Title: To George Washington from William Preston, 15 August 1774
From: Preston, William
To: Washington, George

Dear sir
Smithfield August 15th 1774.

Mr Thomas Hog who brought the Platts of Your Land on Cole River from Capt. Floyd in April last with two other Men has never since been heard of, so that there is no Doubt of their being killed or taken, but I fear the former is the Case. Capt. Floyd with three others came in last Saturday. The other Surveyors with a Party of Men are still out but there is some Reason to hope they are safe.
Mr Floyd at my Request immediately made out your Plan which I have Recorded & takes this Opportunity to Send it to Colo. Fielding Lewis either to be forwarded to you or sent to Town as you choose. I had no Opporty to send it directly down, otherwise I should have done it & sent the Patent Fee & had it put in at once.

The Bearer Mr Nash lives in Faquier but he has given me his Positive Promise that he will send the Letter immediately to Fredericksburg.
We are greatly harrased in this Country by the Enemy. A Small Party got in about ten Days ago & killed 5 Persons mostly Children & took three Prisoners, about 15 Miles from this Place; which is greatly Exposed. I began yesterday to build a Fort about my House for the Defence of my Family. I am with great Esteem Dr sir your most Obedt & very hble Servt

Wm Preston


Title: To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 20 August 1774
From: Simpson, Gilbert
To: Washington, George

Honoerd Sr
Yougha gahalay Foort Triall [Pa.]August the 20: 1774

This Coms To Let you know that your Mill is Likely To goo By Christmas provided I Can get Iron Which I Cannot Teel at This Time how it is Too Bee got Without you Can get it Waggond to Tittles or To The Little Meadows From Thens I Can get it pact over on horsses: The Mill Work has Been Much Backend By the War and Will I do Beleive Cost Neare one hundred pounds More Than she would have doon had it Continued a pees But in all probabilaty it Will soon Com Back again For Grain Will Likely Beear a high price This seven years To Com For provision is Ris To great hight Which is To your Cost and My Great Fetuge For I am sum Times almost at my Wits End to Teel What To do But Shall allways Endevour To do For The Best as I Thnk your Mill Lys at Neare £250 Cost at This Time For Which I have Strant My Credet To a Great hight and I Beleive she Will Cost Neare £700 in The hool But it is The Speech of almost all people That sees The Work and The Convenins of The Plase That They Would Bee hard To perswade To Take £3000 For her and 150 a Cres of Land joning her For she is Compleatly doon So Far Sr It Being altogether out of My power To Com down I have sent My Soon [Son] For Money For I Cant doo any longer Without and I hope you Will send about £250 With him and should Bee a blige To you To Caussion him To Bee Carefull in Coming out altho. I have Given a Great Charge alreydey To him For he Will goo Well armd and is a good guner and I do beleive he Would Not Lack Currage When put To The Shift and I know him To Bee a Studdey Sober Lad and There Will Bee Two or Three heartty stout young Men With him so I beleive That There Will Not Bee The Lest danger of his Coming safe your Blankits Weare all prest at Jolifs so I have Been Ferst To Make all shifts as I Could By Lodging The Workmen on My Own Beeds and Beed Cloths Which has Not Been No Small dammage To them Sr as To any thing Concerning The War and other affairs My Soon Can give you an account of Them and God Willing I intend down This Fall provided There is a pees Which at This Time Looks Likely so sir No Mor But I hope

These Lines Will Find your honour and all yours in a perfect good helth as I and My Famyly is at This Time Thanks To almighty God For The same and I Remain your to Command

Gilbt Simpson

N.B. Your Mill has Twenty Eight Feet Fall.


Title: From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 24 August 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Fairfax, Bryan

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon Augt 24th 1774

Your Letter of the 5th Instt came to this place, forwarded by Mr Ramsay, a few days after my return from Williamsburg; and I delayed acknowledging of it sooner, in hopes that I should find time, before I began my other journey to Philadelphia, to answer it fully, if not satisfactorily, but as much of my time has been engrossd since I came home by Company; by your Brother’s Sale & the business consequent thereupon; In writing Letters to England; and now in attending to my own domestick affairs previous to my departure as above; I find it impossible to bestow so much time and attention to the Subject matter of your Letter as I could wish to do, & therefore must rely upon your good nature & candour in excuse for not attempting it. In truth, perswaded as I am that you have read all the Political Pieces which compose a large share of the Gazettes, at this time, I should think it, but for your request, a piece of inexcusable arrogance

in me, to make the least essay towards a change in your Political Opinion’s; for I am sure I have no new lights to throw upon the Subject, or any arguments to offer in support of my own doctrine than what you have seen; and could only in general add, that an Innate Spirit of freedom first told me, that the Measures which Administration hath for sometime been, and now are, most violently pursuing, are repugnant to every principle of natural justice; whilst much abler heads than my own, hath fully convinced me that it is not only repugnant to natural Right, but Subversive of the Laws & Constitution of Great Britain itself; in the Establishment of which some of the best Blood in the Kingdom hath been Spilt; Satisfied then that the Acts of a British Parliament are no longer Govern’d by the Principles of justice—that it is trampling upon the Valuable Rights of American’s, confirmd to them by Charter, & the Consitution they themselves boast of; & convinc’d beyond the smallest doubt, that these Measures are the result of deliberation; & attempted to be carried into Execution by the hand of Power is it a time to trifle, or risk our Cause upon Petitions which with difficulty obtain access, and afterwards are thrown by with the utmost contempt—or should we, because heretofore unsuspicious of design and then unwilling to enter into disputes with the Mother Country go on to bear more, and forbear to innumerate our just causes of Complaint—For my own part, I shall not undertake to say where the Line between Great Britain and the Colonies should be drawn, but I am clearly of opinion that one ought to be drawn; & our Rights clearly ascertaind. I could wish, I own, that the dispute had been left to Posterity to determine, but the Crisis is arrivd when we must assert our Rights, or Submit to every Imposition that can be heap’d upon us; till custom and use, will make us as tame, & abject Slaves, as the Blacks we Rule over with such arbitrary Sway.
I intended to have wrote no more than an apology for not writing, but find I am Insensibly running into a length I did not expect, & therefore shall conclude with remarking, that if you disavow the Right of Parliament to Tax us (unrepresented as we are) we only differ in respect to the mode of opposition; and this difference principally arises from your belief that they (the Parliament I mean) want a Decent oppertunity to Repeal the Acts; whilst I am as fully convinc’d, as I am of my existance,

that there has been a regular Systematick Plan formd, to enforce them; and that nothing but Unanimity in the Colonies (a stroke they did not expect) and firmness can prevent it; It seems, from the best advices from Boston, that Genl Gage is exceedingly disconcerted at the quiet ⟨& steady⟩ Conduct of the People of the Massachusets Bay, and at the Measures pursuing by the other Governments; as I dare say he expected to have forc’d those oppressd People into compliance, or irritated them to acts of violence before this, for a more colourable pretence of Ruling that, and the other Colonies with a high hand. But I am done.
I shall set off on Wednesday next for Philadelphia whither if you have any Commands I shall be glad to oblige you in them. being Dr Sir, with real regard Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. Pray what do you think of the Canada Bill?


Title: From George Washington to Sarah Bomford, 28 August 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Bomford, Sarah

Madam—
Augt 28th 1774

In acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 25th of May ⟨(w⟩hich came to my hands a few days ago) I should find myself much at ⟨a⟩ loss if I did not consider the many flattering ⟨ex⟩pressions containd in it as the effect of your politeness—not my deserts—however if in my part of the transaction of Mrs Savages’s Business in this Country I have been able to give satisfaction to that Lady & her Friends & convince them that her Interest has been the governing motive of my Conduct I shall think myself happy, more especially as the unreasonable delays which have attended the prosecution of this ⟨Suit⟩ woud naturally lead strangers to beleive that there had been a very great remissness somewhere—A few Months ago I flattered myself into a belief that we were upon the Eve of remitting the Money having obtaind a judgment immediately upon which I orderd Execution but when behold! as the Doctr had one card more to play, havg playd all the Game but that he was resolvd not to give it up, & stop’d the Execution by obtaining an Inju[n]ction in Chancery wch however as we were determind to ferret him out of this hold as soon as possible would not have availd him long had it not been for a circumstance which is a publick misfortune to this country as well as peculiarly unlucky & injurious to Mrs Savage & that is a total Stop to all judicial

proceedings for want of a Fee Bill which we were deprivd of by a sudden & unexpected Dissolution of our Assembly (or Parliament) in May last, & by the unhappy differences which at this time subsists betwn great Britain & her Colonies which has thrown every thing into great confusion & disorder from whence I cannot with certainty, say when we shall be reliev’d.
This being the Situation of things, it does in my opinion behoove Mrs Savage not to be unprovid[ed] with a will as by the Doctrs Bond her Annuity is devisable and if her obligation’s to your Family did not call for a grateful return it would be a wrong to suffer the small pittance she reservd to herself at the time of her unhappy Marriage to fall into the hands of a v——n who has not only endeavourd to wrong [her] of it but would I suppose deprive her of the very means of Existance if he could do it. I should do injustice to my own feelings, at the sametime I should discover a very great want of taste if I was to decline a corrispondance which confers such honr upon me as yours does Mrs Washington also thanks you for your polite notice of her & begs your acceptance of her Complimen⟨ts⟩ & that you will take the trouble of presenting them to Mrs Savage at the sametime to whom please also to make a tender of my best respects & infor⟨m⟩ her (as I have also done in former Letter wch I suppose ha⟨s⟩ miscarried) that the black Wax on my Letter was occasion⟨d⟩ by the death of Miss Custis who⟨m⟩ we were unhappily deprivd of in June—73. though unknow, I take the liberty of pr⟨e⟩senting my Complimts to Mr Bomford & to assure you with great re⟨gard⟩ tha⟨t⟩ I have the honr to be Madm Yr Most obt & oblg. Hble Servt

Go: W——n


Title: Cash Accounts, September 1774
From: Washington, George
To:

[September 1774]

Cash

Septr  6—
To Ditto [cash] of the Treasurer, by Peyton Randolph Esqr. on Acct of my Exps. to Phila. born by the Country
[£]100. 0. 0

Contra

Septr  4—
By Travelling Exps. to the Congress at Phila. pr Memm Book
£10.11. 2

By Sundrys purchased there viz.

a pr of Boots for Servt
£ 2. 5. 0

a pr of Shoes &ca Do
.15. 0

17—
Pockt handfs 4
.19. 0

19—
5 Yds of Chintz @ 10/
2.10. 0

7¼ yds of Cotton
2.14. 4

25—
1 ps of Irish Linn @ 5/3
6.13.10

30—
1 Cotton Gown 7 yds @ 5/
1.15. 0

1 Dozn Pock. Handfs @ 4/3
2.11. 0

1 pr Silk Hose
1. 4. 0

Bed Furniture & Makg
55.12. 6

3 Bedsteads
12. 0. 0

1 Tooth Brush
. 1. 3

1 Razor Strop
. 1. 0

6½ yds Callico @ 7/6
2. 8. 9

Mr Marchingtons Acct besides £3 for Colo. Lee
23. 8. 3


Title: To George Washington from Francis Willis, 1 September 1774 [letter not found]
From: Willis, Francis Jr.
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Francis Willis, Jr., 1 Sept. 1774. The letter is listed in Thomas Birch’s Sons catalog no. 663, item 73, 21–23 April 1891.


