Title: [Diary entry: 3 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Began to Sow Wheat at the Mill also steepd in Brine with Allum put thereto. This day began to sow the Brined Wheat at Muddy hole. Before this the Wheat was not steepd in Brine at this place. Note—The Brine was made by the direction’s in the Farmers guide, as the common method practiced by Farmers but our Wheat was steepd only 24 hours instead of 35 which he recommends.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5th. Began to Sow Wheat at Doeg Run, Steepd in Brine.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Finished Sowing the River Side Cut in the Neck—also the Corn ground at the Mill opposite Mr. Manley’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 10. Finish’d Sowing all the Corn Ground at the Mill & began to prepare the Fallowd Land there for Sowing. Also Raised a House at the Mill for the Miller to live In.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Began to Sow Wheat at the Ferry Plantation in the Corner next the Ferry Road by the Pine Tree.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Finish’d Sowing Wheat in that Cut next the Gum spring at Muddy hole.  Bushls. Also the Second Cut in the Neck that next the Crab tree Branch.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Con McCarty began to Work on the Chimney of the Millers Ho[use] in the Morning, and  Bond abt. 12 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Finishd Sowing the Cut of Wheat at the Ferry in which they began. The Ground now exceeding dry Corn firing very badly & every discouraging appearance of a scarcity of this Article that can be.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 August 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Finish’d Sowing the third Cut of Wheat in the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sept. 1st. At home all day. Mr. Burwell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 4. Mr. Burwell and Mr. Piper both went away after Breakfast. I rid to the Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill—from thence to Muddy hole & so home to Dinner. In the Afternoon rid to the Mill again.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. At home all the forenoon. In the Afternoon went to Belvoir with Mrs. Washington & P. Custis, & returnd in the Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Rid to the Mill—from thence to Doeg Run Qr. & by the River Plantation home.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Rid to the Mill in the Forenoon. Mr. Thoms. Triplet dind with me. In the Afternoon set of for Fredericksburg and lodgd at Colo. Harry Lees.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Returnd to my Mothers to Breakfast and Surveyd the Fields before Dinner, returnd to Town afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Rid with Colo. Lewis to his Mill before Dinner. After it went over to my Mother’s & stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill. Lund Washington returnd from Dr. Craiks this Eveng.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Rid to the Mill—from thence to Doeg Run, and Muddy hole before Dinner. After Dinner Rid into the Neck.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Went up to Court. Dind at Arrells and Lodgd at Mr. Jno. Wests.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Went to Court again. Dind at Arrells & come home in the Afternoon. Found young Mr. Wormely here.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Went with Mr. Wormeley to Belvoir on a Morngs. Visit, & returnd to Dinr.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Set out with Mr. Wormeley for the Annapolis Races. Dind at Mr. Willm. Digges’s & lodgd at Mr. Ignatis Digges’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Dined at Mr. Ridouts and went to the Play after it.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Dined at Mr. Carrolls and went to the Ball.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Dined at Mr. Bouchers and went from thence to the Play and afterwards to the Coffee Ho[use].


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Dined with Majr. Jenifer and Suppd at Danl. Dulany Esqrs.


Title: [September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sept. 1st. At home all day. Mr. Burwell here.

2. Went up to Alexandria with Mr. Burwell after an early Dinner. Returnd in the Evening with Mr. Piper.

3. Rid in the Forenoon to the Mill. Mr. Burwell, & Mr. Piper both here.

4. Mr. Burwell and Mr. Piper both went away after Breakfast. I rid to the Mill.

5. Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill—from thence to Muddy hole & so home to Dinner. In the Afternoon rid to the Mill again.

6. At home all the forenoon. In the Afternoon went to Belvoir with Mrs. Washington & P. Custis, & returnd in the Evening.

7. Rid into the Neck in the Morning early & from thence to the Mill. Mr. Crawford came here in the Aftern.

8. At home all day. Mr. Crawford went away after breakfast.

9. Rid to the Mill—from thence to Doeg Run Qr. & by the River Plantation home.

10. Rid to the Mill in the Forenoon. Mr. Thoms. Triplet dind with me. In the Afternoon set of for Fredericksburg and lodgd at Colo. Harry Lees.

   The purpose of this trip was to make final arrangements for Mary Washington, now about 63 years old, to move from the Ferry Farm plantation to a house in Fredericksburg, where she could spend her latter years in comfort, free from the cares of the plantation. GW had previously discussed the matter with her, and in May, at her request and his expense, he had made a down payment of £75 on a house of her choice: a commodious white frame residence on Charles Street near the home of her daughter Betty Lewis (GW to Benjamin Harrison, 21 Mar. 1781, DLC:GW; General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 336). Now, in further preparation for his mother’s move to town, GW was ready to begin settling her affairs at Ferry Farm and at Little Falls Quarter, a tract of land about two miles farther down the Rappahannock which she had inherited from her father in 1711 (will of Joseph Ball, 25 June 1711, Lancaster County Wills, Book–10, 88, Vi Microfilm).

11th. Reach’d my Mother’s to Dinner after Bating at Peyton’s.

12. Rid all over the Plantn. at the Ho[me] House, & then went to the Quarter and rid all over that & returnd to Dinner Colo. Lewis & my Brothr. Charles being there. In the Afternoon went over to Fredg.

   the plantn. at the ho[me] house: Ferry Farm. At this time it consisted of about 600 acres of land, and by the terms of Augustine Washington’s will, it was legally GW’s to do with what he wished (Va. Gaz., R, 5 Nov. 1772).

   the quarter: the plantation at Little Falls, which apparently contained about 400 acres. During this visit GW agreed to take over the quarter at the beginning of 1772, paying his mother an annual rent for it thereafter. Because the livestock and slaves at both Ferry Farm and the quarter were hers, he further agreed to buy her livestock and to rent her slaves. The price of the livestock and the rents for the land and slaves were to be determined within the next few weeks by Fielding Lewis and Charles Washington (GW to Benjamin Harrison, 21 Mar. 1781, DLC:GW; Mary Washington’s account with GW, 14 Sept. 1771–30 Mar. 1775, PHi; Gratz Collection).

