Title: Cash Accounts, September 1769
From: Washington, George
To:

[September 1769]

Cash

Septr 17—
To Cash of Lund Washington on Acct of 3 Hhds Tobo sold Mr Ross
£36. 1.9

To Cash won at Cards
0. 8.9

20—
To Ditto of Wm Brummit for Weaving
0. 8.0

Contra

Septr 14—
By Barber
0. 2.6

19—
By Vale Crawford
5.11.6

By Exps. at Alexandria
0. 4.6

20—
By Jonathan Palmer Cash lent
5. 0.0

27—
By Mr Stedlar teachg Jno. P. Custis 8 Months Musick
8.12.0

By Ditto teaching Miss Custis 10 Months Do
10.15.0

By Butter at Fredericksburg viz. 167 lbs. @ 7 1/2
5. 4.4 1/2


Title: To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, Jr., 13 September 1769
From: Lewis, Fielding Jr.
To: Washington, George

Dear Uncle
September 13th 1769

Inclos’d you have an Order on Mr Robart Alexander for the Ballance remaining in his Hands of my Wifes Fortune which I shall be Oblig’d to you to receive for me, and purchase Slaves to the amount thereof, I shall chuse to have Strong likely Young Negro Men if they cost the more, as those which I have allready bought are but indifferent Hands, the sooner the Money is disposed off the better, as I shall go to live in Frederick this Fall and shall want the Negro’s, I am your most Affectionate Humble Sarvant

Fielding Lewis Junr


Title: To George Washington from Fielding Lewis, 16 September 1769
From: Lewis, Fielding
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
September the 16th 1769

I expect with this You will receive a Letter from my Son Fielding inclosing an Order on Mr Robert Alexander for the Balla. of his Wifes Fortune which I am very apprehensive is reduced to a small Sum as Mr Alexander writes me that he has paid several Orders and requests that the Ballance may be taken out of his Hands and dispos’d off in the manner I shall think most to Fieldings advantage; I shall therefore be Oblig’d to you to purchase Slaves to the Amount; he has allready bought three very Ordinary Hands and unless he gets very good ones for the remainder of his Money he will not be able to live, indeed I am allmost certain that he will in a year or Two spend every Shillg as I cannot perceive the least amendment since his Marriage, nor has he the least regard to any advice I give him. I hope you have had an agreeable journey to the Springs and that Miss Custis has been benefitted by them. we have nothing new, nor have I lately heard from Nansamond: the late Wind & Rain has done incredible damage below; all the Fother intirely lost and the Corn blown down, Tobo that was in the Fields lost and several Ships &ca drove ashoar, we have suffer’d in this Neighbourhood yet not very considerably. Our Election comes on next Munday, cannot say who will be our Burgesses tho’ expect B. Grymes will be one alltho’ every Man of any tolerable understanding I beleive will be against him. Mr Dixon & Mr Marye are the other two that offer and its beleiv’d Mr Dixon will be chosen. I am Dr Sir your most Affect. Hume Servt

Fielding Lewis


Title: Minutes of Truro Parish Vestry, 21 September 1769
From: Truro Parish Vestry
To:

[21 September 1769]

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at the Cross Roads leading from Hollis’s to Pohick Warehouse Sepr 21st 1769.
A Spott was chosen to fix the new Church upon convenient to the said Cross Roads, & agreeable to a former order of Vestry, bearing date the 20th day of November 1767: A Yard was laid of for the said Church, & a Certain quantity of Land laid of for the use of the said Parish, for which the Said Vestry do agree to pay Daniel French Gent: at the rate of one Guinea ⅌ Acre, for what the same shall Measure.
At the same time, the said Daniel French, who on the third Day of March last, undertook to Build the Church for the sum of Eight hundred, Seventy and Seven Pounds Current Money of Virginia, agreeable to a Plan then exhibited, did execute an agreement, and gave Bond for the Performance thereof, agreeable to a Contract enter’d into with the Vestry, on the said third day of March, and order’d to be Ratified and Confirm’d, by certain Instruments of Writing on the Seventh Day of April following; but which, for want of a Meeting of Vestry on that day, and the frequent Disapointments since, has never been done till now.
Resolv’d that the Church-Wardens for the time being, do in behalf of the Parish, procure from the said Daniel French a

proper Conveyance of the Lot or Parcell of Land aforementioned.
Resolv’d that the Church-Wardens Receive from Mr Alexander Henderson, the Money that remain in his hands due to the Parish, & pay to Mr Daniel French, the sum of Two hundred Pounds, being the first payment for the new Church.
Resolv’d that the Honble George Wm Fairfax, George Washington & George Mason Esqrs. Captn Daniel McCarty & Mr Edward Payne, do View & examin the Building from time to time, as they or any three of them shall see fitting to whom the undertaker is to give notice when the different Metearials are ready.

Daniel McCarty C: W:
John Posey

Edward Payne
William Gardner

George Washington
Tz. Ellzey

George W: Fairfax  Truly Recorded,

      John Barry Clk Vestry


Title: From George Washington to Lawrence Sanford, 26 September 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Sanford, Lawrence

Sir
Mount Vernon Septr 26th 1769

In Return for my Venture of Fish, which are committed to your disposal, I should be obliged to you for bringing me the following Articles (first deducting the Freight and Commissions)

One Hhd of best Commn Rum.
1 Barl of very best bro: Sugar
200 Wt of Loaf refind Sugar if good & cheap
1 Pot—abt 5 lbs. preservd Green Sweetmeats.
if in Season—2 or 3 dozn Sweet Oranges[,] 1 dozn Cocoa Nuts[,] a Few Pine Apples
And the residue of the Money, be it little or much, to be laid out in good Spirits

I heartily wish you a prosperous Voyage, and a safe and Speedy return to your Friends at Alexandria—being Sir Yr Very Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, October 1769
From: Washington, George
To:

[October 1769]

Cash

Octr 16—
To Cash of Messrs Carlyle & Adams
£150. 0. 0

17—
To Ditto for the Virga Justice
2. 2. 6

19—
To Ditto on Acct of Virga Justice
0. 7. 6

24—
To Cash recd at [John] Poseys Sale Sundries
140.13.10

To Ditto recd on acct of V: Justice
1. 2. 6

To Ditto of Mr [Hector] Ross at Poseys Sale
6. 9. 0

To Ditto recd from Captn Posey for Sundries purchased for him at his own sale
17.16. 0

To Ditto Won at Cards
1.16. 6

Contra

Octr 16—
By a pair of Boots for J. P. Custis’s Man
1.10. 0

By making shift Sleeves for Miss Custis
0.14. 0

By Mr Robt Harrison—Fee in Posey’s Suit
3. 0. 0

19—
By Mrs Washington
2. 0. 0

By Saml Jones for William Skilling
3. 1. 0

By Mrs [Barberry] Sheridine Balle of Accts
2. 9. 7

24—
By Cash paid Colo. Mason on Acct of Land bought of him viz. 100 Acres
100. 0. 0

By £131.15.0 paid Mr Robt Alexander with Gold & Dollars value in Virga
103. 4. 0

26—
By Thomas Bishop Cash lent
8. 0. 0

By Mrs [Sarah] Johnston
1.10. 0

By Mr Robt Harrison for his Services at Poseys Sale
6. 0. 0

By Charity 6/ Fuller in Fredk 10/
0.16. 0

By Bishops Wife laying Sarah
0.10. 0


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 3 October 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Revd Sir
Mount Vernon Octr 3d 1769

On the 26th Instt I expect to be at Fredericksburg on my way to Williamsburg—Mrs Washington and Patcy accompanies me down—the former of whom being desirous that Jacky should embrace the oppertunity of seeing his Relations for a short

space, I shoud be glad if you woud permit him to attend us down, & to meet at Fredericksburg for that purpose on the day abovementioned. We shoud be obliged to you also for sending Joe up immediately with his Masters Portmanteau that he may get Cloaths made for himself and carry others down for Jacky. Our Compliments attend Yourself & Miss Boucher, and with very great esteem I remain Revd Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Ellzey, 3 October 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Ellzey, William

Sir
Mount Vernon 3d Octr 1769.

The repeated and pressing demands of Mrs Savage for Money obliges Mr Fairfax and myself (as Trustees) to put Doctr Savage’s Bond in Suit against Mr Thomson Mason his Security for the Sum due thereupon to her. The Inclos’d Memm which was given to me by Mr Bryan Fairfax who has the Bond in possession, and much better acquainted with the Condition’s of it than I am (for I never saw it) will Instruct you how to lay the Action which we desire may be commenced as soon as possible in Prince William Court against Mr Mason unless Mr Montgomery will pay at the Genl Court Ensuing one years allowance for the present Support of Mrs Savage (who complains of real distress) in that case we woud stay prosecution agst Mr Mason till the Doctrs arrival for the residue (as we understand he is expected in shortly)—We therefore beg the favour of you Sir to make application to Mr Montgomerie previous to your Issuing the writ and govern yourself by his answer as we woud willingly have the Suit against Mr Mason commencd before he goes to the Genl Court if Mr Montgomerie does not choose to pay the Hundred pounds above mentioned. I am Sir Yr Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Montgomerie, 5 October 1769
From: Montgomerie, Thomas
To: Washington, George

Sir
5th October 1769

Nothing else than Mr Grayson’s not returning Home untill the day before yesterday, could have prevented me from giving you an answer relative to the payment of Mrs Savages annuity long before this time—I now beg leave to inform you, that it is his opinion as well as myne, that it would not be prudent or safe in me to answer your demand in behalf of Mrs Savage. With my best respects to Mrs Washington I remain Sir Your most Obt Servt

Thos Montgomerie


Title: From George Washington to Hector Ross, 9 October 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Ross, Hector