Title: To George Washington from William Crawford, 20 September 1774
From: Crawford, William
To: Washington, George

Sir
Stewart Crossing [Pa.] Sepr 20th 1774

It has not bin in my Power Since your Letter cam to my hand requesting me to Run the Land Over again at the round bottom I am now agoing to Set out for our new Expedition and taking my Instrements with me and Shall Comply with you in Each Article as far as is in my Power.
I have I beleve as much Land Lying on the Litle Kanhaway as will mak up your ⟨qu⟩antity you want that I intended to Lay ⟨mutilated W⟩arrents on but if you want it you ⟨mutilated⟩ have it and I will Try to get Other Land for that porpuss it Lys about

15 or 20 Mils up the Litle Kanhaway on the Lower Side and is all ready Run out on[e] Tract of about 3000 Som od acres the other about 2500 well Marked and bounded[.] as soon as I can return I will Send you the Draft maid out but has not time to have it don now[.] I do not here any of Cresaps Cla[i]m now more then as no person Lives on that Land, or any of your Land now Since the Endeins broke out I Spoke to Lord Dunmore in rgard to it, and him Claim in what manner your properly to its Claim and those people took possesion of the Land ⟨mutilated⟩ as you have the first Claim and a patent besids so that I belive it is out the power of any Person to P⟨mutilated⟩adise him against you.
I this day am set out with the first Devision for the Mouth of Hockhaking and there to Arect a post on your bottom whare the hole troops is to Rendevouse and from thence to Proceed to the Shawnee Towns if the Endiens do no[t] Comply with his Lordships Tearms which is to give 6 Hosteges for there good be heaviour which I beleve the[y] will do.
Lord Dunmore has had a Confrance with them but I do not now what ⟨is⟩ don as yeat but they will meet hi⟨m mutilated⟩ Hockhakin whare I belive we Shall Setle all matters.
Your other matters here Mr young will in form you how they are Settled.
Val Crawford says som person has bin indeaviouring to Predgadise you against him about your bisness in his Care as far as I [k]now or belive he has don all ⟨he⟩ Cold do for you, and has bin at much Cost and expence but you will be better able ⟨to⟩ Judge when you See his return.
Lord dunmore has orders from home by the Last Mail to [take] charge of all the New Purches and to Exarsise the Law of Virginia till his royal Pleashure is farther nown. I am Sir ⟨mutilated⟩.


Title: To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 24 September 1774
From: Simpson, Gilbert
To: Washington, George

Youg a gahalay F⟨ort⟩ Triall [Pa.]
SrSeptmber the 24 1774
This Coms To Let you know That My Son Returnd Safe With The Money and I am sorrey you Should Think The Cost of your Mill So high When it Was your own desire To Me To have her Compleatly don in all her Brantches and as to The Bignes of The house it was no desire Nor Thought of Mine To have So Large a bulding But Sr your Bill of Timbers I have To Sue That all The Rest of The Work Must be don according But Sr at all Events I Count you Wise in your own projecting The building in The Manner you did and I make No doubt But you Will Think your Money Well Laid out if plees God yuo Live To See her Compleatly don and I Shoul Bee ablige To you To Write To Me how or in What Manner you Would Chuse To Let out your Mill When She is Reydey To bee Let So Sr I Conclude Myself

your umble Serven To Command as Mr young Can Teel you all how Every Thing Stands at This Time.

Gilbt Simpson


Title: From George Washington to Joseph Chew, 25 September 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Chew, Joseph

Dear Sir,
Philadelphia Septr 25th 1774

It would have given me sincere pleasure to have serv’d you in your request of March the 10th (which by the by did not come to my hands till sometime late in May; after Colo. Pendleton, at the desire of Mr Madison, had made an unsuccessful application to Lord Dunmore for the Land you claim under your Brother Colby; whose Merits well entitles his heir to the Kings bounty) I say to have serv’d you in this affair would have given me a singular pleasure, and I should have set about the work with great chearfulness had I not in an exact similar Instance been repuls’d by his Lordship before; and made acquainted much abt that time, by him, that he had just receiv’d orders to grant no more Lands to any person whatsoever till his Majesty’s further pleasure should be known: In consequence of which (though it would not he added affect the Warrants he had granted antecedent thereto, and which were many) he absolutely refused to Issue Warrants to those who personally applied: Under these circumstances, and, as I before observ’d, a refusal to Colo. Pendleton, I judg’d it altogether inexpedient to apply till things should be put on a different face; but if I can at any time hereafter serve you in this, or any other matters, I shall do it with great chearfulness, as I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the civilities I have receiv’d at your hands.
It gave me exceeding great concern to hear that any untoward accident or losses should injure you either in your property, or domestick fecility. And the more so, as the death of Sir William Johnson, on whom you seem’d to rely, may possibly be attended with some additional misfortune.

In respect to the New Government on the Ohio, I scarce know what acct to give you of it. for four years last past we have been told that the next Packet was to bring a confirmation of the Grant &ca—this is still the cry among the friends to that Government in this city, but the authorities for the report I am ignorant off. In the mean while, the Country is filling with People, and but for the disturbances with the Indians, I suppose that by next spring all the valuable Lands within the limits of their Grant would have been claim’d, if not settled—What will be the consequence of all this, I know not—great confusion I fear will ensue if the Government should take place.
Not knowing before, in what manner to convey a Letter to you, is the cause of my silence till this time, & not the want of Inclination as I shall always be glad to hear from you, being Dr Sir Yr most obedt servt

Go. Washington


Title: Cash Accounts, October 1774
From: Washington, George
To:

[October 1774]

Cash

Octr 15—
To Ditto [Cash] recd from Mr Wm Milner in Acct £158.10.10 Pensa. Cy eql in Virga
[£] 126.16. 8

20—
To Ditto of the Treasurer by Peyton Randolph Esqr. on Acct of my Exps. to Phila. as above
8.12. 4

30—
To Cash won at Cards during my stay in Philadelphia
7. 0. 0

Contra

Octr   —
By Sundries purchd in Phila viz.
[Pa. currency]

5—
12 pr Woolcards
[£] 1.10. 0

6 pr Cotton Do
1. 0. 0

1 Pocket Book
0.15. 0

8—
1 Bell & Furniture
1.16.10

Mr Barrells Acct
5. 7. 6

1 ps. Irish Linnen
4.13. 9

10—
1 lb. of Snuff
0. 7. 6

Mr Marchington’s 2d Ac[c]t
19. 4. 0

Mr Simpson for Shoes
4. 6. 0

12—
Mr Marchington’s 3d Acct
15. 6. 9

2 pr white Ribd Hose
0.15. 0

13—
1 Pocket Book
1. 5. 0

1 Watch Key
0. 1. 0

15—
Mr Milners Acct
197.14. 5

4 Bottle Labels
2. 8. 0

1 Watch Key
0. 2. 6

a Sword Chain
2. 0. 0

8 Cakes Shoe blackg
0.12. 0

19—
22½ yds paintd Ribbon
2.16. 3

20—
Mr Wm Milners 2d Ac[c]t
3.15. 0

21—
4 yds paintd Ribbon
0. 9. 0

10 yds of edging
0.10. 0

4 pr Nutt Crackers
0.12. 0

1 Small hand vice
0. 5. 6

22—
1 dozn pr course yn Hose
2.10. 0

1 pr yarn Gloves
0. 2. 6

24—
1 pr Buckskin Gloves
0. 7. 6

2 pr of Shoes for self
1. 3. 6

Cloak for my Mother
10. 2. 1

an artificial Magnet
0. 1. 6

10 yards of edging
0.10. 0

25—
Mr Wm Milnors 3d Acct
15. 8. 6

Ditto for 6 fish Rimbs
1. 2. 6

a Pockt Book Mrs W——n
4.15. 0

a pr of Gloves
0. 3. 6

a Chaize for my Mother
40. 0. 0

Sundry Pamphlets
0.17. 6

27—
By Expences in Philada
62. 2. 4

By Charity there
5.18. 2

By Cash given away
13.10. 0

By Servants
3. 4. 0

30—
By Exps. in returng from Phila.
8.15. 1

563.16. 9

Deduct 25 PrCt Excha. to reduce it to Virginia curry
112.15. 4

[Va. currency]
451. 1. 5

Octr   —
By Cash to Mr Custis
25. 0. 0

By Mrs Washington
1. 4. 0

By Thos Bishop for his wife
1.10. 0

By Cash for 2334 feet of Inch Pine Plk
7. 0. 0

By Ditto pd Gilbt Simpson Youghy
 12. 0. 0

  By Mr Young’s Exps in haug to Youghy
   8.17. 8

By Cash to him
1.18. 4

By Ditto paid the Sheriff of Fairfax
24. 0. 0


Title: To George Washington from Robert McMickan, 3 October 1774 [letter not found]
From: McMickan, Robert
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Robert McMickan, 3 Oct. 1774. GW wrote McMickan on 7 Jan. 1775: “Your Letters of . . . 3d of October are all before me.”


Title: From George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 9 October 1774
From: Washington, George
To: McKenzie, Robert

Dear Sir,
Philadelphia 9th October 1774

Your letter of the 13th ulto from Boston, gave me pleasure, as I learnt thereby that you were well, and might be expected at Mount Vernon in your way to or from James river, in the course of the winter.
When I have said this, permit me with the freedom of a friend, (for you know I always esteemed you) to express my sorry at Fortunes placing you in a service that must fix curses to latest posterity upon the diabolical contrivers; and if success (which by the by is impossible) accompanies it, execrations upon all those who have been instrumental in the execution.
I do not mean by this to insinuate that an officer is not to discharge his duty, even when chance, not choice, has placed him in a disagreeable situation; but I conceive when you condemn the conduct of the Massachusetts People, you reason from effects, not causes; otherwise you would not wonder at a people who are every day receiving fresh proofs of a Systematic ascertion of an arbitrary power, deeply planned to overturn the Laws & Constitution of their country, & to violate the most essential & valuable rights of mankind; being irritated, & with difficulty restrained from acts of the greatest violence and intemperance. For my own part I confess to you candidly that I view things in a very different point of light to the one in which you seem to consider them, and though you are led to believe by venal men (for such I must take the liberty of calling those new fangled counsellors which fly to & surround you, & all others who for honorary or pecuniary gratifications will lend their aid to overturn the constitution, & introduce a system of arbitrary Government,) altho’ you are taught, I say, by discoursing with such men, to believe that the people of Massachusetts are rebellious, setting up for independency, & what not; give me leave, my good friend, to tell you that you are abused—grossly abused; and this I advance with a degree of confidence, & boldness which may claim your belief; having better opportunities of knowing the real sentiments of the people you are among, from the Leaders of them, in opposition to the present measures of administration, than you have from those whose business it is not to disclose truths, but to misrepresent facts in order to justify

as much as possible to the world, their own conduct; for give me leave to add, & I think I can announce it as a fact, that it is not the wish, or the interest of the Government, or any other upon this Continent, separately, or collectively, to set up for Independence; but this you may at the same time rely on, that none of them will ever submit to the loss of those valuable rights & priviledges which are essential to the happiness of every free State, and without which, Life, Liberty & property are rendered totally insecure.
These Sir, being certain consequences which must naturally result from the late acts of Parliament relative to America in general, & the Government of Massachusetts Bay in particular, is it to be wonder’d at, I repeat, that men who wish to avert the impendg blow, should attempt to oppose it in its progress, or perhaps for their defence, if it cannot be diverted? Surely I may be allowed to answer in the negative; & give me leave to add, as my opinion, that more blood will be spilt on this occasion (if the Ministry are determined to push matters to extremity) than history has ever yet furnished instances of in the annals of North America; and such a vital wound given to the peace of this great Country, as time itself cannot cure or eradicate the remembrance of. But I have done. I was involuntarily lead into a short discussion of this subject by your remarks on the conduct of the Boston people; & your opinion of their wishes to set up for independency. I am well satisfyed, as I can be of my existence, that no such thing is desired by any thinking man in all North America; on the contrary, that it is the ardent wish of the warmest advocates for liberty, that peace & tranquility, upon Constitutional grounds, may be restored, & the horrors of civil discord prevented.
I am very glad to hear that my friend Stewart was well when you left London. I have not had a letter from him these five years, nor heard of him, I think for two—I wish you had mentioned his employment. Poor Mercer! I often hear from him; much cause has he, I fear, to lament his having fallen into the accursed state of attendance & dependance. I remain with very great esteem Dr Sir Your most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Fairfax Independent Company, 19 October 1774
From: Fairfax Independent Company
To: Washington, George