13. Returnd to my Mothers to Breakfast and Surveyd the Fields before Dinner, returnd to Town afterwards.

   The survey covered about half of Ferry Farm, extending from the top of the Rappahannock riverbank, where the main house stood, several hundred yards northeast to a fence along a cornfield. GW apparently never platted this survey, but a plat based on his survey notes was drawn in 1932 for GW ATLASLawrence Martin, ed. The George Washington Atlas. Washington, D.C., 1932. (pl. 9).

14. Rid with Colo. Lewis to his Mill before Dinner. After it went over to my Mother’s & stayd all Night.

   GW today advanced his mother £4 12s. 6d. on the money that he was to pay her under their agreement (Mary Washington’s account with GW, 14 Sept. 1771–30 Mar. 1775, PHi: Gratz Collection). The exact amount he owed her was not set until 15 Oct., when Fielding Lewis and Charles Washington finished evaluating her property. GW, they determined, was to pay £93 11s. 8d. for her livestock, £30 a year rent for the Little Falls Quarter, and £92 for a year’s hire of her slaves: six men and four women, half of whom were at Ferry Farm and half at Little Falls (“Sundrys belonging to Mrs. Mary Washington valued by Chas. Washington & Fielding Lewis,” 15 Oct. 1771, ViMtvL).

15. Set of home. Din’d in Dumfries and got up by Sun set.

16. Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill. Lund Washington returnd from Dr. Craiks this Eveng.

17. Rid to the Mill—from thence to Doeg Run, and Muddy hole before Dinner. After Dinner Rid into the Neck.

18. Went up to Court. Dind at Arrells and Lodgd at Mr. Jno. Wests.

   The court met 16–19 Sept.; GW attended only the last two days (Fairfax County Order Book for 1770–72, 274–93, Vi Microfilm).

   Richard Arell’s tavern in Alexandria was frequently patronized by GW on his visits to the town between 1764 and 1774 and had apparently been the scene of his election ball on 1 Dec. 1768 (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 178, 281; General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 80;

   Va. Gaz., P. 27 June 1777). Arell (variously spelled) had come to Alexandria from Pennsylvania with his wife, Eleanor, sometime before July 1762 and had been a merchant prior to becoming an innkeeper (BROCKETTF. L. Brockett. The Lodge of Washington. A History of the Alexandria Washington Lodge, No. 22, A.F. and A.M. of Alexandria, Va., 1783-1876. Alexandria, Va., 1876., 96; deed of George Mason to Arell, 20–21 July 1762, Fairfax County Deeds, Book E–1, 102–4, Vi Microfilm).

19. Went to Court again. Dind at Arrells & come home in the Afternoon. Found young Mr. Wormely here.

   Ralph Wormeley (1744–1806) of Rosegill, Middlesex County, was the eldest son of Ralph Wormeley (1715–1790) of Rosegill. Young Wormeley had been educated in England at Eton and Cambridge University and earlier this year had been appointed to the governor’s council in Williamsburg (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66., 6:412).

20. Went with Mr. Wormeley to Belvoir on a Morngs. Visit, & returnd to Dinr.

21. Set out with Mr. Wormeley for the Annapolis Races. Dind at Mr. Willm. Digges’s & lodgd at Mr. Ignatis Digges’s.

   The fall racing at Annapolis was an annual highlight of both the sporting and social seasons for the Chesapeake gentry, being an occasion not only for

indulging in “the pleasures of the turf” but for going to dinners, balls, and plays in the city (EDDISWilliam Eddis. Letters from America. Edited by Aubrey C. Land. Cambridge, Mass., 1969., xxv—xxvi, 54–55). Sponsored by the prestigious Annapolis Jockey Club, the races attracted the finest thoroughbreds in the region to run for purses of up to 100 guineas. This year the jockey club had announced four days of racing to begin at 11:00 A.M. each day from 24 to 27 Sept. and three balls to be held on the nights of 24, 25, and 27 Sept. (Md. Gaz., 12 Sept. 1771).

22. Dind at Mr. Sam Gallaway’s & lodged with Mr. Boucher in Annapolis.

   Galloway belonged to the Annapolis Jockey Club, and on 24 Sept. he would race his horse Selim, for which he had paid £1,000 as a yearling in 1760 (Md. Gaz., 26 Sept. 1771).

   Jonathan Boucher and Jacky Custis were living in the St. Anne’s Parish parsonage on Hanover Street. Jacky had written to GW on 18 Aug., extending an invitation on behalf of Boucher to stay at his house, as it would be “almost impossible to get a Room at any of the ordinaries, the Rooms being preengaged to their [regular] customers” (DLC:GW).

23. Dined with Mr. Loyd Dulany & Spent the Evening at the Coffee Ho[use].

   Lloyd Dulany (1742–1782), son of Daniel Dulany the elder and his third wife, Henrietta Maria Dulany, had recently returned to Annapolis after studying law at the Inns of Court in London. About this time he built a handsome brick house on Conduit Street that reportedly cost him £10,000 (LANDAubrey C. Land. The Dulanys of Maryland: A Biographical Study of Daniel Dulany, the Elder (1685–1753) and Daniel Dulany, the Younger (1722–1797). Baltimore, 1955., 294, 296–97).