Sir:
⟨Mount Vernon, Octr 9th⟩ 1769

Before this, you undoubtedly must have seen some of Captn Posey’s Advertisements for the Sale of his Estate—At the time he proposed it to me which was on Monday last I observd to him that as there was a Bill exhibited against me and then depending in our Court I did not know whether a Sale coud be appointed before a decree for that purpose took place; to this he answered that as his Estate was certainly more than Sufficient to discharge my Debt and your Claim and as timely Notice woud be given of the Sale no injury coud possibly happen to any one consequently your concurrance woud not be wanting—These Reasons added to some others (which I do not want to publish but shall not scruple to inform you of) induced my consent to his setting out the Advertisements which appeared at Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Boyds hole, and other places; and will appear in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes.
The Reasons which I have just above hinted at I am now going to communicate—Captn Poseys effects of every kind (Stock only

excepted) not Mortgaged are disposed of—Many of those which were Mortgaged have been siezed and sold for Publick Dues—and others disposed of by himself—Some Articles are perishing fast, and the whole wasting and subject to continual deminution—Add to this, that the Mad and distracted manner in which he lives is alone sufficient to create unfavourable Idea’s of a foul Intention but when those Suspicions are corroborated by the Information of a Person whom one would naturally suppose best acquainted with his secret Intentions it then becomes a matter of serious concern.
But that I may not speak altogether obscurely (as I am perswaded you will make no improper use of what I communicate) Mrs Posey when she took refuge at Colo. Fairfax’s about the time of my return from the Spring, did in the presence of him and his Lady upbraid him (that is Posey) with a design of Transporting his and her Negroes to Pensacola and there selling them—This she not only did in the course of Altercation but afterwards in a serious manner assured Mrs Fairfax that he was fully bent on it—I have taken occasion since of mentioning this matter to Posey who of course denied it[,] that is[,] the Intention only; but acknowledged that he had made use of such expressions to his Wife in Order to plague her—However there is a Circumstance or two lately happened which makes his Conduct appear extreamely Suspicious and that is his removing her Negroes over to his own House (where he has no Earthly employment for them for his Corn is already lost in the Weeds and no preparation making that I can see for another year) and this from a Crop in which I suppose they might have been usefully engagd—He has also under very frivolous pretences forbid two or three of my People who had Wives in his Family from coming there again and expects a Vessel from the Eastern Shore with his Wife’s Goods, which Vessel may for ought I know, be the one he intends to Imbark in and these Advertisements & promised Sale only a finess to bespeak Security.
It becomes extreamely necessary therefore, in my opinion at least, to bring matters to as speedy a conclusion as possible with him, even if he has no Intention of removing his Effects & it is for this Reason I give you the trouble of this Detail that you may consider if a final Decree can be obtaind (in your Suit) this Court whether it is eligable to postpone the Sale to a future

day—For my part I freely confess, I see no reason for doing it as the time now fixed will be sufficiently promulged; and as it is a fact very well known that his Negroes & stock never can be disposed of at a more favourable juncture than in the Fall when they are fat and lusty and must soon fall of unless well fed which I am sure cannot happen in the present case for very good reasons too obvious to mention.
I have no Sinester Inducements for desiring the Sale to be hastened indeed I have no other motives for it than what I have candidly confessed and such I conceive as most of his Creditors will find their advantage in—To Secure my own Debt is the object I have principally in view; and to effect it does in some measure (latterly) appear to be a matter of doubt when I compare one part of Poseys Conduct with another and take a retrospective view of the whole.
I have given you a Circumstantial Acct of matters in the light they appear to me, that you may judge with more precission of the propriety or impropriety of acquiessing to the appointed time for the Sale (which I caused to be put of as late as I coud delay my journey to Williamsburg) imagining that you as the Acting Person in the Bill exhibited against me are the only person that can legally object to it nor do I see cause why any shoud do it if notice is given and purchasers appear.
From a tender concern for Characters you will readily perceive that great part of this Letter is intended for your private information only for if Captn Poseys Intention’s are honest and upright, I shall be sorry even for my Suspicions of him, but should be more so if any thing was propagated through my means that shoud cast any unjust odium on His Character tho. I have some reason’s to believe that what I have hear mentioned is pretty generally talked of. I remain Sir, Yr Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from William Crawford, 13 October 1769
From: Crawford, William
To: Washington, George

Sir
Old town [Md.] Octor 13th 17⟨69⟩

They Sirwayrs is to be [here] to serway your Land soon and will want there cash which I have not for them.
You may send it by Mr Harrison seald up in a Letter to me half Joes or Pensilvania mony will sute best for them.
I beleve no Person interfares with you—I shall have the hole Runout before the Sirwayr coms on the spot I have bin unwell or I would have had it don befor now I shall have that Land Entred and Sirvayd and shall Joyn another Sirway to it if I can that you had of my Brother as Mr Harrison will be up before I shall have it don you give me your sentements on it. I beleve I can make about 700 Acres there or may be more As to news I shall Refarr you to Mr Harrison. I am Sir your most Huml. Sarvat

W. Crawford


Title: Deed to James Mercer, 13 October 1769
From: Washington, George,Mercer, James
To:

[13 Oct. 1769]. “This Indenture made the Thirteenth Day of October in the year 1769 Between George Washington of the County of Fairfax Esqr. and Martha his wife of the one part and James Mercer of The Town of Fredericksburg in the County of Spotsylvania attorney at Law of the other part Witnesseth That the said George Washington and Martha his wife for and in Consideration of the sum of Fifty pounds to the said George in hand paid by the said James Mercer Have . . . sold . . . unto the said James Mercer his heirs and Assigns forever all those two Lotts of Land situate lying and being in the said Town of Fredericksburg whereon the said Mercer’s Kitchen now Stands and Extending down the hill to contain one acre next to and adjoining to, two other Lotts bought by the said Mercer of Fielding Lewis Esqr. . . .”


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 15 October 1769
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
[c.15 October 1769]

I beg leave to trouble You with the inclosed two Letters; the one for Mr Pendleton has a little money in it including his Fee for his late advice, which I received yesterday, and which is expressed in these Words, “I think you & Colo. Washington should not pay the money for Mrs Savage’s separate use, to any person but by a power of attorney from her, especially as her changeable temper may subject you to danger in payments made upon her Letters.”

I forgot when I was last at Mt Vernon to inform you that there has been a trespass committed on yr Land by the Bridge, and I believe by a Man who a few weeks before carried the chain along the line and therefore can’t plead ignorance. He has sawed up one of the finest trees, and if you pass it over you won’t have a timber tree left in a few years. I believe I could fix it upon him if you desire it, as I hope you will.
I don’t know what to think of Fry—the first Tryal I had of him, he, like Sr Francis Wronghead in the house of commons, did well enough upon the main, only he said ay when he shou’d have said no: that is, he insisted on it for one quarter of a mile that the back scent was the right one ’till the puppies that were with him refused to join any longer: and I think he did well enough upon the main as he & four puppies killed the Fox, and was the leading dog the whole chace. The other time I have been out he never quitted the heels of the horses ’till the Fox was killed, but this seemed to proceed from his ignorance that any chace was going forward. I did not know when I accepted of your offer, that he was serviceable to any of your people in catching Racoons—would it be improper to write to Mr Stith to know whether he chooses the dog should be sent back to him, for if he does I will contrive him down to him.
I had Capt. Posey’s Advertisement put up at the Court House on tuesday—the badness of the day on Monday prevented my getting to Leesburg till the next day. I am Dr Sir Yr most obedt hble Servt

Bryan Fairfax

 For want of a little change I can’t close my Letter to Mr Pendleton, and therefore, as I can do some other Business in Town, for I imagine the Court will not sit, I purpose down tomorrow, and will do myself the pleasure of being at Mt Vernon on tuesday night if you sh⟨ou⟩ld not be engaged, and then I shall be glad to see the amount of the shingles We had for our Mill as Mr R—— & I are settling our accounts. If you will be from home or otherwise busy on accot of your Journey please to let my man know it and I can send the letter down.


Title: To George Washington from Capel & Osgood Hanbury, 25 October 1769
From: Capel & Osgood Hanbury
To: Washington, George

Esteem’d Friend
London Octor 25th 1769

We have the pleasure to advise the receipt of thy favor of 25th July and note the contents—We remark thy observation respecting the Balance of thy Account being £7.10.0, and that had

thee thought of our Debit against ⟨thee⟩ at the time thee was disposing of thy Tobacco, thee should have order’d one Hhd on board the Hanbury in discharge of it, this we should have been oblig’d to thee for, but if thee will please to refer to thy Accot Current thee will perceive the Balance is seven Shillings and ten Pence instead of £7.10.0.
Inclos’d is a Letter for our friend J.P. Custis directed to thy care, and in future we shall be careful to transmit all our Letters to him in the same manner. Having already inform’d thee of the death of our C. Hanbury, we have only now to ⟨ob⟩serve that the business of the House is continued under the same firm, and that we rely upon a continuance of thy kind friendship and assistance to our Interest, assuring thee our utmost endeavors shall be exerted to merit it.
Capt. Esten again goes in our Ship Hanbury and we hope will meet with a quick dispatch, as his arriving to an early Market will in all probability afford us an Opportunity of returning pleasing Accot Sales—We flatter ourselves thy assistance will greatly contribute towards obtaining this desireable event The prices of Tobacco at this time are from 3¼ to 3¾ ⅌ lb. for Exportation; & from 10¼ to 11d. for Home Consumption, except the very fine sort which will produce something more—We shall at all times be glad to hear of thy welfare and remain with great regard Thy assured Friends

Capel & Osgood Hanbury


Title: Cash Accounts, November 1769
From: Washington, George
To:

[November 1769]

Cash

Novr 4—
To Ditto [Cash] of Mr R[obert] Adam by Mr [Hector] Ross
200. 0. 0

Contra

Novr 1—
By Servants 4/—Expens. at Peytons Ordy 23/6
1. 7. 6

4—
By Expences at [William] Parkers
1.15. 0

By Ditto at Todds Bridge 13/10
0.13.10

5—
By Ditto at King Wm Ct Ho.
1. 7. 6

By Ditto at Ruffins 16/—Seeing Tyger 3/1½
0.19. 1 1/2

By Servants
0. 2. 0

8—
By Colo. Fielding Lewis pr Acct
152.17. 4

10—
By Pocket money to J. P. Custis
2. 0. 0

By Cards 30/—repairing my watch 5/
1.15. 0

By Postage of a Letter to Colvills Exrs
0. 2. 6

13—
By Captn Wm Crawford pr his Brother Vale viz. 2½ dble loons 2 half Joes & a 10/ Bill
15.17. 6