Sir
Alexandria Octr 19th 1774

In compliance with an order made at a meeting of forty nine subscribers of the Fairfax Independant Company, we take the Liberty to request, (if it does not interfere with the more important business you are engaged in) that you will please to make some enquiries with regard to the furnishing the company with a pair of Colours, two Drums, two Fifes, and two Halberts, if they are to be had in Philadelphia; which may be sent round by the first Vessel for Alexandria.
We leave it to you, Sir, to determine whether it may be proper or necessary to vary from the usual Colours that are carried by the Regulars or Militia. We are Sir with the greatest respect yr most Obedt hble Servts

Wm Rumney
Rob. H: Harrison
John Fitzgerald


Title: To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Peyton Randolph, and Richard Bland, 24 October 1774
From: Harrison, Benjamin,Randolph, Peyton,Bland, Richard
To: Washington, George

Philadelphia Octr 24th 1774

We Depute Colo. George Washington to sign our Names to any of the Proceedings of this Congress.

Benj. Harrison
Peyton Randolph
Richard Bland


Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 27 October 1774
From: Fairfax, Bryan
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Towlston Octor the 27th 1774

I have disposed of the Kittocktan Tract to Mr Threlkeld for something more than you mentioned; but I would not have done it for £50 more if I had thought You wanted it and was not in immediate Want of Money.
I shall be glad to know what Sort of Money You would choose to receive and at what Rates, and when You sett off to Williamsburg that if possible I may wait on You in Time.
Our Compliments to Mrs Washington & Mr & Mrs Custis. I am Dear Sir Yr most obedt Servt

Bryan Fairfax


Title: To George Washington from Andrew Morton, 27 October 1774 [letter not found]
From: Morton, Andrew
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Andrew Morton, 27 Oct. 1774. This letter is listed in Thomas Birch’s Sons catalog no. 663, item 71, 21–23 April 1891.


Title: From George Washington to John Tayloe, 31 October 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Tayloe, John

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon Octr 31st 1774

As I return’d late last Night from Philadelphia, It will not be in my power, with any sort of convenience, to attend the assembly (in case of its setting, which, as I have heard nothing of the Governors return, seems doubtful) till after the Sale of Colo. Mercers Estates; and therefore, as I can have no oppertunity of seeing you before, permit me to hope, & indeed press you, to be there; as many things may, & doubtless will happen, to render your advice & assistance absolutely necessary. In short, as the times are ticklish, I shall be very unwilling to take the whole burthen of this Trust upon myself, & to delay the Sale, after such long, & full notice of it, will be improper, & no doubt injurious. please to bring what Letters, & Papers you are possess’d of relative to this business, as I have not receivd a Letter, or heard a Tittle from Mr Montagu, since that one Inclosing the Power of Attorney 18 Months ago. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 31 October 1774
From: Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Baskenridge (New Jersey) Octor 31st 1774

The Delaware Lottery haveing been drawn Last Month, I now; (which is as soon as the printer hath put it in my power) send you enclosed some of the printed List of the Numbers of

the Tickets which have been so fortunate as to draw the prizes in that Lottery. On the foot Hereof you have the state of the Tickets sent you, out of which you will be pleased to deduct such Cash prizes as are due to any of the Tickets now in your possession; and then be pleasd ⟨to⟩ Transmit the Ballance due with those Tickets to ⟨Ja⟩mes Cocke Esqr. Williamsburg. you will be ⟨ple⟩ased at the same time or as soon as is Convenient ⟨to⟩ you to Transmit to James Cocke Esqr. or to myself the Names of the persons to be inserted in the Deeds for ⟨su⟩ch Land prizes, as the Tickets you had have ⟨be⟩en fortunate enough to Draw; which shall be inser⟨ted⟩ Accordingly. and am Your Most Hume Servt

Stirling

Colonel Washington

Dr.

To Tickets
delivered
60

Cr.

By Do
returned
42

18 at 10 dollars
180.


Title: Cash Accounts, November 1774
From: Washington, George
To:

[November 1774]

Cash

Novr  5—
To Cash recd from Messrs Henley & Call for 17 Barl of common Flour & 20 Do of Midlings—Nett 7952 lbs. @ 12/ prCt
[£] 50. 9. 9

To Cash recd from Captn  Conway
50. 0. 0

9—
To Ditto for Balle recd from Messrs Hooe & Co. for 660 Bls of Supr fine Flour
673. 5. 1

11—
To Ditto recd from Bryan Fairfax Esqr.
144. 7. 2

To Ditto recd from Mr Wm Digges Balle Acct
5.14.11

20—
To Ditto recd from Thos Newton Junr Esqr. by the hands of Colo. [Fielding] Lewis
170. 0. 0

To Ditto recd from Mr James Hill by Do
150. 0. 0

30—
To Cash recd for Sundries sold at Colo. Mercer’s Sale
5.11. 8

Contra

Novr  4—
By Club at [Richard] Arrells
0. 5. 4

By Ditto at Mrs [Mary] Hawkins’s
0. 3. 9

5—
By Cash paid Caleb Stone
12. 1. 3

By Ditto pd Captn [John] Dalton my p[ar]t of the Electn Ball
8. 5. 6

By Ditto pd [John] Price Posey in discharge of his Father’s ordr for Board & Schooling of Lawrence Posey his Son £17 Md Cy
13.12. 0

By Cash paid Wm Skilling
8. 0. 0

By Ditto paid Captn [William] Buddicum’s Acct
3.11. 3

✻By Captn Buddicum’s Acct omitted folio 117
80. 5. 7

7—
By 2 Razors
0. 2. 6

By 10 Bushls of Oysters
0.10. 0

By Colo. [George William] Fairfax’s Gardner
0. 5. 0

10—
By Cash pd Lund Washington for a Horse for Mr [John Parke] Custis
50. 0. 0

By 491 lbs. of Feathers @ 2/
49. 2. 0

By Chr Shade
2.10. 0

11—
By Cyder viz. 477 Galn @ 9d. had of Mr Osborn Sprig—& pd Wm Digges Esqr. & 4 Casks @ 10/ £19.17.9 Md Cy eql to
15.18. 1

By Wm Digges Esqr. for Doctr Digges’s acct
2. 8. 0

By Exps. in getting Cyder to Landg
0. 2. 0

By Exps. to, & at George Town
0. 5. 0

12—
By Cash paid Wm Keating
1.16. 0

By Doctr Craik 5 Guineas
7. 0. 0

15—
By Thos Bishop
9.12. 0

By Mrs Washington
2. 8. 0

18—
By Cash paid Bennet Jenkins 40/ Md Cy
1.12. 0

21—
By Cash pd Thos Simpson to carry to his Father on Youghy for my use viz. £300 Pensa. equal to
240. 0. 0

By Exps. at New gate
0. 4. 8

By Cash pd Mr Matzei for myself & Mr Custis pr rect to Colo. Lewis
33.15. 0

By Servants
0. 2. 6

30—
By Expences at Dawson’s on Shan[andoa]h
1. 4. 0

By Cash paid Mr Edwd Snickers on acct of the Waggonage of Colo. Mercers’ Wheat from Shanh
18. 0. 0

By an Express to Lord Fairfax’s
0. 6. 0

AD, Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 126, 128.

   In GW’s Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. he calls this “fine” flour instead of “common” flour. This is probably the wheat-purchasing firm in Alexandria in 1775 transcribed as “Henby & Caldee” in WMQThe William and Mary Quarterly: A Magazine of Early American History. Williamsburg, Va., 1st ser., 11 (1902–3), 246. For the possible identity of Henley, see Robert Adam to GW, 14 Feb. 1774, n.2. Call may be merchant William Call of Prince George County, Virginia.

   The Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. has the following entry: “To Ditto [Cash] recd from Messrs Jenifer & Hooe for 137,559 lbs. of Supr fine Flour @ 15/4 & 660 casks @ 20d. exclusive of Sundrie Sums recd before his store acct agt myself, & sundry payments made on my behalf which charge respectively as pr his Acct—see Acct,” and “Charge Joshua Kay with cash allowd Messrs Jenifer & Hooe in

Acct—8.13.6.” Hooe was Robert Townsend Hooe (c.1743–1809) of Charles County, Md., formerly of Hooe, Stone & Co. of Alexandria. In 1773 the name of the company became Jenifer & Hooe.

   For the sale of George Mercer’s property, see GW to John Tayloe, 31 Oct., and note 2 of that document, and 30 Nov., and note 2 of that document, and DiariesDonald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79., 3:292–93.

   This was for wages, according to the Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif.. A photocopy of the receipt in GW’s hand for the amount, signed by Stone, is in ViMtvL.

   See Cash Accounts, July 1774, n.4.

   For GW’s involvement in the education expenses of St. Lawrence Posey, see John Posey to GW, 25 May 1771, n.5, and Francis Baker to GW, 26 Mar. 1774, and note 1 of that document.

   This was “in part of his Wages” (Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif.).

   See Cash Accounts, July 1774, n.1.

   The following receipt signed on this day by Lund Washington reads: “Then Receivd from George Washington the Sum of Fifty pound⟨s⟩ Currency for a horse sold Mr John Parke ⟨Cu⟩stis” (AD [photocopy], in GW’s hand, anonymous donor).

   The Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. reads: “By Cash to Lund Washington to pay Sundry persons for 491 lbs. of Feathers @ 2/,” and “Charge Mr Custis with 390 lbs. of the above Feathers @ 2/ –39.0.0.” There is a photocopy in ViMtvL of the following receipt in GW’s hand and signed by Lund Washington: “I do hereby acknowledge, that I receivd from George Washington, the sum of Thirty nine pounds to pay for 390 lbs. of Feathers for the use of Mr John Parke Custis in November 1774. Lund Washington.”

   In his Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. GW indicates the 477 gallons were from William Digges and the 4 casks from Osborne Sprigg.

   Joseph Digges, son of William Digges of Warburton, studied at the University of Edinburgh and served as a surgeon to the Charles County, Md., militia during the Revolution.

   William Keating (Keaton) was a weaver who did work for GW (Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 127). In 1791 a William Keating lived on the road from Cameron Run to Dogue Run in Fairfax Parish. This was paid “pr Mrs Washington” (Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif.).

   The Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. reads: “By Cash pd Thos Simpson pr his Father Gilbert Simpson’s order for defraying the Exps. of my Mill £300 Pens. Money,” but no amount is given.

   This is William Carr Lane’s tavern in western Fairfax County.

   The Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif. reads: “By Cash pd by Colo. [Fielding] Lewis to Mr Mazey [Mazzei]—my Subscriptn of £12.10 sterg @ 35 pr C.—16.17.6,” and “By ⟨Do⟩ pd Do by Do for Mr Custis’s subscriptn—wch charge to Mr Custis—16.17.6.” See George Mason to GW, 9 Mar. 1775, n.3.