   The Coffeehouse, a popular tavern run by a Mrs. Howard, was on Main (now Church) Street near the State House (Md. Gaz., 12 Sept. 177; RILEY [2]Elihu S. Riley. Riley’s Historic Map of Annapolis. Annapolis, 1909.).

24. Dined with the Govr. and went to the Play & Ball afterwards.

   GW probably attended the races before dinner on this and the following three days. The track adjoined the town on the west, and because of the beautiful autumn weather “there was a prodigious concourse of spectators and considerable sums were depending on the contest of each day” (EDDISWilliam Eddis. Letters from America. Edited by Aubrey C. Land. Cambridge, Mass., 1969., 54). Gov. Robert Eden’s home stood on a small peninsula extending into the Severn River.

   The play was performed by the American Company of Comedians, which had begun a run in town on 9 Sept., when a new theater was opened on West Street near St. Anne’s Church (EDDISWilliam Eddis. Letters from America. Edited by Aubrey C. Land. Cambridge, Mass., 1969., 55). The balls were held at the Assembly House on Duke of Gloucester Street. There was a room for dancing in the front of the building, and in a chamber at the back gentlemen gathered to play cards and to drink wine (STEVENS [1]William Oliver Stevens. Annapolis: Anne Arundel’s Town. New York, 1937., 111). GW recorded losing £13 4s. 3d. “By cards—[at] different times” (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 344).

25. Dined at Doctr. Stewards and went to the Play and Ball afterwards.

   Dr. George Steuart (d. 1784) was a member of the Maryland council and one of the two judges of the proprietary land office who issued land warrants and decided land disputes. A Scotsman, he had been educated at the University of Edinburgh and had immigrated to America in 1721. His wife was Ann Digges Steuart, sister of William Digges of Warburton (COKEHugh Edward Egerton, ed. The Royal Commission on the Losses and Services of American Loyalists, 1783 to 1785: Being the Notes of Mr. Daniel Parker Coke, M. P., One of the Commissioners during that Period. 1915. Reprint. New York, 1969., 358–59; RICHARDSON [2]Hester Dorsey Richardson. Side-Lights on Maryland History with Sketches of Early Maryland Families. 2 vols. Baltimore, 1913., 2:225–26).

26. Dined at Mr. Ridouts and went to the Play after it.

   John Ridout (1732–1797), another member of the council, lived on Duke of Gloucester Street. He was born in England and after studying for six years at Oxford came to Maryland in 1753 as a secretary to Gov. Horatio Sharpe (NORRIS [2]Walter B. Norris. Annapolis: Its Colonial and Naval Story. New York, 1925., 106–7).

27. Dined at Mr. Carrolls and went to the Ball.

   Charles Carroll of Annapolis lived in a comfortable brick mansion on Spa Creek. His son Charles Carroll of Carrollton also resided there, and GW probably saw both of them on this occasion (ROWLAND [1]Kate Mason Rowland. The Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 1737–1832, with His Correspondence and Public Papers. 2 vols. New York, 1898., 1:93–94).

28. Dined at Mr. Bouchers and went from thence to the Play and afterwards to the Coffee Ho[use].

29. Dined with Majr. Jenifer and Suppd at Danl. Dulany Esqrs.

   Daniel Dulany the younger (1722–1797), son of Daniel Dulany the elder and his second wife, Rebecca Smith Dulany (c.1696–1737), was one of the most important men in Maryland at this time, being both a councillor and secretary of the colony. Even his antagonist Charles Carroll of Annapolis admitted in 1765 that “He is a man of Great Parts, of Generall Knowledge

indisputably the best Lawer on this Continent, a very entertaining Companion when he pleases” (Charles Carroll of Annapolis to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 17 April 1761, CARROLLCharles Carroll of Annapolis and Charles Carroll of Carrollton. “Extracts from the Carroll Papers.” Maryland Historical Magazine 10 (1915): 143-59, 218-58, 322-44; 11 (1916): 66-73, 175-89, 261-78, 322-69; 12 (1917): 21-41, 166-87, 276-96, 347-69; 13 (1918): 54-75, 171-79, 249-67; 14 (1919): 137-54, 272-93, 358-71; 15 (1920): 56-65, 194-201, 274-91; 16 (1921): 29-42., 10:342–43).

30. Left Annapolis, & Dind and suppd with Mr. Saml. Gallaway.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1. Wind fresh from the Eastward. Afternoon Cloudy & Night Raining.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Ground now for the first time since the Rains abt. the 25th. July Wet. Very warm and but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Still warm & clear—Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 5. Warm and clear with but little Wind & that Southerly. The Afternoon Showery with some thunder.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Misting more or less all day & somewhat Cool, what Wind there was being westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Very Cloudy in the Morning and raining more or less all day—fine Rain—Wind being about No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear and pleasand, rather warm with little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Warm, with appearances of Rain but none fell here.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Cool Wind fresh from No. West. Afternoon Warmer—Weathr. Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Clear and Warmer. Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Very warm with but little Wind and that Southerly. Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Very Cloudy & cool. Wind Northerly but not much of it.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Raining very close & constant till about 10 Oclock—then clear & calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. A small frost, but to do no Injury Weather still cool and clear, but not so cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear and pleasant, weather much warmer.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Clear and warm with very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. Much such a day as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Very pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Warm, clear, and pleasant with but little alteration in the Weather.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Very Warm but clear with very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear and pleasant with the Wind Southerly and warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Very warm with but little Wind & that Southerly wt. Clouds.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Wind fresh from the Northwest and very cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Still cool & clear—Wind Shifting South Westerly.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Septr. [1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 1. Wind fresh from the Eastward. Afternoon Cloudy & Night Raining.