14—
By a Taylor 2/6. By Cards 7/6. Charity 5/
0.15. 0

By Coffee &ca at Mrs Campbells
0. 2. 0

21—
By a Padlock 2/6—Servants 1/3
0. 3. 9

[23]—
By Mr [Edmund] Pendleton for self 43/. J. P. C. £7.10.
9.13. 0

[23–30]
By Mrs Washington 40/—M. P. Custis 25/
3. 5. 0

By Charity 20/—Coffee &ca 4/—Servants 2/6
1. 6. 6


Title: Cash Accounts, December 1769
From: Washington, George
To:

[December 1769]

Cash

[Dec.]  —
To Cash of the Treasury for Mr Stephenson
£ 3.19. 6

Decr 11—
To Ditto of Frans Foster pr Colo. Bassett for Intt due Jno. P. Custis
35. 0. 0

12—
To Ditto from Mr Josh Valentine
251.16. 6

25—
To Ditto Won at Cards
2. 5. 0

To Ditto of  Tool amount of his Bond Assignd me by James Davenport
25.12. 6

To Ditto recd from Captn [Lawrence] Sanford on Acct of Fish sent to Antigua
6.17. 0

To do of Mr Ross pr Lund Washington while I was in Williamsburg
169. 5. 9

Contra

Decr 2—
By Miss Davenports Acct for M. P. Custis
2.13. 8

By Ditto for Mr W—n
0.10. 0

By Postage of Letters 3/—Cash to J. P. Custis 20/
1. 3. 0

4—
By a Paste Comb for M. P. Custis
1. 0. 0

5—
By Alexr Craig Sadler for self 9/6. for J. P. C. 16/
1. 4. 6

10—
By B. Bucktrout repg [William] Rinds Coach House
0. 7. 6

14—
By Servants 5/. By M. P. Custis 20/
1. 5. 0

15—
By Purdie & Dixon’s Acct
1. 8. 9

16—
By Geo: Lafong for self £3.15.0. for J. P. C. £1.6.7 & M. P. Custis 7/6
5. 9. 1

By Mr [James] Craig Jeweller for two Mourng Rings for Mr [Harrison] Manley
3. 0. 0

By Ditto for J. P. Custis
0. 2. 6

By Mr Walthoe on Acct of a Grant to the Officers & Soldrs under Gr Dinwiddies Proclamation
5. 5. 0

By Mr Anthy Hay for 3 Suppers &ca
0.14. 0

By Doctr [John] de Sequayra’s Acct agt M[artha] P[arke] C[ustis]
10.15. 0

By [James Barrett] Southall Subscription to Ball at Capitol
1. 0. 0

By Mr Jas Gibson for Marmaduke Norfleet (besides a Bill of Exchange of £100 Sterg makg £200 Curry in all)
85. 0. 0

By Doctr Pasture for M. P. Custis
2.13. 3

for self
0. 6. 4

17—
By Mrs Campbell’s Acct agt self J. P. C. & M. P. C.
42.12. 6

20—
By Servants 10/. Barber & Washing 8/3
0.18. 3

21—
By Mrs Campbell 30/6. Colo. [Burwell] Bassetts Servts 12/6
2. 3. 0

23—
By Expens. at Todds 12/9—Do at Hubbards 15/7
1. 8. 3

24—
By Charity 6/—Exps. at C[aroline] Ct Ho. 8/9
0.14. 9

26—
By Barber 2/6—Repg Chariot 3/9
0. 6. 3

27—
By Servants 5/. By my Mother £6
6. 5. 0

By Expences at Dumfries
2. 3. 9

By Mr Robt Alexander pr Lund Washington £81.6.0 Maryland Dischargd by
63.12.10

By Mr [John] Muirs Acct agt self J. P. C. & M. P. C.
12.12. 0

By Mr Belmains Do Do Do
3. 4. 8

30—
By Captn [John] Posey for two Sows & 40 odd Pigs
3.10. 0

By Cash paid Colo. Fieldg Lewis in May last & neglected to be chargd before
   52.16. 1 1/2

1514. 6. 2

31—
By Cash on hand
   362.12. 0

1876.18. 2

By Cash lost, Stolen, or paid away without charging
   143.15. 2

£2020.13. 4


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 4 December 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Revd Sir,
Eltham 4th Decr 1769

Jacky will inform you of the Reasons why he brings not the Books you wrote to me for, and to him I refer—perhaps all, or most of them, were Included in the Catalogue I sent to England for him, and if so, I expect they will be in, in less than three Months.
The Printer has promisd to have a Musick Book Rul’d for Mr Boucher agt I come up, if so it shall be brought—Jack’s stay has been longer here than we intended but we hope he will endeavour to make atonemt by extray diligence. I am Revd Sir with great esteem Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Daniel McCarty, 6 December 1769
From: McCarty, Daniel
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
Decr 6th 1769

I send you by Mr Peirce Bayly the Deeds made by me, and my wife to Mr Chichester, and Likewise them from him, and his wife to me, as also my Grandfathers will, Wherein you will find in the 3d Page how he Gave the Land, Fairfax County was then

Stafford, and by Looking over the will you may see some hardships which my father was laid under more then Either of his Brothers—My wifes fathers will I have not, neither is it in my Power to get it at this time, it being on the Records of Lancaster but you may see by the Deeds made to Mr Chichester in what maner it was Given, Which I hope will be Sufficient—We have at last had a Vestry to lay the Parish Levy which is Sixty three ⅌ Pole 34900 being Levy’d Towards Paying for the Church, and by those Very Gentlemen who was so much against it formerly, Mrs Posey and Old Mrs Johnston are both Dead within two or three Days of Each other—You will Remember that I informed You that I have Near Six thousand acres of Land more which is all intail’d, lying in the County of Loudoun, and I must beg your Care of the Papers Now sent, My wife Joyns me in our Compliments to your Self, Mrs Washington and Miss Patcy, hopeing to see you all Return in Good health, And I Remain with Great Esteem Dr Sr Yr Most Obet Hble Servt

Daniel McCarty

N:B: I never Recd yr Letter Until the 24th of Novr.


Title: Petition to Botetourt, 15 December 1769
From: Washington, George
To: Botetourt, Norborne Berkeley, baron de

[c.15 December] 1769

The Petition of George Washington in behalf of himself and the Officers and Soldiers who first Imbarkd in the Service of this Colony humbly Prays:
That the 200,000 Acres of Land which was given to them by the Honble Govr Dinwiddies Proclamation bearing date the 19th of Feby 1754; May (in case your Lordship and Council shoud be of opinion, upon considering of the matter, that the reservation in behalf of the Indian Traders in the Deed of Cession to the Crown will be confirmd) be allotted them in one or more Surveys as follow—to wit—On the Monongahela & its Waters from the long Narrows up to, or above a place commonly called & known by the name of Nicholas Knots—On the New River or Great Canhawa from the Great Falls therein to the Mouth thereof—And on Sandy Creek als. great Tatteroy from the Mouth to the Mountains provided the same shall be included within the bounds of this Colony if otherwise then on the lower side of the little Canhawa the upper being part of the Lands reservd for the Traders.
Your Petitioners further pray, that they may be allowed to hold and enjoy these Lands under the Previledges and immunities with which they were Granted, and moreover that they may be at liberty to proceed to the immediate Survey of them in order to the Settlement thereof, & to prevent Emigrants from unwittingly possessing the same; but this they beg leave to observe they can in no wise do, unless your Lordship and Council will be pleasd to endulge them in the appointment of a particular Surveyor: for if it is to be done by the Surveyor of a County, the Work must, from the extensiveness of his business, be

greatly retarded; and the Expence swelld much beyond what a poor Soldier is able to bear; A Circumstance which yr Petitioners humbly conceive coud never be intended.
Your Petitioners further beg leave humbly to propose, that your Lordship woud be pleasd to Issue your Proclamation, or signify in some other Manner the necessity of ascertaining the Claims by some prefixd time, in order that each Person might be acquainted with the amount of his respective share; & have it allotted to him accordingly. And Yr Petirs as in duty bound will pray—


Title: To George Washington from Josiah Johnson, 20 December 1769
From: Johnson, Josiah
To: Washington, George

Sir
Decr 20th 1769.

It is with great Pleasure I sit down to inform you, that it is ⟨now⟩ in my Power to contribute my little Mite of Service to one of the gallant ⟨De⟩fenders of their Country. Nor shou’d I (however cautious it may be necessary to be in general) have ⟨hesita⟩ted a Moment to have given my hearty Assent, when you first did me the Honor of applying to me on the Subject of appointing Mr Crawford Surveyor of the 200,000 Acres specified, had I not been apprehensive, that it might interfere with a prior Engagement I lay under to Mr May. While this Doubt subsisted, Col. Washington wou’d, I am confident, have condemned me, if I had entered upon a new Resolution; but it is now totally removed, & he may depend upon my Concurrence. I am Sr with great Respect, Your very humble Servant

Josiah Johnson


Title: From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 20 December 1769 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Lewis, Andrew

Letter not found: to Andrew Lewis, 20 Dec. 1769. On 1 Mar. 1770 Lewis wrote to GW: “I had not the pleasure of receiving your favour deated at Williamsburg the 20th of Last Decemr before Yesterday.”


