Upper Machodoc Creek, in Stafford (now in King George) County, flows into the Potomac about 14 miles above GW’s birthplace at Pope’s Creek, Westmoreland County.

26. Reachd my Brother John’s at Night.

   While the Washingtons were in Westmoreland County, Jacky Custis became “much disorder’d by an intermitting fever, attended with billeous vomittings,” and Dr. Charles Mortimer of Fredericksburg was called to treat him. Jacky was soon better, but he remained so “very weak & low,” that “his Mamma” insisted on taking him to Mount Vernon until he was fully recovered (GW to Jonathan Boucher, 4 Sept. 1768, PU; blantonWyndham B. Blanton. Medicine in Virginia in the Eighteenth Century. Richmond, 1931., 358–59).

27. Hauling the Sein upon Hollis’s Marsh Bar & elsewhere for Sheeps heads but catchd none.

   Hollis Marsh was at the upper cape of Nomini Bay.

28. Went to Nomony Church & returnd to my Brother’s to Dinner.

29. Went into Machodack Ck. fishing and dind with the Revd. Mr. Smith.

   Lower Machodoc Creek empties into the Potomac River about two miles below Nomini Bay in Westmoreland County, forming a bay about one mile wide at its mouth. This creek is not to be confused with Jackson’s Creek, also in Westmoreland County, which empties into the Potomac six miles below Lower Machodoc Creek and was sometimes called “Lower Machodoc” (eatonDavid W. Eaton. Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, Virginia Patents: Showing how Lands were Patented from the Crown & Proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia . . .. Richmond, 1942., 71).

   The Cople Parish glebe, where Thomas Smith lived, was near the mouth of the Lower Machodoc Creek about three miles east of Bushfield (fithianHunter Dickinson Farish, ed. Journal & Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian, 1773–1774: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion. Williamsburg, Va., 1943., 190).

30. Hauling the Sein on the Bars near Hollis’s Marsh & other places.

31. Dined with Mr. Jno. Smith who was marryed yesterday to the widow Lee.

   John Smith (1715–1771) of Fleets Bay plantation on Indian Creek, Northumberland County, was a second cousin to GW. He had previously been married to Mary Jaquelin (1714–1764) of Jamestown and had lived for many years at Shooter’s Hill plantation, Middlesex County. In 1767 he established a smallpox inoculation hospital at Fleets Bay, despite the fear of some Virginians that he was opening “a second Pandora’s Box,” spreading the disease instead of preventing it. In Feb. 1768 he was accused of causing two or three outbreaks of smallpox in the colony, including one in Williamsburg, by failing to quarantine his patients long enough after inoculation (William Nelson to John Norton, 14 Aug. 1767 and 27 Feb. 1768; mason [1]Frances Norton Mason, ed. John Norton & Sons, Merchants of London and Virginia, Being the Papers from Their Counting House for the Years 1750 to 1795. 1937. Reprint. New York, 1968., 31–33, 38–40). But he persisted in offering his services as an inoculator until his death (Va. Gaz., R, 9 June 1768 and 20 April 1769).

   the widow lee: Mary, daughter of J. Philip Smith and widow of both Jesse Ball (1716–1747) of Lancaster County and Col. John Lee (1724–1767) of Essex and Westmoreland counties. John Lee had left Mary the use, for her lifetime, of his land and slaves at Cabin Point in Westmoreland County, about 3½ miles east of Bushfield near the mouth of the Lower Machodoc Creek (indenture between John Smith and Mary Lee, 30 Aug. 1768, Westmoreland County Deeds and Wills, 1768–73, 13–15, Vi Microfilm). The newly married couple were now living at Cabin Point, and it was probably there that GW dined with Smith on this day.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Augt. 1. But little Wind & yet not very warm.