2. Ground now for the first time since the Rains abt. the 25th. July Wet. Very warm and but little Wind.

3. A Breeze from the Northwest but very sultry notwithstanding—quite clear.

4. Still warm & clear—Wind Southerly.

5. Warm and clear with but little Wind & that Southerly. The Afternoon Showery with some thunder.

6. Misting more or less all day & somewhat Cool, what Wind there was being westerly.

7. Very Cloudy in the Morning and raining more or less all day—fine Rain—Wind being about No. East.

8. Cloudy all day but clear in the Evening with but little Wind but Cool notwithstanding.

9. Clear and pleasand, rather warm with little Wind.

10. Warm, with appearances of Rain but none fell here.

11. Cool Wind fresh from No. West. Afternoon Warmer—Weathr. Clear.

12. Clear and Warmer. Wind Southerly.

13. Very warm with but little Wind and that Southerly. Clear.

14. Very Cloudy & cool. Wind Northerly but not much of it.

15. Cloudy all day, & cool with the Wind Easterly. In the Afternoon and Night Rain.

16. Raining very close & constant till about 10 Oclock—then clear & calm.

17. Clear & pleasant all day, Wind Westerly, but neither fresh nor cool.

18. Clear but cool, very cold wind fresh from the No. West.

19. A small frost, but to do no Injury Weather still cool and clear, but not so cold.

20. Clear and pleasant, weather much warmer.

21. Clear and warm with very little Wind.

22. Much such a day as yesterday.

23. Very pleasant with but little Wind & that Southerly.

24. Warm, clear, and pleasant with but little alteration in the Weather.

25th. The Weather the same as has been for 3 or 4 days last past.

26. Very Warm but clear with very little Wind.

27. Clear and pleasant with the Wind Southerly and warm.

28. Very warm with but little Wind & that Southerly wt. Clouds.

29. Wind fresh from the Northwest and very cool.

30. Still cool & clear—Wind Shifting South Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 4. The Mason’s began to work on the Mill Walls. Finish’d Sowing the Cut of Corn round the Creek at the Ferry Plantn.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Began to Plaister the Millers House.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Agreed with one William Powell to look after my Mothers Quarter on Rappahannock, on the following Terms; to wit—to continue the five hands now on the Plantation, & either to add one more horse to those which are there (amounting to four) or put two good ones there, and take away two of the most indifferent. To allow him 365 lbs. of Porke, the Milk of a Cow, and the Seventh part of all the Corn, Tobo., and Wheat he can make—In consideration of which he is to stay constantly on the Plantn. with

his People furnish himself with bed and other necessaries & to keep no Horse or other Creature [of his own] on the Plantation.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 September 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Agreed with Edwd. Jones to continue overseer at the place my Mother lives at [Ferry Farm] who is also to be constant in his attendance on the People he looks after (five in number) for which he is to be allowd the Seventh of Corn Wheat & Tobo. He also is to have two Horses added to those two he already has.


Title: Remarks & Occs. in Septr. [1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Septr. 4. The Mason’s began to work on the Mill Walls.
Finish’d Sowing the Cut of Corn round the Creek at the Ferry Plantn.

   Permanent repairs apparently were being made because of damages that had occurred earlier in the year. The workmen were Michael Clark, Benjamin Mason, Thomas Tayler, William Bawn, and possibly Con McCarty. Clark, Mason, and Tayler were paid 16 Nov., receiving a total of £19 12s. 6d., while Bawn received £15 15s. nine days later (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 343, 345, 347).

10. Began to Plaister the Millers House.

12. Agreed with one William Powell to look after my Mothers Quarter on Rappahannock, on the following Terms; to wit—to continue the five hands now on the Plantation, & either to add one more horse to those which are there (amounting to four) or put two good ones there, and take away two of the most indifferent. To allow him 365 lbs. of Porke, the Milk of a Cow, and the Seventh part of all the Corn, Tobo., and Wheat he can make—In consideration of which he is to stay constantly on the Plantn. with

his People furnish himself with bed and other necessaries & to keep no Horse or other Creature [of his own] on the Plantation.

   The William Powell whom GW is engaging here as overseer of the Little Falls Quarter may be William Powell (d. 1796), son of the Dumfries merchant William Powell (c.1700–1787). Young Powell later became a lieutenant in the Continental Army and settled in Amherst County (LUCASSilas Emmett Lucas, Jr. The Powell Families of Virginia and the South: Being an Encyclopedia of the Eight (8) major Powell Families of Virginia and the South in general. Vidalia, Ga., 1969., 319–20; BURGESSLouis A. Burgess, ed. Virginia Soldiers of 1776. 3 vols. 1929. Reprint. Spartanburg, S.C., 1973., 3:1438–39).

   GW must have chosen the option of putting two good horses at the quarter, because on 8 Nov. 1771, while at Eltham, he bought four horses costing a total of £30 “for Rappahannock,” two of them evidently to go to Little Falls and two to Ferry Farm (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 345).