   GW was staying with William Dawson, George Mercer’s head overseer for the Shenandoah Valley lands, while he oversaw the sale of Mercer’s lands. See note 3 above.

   The express was sent to Lord Fairfax “concerning his Renting Belvoir” (Account with George William Fairfax, June–December 1774, ViMtvL [photocopy]).

   Among entries for November in the Cash Memoranda, 1772-75“Pocket-day-Book or Cash-Memorandums,” 9 Aug. 1772–27 May 1773, 29 May 1773–22 March 1774, 26 Oct. 1774–3 May 1775. Manuscript in George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. 24 March-31 October 1774. Manuscript in Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, Calif., but not carried over to Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., are the following: “Charge Colo. Fairfax with the advertisg Belvoir pr Hall & Sellars act—.6.5”; “Charge Robt McMickan of Jama. with Freight recd for 640 Barls of Herrings belonging to Robt Adam & Co. at 6/. pr Barl—also with 100 Barrls of Supr fine Flour—3000 shingles—& 2000 ⟨Hhds⟩ Staves. and credit him by returns pr the Farmer”; and “By Cash paid Doctr Craik pr acct render’d—5 Guineas—7.0.0.”


Title: To George Washington from William Milnor, 8 November 1774
From: Milnor, William
To: Washington, George

Honorable sir
Philada 8th Novemr 1774

by this days post I have enclosed a bill lading to Mr Addams for the goods on board of Capt. George Rowe he sailed from this place on fryday last, & perhap will Arrive nearly as soon as this, you will find every Article in the Barrel No. 5, except the Graplings, I blieve I have Omitted nothing, my Wife has not met with any more Cruels yet, but will as soons as possible fulfill the Compliment wanted, any Commands, Sir, I shall with pleasure, readily Obey, & beg leave at present to subscribe Your Most Obedt Humble Servt

Wm Milnor

N.B. Mr James Tilghman is Arived & Called to see me Yesterday I suppose he Writes you by this post.
the peach trees from Mr Meridith are on board Cap. Rowe.


Title: To George Washington from Hanburys & Lloyd, 14 November 1774
From: Hanburys & Lloyd
To: Washington, George

Esteemed Friend
London 14 November 1774

We have now to acknowledge receipt of thy ⟨esteemed⟩ favors of 3⟨0⟩ Decr 30 Apr. 1 June & 4 Augst the Contents whereof are duly ⟨notic⟩’d—We observe by the second that our friend J. P. Custis is married we congratulate him ⟨upon illegiblesion⟩ & heartily wish him health & happiness. We are sorry to see by thine of 4 Augst that thou art displeas’d at our ⟨su⟩ffering thy Bill on us to John Page Esqr. to be noted for ⟨illegible⟩ acceptance tho’ when it became due it was paid—the reason was we had no advice from thee of its being drawn & could not for our own safety accept it untill we receiv’d thy letter advising thereof for in case thy name had been counterfeited the loss would have fallen upon us, we therefore hope upon reconsidering the matter thou wilt see it in a more favourable light & not take offence when none was intended. thy favour of 1 June inclosed a letter directed to Ireland which we put into the post office & doubt not it arriv’d safe—The following Bills drawn by thee upon us on accot of J. P. Custis have appear’d since our last & met due honor.

To
G. Fairfax
£39.5

M. Cooper
65.

Wm McGrachen
110.

224.5

We are oblig’d to thee for consigning us 12 h’h’ds Tobo ⅌ the Hanbury which we shall dispose of to the best advantage & flatter ourselves shall be able to render pleasing Acct Sales We made Insurance thereon agreeable to thy directions (Vizt)

12 h’h’ds @ £8.10s. each is £102 @ 2½ prCent is
£2.11.

Commission 2 prCent
.10.2

⅌ Policy
. 2.6

3. 3.8

which is to the debit of thy account[.] we are sorry to inform thee our old friend Captn Esten died on his passage home 14 days after he left the ⟨cap⟩es of Virginia The present prices of Tobo are from 2¼ to 3 for exportation & from 9⅛ to 10¾ for home Consumption as in quality the very finest sorts will produce something more. we send thee herewith a Magazine & newspaper which beg thy acceptance ⟨of⟩ hope this will come to thee in good health & remain with great regard thy assured friends

Sign’d Hanburys & Lloyd


Title: From George Washington to George William Fairfax, 15 November 1774 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Fairfax, George William

Letter not found: to George William Fairfax, 15 Nov. 1774. On 2 Mar. 1775 Fairfax wrote GW that he had received “Your very obliging favor of the 15th of November.”


Title: From George Washington to Townshend Dade, Jr., 19 November 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Dade, Townshend Jr.

Revd Sir,
Mount Vernon Novr 19th 1774

As it is necessary that the Free holders of this County should be convened, in order to make choice of a Committee agreeably to the recommendation of the Congress for the purpose of carrying the Association more effectually into Execution I shall be obliged to you for giving notice at both your Churches that Wednesday the 30th of this Instt is appointed for this purpose at the Court House in Alexandria, when it is hoped that all those who have a right to vote, that is, all Freeholders, will give their attendance, ⟨and feel the⟩ matter of sufficient consequence to engage their attention. I have requested the like favour of Mr Massey, which will be a means of giving full notice to the County, as publication will be made at each Church. I am with respect Revd Sir, Yr Most Obedt Servt.


Title: From George Washington to Edward Montagu, 25 November 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Montagu, Edward

[25 November 1774]. “The power of attorney from Colo. Mercer, Mr. Graval, & Miss Wroughton, which you was pleased to inclose to Mr. Mason and us came to hand in July last; Mr. Mason declining the trust, we shall think ourselves happy if in the course of this transaction we shall be able to give you, our friend & acquaintance Col. Mercer, and the mortgagees, that satisfaction we shall aim at in prosecuting this business. . . . True it is, this deed to Messrs. Dick and Hunter bears date twelve months posterior to Miss Wroughton’s mortgage, but then it is recorded in the General Court, and as Mr. James Mercer swears in his answer, before he knew, or ever heard of his brother’s being indebted to that lady; whose mortgage not arriving as we have been told till May last and no evidences since appearing to prove it . . . it is not recorded, but admitted nevertheless by Mr. James Mercer as having an operation upon the Shannondoah Estate after execution of the trust deed to Messrs. Dick & Hunter, & upon the Bull Run Estate, after partition thereof absolutely.”


Title: To George Washington from William Milnor, 29 November 1774
From: Milnor, William
To: Washington, George

Honorable Sir
Philada Novr 29th 1774

Your favour of the 17th Inst. came to hand on fryday last, I have made the strictest search, after a Sash and have sent the only one, that is to be had in this City, I am sorry to inform you, ’tis not intirely New tho’ not much changed. I have bought it Conditionly if not approved of, to be returnd by the first post & taken again, I had no Alternitive, as no Other Could be had. The Epaulette is inclosed with the pamphlets—the Gorget is Making, & will Come by the Next post—after the strictest inquiry, I could find no Other Treatise on Military Discipline, but the one I have sent you—I have enclosed you a Vile pamphlet said to be wrote by Dr Cooper of New York, & likewise another small pamphlet called Strictures on the former, said to be wrote by General Lee of this City—here I must beg youl excuse my presumeing to exceed your Orders, as ’tis with an intintion to amuse. for if you have patience to read the first, I think you will be deverted with the last.
I have Applyed to two Gunsmiths, One palmer tells me he Can make one hundred by May next, And Nicholson says he can make the like Number by March, they both agree in the priece at £3.15. this Currcy. Palmer says Mr Cadvalder had agreed With him for 100 at that price, a Jersy Musquet was

brought to palmer for a patern, Mr Shreive Hatter of Allexandira has one of that sort, which you may see, & if you Conclude to have any, please to inform me by the first post, as the Gunsmiths I blieve will soon be preengaged, & there is not one Musquet to be bought in this City at present, if you should chose any Alteration, from that Musquet please to let us know—Mr Fleecen assures me the Drums Coulers &c. shall be ready to come with the first Vessels & you may be assured I shall forward them with the Utmost speed. I am Dear sir with the greatest respect, Your Most Obedt humble Sert

William Milnor


Title: From George Washington to John Tayloe, 30 November 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Tayloe, John

Dear Sir,
Shannondoah Novr 30th 1774.

 I was sorry to find by your favr of the 16th Instt that I was not likely to receive any assistance from you in the Sale of Colo. Mercers Estate, and was equally concern’d at the cause of it. We closed the matter this day to the amount of £1412.0.2 which is a greater Sale than I expected, as there were only 90 instead of 110 Negroes, and a proportionate difficiency of Horses & Stock; & few or no Plantation utensils—the Land in this County (tha⟨t⟩ is Frederick) sold for much less than it was valued at in the year 1767; and yet, I do not think it sold much under the intrinsic worth, as there is a good deal of exceeding poor & broken ground in it. Colo. Mercer, & the Mortgagees, will, I doubt not, be a good deal surprized to find this Land valued at so much more in the year 1767 than it would sell for at this day; but there was no help for it; every thing that could be done, was done, to dispose of it to the best advantage, in attempting which, I had three Lots of the Land (by endeavouring to raise them) left upon my hands. The Negros, Horses, and Stock, have all sold exceeding high; and we have done every thing in our powers to secure payment at the day; but yet I am far from expecting punctuallity, or even from thinking there may not be some Insolvency’s, although I have taken every precaution in my power to get good Security to the respective Bonds.
In the purchase of Bills (when Cash is receivd for this purpose) every precaution, no doubt, will be taken to get those

which are esteem’d good, but I will never, by any Indorsation of mine, make my Estate liable to be rent & torn to pieces, if they shoul⟨d⟩ prove otherwise. I return, inclosed, the Letters you sent me from Colo. Mercer; & wit⟨h⟩ hopes, that you are by this, perfectly recovered, I am with, best respects to Mrs Tayloe & the Family Dr Sir Yr Most Obt Hble Servt

 G. Washington


Title: To George Washington from George Muse, 30 November 1774
From: Muse, George
To: Washington, George

Sir
30th Novr 1774

As there is a peace with the Indians shall be obliged to you to have Deeds Executed for the land I Exchang’d wth you as soon as conveniancy will permit, in Order to have it saved, if you have an inclination to purchase please let me know by Mr Morton what you wou’d give. ⟨Mutilated⟩ acknowledge the receipt of 20£ by Colo. ⟨mutilated⟩ndleton for which I am obliged to you, I Suppose

Colo. Pendleton inform’d you that the deeds was Executed for the 180 Acres. from Sir yr Most Hle and Most Obedient Servt

Geo. Muse


Title: Cash Accounts, December 1774
From: Washington, George
To:

[December 1774]

Cash

Decr  1—
To Ditto recd from Benjn Berry on the same Acct [Colo. Mercer’s Sale]
[£] 1. 0. 0

17—
To Ditto recd from Mr Fras Willis for Sundrys sold at Belvoir for Cash
9. 4. 9

To Ditto recd from Abednego Adams for a pr of Scales sold at Belvoir
0.10. 0

20—
To Cash recd from Mr Craven Peyton on Acct of Colo. Geo: Fairfax
162. 9. 7 1/2