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

2. Clear & warm. Wind Eastwardly.


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

3. Wind Eastwardly—with appearances of Rain but none fell.


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

4. But little Wind with great appearance of a settled Rain after noon tho not enough fell to make the House eves run.


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

5. Very warm with the wind Southwardly.


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

6. Exceeding hot—& still till the Evening, then a slight breeze from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Very Warm, Wind Southwardly. Abt. 3 Oclock a slight Shower here & better at the Mill & Doeg Run—to the No. Wt. & Southward the appearance of a great deal of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Cloudy Morning, with Showers in difft. places but none here. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cloudy, with sometimes a mist till abt. One clock—after which two or three smart Showers for a few Minutes from the S.W.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. A fine Settled Rain from the Northward for two or three hours in the Morning—with slight Showers afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Cool Wind being at No. West—with gt. appearances of Rain—but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear and tolerably warm. Wind Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Wind abt. Southwest & tolerably fresh, otherwise Warm. Clouds to the Westward & thunder with a great deal of Rain upwards—but none here.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Great appearances of Rain but none fell with us. Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Clear and Warm with very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Clear and warm—also still.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear, & not warm—wind, what little there was, abt. So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear & cool. Wind So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. The Wind fresh from the No. West all day and very cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Warmer, but still cool, with the Wind from the Eastward.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Warm with very little Wind and that Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Exceeding Hot with very little or no Wind all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Very warm also with very little wind. Abt. 1 Oclock Thunder, but no rain. At Nomony.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Warm with but little wind and some Clouds, but no Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Brisk Eastwardly Wind in the Morning. Calm midday, & Westwardly Wind in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Clear with the Wind Westwardly & not warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Augt. 1st. Began to tread out Wheat at the Mill. Also began to draw it in, in the Neck.


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

2. Began to draw it in (that is to carry it from the field on this side the Run over to the Barn) with only my Ox Cart at Doeg R.


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

5. Began to cut my Timothy Seed—there. Getting Wheat in at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Sowed Turnep Seed at home—in the Neck and at Muddy hole Plann. Began to Sow Wheat at the Mill & at Doeg Run.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Sowed Turneps at the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Began to beat Cyder at Doeg Run Muddy hole, & in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Set in to Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 August 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 26. Finishd drawing in & securing my Wheat in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1. Set out from Nomony in my return to Chotanck. Lodgd on board the Vessel between Swan Point & Cedr. P.


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

2. Came up as high as Hoes ferry & Walk to my Brother Sams.


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

3. Went to Mr. John Stiths & dined there. Returnd in the afternoon.


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

4. Went to Church. Dined at Colo. Harrison & returnd to my Brs. in the afternoon.


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

5. Crossd over to the lower point of Nangemoy where I met my Chariot & returnd home.


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

6. Went in the Forenoon to the Mill—Doeg Run & Muddy hole. In the Afternoon paid a visit to Majr. Fairfax (Brother to Lord Fx.) at Belvoir.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Went to a Ball in Alexandria.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Proceeded to the Meeting of our Vestry at the New Church and lodgd at Captn. Edwd. Paynes.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Returnd home & dind at Belvoir with Lord Fairfax &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. At Home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Lord Fairfax, & his Brother & Colo. Fairfax & Mr. B. Fairfax dind here. The latter stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went a fox huntg. with Lord Fairfax Colo. Fairfax & B. Fairfax. Catchd nothg.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

 14. Mr. B. Fairfax & myself went a huntg. Started a Fox & run it into a hole but did not catch it.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Dined at Belvoir with Colo. Robt. Burwell.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Went into the Neck. Returnd to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. At home—Colo. Robt. Burwell, Mr. Grymes & Colo. Fairfax dind here. The latter went home in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Colo. & Mrs. Fairfax dind & lodgd here.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went to Court with Colo. Burwell &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Colo. Burwell &ca. went away to Belvoir—& Mrs. Washington & the two Childn. went up to Alexandria to see the Inconstant, or way to Win him Acted.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Stayd in Town all day & saw the Tragedy of Douglas Playd.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Came home in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Went a fox hunting & catchd a Bitch Fox, after abt. 2 Hours Chase.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. At Home all day. Colo. Henry Lee & Lady, & Miss Ballendine came to dinner & stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. At Home. The above Company went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Went Fox huntg. in the Neck. Started & run a Fox or Foxes 3 Hours & then lost.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Went to a Purse Race at Accatinck & returnd with Messrs. Robt. and George Alexander.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. At Home all day. After Dinner Mr. Geo. Alexander went away. The other (Robt.) stayd.