13. Agreed with Edwd. Jones to continue overseer at the place my Mother lives at [Ferry Farm] who is also to be constant in his attendance on the People he looks after (five in number) for which he is to be allowd the Seventh of Corn Wheat & Tobo. He also is to have two Horses added to those two he already has.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 2. Mr. Pendleton went away after Breakfast. The other Gentlemen Stayd all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. The Gentlemen went away after Breakfast & I rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill. Doctr. Rumney dind & lodgd here.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Rid to the Mill—Doeg Run, & Muddy hole. Captn. Oliffe dind here, and Mr. Robt. Rutherford Sup’d.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill Captn. Oliffe & Polly Brazier here.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Went a hunting in the Neck and Catchd a Dog fox. Then went to the Plantn. there & came home to Dinr.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. At home in the Afternoon. Rid to the Mill in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. At home on the same business. Doctr. Craik came in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. About the same business. Mr. John West came to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Ditto—Ditto. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast & Mrs. Barnes came. Mr. Manley dind here & Val. Crawford came sick at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Ditto—Ditto. Mr. West & Doctr. Rumney went away after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Rid to the Ferry Plantn. & Mill after Breakfast. Captn. Crawford went to Doctr. Craiks after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run & Mill.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. At home all day. Mr. James Adam dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Rid to the Mill. Mr. Ross dind here.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 22. Rid to the Mill again. Captn. Crawford & his Brothr. returnd home. Mr. Jno. Smith of westmoreld. came in the Aftern.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. After dinner set of for Williamsburg and lodgd at Mr. Lawson’s. Left Mr. Smith & Mrs. Barnes at Mt. Vn.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. At Colo. Lewis’s all day—Mr. Wormely & others dining there.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Breakfasted at Todds bridge, dind at Ruffins, and lodgd at Colo. Bassetts.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Reach’d Williamsburg before Dinner. And went to the Play in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Dined at the Speakers and went to the Play in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Dined at the Governors & went to the Play.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 1st. The Weather clear & pleasant with very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear and pleasant, with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 3. Very pleasant forenoon with some Appearances of Rain in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Cloudy forenoon, & now and then Misting—turning Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Great Fog & Dew with but little [wind] & that Northerly & Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Clear in the forenoon and Warm but cloudy afternoon & very like for Rain with the Wind at So. Wt.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Cloudy forenoon and rainy Afternoon with the Wind Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear and pleasant till Night then Rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. Raining more or less all day & part of the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Clear and Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Much such weather as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Raining almost all Night & till the Afternoon of this day.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Clear with the Wind fresh from the Westward.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Warm and pleasant with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Clear in the forenoon, but lowering afterwards with Rain in the Evening and all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Cloudy all day and sometimes Misting with the Wind what little there was at No. East.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 21. Clear, warm, and pleasant with very little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Clear & very Warm with but little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Clear and pleasant forenoon but lowering afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear and Warm with but little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Clear in the forenoon with slight Rains afterwards & a change of Wind which turnd the Air Cool.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Clear and Cool Wind being at Northwest, and fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Warmer—Wind getting Southerly again. Clear in the forenoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 October 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Very warm, but clear and pleasant notwithstanding.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in October. [1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Octr. 1st. The Weather clear & pleasant with very little Wind.

2. Clear and pleasant, with but little Wind.

3. Very pleasant forenoon with some Appearances of Rain in the Afternoon.

4. Cloudy forenoon, & now and then Misting—turning Cool.

5. Great Fog & Dew with but little [wind] & that Northerly & Cold.

6. Clear and pleasant not being so cool as yesterday. Wind what little there was of it abt. East.

7. Clear in the forenoon and Warm but cloudy afternoon & very like for Rain with the Wind at So. Wt.

8. Cloudy forenoon and rainy Afternoon with the Wind Southerly.

9. Clear and pleasant till Night then Rain.

10. Raining more or less all day & part of the Night.

11. Clear and Cool.

12. Much such weather as yesterday.

13. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind.

14th. Clear in the forenoon with the Wind Southerly but Cloudy afterwards & Rain.

15. Raining almost all Night & till the Afternoon of this day.

16. Clear with the Wind fresh from the Westward.

17. Clear and Calm in the forenoon a little Windy afterwards but very pleasant notwithstandg.

18. Warm and pleasant with but little Wind.

19. Clear in the forenoon, but lowering afterwards with Rain in the Evening and all Night.

20. Cloudy all day and sometimes Misting with the Wind what little there was at No. East.

21. Clear, warm, and pleasant with very little Wind.

22. Clear & very Warm with but little Wind and that Southerly.

23. Lowering Morning with Rain then clear & Cool Wind fresh from the North West.

24. Clear and Cool in the forenoon but Warm afterwards.

25. Clear and pleasant forenoon but lowering afterwards.

26. Clear and Warm with but little Wind and that Southerly.

27. Clear and very warm. Wind Southerly.

28. Clear in the forenoon with slight Rains afterwards & a change of Wind which turnd the Air Cool.

29. Clear and Cool Wind being at Northwest, and fresh.

30. Warmer—Wind getting Southerly again. Clear in the forenoon.

31. Very warm, but clear and pleasant notwithstanding.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Dined at Anderson’s and Supped at Mrs. Dawson’s.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Dined with the Council and went to the play afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Dined at the Treasurers, and Spent the Evening in my own Room.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Dined at Mrs. Dawsons and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbells.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Left Williamsburg on my return home, dined & lodged at Colo. Bassetts.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Set out in Company with those Gentlemen. Dined at Todds bridge and lodgd at Hubbards.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Got home about Dark. And found Mr. Warner Washington his Wife and Child—Mrs. Bushrod & Katy & Nancy Washington—Sally & Nancy Carlyle & Sally Fairfax & Polly Brazier here.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. At home all day with the above.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Rid to the Mill with the Ladies & back again. Mr. Lawson came in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Rid to the Ferry Plantation after breakfast Mr. Warnr. Washington his wife & Child, & the two Miss Carlyles—Polly Brazier & Mr. Lawson went away.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Went a hunting but found nothing.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Went up to Court. Dined at Arrells & lodged at Mr. John Wests. Sent my Horses home.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Dined at Arrells and lodgd at my own House. Supped at Arrells also.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Dined at Arrells. Came home in the Afternoon Mr. Magowan with me. Found Mr. Washington his Wife &ca. here as also John Custis.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. At home all day. Mr. Danl. Jenifer dined & lodgd here.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. At home again. Mr. Jenefir went away after breakfast as Mr. Washington &ca. did yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. At home all day. Mr. Magowan went away before Dinner. Mr. Campbell came to Dinnr. & Doctr. Craik in the afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Doctr. Craik & Mr. Campbell both went away after breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Went a hunting in the Morning with Jacky Custis. Returnd about 12 Oclock & found Colo. Fairfax & Lady here—Mrs. Fanny Ballendine & her Nieces—Miss Sally Fairfax & Mr. R. Adam Mr. Jas. Adam & Mr. Anthy. Ramsay all of whom went away in the Afternoon when Miss Scott came.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, Mill and Ferry before dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Set off before Sunrise with John Custis for Colo. Masons and went a driving [deer] in his Neck after breakfast—2 deer killed.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Went a driving again with Colo. Mason—killed nothing.