Title: To George Washington from James Horrocks, 21 December 1769
From: Horrocks, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Wm & Mary Decr 21. 1769

I am much oblig’d to you for the clear Account you have been pleas’d to send me to Day concerning the Lands to be survey’d.
I dare say you will agree with me in Opinion that it is for the

Honor of the College as well as the Interest of the Officers & Soldiers, that (to use the Words of the Council) “a Person properly qualify’d to survey those Lands be appointed by us[”]—I have no Doubt of Mr Crawford’s being such as you have mention’d, & I beg Leave to assure you very sincerely that this my first Duty to the College being satisfied, I shall be happy in the Opportunity of shewing due Respect to the Advice of the Honble The Governor & Council, & of properly Regarding Col: Washington’s Recommendation.
I have communicated to Mr Johnson my Sentiments on this Subject, & I believe his agree very much with mine—Mr Camm is not in Town & I imagine we shall not be collected again till after the Holy Days—I am of Opinion it wou’d be adviseable for Mr Crawford to be here as soon as possible, I mean with his own Convenience, as I see no Impediment to retard or prevent his Success. I can, Sir, say no more with Propriety, & therefore I am sure you will not expect more than this. I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your very Humble Sert

J. Horrocks


Title: To George Washington from James Horrocks, 1769
From: Horrocks, James
To: Washington, George

Sir
Sunday Morng [1769]

I will take particular Care of the Paper you have sent me, & I am of Opinion I may safely promise you that the Appointment to the Surveyorship mention’d will not be made out before the Time you speak of—I assure you I cannot help considering this as ⟨for⟩ a particular matter, wherein some forms may be dispens’d with under proper Care that the College receives no Detriment, & if this shou’d be so, it will be a pleasure to me to

have this done as far as I am able in the most full manner agreeable to Your Wishes. Have the Honor to be Sir Your very hble Servt

J. Horrocks


Title: Memorandum List of Quitrents, 1769
From: Washington, George
To:

[1769]

A List of Lands belonging to George Washington in the Northern Neck on wch Quitrents became due Michaelmas 1769.

In Fairfax County
Mt Vernon
2126 Acres

Bot of
Darrell
500

Clifton
1806

Brent
238

Wm Ashford
135

Geo: Ashford
135

S. Pearson
178

Wm Whiting
 200

 5318

Frederick Cty Taken up
760

Ditto

453

Ditto

183

Bot of McCraken
550

Johnston

 552

 2498

King George Cty

 1250

Hampshire Do

 240

Loudoun Do

 275

Loudoun & Fauquier—bot of Carter

 2682

 12263 @ 2/6 £15.6.7

August 21st 1770 Then Receivd from George Washington the above Sum of Fifteen pounds Six Shillings and Seven pence in full for the

Quitrents of the above Quantity of Twelve thousand two hundd & Sixty three acres of Land to Michaelmas one thousand Seven hundd and Sixty nine.

John Hough


Title: John Semple’s Proposal for Potomac Navigation, 1769
From: Semple, John
To:

[1769]

The Opening & making Convenient Passage for Vessells of Ten to Fifteen Tons Burthen through such particular parts of the River Potomac above the Great falls, as is now difficult, & render Tedious and Expensive Portages Necessary, has been long considered as highly meriting the public attention; But as is often the fate of matters wherein many are interested, little has been hitherto done to carry it into execution. On Generall Braddocks arrivall at Alexandria a fair prospect was presented of having it Speedily done, It admitted of no sort of dispute, that much the readiest & easiest communication with the waters of the Ohio & Consequently Fort du Quisnie must be by the river Potomac, as it woud reduce the whole of the land Carriage from Alexandria to the aforesd fort, (now fort Pitt) a distance of two hundred & Sixty Miles to no more than Seventy. The Generall Sensible of the Superior advantages of this Conveyance, undoubtedly had its improvement in view, and made use of it even in the State It was for the carriage of his Artillery, Ammunition & Provisions A great part of the way; His defeat and Death and the consequences resulting therefrom, Facts too recent to want enlarging upon, put an entire Stop to all further proceedings. The future Operations to the westward were by a peculiar

Management unnaturally carried on from a qu[i]te different quarter and Potomac lay Neglected. A Second attempt was afterwards made to have it done by private Subscription which being in the time of the late war and thought by many to be too heavy for private persons to Accomplish, It was proposed to apply to the Legislature for their Concurrence and assistance in a work of Such Generall Utility, some of that respectable body being Consulted, they advised the postponing of it to a more favourable opportunity The people at that time being heavily burthened with taxes occasioned by the late war upon which the matter was laid aside, The last mentioned objection being now happily removed, It is hoped that an application to the Legislature in a work of so publick a nature will not at present be thought unseasonable or impertinent. The vast bodies of land now Ceded to us by the Indians must open a new and extensive field of Commerce, of which the River Potomac must Necessarily be the principall Channell, not to mention the very lucrative Skin & furr Trade which this must make our own whenever we chuse to make Use of it. As some Gentlemen have lately carefully viewed the river and Computed the Expence of removing the different Obstacles, that obstruct & make the passage of Vessells Difficult, the following account of their observations may not be unnecessary. Viz. From the lowest landing place to which it is proposed opening a passage, The Widow Brewster’s Two Miles above the great falls or Cataract and within ten miles of Tide water, There is good water for five Miles to the lower part of Senecca falls which Consists of Continued Rifts of Rocks for near a mile up the River, these may be easily passed as only two Short Dams, with Gates placed in them, four or five feet in height in a narrow naturall Channell between a Chain of Islands and the Main, will be required to raise the water a Sufficient Height att the Dam Mr Ballendine has built across the sd Channell, in which if a third Gate be put, it will raise it to the levell of the water above the falls, The Expence of all which, by the aforesd Gentlemen is computed not to exceed £250 (As this will be the only safe & practicable pass, and as Mr Ballendine intends Erecting a saw Mill and other works on the said Channell, woud it not be expedient & even Necessary for the Legislature to interpose & prevent him from Executing his plan, in such a manner as may be so injurious to the Community as Stop

the farther passage past that place? More Especially as it wou’d require but a triffling additionall Expence to have a passage through his Dam & to Continue his race a little farther which wou’d equally answer every purpose he can propose to himself,) From these falls there is now water sufficient for Boats properly Constructed, during the winter and Spring months, and generally as late as the last of June or July as High as Payne’s falls (the foot of what is Called Shanadoah falls) a distance of about forty miles, Paynes falls Consisteth of a narrow Rift of Rocks, extending a Cross the River which may be passed through a naturall Channell in land that may be improv’d, so as to admitt the passage of Vessells such as aforesaid att an Expence not exceeding £250, from thence it is about two miles & a half to that remarkable fall called the Spout—att present the most difficult & dangerous above the great falls which ariseth not so much from its Height, as from the water of almost the whole River being Confined & forced through a Narrow Rocky Passage that makes it rapid, and subjects Vessells to the danger of filling as they pass, but notwithstanding the apparent difficulty a safe & easie passage may be had by a Channell dug within land having locks placed in it by Computation at the Expence of £800. The next obstacle is above Harpers ferry about a mile above the Spout, this tho. in appearance not so formidable as the last, will be found on tryall by much the most expensive, requiring a Channell Dug & wall’d along the Side of the River for at least half a mile with locks placed in it, at proper distances to execute which in an effectual manner will require the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds. The next obstacle and last of any Consequence, is at the head or begining of what is Calld Shanadoah Falls, where there is already a naturall Channell, formed between the main and an Island which Channell was formerly begun to be improved and partly dug but never Compleated and now much choaked and filled up, which being Cleared, the Channell dug deeper and enlarged, and Dams & locks placed in it vessells will pass through with readiness & Safety. To the Levell water above the Falls this is computed might be done at an Expence of about £800, From thence to Fort Cumberland one hundred and thirty miles, and to a Much Greater distance up the North and South Branches, There is no very materiall

obstruction but want of water over Shallow places when the River is low in autumn and the latter end of Summer, which in many places Nay almost every part may be much improved at the expence of about £900. and following the same plan as is afterwards proposed, for Clearing the Gravelly Shoals below Shanadoah Falls, the greatest falls in this last distance called House’s has already this Summer been opened and cleared and a passage made through it for the Transportation of Iron from Keep Triste Furnace to Antietam Forge; From Shanadoah downwards, such shallow places when the river is low being all gravelly Shoals may be improved and made passible in any time of the Year at a small expence and trouble, by adopting the plan by which Severall rivers to the north ward have been improved Viz. appointing Overseers on the Shoals in the same manner as on public Roads, and allotting to them the Taxables Contiguous and Convenient to their respective Shoals to Clear and make Channels through them. The Greater Stones being removed, the River woud in these places soon naturally wash itself into Such Channells as wou’d thereafter require little or no assistance; This plan being followed and Fish and other Dams removed and every thing prevented for the future, that woud any ways hinder or prejudice the passage of Vessells up and down the River, which Dams and Obstructions, our neighbouring Colony has wisely prohibited, will render it in a very short time readily passible att all times be the river high or low. As a farther Explanation and Proof to Show the great Utility and advantage of this improvement, it may not be improper to annex a Just State & Cost of the difference of expence as it now is, of land and water Carriage on a Ton of Iron from Keep Triste Furnace to Navigation; There being so great a difference from that place as the river now is Unimproved, How much greater must it be to persons inhabiting higher up in the Country, in proportion to their greater distance and which wou’d be still Greater if the above obstructions were removed that Vessells might pass from one end of the River to the other, without hindrance or Stoppage, a great part of the expences that now arises Consisting in the frequent Stoppages, Portages, and different handling of the Commodities of which very few will admitt, Was the above improvements made, any Commodity whatever might be transported

with Safety and ease at a small and reasonable Expence, from the highest landing to the lowest without shifting untill they were put ashore at the lowest landing intended.
Thus at the expence of £5000 the best Channell is opened for inland trade that can be possibly had in British America, The land Carriage between the bay of Chesapeak and the mouth of the Mississippi, The Ilenois, three hundred Miles up the Missuri and to the different lakes, by very small Portages is reduced to Seventy Miles, and in time may be reduced to a much Shorter distance, An Acquisition by Oeconomy such as is in the power of few States to attain Which we do not doubt will engage every Gentleman of public Spirit and Generous Sentiments to foreward an Undertaking so generally and extensively usefull.

Pensa Curry

The Expence of transporting a Ton of Iron by land carriage from Keep Triste Furnace to Navigation is

£3.15. 0

The Expence of transporting a Ton of Iron down the River Potomack as it is now unimproved, to the Little Falls is Viz.