Title: [September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1. Set out from Nomony in my return to Chotanck. Lodgd on board the Vessel between Swan Point & Cedr. P.

   Here GW must mean Lower Cedar Point, in Charles County, Md., only a few miles up the Potomac River from Swan Point and just across the river from the lower side of Chotank (now Mathias) Neck.

2. Came up as high as Hoes ferry & Walk to my Brother Sams.

3. Went to Mr. John Stiths & dined there. Returnd in the afternoon.

   GW’s host is probably John Stith (1724–1773), son of Drury and Elizabeth Buckner Stith; John married Elizabeth Wray (d. 1806) of Hampton and King George County.

4. Went to Church. Dined at Colo. Harrison & returnd to my Brs. in the afternoon.

   Nathaniel Harrison (1703–1791), of Brandon, Prince George County, was the eldest son of Nathaniel Harrison (1677–1727) and Mary Cary Harrison of Wakefield, Surry County. After the death of his first wife, Mary Digges Harrison (1717–1743), he married Lucy Carter, daughter of Robert “King” Carter and widow of Henry Fitzhugh (d. 1742) of Eagle’s Nest, where GW was visiting on this date.

5. Crossd over to the lower point of Nangemoy where I met my Chariot & returnd home.

6. Went in the Forenoon to the Mill—Doeg Run & Muddy hole. In the Afternoon paid a visit to Majr. Fairfax (Brother to Lord Fx.) at Belvoir.

   Maj. Robert Fairfax (1707–1793), of Leeds Castle, Yorkshire, Eng., was the younger brother of Thomas Fairfax, sixth Baron Fairfax of Cameron. Robert had recently arrived from England to visit his relatives, dividing his time between Belvoir and Lord Fairfax’s home, Greenway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley. Robert preferred Belvoir, finding that Valley living placed him “quite beyond the gentry . . . among the woods, with nothing but buckskins,

viz., back-woodsmen and brutes . . . it is almost past description” (quoted in brownStuart E. Brown, Jr. Virginia Baron: The Story of Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax. Berryville, Va., 1965., 160).

7. Dined at Belvoir with Mrs. W——n &ca.

8. Went to a Ball in Alexandria.

9. Proceeded to the Meeting of our Vestry at the New Church and lodgd at Captn. Edwd. Paynes.

   The “New Church,” built for the vestry by Edward Payne to serve the upper part of Truro Parish, was about 12 miles north-northwest of Colchester. Although the building was not quite finished at the time of this meeting, the vestrymen, “understanding that it is the general Desire of the People in this part of the Parish to have the Church received,” voted four to three to open it for use, GW voting with the majority (Truro Vestry Book, 131, DLC).

10. Returnd home & dind at Belvoir with Lord Fairfax &ca.

11. At Home all day.

12. Lord Fairfax, & his Brother & Colo. Fairfax & Mr. B. Fairfax dind here. The latter stayd all Night.

13. Went a fox huntg. with Lord Fairfax Colo. Fairfax & B. Fairfax. Catchd nothg.

14. Mr. B. Fairfax & myself went a huntg. Started a Fox & run it into a hole but did not catch it.

15. Dined at Belvoir with Colo. Robt. Burwell.

   Robert Burwell (1720–1777), a planter from Isle of Wight County, was a member of the council 1764–76. Besides his home plantation in Isle of Wight, he owned land in Surry, Loudoun, Prince William, and Frederick counties (isle of wight“Isle of Wight County Records.” William and Mary Quarterly, 1st ser., 7 (1899): 205–315., 311–13).