Title: [November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Novr. 1st. Dined at Mrs. Dawson’s. Went to the Fireworks in the Afternoon and to the Play at Night.

2. Dined with the Council and Spent the Evening in my own Room a writing.

   GW is probably preparing his petition to the council on behalf of the Virginia Regiment. In it he asked not only that individual allotments be made but that the limit of 20 surveys be removed, each claimant being permitted to survey his own portion of land and the 61,796 acres already surveyed by Crawford being divided only among the claimants who had shared the expense. Such an arrangement, he thought, would have several benefits. By being surveyed in many small plats, the full 200,000 acres could be covered “without taking in so many Mountains and barren Hills as would render the intended Bounty, rather a Charge” (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66., 6:438–39).

“Every man would stand on his own bottom,” and a few would not be obliged to bear the whole cost of the initial surveying, “whilst the Major part are standing aloof waiting the Event; if favorable to come in for part of the Prize but to pay nothing for the Ticket in case of a Blank.” Claimants would also be spared being “doubly Taxed,” not having to pay for both a share of the 20 surveys and an individual survey within one of the 20. In short, GW believed his petition to be “so reasonable, & so consistent with every principle of common justice . . . that . . . it could not possibly be rejected” (GW to George Mercer, 7 Nov. 1771, DLC:GW).

3. Dined at Anderson’s and Supped at Mrs. Dawson’s.

4. Dined with the Council and went to the play afterwards.

   Governor Dunmore today presented GW’s petition to the council. The councillors promptly decided to continue the limit of 20 surveys but postponed further action on the petition until 6 Nov. (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66., 6:438–39).

5. Dined at the Treasurers, and Spent the Evening in my own Room.

6. Dined at Mrs. Dawsons and Spent the Evening at Mrs. Campbells.

   On this date GW and James Mercer appeared before the council to argue in favor of the petition presented two days earlier. After hearing them, the councillors met privately to deliberate matters. They reaffirmed the limit of 20 surveys and then proceeded to allot the 200,000 acres: 400 acres to each of 52 private soldiers who had made claims, 500 acres to each of 4 corporals, 600 acres to each of 7 sergeants, 2,500 acres to each of 2 cadets, 6,000 acres to each of 8 subalterns, 9,000 acres to each of 5 captains, and 15,000 acres to each of 3 field officers, including GW. The remaining 30,000 acres, after being used to satisfy the claims of any more private soldiers who might apply, were to “be divided among those who have hitherto born the whole Expense, & who in all Probability must continue to do so till the full Quantity is surveyed” (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66., 6:438–41). The council’s answer to the petition did not please GW. In a letter of 7 Nov. to George Mercer, he accused the councillors of “putting the Soldiery upon a worse footing than the meanest Individual in the Community, rather than be thought to give a License to the pillaging of his Majestys, or the Proprietary Lands” (DLC:GW). Nevertheless, he remained determined to pursue the business regardless of the difficulties and expense involved.

   Mrs. Campbell’s new tavern on Waller Street was the one that Jane Vobe had kept there until recent months. In August, Mrs. Vobe had sold her furniture, and in September she had announced her intention to leave the colony (Va. Gaz., P&D, 25 July and 17 Sept. 1771).

7. Left Williamsburg on my return home, dined & lodged at Colo. Bassetts.

8. At Colo. Bassetts all day. Colo. Lewis & Mr. Mercer came here.

   On the previous day GW had given Fielding Lewis £200 cash with which to pay the balance due for the house and two lots in Fredericksburg where Mary Ball Washington was to live (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 336, 345). The owner of the property, Michael Robinson, of Spotsylvania County, deeded it to GW on 18 Sept. 1772, but Mrs. Washington apparently moved into the house before spring (CROZIER [2]William Armstrong Crozier, ed. Spotsylvania County, 1721–1800: Being Transcriptions, from the Original Files at the County Court House, of Wills, Deeds, Administrators’ and Guardians’ Bonds, Marriage Licenses, and Lists of Revolutionary Pensioners. New York, 1905., 294; see main entry for 11 April 1772). Although GW paid the full purchase price of £275 and retained the title to the property, he charged his mother nothing to live there for the nearly 18 years remaining of her life.

9. Set out in Company with those Gentlemen. Dined at Todds bridge and lodgd at Hubbards.

10. Dined at Doctr. Todds and reachd Fredericksburg at Night.

   George Todd (1711–1790), a physician, operated a tavern from 1750 to 1781 on the stage road in Caroline County at the site of present-day Villboro, Va. (CAMPBELL [1]Thomas Elliott Campbell. Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia. Richmond, 1954., 411–12, 450). William Todd’s ordinary at Todd’s Bridge, where GW stopped much more frequently, was about 38 miles south of Dr. Todd’s place (see entry for 21 April 1760).

11. Got home about Dark. And found Mr. Warner Washington his Wife and Child—Mrs. Bushrod & Katy & Nancy Washington—Sally & Nancy Carlyle & Sally Fairfax & Polly Brazier here.