Portage from Keep triste furnace to Payne’s landing, five Miles, Half a days Journey of a Waggon @ 12/6d. pr day the half is
£0. 6. 3

From Paynes landing to Mr Ballendines Dam at Senecca Falls forty miles by water is
7. 6

Portage past the Senecca falls half a mile is
1. 6

From the lower part of the Senecca falls to the Widow Brouster’s Landing five Miles by water is
2. 6

Portage from the widow Brousters landing to the Little Falls at Tide water Ten miles a days Journey
 12. 6

For a Waggon going down and back again is

Totall Expence pr Ton as the river now is by water Carriage
£1.10. 3

Differance between land and water Carriage gained.
  2. 4. 9

£3.15. 0


Title: Cash Accounts, January 1770
From: Washington, George
To:

[January 1770]

Cash

Jany  6—
To Ditto [cash] of Mr H. Manley
£ 4. 5.0

10—
To Cash recd for 2 Barrls White Fish
3. 0.0

13—
To Ditto recd on Acct of Subn to the V. Justice
0.15.0

20—
To Ditto recd on acct of Do
0. 7.6

Contra

For 1770
By Thomas Bishop Cash Lent
4. 0.0

Jany  7—
By the Revd Mr [Charles Mynn] Thruston for his share of Land on the Ohio undr the Kings Procln
10. 0.0

By Overseer Morris for encouragemt
2. 0.0

10—
By Jonathan Palmer
2.10.0

17—
By Richd Lake Balle Acct for Work done on my House in Alexandria
22. 5.2

By John Alton
7. 0.0

18—
By Jn. Parke Custis
0.10.0

23—
By Mrs Washington
2. 0.0

By Servants 1/3. By Hall & Gilpin for shoes 8/
0. 9.3


Title: To George Washington from John Armstrong, 24 January 1770 [letter not found]
From: Armstrong, John
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from John Armstrong, 24 Jan. 1770. On 20 Mar. GW wrote to Armstrong: “Your obliging favour of the 24th of Jany came to my hands.”


Title: Cash Accounts, February 1770
From: Washington, George
To:

[February 1770]

Cash

Feby 4—
To Cash won at Cards
£ 1. 5.0

5—
To Ditto recd of Mr Jas Marshall for 15 C Shingles
1. 6.9

19—
To Ditto of Jno. Cannon
0.12.0

23—
To Ditto recd from Joseph Thompson
30.12.0

28—
To Ditto from my Br. Saml on acct of Intt on his Bonds to J.P. Custis
25. 5.0

Contra

Feby 3—
By Mr Riddel for J.P. Custis
2. 2.6

By My Br. Chas for James Brown for my ⟨Comps⟩
1.10.0

5—
By a dog (Spaniel)
1.16.0

7—
By Mrs Johnston Balle of Lakes Order
4.10.0

By Ditto on acct of Mr [George] Wythe
1.12.0

By Chs Turner mending Dial
0. 3.0

By Charity
0.10.0

By Hall & Gilpin for a pr of Shoes for J.P.C.
0. 7.0

19—
By Doctr [John] Hunters Exrs pd Thos Palmer
0.16.8

By mendg Coffee Pot 1/6
0. 1.6

By Pocket Money to J.P. Custis
0.10.0


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 3–10 February 1770
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Revd Sir,
Mount Vernon Feby 3d[–10] 1770

The uncertainty of your return from Maryland (as we heard that Potomack was Froze below Cedar Point) added to the difficulty, & indeed danger of crossing the Waters between this and your House are the Reason’s of Jackys detention here so long. We therefore if he shoud be too late in comg hope your excuse for it.
He brings down several pair of very good London made Shoes, which being too small for him, it woud be acknowledged as a favour if you coud give him any assistance in changing of them for those of larger Size. Our Compliments are offered & I am Revd Sir Yr Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington

10th The bad Weather has detaind Jacky to this time from the date above.


Title: To George Washington from Andrew Lewis, 1 March 1770
From: Lewis, Andrew
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Augusta March the 1t 1770

I had not the pleasure of receiving your favour deated at Williamsburg the 20th of Last Decemr before Yesterday. all the officers that had the honr of Serving under you in the year 1754 as well as the Solds. must with gratitude acknowlidge the Service you have done them by obtaining a Location of their Lands. I am well pleased with Mr Walthes preserving the memorm I put in his hand and Laying it before you on that intristing occation. on my return from Fort Stanwix I thought it Highly necessary to make applecation to his Lordship and the Honble Council releative to our Claims of Land; as I found there were numbers of Pettitions preparing in order to procure the very Lands now granted to us. and had an entry made by the order of the Board that our claims to Lands were Justly founded, that we might be before hand with those Adventurers. I think with you that a meeting of the officers are esentialy necessary in order to consert measures how we shall proceed. and for my part I shall be attentive to any meathod you may think proper to propose for that purpose. with regard to the proportion of Lands that each shall injoy. I suppose that will be considered by his Lordship and the Council after the diffirent claims are Layed before them. there are a number of families settled on the Monangehala between the Long Narrows and the place known by the name of

Knots, but since the officers claims to Lands were approved of, and expressly contrary not only to the rules of Goverment but to a Message from his Lordship sent by me and delivered to them that no Settlements should be made there before proparly Authorised. I hop the Sandy Creek will be included when the Boundeary Line Comes to be extended—and I must confess I am at a Loss to know how we can proceed to have our Lands Layed off before that matter is fixed. I hope it will be soon. I mu[c]h approve of Mr Crawfords being appointed Surveyer not only because it will be of service to him but I think him better qualified for Such service by nature then most men—I heartely wish I had the pleasure of conversing with you on the Subject of Your Letter. many things are to be considred before we can proced to the Laying off the Lands. and indeed not a Little depends on the meathod that may be taken in proportioning the Land agreeable to the Proclamation. but this can be best considered after the claims are all Layed in. after the Claimes are Layed be fore you I shall be greatly obliged to you for a few Lins with your Observations there on. I am with due respect, Dear Sir Your Most Obedt & very Humble Servt

Andw Lewis


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 3 March 1770
From: Boucher, Jonathan
To: Washington, George

Sir
Caroline [c.3 March 1770]

It gives Me infinite Uneasiness to find myself under a Necessity of making a disagreeable application to You; but so am I circumstanced that this is almost my last Resort, to preserve Me from a very distressg Situa[tio]n.
Doubtless, You have heard of the calamitous Fate of poor Mrs Campbell. At the Best, her Situa[tio]n was piteous; but it was rendered much more so by her being deserted by every Friend & Relative. I never had an insensible Heart; but a Female reduced from Opulence to extreme Indigence & penury was an object I never could look on, unmov’d. There were few of her Acquaintance who could not have been of more effectual Service to Her than I, who neither have a Fortune, nor have yet learn’d how to make one. Yet (unluckily for Me in this Instance) I had Credit; & the Sheriff offering to trust Me for any Slaves I might chuse to purchase, till April, my Discre[tio]n yielded to my Humanity, & I bought, for Mrs Campbell’s Use, to the Amount of £370. Of this Mr Claiborne promises to pay 50£ & Mr Roger Dixon £100, wc. He owed to Mrs Campbell: The Balance I am accountable for. Will it be in your Power, Sir, to lend Me this Sum? I am asham’d almost to tell You, that if You cannot, I see no other Means of raising it with Certainty, but by selling my Negroes, which yet I cannot do without infinite Inconvenience. I have try’d to collect it from outstanding Debts here in Virga, but in vain: I try’d to borrow it in Maryland, equally in vain. So that, in Truth, I find myself reduc’d to a chance of being broke up for a Sum not much exceeding £200. I am in Hopes Mastr Custis’s Estate may be able to spare This,

which I can only promise to pay again, if requir’d, in any Time after a Year; & that You may run no Risque, I will either give You sufft personal Security, or a Mortgage of Negroes of much more Value than the Sum I ask.
It may appear to You perhaps, Sir, that I have been very improvident to be thus perplex’d in raising £220; & This is but too true; for as I never had a Wish to become a rich Man, I have only endeavoured so to square my Expences, as that my Income might just ansr my own Occasions, witht ever dreamg of so unexpected a Demand as the present.
Let me only add, that if You can by any Means, oblige Me with this Money, You will observe it must be before the first of April; & that your doing it will be conferring a very lasting Obliga[tio]n on, Sir, Yr most Obedt & very Hble Servt

Jonan Boucher

Mr Addison, who left This a few Days ago, has undertaken to purchase Me a waiting Boy, as I am in great Want of one; & to send Him over to your House, by Friday, in Hopes it may be in your Power to contrive Him down to Me. As Joe will probably have some Luggage, I fear He will not be able to bring Him, otherwise I believe He might witht hurtg his Horse. If You see He cannot, I beg You wd by no means send on purpose, but be so good as to let the Boy (if indeed I get one) stay with You, till some conven[ien]t oppty offers.


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 8 March 1770
From: Marshall, Thomas Hanson
To: Washington, George

Sir
March the 8th 1770

On my way to my Quarter on this side (this day) I observed several Valuable Trees &c. cut down Worked and Working up, on my Land; as thay are on that Part the Land we was on Making An Exchange, for the Same Quantity in Maryland, Induses me to Immagen, you miss apprehended me in my offer’s to you Relative to the same. Which I Remember well was neare as Followes, when I was at your House, I made this offer, that I would Exchange the Land I held Between the Mane Rode and Potomack River, for the same Quantity of Land (off Mr Alexanders) to be Laid off Sutable to my Plantation in Maryland, Provided I could have the same in Immediate Use, which was then Agreed to, Provided Mr Alexander could so Dispose the same; At Poseys sale You mentioned to me, you should be Glad to have that Matter setled Before you Went down the Cuntry, as you wanted (If the Exchange could be now made) to order sum Rales &ca cutt off the Part of Land, on which we Prevailed on Mr Alexander to cross the Rivr with me that Evining, in order to Look at the Land, and the Part I would Exchange for, which he did, thô then did not chuse to give Any Determined Answar, On my Seing You the Next Day (at the Sale) I acquanted you Therewith, on which you seemed still desirous of being in sum Sertenty before you Left home, I then tould you, Immagened i⟨t⟩ Would make Litle Differance, for as soon as Mr Alexander

shou⟨ld⟩ agree to the Part I was to Take of his Land, I would then Ac⟨quant⟩ Mr Land Washington thereof, when he might Proceed as you ⟨should⟩ Instruct. I never could Get any Sertenty from Mr Alexand⟨er, Consequently⟩ could not give any such Information. Indeed on the first of Jany ⟨last I sent⟩ to Mr Alexander ⟨Pres⟩sing him to Let me be on sum Sertenty ⟨Inclosing him⟩ a Ruff Dr⟨aft of⟩ the Plat of h⟨is Lan⟩d Shewing the Part ⟨I would have⟩ ⟨mutilated⟩ Would be made use of, until the Within Mentioned ⟨Proposal⟩ was Complyed with. However As I impute this affair to sum Miss apprehension, Hope You will order a Stop, to Any further Damage, & Make No Doubt but you will Likewise make Satisfaction for what is already dun. I am Sir Your Most Hble servt

Tho. Han. Marshall


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Hanson Marshall, 9 March 1770
From: Washington, George
To: Marshall, Thomas Hanson

Sir,
March 9th 1770.