16. Went into the Neck. Returnd to dinner.

17. At home—Colo. Robt. Burwell, Mr. Grymes & Colo. Fairfax dind here. The latter went home in the Evening.

   In GW’s lifetime the Grymes family of most prominence in Virginia descended from John Grymes (1691–1748), grandson of Charles Grymes the immigrant. John, who was receiver general of Virginia, 1723–48, bought Brandon in Middlesex County, which became the Grymes family seat. At the time of this diary entry two of John’s three sons were still living: Benjamin Grymes (1725–c.1776), of Smithfield, Spotsylvania County, which he represented in the House of Burgesses 1766–71; and Ludwell Grymes (b. 1733), of Gloucester County and by 1771 of Burlington, Orange County. John Grymes’s eldest son, Philip, died in 1754; Philip’s sons were Peyton, Benjamin, Charles, John (who was at Eton in 1760), and Philip Ludwell Grymes (1746–1805) of Brandon, a burgess for Middlesex County, 1769–70.

18. Colo. & Mrs. Fairfax dind & lodgd here.

19. Went to Court with Colo. Burwell &ca.

   On this day the Fairfax County court formally received a new commission of the peace from the governor and the council. Dated 29 July 1768, it authorized 23 justices for the county, including all the current justices but one and adding three new members to the court: GW, Daniel French, and Edward Payne (va. exec. jls.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66., 6:345). The total number of justices varied from time to time and from county to county. The law only required that a minimum of 8 justices be appointed for each county, and the number added above that limit depended primarily on the changing population and needs of the various counties (heningWilliam Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619. 13 vols. 1819–23. Reprint. Charlottesville, Va., 1969., 5:489; sydnorCharles S. Sydnor. American Revolutionaries in the Making: Political Practices in Washington’s Virginia. 1952. Reprint. New York, 1965., 79). In court today several of the old justices renewed their oaths of office according to law, but GW did not take his oaths until 21 Sept. (Fairfax County Order Book for 1768–70, 36–55, Vi Microfilm).

20. Colo. Burwell &ca. went away to Belvoir—& Mrs. Washington & the two Childn. went up to Alexandria to see the Inconstant, or way to Win him Acted.

   The Inconstant, or The Way to Win Him, by the Irish playwright George Farquhar (1677–1707), was first produced in London in 1702. Although not

one of Farquhar’s better farces, it became highly popular later in the century, enjoying long runs at Covent Garden and Drury Lane (farquharCharles Stonehill, ed. The Complete Works of George Farquhar. 2 vols. 1930. Reprint. New York, 1967., 1:213–78). GW, who accompanied his family to town today, paid £3 12s. 6d. for tickets to this play and the one seen on the following day, both of which were performed by David Verling’s Virginia Company (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277; rankinHugh F. Rankin. The Theater in Colonial America. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1960., 145–46).

21. Stayd in Town all day & saw the Tragedy of Douglas Playd.

   Douglas, written by John Home (1722–1808), a Presbyterian clergyman of Edinburgh, was produced first in Edinburgh in Dec. 1756 and opened in London at Covent Garden the following year. The play was considered one of the finest British tragedies of the period and with its medieval Scottish setting, probably drew well in Alexandria, a town founded and still heavily populated by Scots (see tunneyHubert J. Tunney, ed. “Home’s Douglas.” Bulletin of the University of Kansas 25 (1924).).

22. Came home in the forenoon.

23. Went a fox hunting & catchd a Bitch Fox, after abt. 2 Hours Chase.

24. At Home all day. Colo. Henry Lee & Lady, & Miss Ballendine came to dinner & stayd all Night.

   Col. Henry Lee (1729–1787) of Leesylvania, Prince William County, was a younger son of Henry Lee (1691–1747) of Lee Hall, Westmoreland County, and a cousin of William and Arthur Lee. His wife was Lucy Grymes Lee,

daughter of Charles Grymes of Moratico, Richmond County. Colonel Lee, like GW, was first elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758 and served until the Revolution.