   Anne Washington (d. 1777), known as Nancy, was Katy (Catherine) Washington’s sister and a niece of Mrs. Bushrod. Reputedly an amiable and attractive young lady, Nancy married Thomas Peyton of Gloucester County in May 1776 and died eight months later (Va. Gaz., D&H, 25 May 1776 and 17 Jan. 1777). Sally Cary Fairfax (b. 1760), eldest child of Bryan Fairfax,

visited her aunt and uncle at Belvoir about this time. She died unmarried between 1777 and 1779 (FAIRFAX[Sally Cary Fairfax]. “Diary of a Little Colonial Girl.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 11 (1903–4): 212–14., 213).

12. At home all day with the above.

13. Rid to the Ferry Plantation Mill, Doeg Run and Muddy hole.

14. Rid to the Mill with the Ladies & back again. Mr. Lawson came in the Afternoon.

15. Rid to the Ferry Plantation after breakfast Mr. Warnr. Washington his wife & Child, & the two Miss Carlyles—Polly Brazier & Mr. Lawson went away.

16. Went a hunting but found nothing.

17. Went to Dinner at Belvoir with Mrs. Bushrod, Mrs. Washington, the two Miss Washington’s, & Patcy Custis. Returnd in the Afternn.

18. Went up to Court. Dined at Arrells & lodged at Mr. John Wests. Sent my Horses home.

   The court met 18–21 Nov. GW’s name does not appear in the court records for this day, but he was officially present on 19 and 20 Nov. (Fairfax County Order Book for 1770–72, 303–23, Vi Microfilm).

19. Dined at Arrells and lodgd at my own House. Supped at Arrells also.

20. Dined at Arrells. Came home in the Afternoon Mr. Magowan with me. Found Mr. Washington his Wife &ca. here as also John Custis.

21. At home all day. Mr. Danl. Jenifer dined & lodgd here.

   Daniel Jenifer (1727–1795) was the son of Dr. Daniel Jenifer of Port Tobacco, Md., and brother of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer.

22. At home again. Mr. Jenefir went away after breakfast as Mr. Washington &ca. did yesterday.

23. At home all day. Mr. Magowan went away before Dinner. Mr. Campbell came to Dinnr. & Doctr. Craik in the afternoon.

   Matthew Campbell probably brought the £60 cash that GW recorded receiving from Robert Adam & Co. on this date (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 341, 347).

24. Doctr. Craik & Mr. Campbell both went away after breakfast.

25. Went a hunting in the Morning with Jacky Custis. Returnd about 12 Oclock & found Colo. Fairfax & Lady here—Mrs. Fanny Ballendine & her Nieces—Miss Sally Fairfax & Mr. R. Adam Mr. Jas. Adam & Mr. Anthy. Ramsay all of whom went away in the Afternoon when Miss Scott came.

   Frances Ewell Ballendine was John Ballendine’s wife, and the nieces accompanying her are probably daughters of one or more of her brothers: Charles and Bertrand Ewell of Prince William County and Solomon Ewell of Lancaster County (HAYDENHorace Edwin Hayden.  Virginia Genealogies. A Genealogy of the Glassell Family of Scotland and Virginia, also of the Families of Ball, Brown, Bryan, Conway, Daniel, Ewell, Holladay, Lewis, Littlepage, Moncure, Peyton, Robinson, Scott, Taylor, Wallace, and others, of Virginia and Maryland. 1891. Reprint. Baltimore, 1973., 334–38). Catherine Scott (b. 1741) was a daughter of Rev. James Scott (d. 1782), rector of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, and Sarah Brown Scott, a cousin of George Mason of Gunston Hall.

26. Rid to Muddy hole, Doeg Run, Mill and Ferry before dinner.

27. Set off before Sunrise with John Custis for Colo. Masons and went a driving [deer] in his Neck after breakfast—2 deer killed.

28. Went a driving again with Colo. Mason—killed nothing.

29. Went to the Vestry at Pohick Church & reachd home in the Evening. Found Mr. Johnson here.

   The Truro Parish vestry today set the parish levy for the year—70 pounds of tobacco per tithable—and appointed various parish officials (Truro Vestry Book, 150–52, DLC).

   Dr. John Johnson was continuing to treat Patsy Custis for her epilepsy. He may have been at Mount Vernon earlier in the month also, because on 12 Nov., GW recorded paying him £14 in Maryland currency for his services (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 345). Although Patsy still had not improved in any way under the care of Dr. Johnson, the Washingtons continued to consult him about her health for several more months (Johnson to Martha Washington, 21 Mar. 1772; HAMILTON [1]Stanislaus Murray Hamilton, ed. Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. 5 vols. Boston and New York, 1898–1902., 4:119, n.2).

30. Went a hunting in the Neck with Mr. Peake—found & killed a Fox. Mr. Johnson still here.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Very warm in the forenoon & clear, Cloudy afterwards & a good deal of Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Clear and Cool, wind being fresh from the Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Clear & pleasant not being so cool as yesterday. Wind however in the same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Wind pretty fresh from the Northwest and Cold again.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Less Cool than the day before but the Wind in the same place.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Cloudy & very threatning Wind at No. East in the Afternoon with Rain most part of the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear and Cold. Wind fresh from the Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Very pleasant and clear with the Wind what little there was of it Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Very warm & pleasant with but little Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Clear, warm, and calm in the forenoon. The Afternoon lowering with a very brisk Wind from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. A good deal of Rain fell last Night. The Wind being very high from the Southward. The day cool with the Wind fresh from the Westward.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 16. Clear Morning and Evening, but Cloudy Midday. Wind pretty fresh from the Southwest and at Night from the Northwest.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Clear, Calm, and pleasant being tolerably warm.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Cloudy with the Wind very fresh from the South West. About One Oclock a violent squal of Wind & Rain—clear afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear and Cool Wind Northerly and pretty fresh.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Cool and Cloudy, with appearances of Snow but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Clear & remarkably pleasant with but little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Exceeding pleasant, being quite clear and Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Pleasant forenoon, but cloudy afternoon with high Wind & Rain from the Southwest in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Wind very fresh from the same point with squally Clouds.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Cloudy & very like for Snow but none fell.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Very Cloudy with some rain but tolerably pleasant afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 November 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 30. Left of Planting the ground being two hard froze having planted  Rows beginning to reckon from the side next the Spring.