Your Letter of the 8th was delivered to me Yesterday; the contents of which gives me both surprize & concern—That no

misapprehension of our agreement has happend on my side I think I coud almost venture to affirm and can make it appear by other testimony than my own otherwise as I have ever been extreamely cautious how I encroach upon the property of another I shoud never have aimd however conven[ien]t it might be to me at cutg a single stick of Timber from any Land I did not conceive to be my own as a proof of which you have only to recur to my frequent attempts to get you and Mr West together in order that the bounds of our Lands might be fully adjusted and trespasses avoided not knowing but my People might unwittingly make some Incroachments which I might neither know of or prevent till the Bounds were established.
In respect to the conversation that passd at my House I conceive that you must have forgot the most material part of it otherwise I must strangely have mistaken the sense & meang of it—true it is you did propose to give up all the Land on the South Side the Main Road for the like qty of Mr Alexanders adjoing you in Maryland; but upon its being surmis’d that there was apossibility that that Land might never be got; you said, that for so small a qty it made no difference, as I might pay you in Cash at the rate of 40/ Maryld Curry an Acre for it—for This conversation I think was very particularly expressed, in as much as I ask’d the question over again (in the presence of Lund Washington) in order that no misconstruction or mistake might happen; & from that moment lookd upon the slipe of Land between me & Mr French & the other slipe between French and Manley as my own to every intents & purpose how coud I do other wise? and what end did it answer to ascertain a Cash price, if I was only to obtain your Land by way of swap?
What you have added in respect to our conversation at Captn Poseys Sale concerning Rails & my desire of being put upon a certainty I readily grant; but if you conceivd that it related to the Land you had before given me the promise of I confess there was in that case a misunderstanding between us; for what I alluded to then was the other slipe on the No. side of the Road from French’s Cornr white Oak there on to my Cr & Wades on the Branch which when I proposd to have aded along with the rest you woud give me no promise of; but said, if upon examinination it was found no ways injurious to yr Plantation you woud also let it go; it was this slipe that I then had in view when I spoke

to you at Poseys Sale expressing a desire of knowing whether you woud part with or not; because this was the slipe that joind all along upon my Fence & had Rail stuff convenient for the end it was wanted it was for this purpose therefore that I pressd you to come over the 2d Morng of the Sale that we might ride & see whether you thought it injurious or not & resolve accordingl⟨y⟩.
As further proofs, that I not only believd the Ld to be my own; but also conceivd that you considerd it in the same point of view; Mr Manley told L.W. that he applyd to you to buy it himself & recd for answer that he need not give himself the trouble of makg any offer for it as you had already parted with it to me & Mr Alexander informd me, that in answer to yr Letter he had desired that you woud do what you pleasd with the Land he held in Maryld consistent with the Laws & customs of that Provence and that the next time he see you, you told him that the Tenant (part of whose Tenement you wanted) had Petitiond so hard for the priviledge of keeping his Plantation entire this year that you had agreed to do without it—all these things corrisponding so exactly with the conversation that passd between us previous thereto left me no room to think there was the least occasion to wait for the formality of a regular conveyance of the land, before I made use of it (as I knew it was always in my power to pay for it whenever calld upon) & therefore having occasion for Timbers for my Mill I set to work upon that as most convenient to the Spot to which it was to be carried.
These things I have mentiond, to shew that I had no scruples in what I was doing, or even expected the least molestation; however upon the rect of yr Letter I have sent directions to the overseer of my Carpenters to cut down no more trees than what are already fallen (these to Work up) & to keep an exact Acct (upon Oath if required) of every piece of Timber that goes of[f] of the Land in order that I may settle the matter somehow or other with you when I see you which I hope will be very soon as I shall press Mr West to come down that we may ascertain the Bounds of all our Lands.
It gives me no small degree of concern, that this matter shoud be brought into question—I have been askd by several people (from what I suppose Manley had said) if I had not bought that piece of Land & I readily acknowledged that I had so which I am sure I shoud not have done if I had entertaind any distrust of

the bargain as I shoud be very unwilling that any person shoud harbour a suspicion of my telling a falsehood upon this or any other occas. I therefore hope you will reconsider this matter & give me an answer favourable to what I conceivd a possitive agreement. I am Sir &ca

 G: W——n


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 12 March 1770
From: Marshall, Thomas Hanson
To: Washington, George

Sir
Maryland the 12th March 1770

Your’s of the 10th Instt I Recd and have now before me, th’o was not at home at the time it was brought to my House. Am Verry Sorry any Act of Mine Should give the Least Surprize, or Consern, to any Gentn Whatever, as it was not, or is, the Least of my Intentions so to do; As to any Testimony to make it appear there was no misapprehension, in Regard to the Proposals Made and agre’d to between us, Relative to the slipes of Land, I have nothing more to say, then I am Possitive it was not my Intention, to make such an agreement as you mention, th’o make not the Least doubt But you apprehended it in that light. I never had the least Doubt or Suspetion, that you would order the least Incrochment, on mine Or any other Persons Property (Disignedly) which was the Reasion I Imputed the Timber cut down on my Land, was owing to a Misapprehension, in our Bargain—I have not forgot (I think) any Material Part of the Conversation that Passed between us, Relative to the Land; Nor never denyed any Part to my knowledg. The End that a cash Price was agreed to (as I took it) was upon its being mentioned there was a Possibillity of Mr Alexander’s never haveing it in his Power to Convey the Land in Maryland, I then said, should that be the case, I would then Receive of a Certain Price in Cash per Acer for them slipes; this was my Sence and Meaning of the Matter, and thought I was understood so—&c.
You signify that my Conversation with Mr Alexander and Manly is a Proof that I Looked on them slipes of Land to be sold to you, for a Certain sum of Cash. Beleve me Sir, you know me not, If you think I would alter in the Least, from any Bargain I had made, (agreable to my Sence and Meaning) had it have been a Matter of much grater consequence to me, then that now Between us; As to the Conversation I had with Mr Manly, If I Remember right was Nearly this—At Poseys sale Manly was

mentioning sumthing to me in Regard to the Slipe of Land of mine adjoining his Pla⟨ntation, tha⟩t he would Ither Rent or Purchase, I Repl⟨ye⟩d that I was on a Bargain for the same with Col: Washingto⟨n, or⟩ I might possabilly have said I had bargained for it, As I at ⟨that time⟩ might not have had any Doubt, but the same Quantity of ⟨Land⟩ would be given up to me in Maryland convineant to m⟨y⟩ Plantation, &ca.
As to what Mr Alexander informed you, of his answar to my Letr to him, said Answar will shew whether it is agreable to what You mention, And as to the Conversation Mr Alexander said Passed Between us when he last saw me, I must absolutely Deny. As No such Conversation Ever Passed between me and the Tenant, Consequently could not (in Truth) Pass between Mr Alexander And me; However on the Whole, I Declare, I Looked on our Agrement as I have already Expressed, That is, on the same Quantity of Land being given into my Possesion, Adjoining my plantation in Maryland, (the Ruf Draft Mr Alexander has will shew the forme) I was then to give you up them slipes of Land, Between the Road and River, and, in case Mr Alexander Should not be able (Hearafter) to make a good Right to the Land in Maryland, so as to Convey to me, then and in such Case, I was to Receive a sertain Price of You Pr Acer for them Slipes of Land above mentioned, this I was Ready to Comply with; My Letr to Mr Alexander will shew the application I made to him. Pressing him to Let me be on sum Sertenty, the Answar to which I have already given you; I never had the least Doubt But Col. Washington could at any time Pay a much Larger sum then them Slipes of Land would have cum to had I agreed for Cash, but as I did not nor now do Look on our agreement in that Light, That Matter never onest Entered my thoughts. I am Your Verry Hble servt

Tho. Han. Marshall


Title: From George Washington to Thomas Hanson Marshall, 16 March 1770
From: Washington, George
To: Marshall, Thomas Hanson

Sir
March 16th 1770

In reply to your favour of the 12th, I have only to say, that I am really sorry we shoud misapprehend each others Intention’s concerning the agreement we entered into at my House; but since we have done so, in respect to one part of it, and since I am under no sort of apprehension of having the mistake rectifyed by giving you possession of any part of Mr Alexander’s Land adjoining you, or the whole, if required next year (unless a death shoud intervene to prevent it) I shoud be glad to know, if, in the meantime you will suffer me to go on and get the remainder of my Mill frame in the place I was cutting (there wanting but little to compleat the work as I got the chief part of the Scantling for it last Summer from my own Land) upon conditions of my paying you the customary price for all the Timber I may take off of these slipes in case I shoud not have it in my power to put you in Possession of as much of Mr Alexander’s Land as these shall measure, at the determination of the present year?
Mr Alexander at the sametime he mentioned to me what he had wrote to you, & the conversation that passd between you and his Tenant (tho. different from what you Inclosd) also told me, that by some Law, or custom in Maryland relative to Landlords & Tenants, that if the Landlord neglected before some certain day to warn of the Tenant, that it was optional in the latter to obey the notice afterwards or not it may be impractacable therefore now, for him to give you possession of any part of the Tenanted Land, till the expiration of the present year, but there can be no doubts of his doing it then; & therefore, as these slipes of Land can never be of more essential Service to me than at this time; and as I see little, indeed no difference it can make to you to give me the use of them at this time, or 8 or nine Months hence—I shoud be very glad if you coud oblige me therein, upon the conditions above mentioned especially, as it will be on⟨ly⟩ doing that now which I really thought was done before.
I shoud be much obliged to you also for a Copy ⟨of⟩ the Plat and Courses of Mr Alexanders Land pointing thereon the piece you want to get from him.