   Miss Ballendine is probably Frances Ballendine (d. 1793) of Dumfries, sister of John Ballendine.

25. At Home. The above Company went away after Breakfast.

26. Went Fox huntg. in the Neck. Started & run a Fox or Foxes 3 Hours & then lost.

27. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, & Mill.

28. Dined at Colo. Fairfax’s and returnd in the Afternoon.

29. Went to a Purse Race at Accatinck & returnd with Messrs. Robt. and George Alexander.

   GW spent 12s. 6d. at the race and also paid Robert Sanford 12s. “for Pacing my Horse” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 277).

   George Dent Alexander (d. 1780), of Fairfax County, was a younger brother of Robert Alexander.

30. At Home all day. After Dinner Mr. Geo. Alexander went away. The other (Robt.) stayd.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1. Brisk Eastwardly Wind in the Morning. Northwardly afterwards & Cool.


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

4. Warm. Wind rather Westwardly tho but little of it.


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

5. Tolerably pleast. Wind Eastwardly in the Morning & Evening but calm Midday.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Heavy Cloud in the Night, with thunder & lightning, but not rain sufft. to lay dust.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Very cool & clear, with the Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Cool & clear again, Wind Shifting to the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Great appearances of Rain in the Morning, with thunder & Lightning but no Rain fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear and Cool. Wind at No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear but not so cold as yesterday Wind being Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Wind Southwardly with a fog in the Morning & Clouds all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. But little Wind yet cool with some appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Wind Northwardly & cool—with great appearances of Rain—especially in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17th. But little Wind & that Westwardly. Cool—with appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Wind at No. West & very cool, with great appearances of Rain in the Forenoon, but clear afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. A Severe frost, wch. killd much Tobo. &ca. abt. Ravensworth & higher up. Wind Shifting Southwardly became warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Warm with the Wind at South.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Very warm. Wind still Southwardly with appearances of Rain in the Morning and Evening but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Thunder, with severe wind (from the Northwest) and some Rain in the Morning. In the afternn. & Night a gd. deal of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Cloudy, and sometime misty all day; in the afternoon a good deal of Rain. NB. These are the only Rains to lay the dust since the 17th. of August, now 36 days.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Cloudy & Misty forenoon. Clear Afternoon with but little Wind & that variable.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Flying Clouds with but little Wind & that Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Misty all day, with the Very little Wind from the Northward & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Heavy Rain for several hours in the forenoon, after which it now & then Misted. But little Wind and that variable & Warm.


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

6. My Ox Cart finishd drawing in the Wheat at Doeg Run—but during this time it was employd in getting home the Cyder from all the Plantation’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Got done Sowing Wheat at Doeg Run. Sowed 92½ Bushels. The Hound Bitch Mopsey going proud, was lind by my Water dog Pilot before it was discoverd—after which she was shut up with a hound dog—Old Harry.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. My Schooner Saild for Suffolk for a load of Shingles.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Spread my Flax for Rotting at the Home House.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Finishd Sowing the third Cut of Wheat in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Spread Flax for Rotting at Doeg Run. Began to Cut Tops at Doeg Run.


Title: Observations—in—Septembr. [1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. My Ox Cart finishd drawing in the Wheat at Doeg Run—but during this time it was employd in getting home the Cyder from all the Plantation’s.

14. Finishd Sowing the Second cut of Wheat in the Neck which compleated the half of the Corn Ground there.

16. Anointed all my Hounds (as well old Dogs as Puppies) which appeard to have the Mange with Hogs Lard & Brimstone.

17. Got done Sowing Wheat at Doeg Run. Sowed 92½ Bushels.
The Hound Bitch Mopsey going proud, was lind by my Water dog Pilot before it was discoverd—after which she was shut up with a hound dog—Old Harry.