To Ditto recd from Captn Chas Smith
5. 9. 6

22—
To Ditto recd from Jno. Auge Washington for Intt of his Bond
7.10. 0

To ditto recd for a Barl of Midlings
1.10. 1

27—
To ditto recd from Captn Conway
69. 1. 6

Contra

Decr  1—
By Cash sent my Mother by Colo. Lewis
20. 0. 0

By Do pd Colo. Peyton in discharge of my Bond to Chas West assignd Colo. Burwell
202.10. 0

By Exps. at Alexanders
0.16. 0

2—
By Ditto at Leesburg
0.10. 0

3—
By Cash pd for 17¾ Bls of Wheat @ 5/ Mill
4. 8. 9

By Ditto pd Mr Humphy Peake on acct
9. 0. 0

4—
By Mrs Washington
1. 0. 0

By Charity
0. 6. 0

By Lawson Parker bringing home Chr
0. 4. 6

By Cash pd Going Lanphire by Mrs Washn
1. 4. 0

By Do omitted Novr 19th
25. 0. 0

By Ditto paid Going Lanphire
9.15. 8

5—
By Ditto paid Captn Curtis Exps. of the Brig. Farmer
63.18. 1

By Ditto pd Do for office Fees 4 Guins.
5.12. 0

By Ditto pd Jno. Donaldson makg and mendg a pr of Stays for Mrs Washington
3. 2. 0

6—
By Ditto paid Mary Lord for Spinning of 17 lbs. of wool @ 1/3
1. 1. 3

By Do pd Mrs Harper for 13 lbs. of Do
0.16. 3

8—
By Do pd James Webster for 12 Bushl of Wheat @ 5/ Mill
3. 0. 0

By Ditto pd Wm Haynie for 100½ Do @ Do Do Mill
25. 2. 6

9—
By Ditto pd Wm Roberts
22. 0. 0

10—
By Ditto to Mr Custis £18 Maryld Cy
14. 8. 0

11—
By Ditto pd Thos Bishop for his wife
0.10. 0

By Ditto pd Wm Skilling
2.10. 0

12—
By Ditto pd Mr Wm Wait for Quarrying 776 feet of Stone
19. 8. 0

By Ditto pd Do for Facing Stone
1.16. 0

14—
By Servants Dinner at Arrells
0. 1. 0

16—
By James Brown 12 Bushl Wht @ 5/ Mill
3. 0. 0

17—
By Ditto pd Mr [Francis] Willis for 200 Bl Do 4/9 Mill
47.10. 0

By Ditto pd Mr Abedo Adams 153¾ B. Do 5/ Mill
36. 8. 9

By Ditto pd Mr Humpy Peake Balle
21. 8. 6

19—
By Charity
0. 3. 4

20—
By Mr [William] Ramsay Postage acct
5.12. 6

By Exps. at Mrs [Mary] Hawkins’s
0. 3. 9

By my Subscription to Mr Ballendines Proposals
20. 0. 0

22—
By Oysters
0.18. 0

By Freight of 4 Barls of Flour to Esqr. [Richard] Lee [of Maryland]
0. 5. 0

By Cash to Mr [George] Young
1.16. 0

By Ditto paid Wm Keating
1.16. 0

By Do paid Frans Jenkins on acct of B. Jenkins
3. 4. 0

By Mr Going Lanphire
6. 0. 0

By Captn [Philip] Curtis’s order in favr of the office
1.18. 5

23—
By Cash pd Doctr Jno. Johnson Miss [Martha Parke] Custis
29.15. 9

By Charity
1.16. 0

By Mr Thos Triplett on acct of Wh[ea]t
100. 0. 0

24—
By David Lewis waggonage of Colo. Mercers Wheat pr [William] Dawson’s ordr
3. 0. 0

By Isaac Edwards Do pr Ditto
6. 3. 0

By Thos Philips Do pr Ditto
2.19. 3

25—
By Cash paid Chr Shade
2.10. 0

By Ditto paid Willm Skilling
1.10. 0

26—
By Ditto sent Mr [Thomas] Everard to hasten the Patenting of my Land
2. 0. 0

27—
By Ditto pd Colo. [John] Carlyle a proven acct agt Colo. Thos Colvils Estate
8.14. 6

By Captn [Richard] Conway for a Yawl
11. 0. 6

By Thos Moxley allowd Capn Conway on Acct agt the Brig. Farmer
2.17. 0

By Club at [Richard] Arrells
0. 6. 0

31—
By Cash on hand this day
418. 0.11

By Ditto [Cash] lost, or otherwise unaccd for
56. 9.11


Title: To George Washington from Hanburys & Lloyd, 1 December 1774
From: Hanburys & Lloyd
To: Washington, George

Esteemed friend
London 1 Decemr 1774

We wrote thee 14 Novemr ⅌ the Nancy Capt. Wise as ⅌ copy annex’d to which beg leave to refer thee—since then ⟨illegible have received⟩ none of thy favors.
We send thee inclosed the Kings Speech by which thou wilt see the resolution of Government relative to the Colonies we much wish some expedient may b⟨e⟩ adopted amicably to settle all disputes. We are with great regard thy assured friends

Hanburys & Lloyd


Title: From George Washington to George Mercer, 4 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Mercer, George

Letter not found: to George Mercer, 4 Dec. 1774. GW wrote a letter to Mercer on 5 April 1775 enclosing “my last letter of the 4th of December.”


Title: To George Washington from Christopher Shade (Shead), 6 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Shade, Christopher
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from Christopher Shade (Shead), 6 Dec. 1774. The Henkel catalog no. 663, item 91, 21 April 1891, describes this letter: “Asking Washington for the loan of £10, with a receipt for the same written on the back of the letter in Washingtons’ handwriting, and in which his signature appears twice.”


Title: From George Washington to Hanburys & Lloyd, 10 December 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Hanburys & Lloyd

Gentn
Mount Vernon Decr 10th 1774

Please to pay into the hands of Robt Cary Esqr. & Co. the Nett proceeds of the Twelve Hogsheads of Tobo Shipd you last Summer by Captn Esten on Acct of Mr Jno. Parke Custis—as also the Balle of the Acct due from you to him. I am Gentn Yr Very Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 10 December 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Robert Cary & Company

Gentn
Mount Vernon Decr 10th 1774

I have this day drawn upon you in behalf of Mr John Parke Custis, & in favour of Thomas Eden Esqr. the Sum of Sixty Six pounds Sixteen shillings and four pence Sterlg which please to pay and place to that Account.
Inclosed is an order upon Messrs Hanbury & Co. for the proceeds of Twelve Hogsheads of Tobacco Shipd them in June last by Captn Esten—as also for the Balle of the Acct with Mr John

Parke Custis—These Gentn were pleased (⟨as I came⟩ after shipping this Tobacco to understand) to Note two Bills for protest amounting to Three hundred pounds which I had drawn on Acct of Mr Custis and lent the Money out here upon Interest for his benefit when by their own Acct Currt they made the Balle due him £519.7.7—Its true they did after noting the Bills for protest, pay them but I consider their conduct upon this occasion in so affrontive a light that I shall never put it in their power again to Note another—I shall add no more at present than that I am Gentn Yr Most Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: From George Washington to William Grayson, 12 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Grayson, William

Letter not found: to William Grayson, 12 Dec. 1774. On 27 Dec. Grayson wrote GW: “I had the honor of your favor of the 12th of this instant.”


Title: From George Washington to James Mercer, 12 December 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Mercer, James

Dear Sir
Mount Vernon 12th Decr 1774

Your letter without a date came to hand last post; & inclosed you have my Bond to Messrs McCoul & Blair for £450 for your Brothers moiety of the four mile run Land; as also receipts for £40.11.11 the balance due from him on account of the ohio Lands, under the Proclamation of 1754. Fifty four pounds (being the amount of £40 Sterling at 35 ⅌Ct exchange) which he assumed the payment of for Van braams on the same Account—and £351.8.1 on accot of your own bond given for the interest due on your Fathers Estate, making (the three sums) together Four hundred & forty six pounds which you say is right. I have passed receipts in this manner because you desired it; not because it made no difference to me; for in fact it does, in asmuch as I must account with the Surveyor (whom, & myself, are the only persons in advance; he for his labour, & I for my money) for his proportion of these sums. As I have now complied with every requisite of your Letter, respecting this Land, I am persuaded you will make a full & ample conveyance of it, & send it by next post; executed before such Witnesses as will certainly attend, either the General Court, or the Court of this County.
In examining the papers which I got from Colo. Mason, I do not meet with one scrap of information respecting that part of the Land which you hold under Gabriel Adams’s Deed of the 19th of September 1730 for Seven hundred & ninety acres then in Stafford County, there being no paper relative to it, except an unattested copy of the Courses of the Deed: how you derive your Title therefore, I am ignorant; but do not doubt its being good. I confide in you for making it so, and am sure you will not deceive me. As you have made no mention of the want of

the other papers, I presume you can do without them; but in case it was an omission, I shall add, that Stephen Gray obtained a warrant from the proprietors office for the Land (according to Mr Pendletons state of the case) in December 1723: by Will, dated the 26th of January following, he devised his whole real & personal Estate to Ann Gray his wife. Mr Pendleton says in May 1724 the Deed issued in the name of Stephen Gray; but he is mistaken, for it appears that the Patent for 378 acres, then in Stafford County, bears date the 17th of July in that year. On the 20th & 21st days of March 1732, the Land was conveyed by Deeds of Lease & release, to Jno. Mercer Esqr.; what followed after that period you know better than I can relate. Thus much I have thought proper to communicate, that you may be enabled to recite the title, if need be. If you have yet come across John Hough’s report of the Survey of these two tracts, made in 1776 I should be glad if you would forward it to me, as it will assist me greatly in surveying of it.
I am very thoroughly convinced of Mr Dawson’s being a consummate rascal, & intended to have acquainted you with my suspicions, when I wrote to you, in order that you might be upon your guard at a settlement with him. Mr Snickers told me, the day I parted with you (as we crossed the Mountain together) that it was three Hundred Pines Dawson sold Shepherd, & that to his knowledge he had also sold a dozen or more horses; one in particular to Benjn Berry for twelve or fourteen pounds, which Barry immediately sold for twenty six. These things may, & do, readily account for the deficiency we found in the Articles of Horses & Stock; and I think from Snickerss account, good part of the crop of wheat has gone off in the same way. Only 713½ bushels have been brought to my Mill, by the Miller’s Books, & from your Accot of the remainder only 640 bushels are to come. Your Accot of the quantity of Corn sold, at the different Plantations, is right, except as to that at Carters & Buck Marsh; at those places Snickers had ninety four barrels & Noble twenty six; whereas you set down only an hundred, & all to Snickers. The Surplus, be it more or less, after the wheat is brought away, should be sold; but who is to be entrusted with this, unless you can confide in your New Overseer, I know not.
If you still incline to dispose of Cattle from Marlborough, at the rates those sold at in Frederick, as you proposed, please to

let me know the number you can part with, & the exact kinds, as soon as you can be Advised from your Manager there. The inclosed is a true Account of the Sales in Frederick, taking out the fatting Steers at Collins’s & Carters, and the yoke of oxen at the last mentioned place—If among the Steers at Dawsons any were fatted, I did not know it, & have ranked them in the common herd.
If Mr Brent is to depend upon me for his rent let me know when it is to be paid, & the sum. he has always refused Gold & Silver otherwise than by weight, & Virginia Paper we scarcely see a bill of in the space of twelve months, in this part of the Country. I left the Plat of the Land at Leesburg for Mr Craven Peyton to make others by, so that it is not in my power to measure the Contents of your Low Ground on Shenandoa, but I should not suppose that there is more than 170 or 80 acres of it. I thank you for your Kind offer of assisting me in collecting, & remitting the proceeds of your brothers Estate, & doubt not but I shall have occasion for your assistance. I am, D. Sir Your most Obedt Servt

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from James Mercer, 13 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Mercer, James
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from James Mercer, 13 Dec. 1774. On 26 Dec. GW wrote Mercer and referred to “your Letter of the 13th Inst.”