Title: Indenture with Peter Gollatt, 19 March 1770
From: Washington, George,Gollatt, Peter
To:

[19 March 1770]

This Indenture made the Nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy—Between Peter Gulatt, of the County of Fairfax, Blacksmith of the one part and George Washington Gentleman of the same County of the other part. Whereas the said George Washington by an Indenture bearing date the same day of these presents has bound to & put under the said Peter Gulatt a Negro Fellow or lad named Nat belonging to the said George Washington, for the Term of three years and a Mulatto Fellow name Julius, the property of John Custos for the Term of Six years to commence from the date of the said Indenture, to learn the Art and Trade of Blacksmiths and . . . the said Peter Gulatt will well and faithfully during the respective Terms and Times aforesaid Instruct and Learn the said Negro Nat & Mulatto Julius in the said Art and Trade according to the best of his power & ability; And also . . . will find and provide for the said Nat & Julius, good, sufficient and wholsome diet and will pay their Levies . . .”


Title: From George Washington to John Armstrong, 20 March 1770
From: Washington, George
To: Armstrong, John

Dear Sir
Fairfax C[oun]ty Virga Mar. 20th 1770

Your obliging favour of the 24th of Jany came to my hands sometime after the date thereof; & to which, I shoud have given an immediate answer, but was in hopes that by delaying of it a while, to have said something more to the purpose than I am like to do at present, in respect to the matter you did me the honour of mentioning, in behalf of yr Son.
At this time, I do not know one good opening for a young Practitioner in Physick any where within the Circle of my acquaintance—true it is we have lost one of the two (Doctr Laurie) that used to supply Alexandria & the Country about it, but his incapacity to attend the calls of his profession made way long before his death, for the other (Doctr Rumney); who is well establish’d in the business; & not like to be affected by a young Gentleman lately from the College of Philadelphia, one Mr Alexander, notwithstanding his large Family connexions in this County. From hence to Fredericksburg I thin⟨k⟩ there is not an opening that promises anything worth Mr Armstrongs embracing—below that, Doctr Mercer from his acquaintance & enquiries, will be able to give you a much more satisfactory acct than I can.
A Gentlemen of the turn of mind you describe your Son to be, regularly educated in the study of Physick, and modest of deportment, can never fail to command esteem that will improve upon acquaintance—such I wish most of our young gentlemen were, but we have had some from the College of Edenburg (lately), that are rather too full of themselves. If Doctr Armstrong shoud take a turn into Virga any time this spring, I shoud be exceeding glad to see him at my house, and shoud think myself very happy if it was in my power to render him, or you, any ⟨ac⟩ceptable Service.
Mrs Washington returns you many thanks for your good wishes, & joins very cordially with me in tendering our best respects to yourself & Mrs Armstrong. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from George Mercer, 28 March 1770 [letter not found]
From: Mercer, George
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from George Mercer, 28 Mar. 1770. On 7 Nov. 1771 GW wrote to Mercer: “I have been favourd with two Letters from You—one of them dated the 28th of March 1770.”


Title: Cash Accounts, April 1770
From: Washington, George
To:

[April 1770]

Cash

Apl 12—
To Willm Gardner weavg 13 Yds Cloth @ 1/3
£ 0.16. 3

13—
To Andw Robinson for wheat &ca
0.10. 0

27—
 To G. ⟨Sl⟩ackum for 20 Bls of Salt @ 2/6––£2.10.0 13 M Herrings @ 3/—1.19.255 White fish 10/—1.5.6 5 lbs. Bacon .3.4
5.17.10

28—
To Cash for 3 M Herrings
0.10. 0

To Mr Richd Watts Weaving
0.16. 0

Contra

Aprl 6—
By Mr Harrison for his opinion
0.12. 0

By Postage of a Letter
0. 0. 7 1/2

7—
By Andw Robinson in part for work
2. 0. 0

By Edwd Williams
3.12.10

By Joseph Gourt
3. 0. 0

10—
By Expences at Cameron
0. 1. 3

By James Connel
3. 0. 0

13—
By Andrew Robinson pr Acct
4.10. 0

16—
By Jonathan Palmer
4. 0. 0

By Augs. Darrell for Acct of Mrs S. Johnston
8. 5. 0

18—
By Mr Christian Entrance for P[atsy] Custis and Milly Posey
2. 0. 0

By 175 Bushl Oyster shells @ 18/ Mill
1.11. 6

20—
By Willm Gardner for a Copper Kettle
5. 6. 0

26—
By Captn Posey pr Acct
11.16. 4

27—
 By G. Slackum for 1257 ⟨feet⟩ Inch & ¼ P[lan]k @ 6/8—£4.3.9 Ditto 3696 Inch Do 6/—11.1.9
15. 5. 6

By Cash gave away
0. 5. 0

29—
By William Skilling
0. 6. 0


Title: To George Washington from Robert Hanson Harrison, 5 April 1770
From: Harrison, Robert Hanson
To: Washington, George

Sir
Aprill 5th 1770

I am of Opinion that by the Common Law, you cannot divert the natural course of the Run by cutting of a Race through your own Land; It being stated by Mr Washington that thereby J. Barry would be deprived of Water Necessary for his Cattle &c.—as on the Authorities—1 Bar Abridgement 45.54. Carth. 117. Com. 69. 5 Mod. &c.
I also am of opinion that was a Jury by an order of Court founded on a petition preferred by you, agreable to the Directions of the Act of Assembly made in 1748 ch. 26 (Vid. the Act) to report that Introducing a Race thro. your Land, would deprive J. Barry or the person Intitled to the Land from Necessary water, that the Court would Reject your petition; and should they not do It, that Barry might maintain an Action upon his

Case against you for any Damage or Injury Sustained by means of your diverting of his water; and that for every new Injury which would probably happen once every year, he might maintain a new action—I must therefore Advise you to obtain his consent by an Instrument of Writing for that purpose—If you should, you will still be Subject to the same Inconvenience from the Heir at Law or person Intitled to The Land after Barry’s death unless you can procure his or ⟨her cons⟩ent then or now, If of full age, as no Agreement of Barry can bind longer than his life he being Tenant by the Curtesy only. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt H. Servt

Rob. H: Harrison


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 8 April 1770
From: Marshall, Thomas Hanson
To: Washington, George

Sir
Maryland the 8th of April 1770

Your’s Acquanting me that Mr West had Promissed to be at your house this Afternoon, In order to Run the Dividing Line between Washington & Spencer, came to hand, Th’o am afrade Shall not be able to give my self the Pleasure of Wating on You in the Morning, Owing to a Verry seveare Could, which affects me in Such a Manner, that I can scarsly git a Moment’s Rest. Should I be Better in the Morning will wate on you Arly. However should I not, don’t Doubt but you and Mr West will Lay the Dividing Line of, agreable to the True Intent and Desine thereof. I am yr Most Hble servt

Tho. Han. Marshall


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 11 April 1770
From: Marshall, Thomas Hanson
To: Washington, George

Sir
Wednsday Evining 11th April 1770

A’m greatly obligd to you, for the Trouble you have Given your self in Leting me no Mr West is to be Down this Evining, or in the Morning; Th’o cannot at this Time Promis my self the Least Prospect of Joining You, as Mrs Marshall (who has been much aleing for sum time Past) is this day so Ill, (that without a Great amendment,) cannot by any meens Leve her, Should that be the Case, Weather &c. Permeting You may Depend I will be over in the Morning Arly, I am Sir Yr Most Hble Servt

Tho. Han. Marshall

N.B. Should I not be at your Hous by Eight oClock, in the Morning You may take for Granted I cannot Leve home.


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 16 April 1770
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
April the 16th 1770

Having been travelling five days and not getting home till 11 oClock last night, I find myself & Horses rather too much fatigued to go to Court as I intended.
Mr Montgomerie informed me at the last Court that he shd be up at this in order to have his power of Attorney fully proved—and I wrote to Colo. Mason last week desiring to be informed of the date of his Power of Attorney, the one to Mr Montgomerie being dated the 6th of October 1769—I have directed Joe to enquire for a Letter from Mr Mason and deliver it to You, and I shall be obliged to You to open it, and if the date is not posterior to that of Mr Montgomerie’s and you incline to receive from him as Mr Savage’s Attorney the three years Annuity due, being £300, and pay it to him as Mrs Savages, I am also willing, and your Receipt will be as effectual as a joint one from us both. Mr Montgomerie receiving the money as her Attorney will be answerable to her for it, and this may be a speedy way of getting the money paid to her—for Mr Montgomerie told me he would settle it in that manner if agreeable to you.
I purposed to have spoke to you in person upon the Subject but being much fatigued I am in hopes this Letter will answer the same End. I am Dr Sir Your most obedt

Bryan Fairfax

I shall be obliged to You to excuse my not coming to Mr Montgomerie to whom I made a promise of being at Court, and I have hurried myself too much in order to perform it.