18. My Schooner Saild for Suffolk for a load of Shingles.

22. Spread my Flax for Rotting at the Home House.

23. Finishd Sowing the third Cut of Wheat in the Neck.

27. Spread Flax for Rotting at Doeg Run.
Began to Cut Tops at Doeg Run.

28. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole. The field took 106 Bushls. to Sow.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 1. Fox huntg. back of Mr. Barry’s with Mr. Robt. Alexander Mr. Manley & Captn. Posey. Started & catchd a bitch Fox. Mr. Stedlar came here in the Afternoon.


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

2. At home. Mr. Alexander went away before breakfast. Mr. Stedlar remd. all day.


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

4. Went into the Neck—& up the Creek after Blew Wings.


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

5. Went to Alexandria, after an early dinner to see a Ship (the Jenny) Launched but was disappointed & came home.


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

6. Went up again. Saw the Ship Launchd. Stayd all night to a Ball, & set up all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Came home in the Morning & remaind. Mr. Townd. Dade (of Chotk.) came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Went Fox huntg. (in the Neck) in the forenoon. Started but catchd nothing & in the Afternoon went up the Ck. after Blew Wings—killd 7 or 8.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. At Home all day. Mr. Dade went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, & the Mill. Captn. McCabe dind here.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, & Mill in the forenoon. In the Afternoon went into the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Went into the Neck in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Went a hunting with Captn. Posey & Ld. Washington. Catchd a Bitch Fox after a chace of 1 Hour and 10 Minutes.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Went to Pohick Church. Dind at Captn. McCartys & came home at Night. Doctr. Rumney who came here last Night went away this Morning & Mr. Ramsay & Mr. Adams came here at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. At Home all day. Ramsay & Adams went home this Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Set of on my Journey to Williamsburg & reachd Colo. Henry Lees to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Reachd Fredericksburg, found Warner Washington &ca. there.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Dined at the Causey & got to Colo. Bassetts.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Crossd James River & by Rain was forcd to lodge at one Captn. Stowe’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Breakfasted in Suffolk. Dined & lodgd in the Dismal Swamp at Jno. Washington’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Went up to our Plantation at Norfleet’s in Carolina & returnd in the Aftern.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Got to Smithfield in return to Wmsburg.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Set out early, breakfasted at Hog Island and dined in Wms.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Dined at the Mayor’s. Ent[ertaine]d at the Govr. in Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 1. Clear and pleasant. Still forenoon but brisk Southwestwardly Wind afterwds.


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

2. Clear, Warm, & Still in the forenoon, a small Southwardly breeze in the Afternoon.


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

3. Clear & pleasant, with but little Wind & that Southwardly.


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

4. Brisk Southwestwardly Wind & warm with flying Clouds.


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

5. Rain in the Night—& in the Morning—clear abt. 8 Oclock with showers afterwards with the Wind westwardly & cool.


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

6. Clear & cool. Wind brisk from West.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear with but little Wind—& that Southwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear with a fresh No. West breeze in the morning, but still afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Cloudy with appearances of much Rain—but none fell. Wind Southwardly in the Morng. & westwardly & cool afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear and cool morning. Wind fresh at No. West. Calm afternoon & warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear and cool. Wind still at No. West—in the Evening Eastwardly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Calm and warm forenoon. Cloudy afternoon with appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Cloudy with the Wind Northwardly—then cold & Chilly—with appearances of Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Cold Rain & disagreeable, with the Wind abt. No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. A severe frost this Morning—but Calm clear & warm day.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Calm, clear, & Warm forenoon, but lowering afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Ditto—Ditto—Ditto.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Clear with the Wind Southwardly & Warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Foggy Morng. & Clouds—with a good deal of Rain in the Afternoon & night from No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Less cold Wind being at So. West & clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Warmer still. Wind continuing Southwardly & the weather clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Clear and very cool morning. Wind Westwardly. Afternoon Mild.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1768]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Mild Wind Southwardly and Clear.