Title: To George Washington from Andrew Morton, 17 December 1774
From: Morton, Andrew
To: Washington, George

Sir,
17th Decr 1774.

As I mentioned to you Mr Baylor’s Name, I was anxious to get him for my Security, that you might find in me that probity which I wish you to be convinced of: But unfortunately, Mr Baylor has been abroad ever since my Return. The time drawing near for fulfilling my Engagemt of giving you Security, I consulted Major Lowry on the Matter last night, who very chearfully offered to be my Security, either with Mr Baylor, should he return in time, or with any other reputable Gentleman. His Absence only, has delayed the Execution of the Bond: But that you might be satisfied I have sent an Express with my Reasons for the Delay If Mr Baylor should not return soon, or should he deny me on his Return (For I never had an Opportunity of soliciting him, since I knew your Requisition, but only relied on his professed Friendship) you shall have other Security as unexceptionable as himself. Being thus unexpectedly prevented from being punctual to the Day, I cannot harbour a Thought that you would take Advantage from it; & as the Matter is unquestionable

with me, & I hope will be viewed in a proper Light by you, you will not, I presume, put me to the unnecessary Trouble & Expence of coming with, or sending the Bond, before my Removal; as it will suit me so much better to bring it with me, duly executed; & I do not desire to come upon the premises till the Bond is delivered.
Major Lowry being in company with me this Evening, when I began to write, desired that his Testimony should be laid before you for your Satisfaction, which is the Reason of your being troubled with the enclosed. I am, with all Deference, Sir, Your most hum: Servt

A. Morton


Title: To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 18 December 1774
From: Simpson, Gilbert
To: Washington, George

Yough a gahalay [Pa.]
SrDecember 18, 1774
I am ⟨mutilated⟩y Sorrey To heare your uneaseyness Concerning Mills Costing so Mutch; as it is in all Likelyhood To Bee Comple⟨te⟩ and Strong in all Branches and I Make No doubt But She Will grind With as Little Wayter as Eyther Mill Within 150 Mills of her and The Setuation wheareon she stands is in all Likelehod of Becoming a popolus plase For I am shure in My own Mind The Main Rood Will Bee Turnd Within one Quarter of a Mile of her and There is The Convenens of haveing a fine Rood To The River and Good Ford in Time of Looe Water and only one small Mile To The River and The Land Belonging To you is Most Level and Fine Meadows To Bee Maid and a Most sutable plase for Stors publick hous or Black sinth Shoops so That if at any Time Sr you or yours should incline To Send out any proper person That is Well Calculated For Buisnss With a pasel of Goods sutable To The Cuntry I Make No doubt But your profets arriseing From The Whole Might Make you an ample satisfaction in a very Fue years of Which I am Cleare in My own Mind The Mill Will Not Fail doing her part—and as To Mr youngs saying She was Seatted of your Land it Was altogether a Mistak For There is Neither part Nor parsel of her But What is on your own Land The Land of one George Smith Runs Near To her For Which Reason I agred With Smith To Take in Two acers of his Land as Near as We Could gees Joining The Mill and Marked it out: it is True She has alreydy Cost you double The Money I Ever Expect She Was To Cost and She Will Cost a Great deel More yet For which Reason as all Things ⟨Necesly⟩ Taken out of The Fire to Get Tools all other Neserys Towards The Building of her has Given Me such a years Troble and Loos of Time and hinderans ⟨mutilated⟩ of My people and hors⟨es⟩ doing Work on The plantation That in The Who⟨le⟩ I Would Not under Take The Like again for The Beest sixty Guineys That Ever Quoined But Would sooner Eat hand Mill and Morter Beten Meal all The days of Life or Such as Mils affor in This Cuntry Which is No Better For Reayly it is only Wasting Time and Gra⟨in⟩ To Goe To such Mills But Need Must so That all This trobl of Mine is Just To have The satisfac⟨tion⟩ of Eating

of Better Bread heareafter if I should Live: But Sr Concidering your Costs is Vast Extensef and Will Bee as I Make No doubt But Mony has Been very dead This year in Curculation Neither Sr do I Beleive That your orchads Bears Gold of Tree kind But The almighty God has Blest With other orchads Which has Made Gold and I hope Will Continue To do so always For all Thinks in My oppinion offer To The advantag of your or yours intrist heareafter and Sr if such gentlemen as you dont do sumthing For The Benefit of a New Cuntry as Well as your own intrest Espely heare Wheare you have an immensd and Lasting Estate it Would Bee impossable For poor Men To Set Things on Foo[t] To There presen or Futer advantage Sr all Things is Well heare as I Trust in The Great Sovren of all Things That you and all Belonging to you are and I Remain Sr your humble Ser. to Command

Gilbt Simpson


Title: From George Washington to Andrew Morton, 21 December 1774
From: Washington, George
To: Morton, Andrew

Sir,
Mt Vn Decr 21th 1774

I shall take no advantage of your not producing the Bond with good Security for paymt of Rent & performe of Covents at the day appointed. It will do when you move up, which your Lettr & express tells me you are now ready to do. In the mean while, you will please to recollect, that I can Execute no Lease till the Bond, with such Security, is first produced; and that, if by your means, I am deprivd of a Tenant for the place the coming year, It becomes my duty (as Colo. Fairfax’s Attorney) to look to you for the Stipulated Rent, agreeably to the Repeated declarations made to you before you went down—Any Gentlemen, whose Circumstances are known to be good, will suffice in the Bond; I do not want to fix the matter particularly upon Mr Baylor; although I shall be very well satisfied with him and Majr Lowry as your Securities. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt

G: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Newton, Jr., 21 December 1774
From: Newton, Thomas Jr.
To: Washington, George

Sir
Norfolk Decr 21 1774.

I Received yours & am extreemly sorry for the disapointment at the meeting in October. I was not wanting in my endeavors to collect the whole that was due to you, but such was the scarcity of Cash that it cou’d not be got & beleive in generall the worst payments that ever were known was made at that meeting.
I will use my utmost endeavors to get your money by the meeting of the Assembly, tho. I have little hopes of doing it before the Aprill Court. The biscuit I am afraid I shall never be able to render you a satisfactory acct of. Mr Balfour refused it & I was obliged to get rid of it as I cou’d, but must defer the perticulars relating to it untill I have the pleasure of seeing you & can only say that I have done for you as I should have done for myself & can assure you that that biscuit has given me more uneassiness than every disapointment I ever met with in my whole trade. Flour sells here at 2d. superfine & 15/ Common payable in Aprill & June, tho. (as you have expeirienced) we are often disapointed when the day of payment comes, therefore shall leave it altogether to yourself to choose whether you’l send any or not, if you should send any, I will do as well for you as lies in my power. I shall take due care of Mr Custis wine when it comes to hand. I have in my care Mr Custis desk & book case which I will send by the first oppertunity. Capt. Curtis of your Brig. call’d here to get seamen & an anchor which I supply’d him with amount £20.2. to your debit. he desired me to inform you that his vessell was no worse than when he wrote you & that he should imediately proceed to sea. The two Seamen run away from him in Potomack, Jno. Young & Robt Scott he imagin’d had return’d to Alexa. & was in hopes you’d make an example of them. I am Yr Hble Servt

Thos Newton Junr


Title: To George Washington from Balfour & Barraud, 25 December 1774
From: Balfour & Barraud
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Little England 25th Decemr 1774

We have occasion for about a Thousand Barrs. flour & a few hundred Bars. of bread but it must be ready by the first day of March at farthest.
We have sent Mr Leonard Tarrant properly impowerd, any bargain he may make with you shall be binding on us & faithfully comply’d with.
one half to be paid at next april the other at June Courts.
We have signd an agreement the quantity & price to be filld up by Mr Tarrant—we have a Ship that will be soon in Your River to load. We are Sir Your obt Servts

Balfour & Barraud

please to send us by Mr Tarrant ½ doz. Bars. flour for our own use. B. B.


Title: To George Washington from William Milnor, 27 December 1774
From: Milnor, William
To: Washington, George

Hnble Sir
Philada Decem. 27th 1774

I receivd your favour yesterday with your Order on Mr James Tilghman for £20.12.6 which I will deliver the first Oppertunity, & shall carefully comply with every request in your letter I have sent you herewith 7 pamphlets the Cost of the whole are six shills. which I have Charged to your Acct, the Drums &c. Comes in Capt. James Cobourn who sails from here, the latter end of this week, as he stops at Dumfries first, I shall order him to leave those for prince William with Mr Wm Grason agreable to your directions. I am Dr sir in hast Your Most Obdt humle Sert

William Milnor

the post Just going of.


Title: To George Washington from James Stewart, 28 December 1774
From: Stewart, James
To: Washington, George

Sr
London Decr 28th 1774

I hope you will excuse this Freedom after you have time to Consider the purport of this Letter—
Being One of the Correspondent members of the Society for the encouragement of Arts Manufactorys and Commerce in London and by my own knowledge and their Assistance I have made myself master of the Agriculture and in making and manufactoring the Articles hereafter mention’d (First Woad in Latin Glastum Sativum) or Satis Sativa) this Woad makes Indigo and is the verry foundation of all Colours in the Woolen Manufactory Particularly in Blacks and Blues this prepared Woad if Sold at 8d. ⅌ pound will bring great proffits to the planter and will to the Dyer Dye as much as a pound of the best Indigo this will be a verry great Help to our Woolen Cloth in America I have with great interest procured as much of the seed of woad as will plant 50 Acres of Land it has been kept a great secret amongst the manufactorys all over England they have 3 Crops in a year but in turkey they Often have 5 Crops & Our Virginia is much in the same Latitude the Ground is prepared the same as for

Wheat it grows much about the size and Length of the Windsor Bean and the Tobacco Howes are Calculated well enough to prepare it for Market Every Acre of this Valuable Article will bring the farmer £20 Sterling. Allowing it only sells at £20 ⅌ Ton One Hand will plant & attend 10 Acres but it is now in London 26 ⅌ Ton I have also the seed of Wooll and have the thorough knowledge of the Culture of it and use of it It is the fundamental die for yellow and pompadour both in Woolen Cotton & Linnen and yields great profit to the farmer it is sold in London at 5 Sh. ⅌ Sheaf About the size of a Wheat Sheaf—I have also procured & have pack’d up 10,000 Plants of Madder in Latin Rubia Tinctorum I have made myself Masster of the Culture & preparing it for the Market and have also all the materials for Manufactoring all the aforemention’d Articles—Madder is the Foundation of all Colours and there are great Quantities usd of it in London it is often sold from £10 to 14£ ⅌ Hund. Wt and no longer than last year I paid in Virginia 3 Shilling ⅌ pound, in England—It must be 3 years in the Ground before it can come to perfection now in Turkey its only 2 years therefore am in hopes in Virginia the same—I am verry certain our Lands in Virginia will each Acre produce about 2000 Wt the Land is prepard the same as for wheat it is planted in Ridges the same as Celery is in Gardens.
I have Ship’d this useful commodity for our Country on Board the Randolph Capt. McNabb for James River which will sail about the 20th Jany first I have great Variety of Valuable Seeds & Roots which I hope will be of service to the Country.
I have also sundry Spinning Machines for Spinning of Cotton that spins 25 threads with one person this Machine I have invented myself & received the Premium for it of the Society—I cannot conclude without giving you a more particular Acct of that Valuable Article of Madder as Madder is an Ingredient so very essential in dying of Cloth & staining of Linnen that neither of them two Manufactorys can be carry’d on without it it is of the Greatest Consequence to those Branches of Trade to have a Constant suply of that Valuable commodity & at as low a rate as possible And not depend upon a Neighboring Country when it may be in their power to advance the Price or withhold it from us, there can be no doubt of the utility of Cultivating Madder in America when it is known that the Dutch have received from England for many years past upon an Average more than one