Title: Cash Accounts, May 1770
From: Washington, George
To:

[May 1770]

Cash

May 5—
To Danl Ansdale for half a Bl of Corn
£ 0. 6. 0

6—
To Mrs Fairfax for weaving
2. 9.10

28—
To Cash recd of Doctr Carter Int. of Mrs McKenzies Bond
10.16. 0

Contra

May 1—
By Thos Bishop
6. 0. 0

By Mr Flemings Servant
0.12. 0

2—
By 8 Spades at Mill
1.18. 6

3—
By Charity
0.12. 0

By Bishops Wife for Knitting
0.10. 0

By Sciagusta
0. 3. 0

9—
By Wm Skilling
1.10. 0

12—
By Thos Bird
1. 0. 0

16—
By Servants 1/3—Charity 5/
0. 6. 3

By Mrs Washington
0.10. 0

By 6 Spades @ 6/ & Ferriage Mill
1.16. 7 1/2

By Thos Bird
0. 1. 3

19—
By Lund Washington
30. 0. 0

By Expences at Dumfries
0. 4. 7 1/2

20—
By Ditto at Colemans 3/9. Do at Todds 4/
0. 7. 9

21—
By Ferry at Ruffins 3/. pr of Shoes to Will 6/
0. 9. 0

24—
By 4 Play Tickets 30/—Club at Hay’s 5/
1.15. 0

By 1 Phial of Red Ink 1/3—Gave away 2/6
0. 3. 9

By Postage of Letters & Coffee
0. 2. 0

By Club at Hay’s
0. 1. 3

30—
By Colo. Henry for a Map of Virginia
1.10. 0

By Servants 2/6—Club at Hay’s 5/7½
0. 8. 1 1/2


Title: To George Washington from William Crawford, 5 May 1770
From: Crawford, William
To: Washington, George

Dr Sir
May the 5th 1770

Inclosed is a Rough Draft of your Land and Calculated with the alowence of teen percent in the hundred.
I did not Enter that Land for you on they teen Mile Creek as it Epear to me from the new Map Don by Mr Scull that the Monongahalia will be left out when they back Line is Run at that bent at the Mouth of they teen Mile Creek or at any Rate whare the Land Lyes.
I ofard to pay the Office fees if they would Return me the Purches mony if that Land did not fall in Pensilvania the[y] would not agree to Return me the mony at any Rate.
But told me if I did not think it in Pensilvania not to Enter it as such Presedents would be attended with Confusion and Trouble to them Therefor I thought proper to Refair it till I went up and Run a Line from Fort-pitt till it Entersects the Line now Run which will Determine the matter without dou⟨t⟩ and if it should be in Pensilvania then the Clark will send me a Warrant sending to him as we have agreed on it I shall have the other Paece at the mouth of the Run Run out as soon as I go out as they Servayor will be there again I go out.
There is no sartentey about the Quit Rents what they will be and it is Suposed they will Open the office on the former Terms

as no Land from Over the mountain has bin Enter Since they new manner of opning of it nor will any be fond of it which will oblidge them to Opin on the Former Terms.
The Endien Traders Land is to be Laid of on the north side of the Litle Khanaway from the mouth to the head and by they Lolarel hill till it falls in with the Pensilvania Line and then with it till it falls to the head or as far as it goes and so a straight Line West till it Entersects or stricks the Ohio which will Leve out great part of all the Land on the west side of the Monongahalia to the Ohio from the Proprioters Line as According to the Opinion of Such as Judge the matter the western Bounds will [be] a Crooked Line agreed to the Meanders of Dolawar River.
The Enden Traders have not got there Land Confirmd to them yeat from any Acount they have had ⟨yeat⟩ Capt. Trent is still in Ingland wating to have it Setled.
I Shall do Every thing in my Power to inform my self in Regard to the Lands where the[y] are to be Laid of till I see or hear from you I am your most Humble Sarvent

W. Crawford

N.B. When you com up you will see the hole of your Tract finisht and have it all Patent in on[e] Tract I spook to Mr Thilman about it and told him you wanted to Command som part of the River and he agreed the Servayor should Run it out and you pay all under one and have a patent for the hole in one.
Colo. Carlyle has promised me to show you Mr Sculls Map just Dun from the best intelligents Som Actual Survays Som from Report or best Accounts he co[u]ld Get.


Title: To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 9 May 1770
From: Boucher, Jonathan
To: Washington, George

Sir
Caroline, May the 9th 1770.

There are some particular Circumstances in my Affairs, at this Juncture, which make Me desirous to know your & Mrs Washington’s final Resolution respecting Mr Custis’s Visit to Europe. Should You think it adviseable for Him to go, & I be thought a proper person to accompany Him, I still am willing to do it, & on Terms which, I can hardly think, You will judge unreasonable. I mean not to take upon Me to advise You in the Matter; Yet, I cannot help giving it You as my Opinion, that, from what I know of Him, Travelling will be of peculiar Service to Him. And as He is now advancing fast to that period of Life, much the most hazardous, this Expedient, if ever adopted at all, should be resolved on Early, & put in Execution, at least, in two Years from this Time. The Expecta[tio]n of it will engage his Attention, & divert Him from what I think a very wrong System, tho. a very common one, with the Youth of Virginia: it is to be hoped too, that it will stimulate Him to pursue his Studies with greater Earnestness, when He recollects how often He must be put to the Blush, if He appears illiterate amongst Men of Letters, into whose Company, in Travelling, He will often fall. Surely, it will not be thought that I can possibly have any interested Views in this Matter. It is true, indeed, I wish to revisit my native Country; & I have too a strong Inclina[tio]n to see the difft parts of the World. In point of Prudence, however, I believe it were better for Me to remain contented as I am: I consider it in

this Light, that I am unconnected in the World, with no very violent Passion, but that of increasing my slender Stock of Knowledge, which I persuade myself I shall most effectually accomplish by a Tour thro’ those Countries where Arts & Sciences have been most successfully cultivated. These, believe Me, are all the interested Motives I feel the Influence of: & if I have either heretofore or now, recommended it to Mr Custis to travel, it was from a full Conviction how necessary & how useful it wd be to Him. I have many Reasons for this Opinion, Some of which, I believe, are not unknown to You.
Happening, at present, to be a good deal hurried, I have only Time to add, that I wou’d by no means have mentioned this Matter to You now, had not my own affairs required it: & that I can never consent to his leaving Virga, unless He is first innoculated, which therefore should be resolved on as soon as ever You can be advis’d of a good opportunity.
I beg my respectful Compts to Mrs Washington & Miss Custis: & am, very truly, Yr most obedt Humble Servt

Jonan Boucher

P.S. I have shewn Jack what I have wrote, & desir’d Him to think of the Project calmly & coolly, & then sit down, & write you fully his own Sentiments on the Subject.


Title: From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 13 May 1770
From: Washington, George
To: Boucher, Jonathan

Sir,
Mount Vernon May 13th 1770

Your favour of the 9th came to hand last Night, but I do not think myself prepared at this time, to give any conclusive answer

to the questian you propounded, respecting Mr Custis’s travelling to perfect his Education.
It is a matter of very great consequence, and well deserving of the most serious consideration, especially by one who stands in the degree of Affinity to him that I do—A natural Parent has only two things principally to consider, the Improvement of his Son, and the Finances to do it with: if he fails in the first (not through his own neglect) he laments it as a misfortune; if exceeded in the Second, he endeavours to correct it as an abuse; unaccountable to any, and regardless of what the world may say, who do not, cannot suspect him of acting upon any other motives than for the good of the Party; he is to satisfy himself only: but this is not the case in respect to Guardians: they are not only to be actuated by the same motives which govern in the other case, but are to consider in what light their conduct may be viewed by those whom the constitution hath placed as a controuling power over them; because a faupas committed by them often incurs the severest Censure, and sometimes punishment; when the Intention may be strictly laudable.
Thus much Sir I have taken the liberty of saying to shew you in what light I consider myself (generally) as the Guardian of this youth: But before I coud adopt the measure finally, upon the extensive plan you seem to propose, and give a definitive answer; it woud be incumbent on me (as the person who is to acct for his worldly concerns as well as personal accomplishments) to have some regular System proposd; that it may be seen at one view how the expence & his Income are proportiond to each other. for thô I am far, very far, from harbouring any distrust of your being influenced by any sinester views, or that you woud be unreasonable in your expectation’s as his Governor, yet, some plan shoud be pointed out, some estimate formed, by which I am to be guided; otherwise, were I hastily to determine that a year or two hence (or as his Education and judgment ripened) he was to travel, and when that period arrivd it was found to be upon a plan too enlargd for his fortune and a stop thereby put to it, it might be a disappointmt to you which I shoud be sorry for, as I make it a point, at least endeavour to do so, not to deceive any one.
From what I have said, you may possibly conceive that I am averse to his Travelling for the completion of his Education; but

be assured Sir I am not; there is nothing, in my opinion, more desirable to form the manners, and encrease the knowledge of observant youth than such a plan as you have sketchd out; and I beg of you to believe, that there is no Gentleman under whose care Mrs Washington and myself woud so soon entrust Mr Custis as yourself (after he is sufficiently instructed in Classical knowledge here) It may be depended on therefore, that the gratification of this passion in him, will never meet with any interruption from me; and I think I may venture to add from his Mother, provided he is disposed to set out upon such a Plan of Improvement as your good sense is capable of dictating to him; & provided also, that you will undertake to accompany & guide him in the pursuit of it: Add to this, that he will be content with such an allowance as his Income can afford; for here it is also necessary to observe, that tho. he is possessd of what is called a good Estate it is not a profitable one—His Lands are poor, consequently the Crops short; and thô he has a number of Slaves, Slaves in such Cases only add to the Expence—About 60 and from that to 80 Hhds of Tobo is as much as he generally makes of a year; and if this is cleared, it is as much as can be expected considering the number of People he has to Cloath and the many Incident charges attending such as Estate.
This Sir, is all the answer I am capable of giving you at present. if you will do me the favour to be more explicit on this Subject in another Letter, I will not only think of the matter with the best attention to it I am master of, but advise with some of his, and my friends, whilst I am in Williamsburg as a justification of my conduct therein. and as to his being Innoculated for the Small Pox previous to such an Event, the propriety of it is so striking, that it cannot admit of a doubt—In truth, my opinion of this is, that it ought to happen whether he travels or not, as this disorder will in the course of a few years be scarce ever out of his own Country. With very great esteem I remain Revd Sir Yr Most Hble Servt

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