Hundred & Eighty thousand pounds ⅌ year, & as the Demand Increases undoubtedly our Neighbours the Dutch, Spanish & Port⟨g⟩; have Increased their Prices their is an Opening for America to become Master of this valuable Article I hope in two or three Years to be Able to furnish the Planters in Virginia with Plants to Plant 10,000 Acres.
I shall refer you to enquire of my Characters & Abilities in What I have set forth from Mr Robert Rutherford Mr Isaac Izens & Colonel Stevens in Frederick County I intend propogating all the Foremention’d Articles for the Benefit of the Publick in America & particularly in Virginia to Which place I am a Sincere Welwisher.
The Parliament is broke up till the 19th of next Month but all the ministerial party are for using A⟨illegible⟩ American resentment (as the[y] call it) by force God knows what will be the End of ⟨it⟩ but we all hope you’ll be steady in what you have undertaken ⟨mutilated⟩ hope God will prosper you all.
Desire you will inform all the Gentlemen in your Neighborhood who are willing to become planters of any of the Aforemention’d ⟨Ar⟩ticles & I remain Sr Your Most Obedt Humble Servt

James Stewart


Title: To George Washington from John Carlyle, 29 December 1774
From: Carlyle, John
To: Washington, George

Sir
Decr 29 1774

On my Looking over my Settlement with The Court I find it In March 1768 & the ballance then In my hands was £12. 19s. 6d. Curry Since In Augt 1769 Mrs Auge Washington gave an order Upon me to Mr Templeman for her Rent & I paid Mr Adams 60 Tobo Clarks fees—Since I have recoverd from Danl Lawrance A ballance that was due the Estate In Loudon Court of 7:15.6 which is All that I have to Settle with the Estate.
I would have Sent you A Copy for yr Satisfaction but had not time If you desire it I will doe it some few days hence. I am with Compts to yr Lady Yr Very Hble Sert

John Carlyle

P.S. my Compts to Mr R. Washington & the bearer has his book.
Yr Servant Staying In Town Longer than I Expected I have Since Seen the Captain who has the Lime Stone he Desires me to Acquaint You that he Expects to get Away In A few days & If You will take the Stone you may have the Whole at first Cost which he Says is 2/8½ Irish Sterling ⅌ Ton an English Shillg is 1/1 in Ireland. I am as Above Yrs J.C.


Title: From George Washington to William Milnor, 29 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Milnor, William

Letter not found: to William Milnor, 29 Dec. 1774. On 3 Jan. 1775 Milnor wrote GW: “Your favour 29th Ulto Came to hand last night.”


Title: From George Washington to Walter Magowan, 30 December 1774 [letter not found]
From: Washington, George
To: Magowan, Walter

Letter not found: to Walter Magowan, 30 Dec. 1774. Magowan wrote GW on 3 Feb. 1775 that he had received “Yours of the 30th Decmr.”


Title: Cash Accounts, January 1775
From: Washington, George
To:

[January 1775]

Cash

[Jan.]  4—
To Cash recd for 2403 lbs. of Midlings @ 12/6 & 10 Casks @ 1/6
[£] 15.15. 4

Contra

Jany  2—
By Cash for a yard of Cockade Ribbn
0. 1. 0

3—
By Ditto paid Willm Stevens per Acct viz. £23.16.3 Maryd Curry equal to
19. 1. 0

4—
By Ditto paid for 17 dozn pr plaid hose @ 10/ Sterg & 75 prCt & a Blankt 4/
15. 4. 6

By 12 lbs. of Raisons
0. 9. 0

By 4 lb. of brown thread @ 4/
0.16. 0

By Cash lent Genl Chas Lee
15. 0. 0

By Ditto to Mrs Washington
5. 0. 0

By Ditto pd Mr Gilbt Simpson Balle
27. 5. 0

10—
By Ditto advancd Jas Cleveland for my use
48. 0. 0

14—
By Mr [George] Young’s Exps. to Baltimore
1. 9.10

By 2 Dozn Wine Glasses [15s.] & 1 Do[zen] Coffee Cupps 7/6
1. 2. 6

16—
By my Subscription to the Contingent Charges of the Independent Coy
1. 0. 0

By Mr Custis
9. 0. 0

By William Bushby’s Accot
1. 2. 8

By Colo. Mason Int. of my Bond
10. 0. 0

By Exps. at Alexa. attendg the Meetg of the Comrs
0.12. 9

By Thos Hanson Marshall’s Order
7. 6. 6

By Gimbletts
0. 1. 6

By Mr Goin Lanpier my Acceptance of his Bill in favr of John Harris payble in May
8. 0. 0

26—
By Exps. in Alexandria
0.14. 6

By Colo. Fieldg Lewis 1 Dozn Scythes £4.4 P. Curry is
3. 7. 2 1/2

29—
By Mr Geo. Young ⅌ Thos Bishop
11.13. 2


Title: Card Playing Expenses, 1772–1774, 1 January 1775
From: Washington, George
To:

[c.1 January 1775]

Cards—& other Play
Dr

1772

Feby
28—
To Cash lost at Fredericksburg
2. 3.6

Mar.
2—
To Ditto lost in Williamsburg
. 8.9

13—
To Ditto lost in Ditto
1. 0.0

16—
 To Ditto     Ditto
3.10.

17—
 To Ditto     Ditto
.15.

21—
 To Ditto     Ditto
. 5.

 To Ditto     Ditto
6.10.

24—
 To Ditto     Ditto
1.17.6

28—
 To Ditto     Ditto
6. 5.

April
1—
 To Ditto     Ditto
6.10.

2—
 To Ditto     Ditto
5.

6—
 To Ditto     Ditto
6. 5.

7—
 To Ditto     Ditto
1. 5.

12—
To Ditto in Fredericksburg
. 7.6

June
2—
To Ditto in Frederick
1. 0.0

5—
To Ditto at Home
. 8.9

July
2—
To Ditto at Ditto
. 8.9

15—
To Ditto at Do
1.10.

27—
To Ditto at Do
1.10.

Augt
20—
To Ditto in Alexandria
. 5.

Septr
16—
To Ditto in Fredericksburg
1. 5.

30—
To Ditto at Home
2. 0.

Novr
13—
To Ditto in Williamsburg
1. 0.0

Decr
12—
To Ditto at Home
.12.6

1773
—
To Ditto at Ditto
. 8.9

Mar.
13—
To Ditto at Ditto
3.10.

27—
To Ditto at Ditto
1.10.

April
24—
To Ditto at home
. 7.6

Augt
31—
To Ditto Ditto
3. 4.

Octr
1—
To Ditto at Annapolis
3.16.

To Ditto in Williamsburg
3. 1.

Decr
31—
To Ditto at Home
.16.3

1774
—
To Ditto Do
.10.

May
16—
To Ditto Williamsburg
.15.

18—
To Ditto Ditto
2.10.

June
10—
To Ditto Ditto
5.15.

£78. 5.9

Contra
Cr

1772

Jany
2—
By Cash won at home
6. 2.

Mar.
4—
By Ditto in Williamsburg
. 5.

6—
By Ditto in Ditto
. 7.6

23—
By Ditto Ditto
2. 0.0

30—
By Ditto Ditto
9.10.

April
3—
By Ditto Ditto
5.15.

June
30—
By Ditto at Home
4.17.

Septr
5—
By Ditto at Mr [Jonathan] Bouchers
1.15.

Octr
7—
By Ditto In Annapolis
13. 7.

Novr
3—
By Ditto In Williamsburg
1. 5.

Decr
21—
By Ditto at Home
.18.

1773

Jany
5—
By Ditto at Ditto
1.10.

9—
By Ditto
.14.

April
17—
By Ditto
1. 5.

24—
By Ditto
1. 4.0

May ——
By Ditto won at Phila.
2. 5.0

Septr
13—
By Ditto
. 7.6

1774
—
By Ditto
1. 8.0

Feb.
28—
By Ditto at home
2.10.0

May
13—
By Ditto at Fredericksburg
1. 0.0

18—
By Ditto Williamsburg
1.13.0

23—
By Ditto Ditto
1.10.0

June
6—
By Ditto Ditto
. 9.6

7—
By Ditto Ditto
1.10.0

13—
By Ditto Ditto
5. 5.0

16—
By Ditto Ditto
1. 0.0

October—
By Ditto won at Phila.
7. 0.0

72. 2.6

1775

Jan.
1—
By Balle against Play from Jany 1772 to this date
6. 3.3

£78. 5.9


Title: To George Washington from William Milnor, 3 January 1775
From: Milnor, William
To: Washington, George

Honorable Sir
Philad[elphi]a January 3d 1775

Your favour 29th Ulto Came to hand last night, I engaged 40 Musquets this Morning. Mr Palmer says he will certainly have them all ready by the first of Aprill. The Cartouch boxes, I have agreed for, at a Dollar each—I intend having one Musquet & one Cartouch box finishd & put on board of Capt. Cobourn, who is now ready to sail, but the navigation being intirely stop’d, with the Ice, Must wait for the first slatch, the Drums Coulers & fifes are already on board, please to let me know whether you will have the Musquets Number’d, & whether any letters on them, this will be no additional Expence, the Cartouch boxes likewise may be letter’d without Expence.
Mr Wilper thanks you for the trouble you have taken in sending after his Money, he would be glad you would inform him, whether the governers peace, with the Indian⟨s⟩ may be depended on, as he doubts the Authenticity of the News papers.
My wife Joins me in the Complimts of the season wishing many happy New Years to you with your Lady, be pleased to remember me to Mr Lund Washington, & blive me to be Dr Sir Your Most Obdt Humbl. Servt

William Milnor

P.S. Capt. Cobourn says that when he comes Nearly Opisite to Mount Vernon he will hoist his Jack at his Mast head so that if you would chose to have the Drums &c. for fairfax landed at your house may send the boat on board if not he will proced to Allexandria with them.


Title: To George Washington from George Muse, 6 January 1775
From: Muse, George
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Caroline Jany 6. ’75.

I rec’d your letter dated the 5th Decr by the hands of the Rev. Andrew Moton. I approve of the method for dividing the land between Capt. Brenau Doctor Craig & my self; and instead of deeds being made to me for the 2000 acres of land, You will please to make them in the name of my son Battaile Muse as I have trusted my right to him, my infirmness and old age rendering it impracticable for me to go thro’ these fatigues.
You may treat with my son for the Land who lives at Col. Warner Lewis’ in Gloucester County. There are some few expenses concerning the land. I hope You will settle them when matters are brot’ to a conclusion, which, I hope, sir may be done with all expedition. Yr obedt servant,

	Geo. Muse. 6 Jany 1775


Title: From George Washington to Robert McMickan, 7 January 1775
From: Washington, George
To: McMickan, Robert

Sir,
Mount Vernon Jany 7th 1775

Your Letters of the 29th of June, 3d and 8th of Augt and 3d of October are all before me, and I cannot help complaining

of the great hardship and injustice done me in detaining the Brigantine Farmer Six Weeks at Port Morant till the purchasers of Mr Adam’s Herrings could take them away, and replace Rum from different parts of the Country. Surely such a thing was never done before! What more had the Vessel to do, than deliver its Freight agreeable to the Bill of Lading at the Port it went to? could it be supposed, that for the usual Freight, I would have engaged a Vessel to lay Six Weeks at the above Place till Planters from different parts of the Island—a thing I never heard of till return of the Brig—should find it convenient to fetch away the Commodities they had contracted for? Mr Adams denies having any knowledge of such design, and I think it exceeding unreasonable that I should be the sufferer by such a practice.
As you have not sent me the Sugar and other Articles wrote for before now, you will please not to do it now, as, by an Article of the Continental Association I shall be obliged to return them if they arrive in Virginia after the first day of next Month—there being no other alternative after that date. I could have wished to have receiv’d these things in time, but must now forego the advantage of them and leave the Balle due me in your hands till I can see how otherwise to apply it. I am Sir Yr Most Hble Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from Robert Adam, 7 January 1775
From: Adam, Robert
To: Washington, George

Sir
January 7th 177[5]

I am favoured with yours and have given particular Attention to the Contents, it gives me some relief, when you say you are not, nor has been prejudiced with me. Concious I am, that to my knowledge I never did any thing to merite it. If I have not been so fortunate for some time past as I had a reasonable prosspect of my endeavours has in no respect been the Less I am Subjected to good & bad luck, like the rest of mankind but think I have bore a greater share of the latter for these three years past than my generall Application to Busseness has deserved nor have I my self to accuse for makeing a bad use of any thing and may truely say that I barely enjoy the necessarys of life and all-most

a Stranger to the Innocent Amusements of it. It was far from me to think there was any thing harsh or unreasonable in your haveing the Mortgage Executed. I frequently thought of mentioning it to you my self to have it done. When Mr Harrison first produced it to me, he desired me read it Over, I took notice of Something in the Concluseion that I thought uncommon and mentioned it to him, at the same time told him if it was your desire that I was satissfyed and would Excecute it immediately this was in my Counting Room and at that time there was no person to Witness it that we knew would Attend that Court, I told him that Mr Campbell would be at home in a day or two if he would be so kind as Call, he, himself & some other person would be at Court, which he promised me he would do. I never heard any more of it till I received a very Short message from you to come that moment to Mrs Hawkins and Excecute the Mortgage I must Confess it Struck me with a little Surprise, as there was Severall Gentn at that Instant with me, And soon as I could gett Clear of them I came down, The Balle which will be due from this last years dealing I fully Intended should be paid within or nigh the time mentioned I am not certain as to the exact time I had the first of your Course Flower I think it was in March and was to pay for it within the 12 Mo. At the time I made that engagement I did not depend on makeing th⟨e paymen⟩t out of the Commodity itself but had severel other very reasonable prosspects to have received that sum from but to my no small mortification have failed in them all and particularly in that of Mr Amblers where I thought I had an Intire dependence, he not only dissapointed me, but Insults me for telling him my neceassity and the particular engagements I was under to pay certain Sums, you was present When Smith Ashurred the payment to me Novr 12 Mo. he then putt me off till April & told me he had sold Ambler the Land on purpose to raise money to disscharge my debt refered me to him & give me a letter for paymt. Mr Campbel went down on purpose to receive the money, & gott him to Ashume & pay to Amount of £300 the whole Amounting to £900 & odd in Novr last waited on him again when I received the Inclosed letter from him, I dont offer these things as any excuses Only to Mitigate in some small Degree my dissapointing you, Add to this the Advantages which many take of the present times and will not make us any payments; Out of my whole Fishing last year I have received 15

 punceons of Jamaica Rum & three Hhd Sugar, this is my whole Amount received for 1000 Barrels herrings all the Rum Exceepting 2 hhd remains on hand—You Say I bought your Course Flower very reasonable I must begg leave to State this matter Fairly to you & In the first place there was a very great Missunderstanding between you & I in our Original Agreement what I offered you was 10/ for your Middlings & Ship Stuff on an Avarage but they were to be putt up Seperately, that I might use them as Occations required to the best Advantage, in place of which for the better half of all I had I gott only the Ship Stuff with a very large proportion of shorts a t⟨illegible⟩ I never Once Dreamt of, and in the whole delivery I had not one Barrell of Middlings This was so far from being any Bargain on my Side that I do declare to you it was the worst of the kind I ever made. I had every day in my offer much better Stuff than the first half of yours was for 9/ to pay when and in what Commodity I choice—I acquiess in every thing as you represent them and that you ought to be pointedly paid[.] As I understood the matter I was to pay you within or at the expiration of 12 Mo. from the delivery of the first of the Flowers which I think was in March. as no Invoice was sent with it I have not the exact time and by that time if I live I hope to pay you, its not in my power at this time I have no money but as fast as I receive it you shall have it, it would be ⟨more⟩ pleasing to me to pay befor the time than after, I have dealt largely with you when there was not so many Purchasers and allways given you good prices and upon the whole have not dissapointed you greatly I believe I must now sett my self down Contented and see others trade with more Success the path I made for them As you have frequent Aplications made to you for Fishing Landings and Fish I have in your Fish House above 3000 Bushs: good Salt which as its Stored I think well worth 2/ per Bushel I shall also have from 800 to 1000 full Bound Barrels & there is upwards of 200 hhd in & about the House all of which I empower you to sell and receive the Amount if any such offer should fall in your way the Barrels Cost me 4/ & the hhds 9 should be willing to take the same price for I congratulate you on your Success in Selling your Flower at so good a price I wish if you should be pinched to make up the quantity youd take in 150 or 200 Barrels of mine at 14/ & you may depend it shall not be inferior in quality as its made of the best Whole Wheat, I am Blamed for raising the

price of ⟨White⟩, When I have not Cash I cannot expect to purchase as they ⟨mutilated⟩ with Cash in hand if I pay in Commoditys I must expect to give a little more & have not exceeded 5/ for the best some for 4/3 4/6 & 4/9—May you live long & be happy and for ever be a Stranger to the uneaseyness of Mind that I at present feel, I am with a gratefull sense of all your Favours & Indulgences Your Much Oblidged and Humble Servt

Robert Adam

Mr Washington informed me that the Gentleman that purchased your Flower wanted 400 Barrels Bread I wish you has thought of Recomending him to me it would have been a great help to me I could have furnished him in a reasonable time with the quantity and such good Bread as he could not have gott on the Continent at the same price (14/ per bl) if its not too late I should be Glad youd yet mention it by letter to him we cannot turn our Bread into Cash I do not beleve in all your quantity of Stuff & my own which was nearly the same I have ever received £50—yet its a Breanh of Busseness I’m in Some measure Oblidged to Carry on but requires a long time to come to any head or as we may say turn in ag⟨ain to⟩ assisting in the Course of our Busseness.


Title: To George Washington from John West, 8 January 1775 [letter not found]
From: West, John
To: Washington, George

Letter not found: from John West, 8 Jan. 1775. On 13 Jan. GW wrote West acknowledging receipt of “Your Letter of the 8th.”


Title: From George Washington to James Cleveland, 10 January 1775
From: Washington, George
To: Cleveland, James

Sir
10th Jany 1775

As I am resolved, if no unforeseen Accident happens to prevent it to have my people at work upon my Lands on the Ohio, by the last day of March; no steps previous to this undertaking, should be delayed by which a disapointment must follow. I therefore knowing it will take some time to collect Provisions, and Tools to carry on this work, and that the transportation of them in the spring early over the Alligany Mountains may be attended with difficulty and uncertainty, do request & require you to go immediatly over to Gilbert Simpsons in the red stone Settlement and there do or attempt to do, the following things.
First—Engage any where between one hundred and fifty, and two hundred bushels of Indian Corn, and to prevent disapointments let it be actually lodged at Gilbert Simpson’s before the first day of March—Also engage upon the best terms you can to be delivered as aforesd about fifteen hundred weight of Bacon. And desire Mr Simpson by all means to have them securely lodged for you at his house by that time at furthest.
Second—Engage upon the best terms you can, such, and so many Canoes, as are absolutely necessary to transport your Provisions and Tools down the River—And to avoid the Expence of bags as much as Possible, try if one of the Canoes can not be fitted up in such a manner as to carry your corn and Bacon with the assistance of one or two only. Perhaps the Canoes built for me last year may again be got. Speak to Major Crawford on this head.

Third—If Mr Simpson has not already moved all the Tools, and necessaries which were carried out for me last spring, from Vale. Crawfords, let it be done as soon as you get out. herewith is a list of what he Acknowledges, he had left upon hand in September last—as also of what he carried out. take an exact Account of every thing you find and have them secured at Mr Simpsons ready at your departure down the River, after which see what things you will want for your undertaking down the River. And then
Fourth—Try if they are to be had out there, and at what Prices, and if you find the only difference to lye in the Expence of the Carriage out endeavour to buy every thing you can want, there, rather then run the hazard of sending them from hence in March, and have them lodged as above; for if you do not get every thing into his Possession, you may more than probable, depend upon promises, and be disapointed after your men are assembled and ready to start, which must Occasion a delay, and of course a loss to me, not only of time but in having men upon Expences.
Fifth—It may not be amiss to engage Potatoe seed, Pease, and such things, as will not only contribute to your better living; but will in cace corn should be found very scearce and difficualt to be got make the less of it necessary, for I do expect that from the braking up of the Plantations last Year, and the great number of People that will be gowing over this that corn will be very scarce and exceeding dear. If you could get peach or any other kind of Fruit Stones, or apple seeds it would not be amiss to engage them to carry out with you.
Sixth—In asmuch as both time, and Expences will be saved by engaging men in the Redstone settlement to go with you down the River, I would have you make dilligent enquiry wither they are to be had, and upon what Terms and engage at least five upon the best terms you can, and have them bound in the Articles given you. If you should meet with such People as you think will answer the purpose, in your own neighbourhood or else where You might engage them, Provided you can depend upon there going at the proper time and will transport themselves without any expence to me.
Seventh—If you can hire negro Fellows or choose to carry any of your own, upon the terms I mentioned to you, there will

not in that case be occasion to hire so many white men as above (to wit five), and as I am told that there are three of the servants which I sent out last spring still at Mr Vale. Crawfords, and his Brother Captain Crawfords, ready to be employed in my service; you may direct them to stay where they are and be ready again the 15th of March; or if Gilbert Simpson wants hands for my mill work, let them be employed (instead of hirlings) there till the 15th of March aforesaid.
Eight—As the rest of the servants were sold, and the money by this time become due I have desired Mr Vale. Crawford if he has received it, to pay it to you, and if he has not to let you have the purcharsers bonds, which give to Mr Simpson, and desire him to Collect the money and apply it towards payment of the mill Accounts—If you can get Corn or other Provisions, Tools; or other things of Vale. Crawford, I would have you do it, as it will save me the payment of Cash, but be sure to have the matter fixed in such a manner with him as to run no risque of a disappointment.
You may get Corn and other things from Captain Crawford, in like manner; but that you may not depend too much upon these uncertain Chances I now furnish you with £60 Pennsylvania money, and whatever it falls short of the Amount of your Purchases, I will supply when you go out again that every body may be paid for what you get of them.
As I must set off for the assembly by the first of Febry and shall want to see you before I go, I would have you endeavour it can conveniently be done to be down here by that time. I have nothing more to add at present then to wish you success in your journey an[d] I am Your Friend &ca

Go: Washington