Title: Remarks & Occs. in Novr. [1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Novr. 11th. Returnd home from Williamsburg.

20. Began to Plant Cuttings of the Winter Grape in the Inclosure below the Garden.

30. Left of Planting the ground being two hard froze having planted  Rows beginning to reckon from the side next the Spring.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Went up to the Election & the Ball I had given at Alexa. Mr. Crawford & Jno. P. Custis with me. Stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Came home in the Afternoon and found Miss Mason & Miss Scott who came the day before here.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. At home alone all day. In the afternoon Mr. Phil. Pendleton came.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Went a fox hunting with the above two &ca. Killed a Fox and dined with Doctr. Alexander.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Went to meet Govr. Eden at Mr. Willm. Digges’s where we dined. In the Afternoon the Govr. Mr. Calvert, Majr. Fleming Mr. Boucher, Mr. Geo. Digges and Doctr. Digges came over with me.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

10. The above Gentlemen dined here as did Colo. Fairfax who went away in the Afternoon.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. The foregoing Gentlemen still here.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. The Governor, and other Gentlemen cross’d over to Mr. Digges on their return home. I dined with them there & came back in the Aftern.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Went a fox hunting with John Parke Custis Lund Washington & Mr. Manley—killed a Fox.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. At home all day alone, in the Evening the same.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. At home all day. In the Evening Mr. Adam Mr. Belmain, Mr. Campbell & Price Posey came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Mr. Belmain went away after Breakfast—the others after Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

21. Went a hunting in the Neck with Mr. Peake & Mr. Wm. & Thos. Triplet the first two of whom dind with me. Found nothing.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22. Raining in the Night and most part of this day being tolerably warm. With but little Wind and that Southerly. At home all day alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. At home all day and writing as yesterday. Alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Went a hunting again in the Neck found a Fox and lost it. Dined with others at Mr. Thos. Triplets.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Hunted again in the Neck and killed a Fox. Dined at home with the following Person’s—the two Mr. Triplets—Mr. Manley, Mr. Peake, young Frans. Adam’s and one Stone Street—also Peakes Daughter & Miss Fanny Eldridge.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. At home all day. The two girls above mentioned here.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Went up to Alexandria at the request of Messrs. Montgomerie Wilson and Steward, to settle with them along with Mr. John (as Exr. of Colo. Thoms. Colvil) for the Maryland Tract of Land which they had Purchasd of Mr. Semple. Staid all Night.


Title: [December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. At home all day. Mr. Johnson still here. Doctr. Rumney came to Dinner & stayd all Night.

2. Rid to the River Plantation and the Mill. Mr. Johnson went away after breakfast as Did Mr. Rumney.

3. Rid to Muddy hole, and into the Neck. Mr. Val. Crawford came this aftern.

4. Went up to the Election & the Ball I had given at Alexa. Mr. Crawford & Jno. P. Custis with me. Stayd all Night.

   On 12 Oct. 1771 Governor Dunmore had dissolved the General Assembly, which necessitated new elections to the House of Burgesses (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905–15., 1770–72, 145). GW and Col. John West were again chosen to represent Fairfax County. GW’s election expenses included £4 7s. 8d. to tavern keeper John Lomax (d. 1787) of Alexandria for “getting a Supper” at the ball, £4 1s. 9d. to William Shaw, also of Alexandria, for “Sundries &ca. for the Election & Ball & his own Trouble,” 12s. to Harry Piper for his slave Charles playing the fiddle, and £1 9s. 8d. to a Mr. Young for cakes (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 347; General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 50).

5. Came home in the Afternoon and found Miss Mason & Miss Scott who came the day before here.

   Miss Mason is probably Ann Eilbeck Mason (1755–1814), eldest daughter of George Mason of Gunston Hall.

6. At home alone all day. In the afternoon Mr. Phil. Pendleton came.

   The purpose of Pendleton’s visit was to get the contract for the land that GW had agreed to sell him on 6 June. GW signed it on the following day, witnessed by Lund Washington, Valentine Crawford, and Jacky Custis (CtMMCH).

7. Went a fox hunting with the above two &ca. Killed a Fox and dined with Doctr. Alexander.

   George Dent Alexander had recently attended the College of Philadelphia where he had apparently studied in the college’s new medical school but had not qualified for a bachelor or doctor of medicine degree. Despite young Alexander’s local family connections, GW did not employ him as a physician, preferring Dr. Rumney’s services (GW to John Armstrong, 20 Mar. 1770, from Rokeby Collections, Barrytown, Dutchess County, N.Y., courtesy of Richard Aldrich and others; CARSON [3]Joseph Carson. A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from its Foundation in 1765. With Sketches of the Lives of Deceased Professors. Philadelphia, 1869., 67–75). During the Revolution, Alexander was a surgeon in Col. William Grayson’s Additional Continental Regiment, serving from Feb. 1777 until his death in Philadelphia in Jan. 1780 (BURGESSLouis A. Burgess, ed. Virginia Soldiers of 1776. 3 vols. 1929. Reprint. Spartanburg, S.C., 1973., 1:133–36).

8. After breakfast Mr. Pendleton & Mr. Crawford went away as Miss Mason & Miss Scott did yesterday.

9. Went to meet Govr. Eden at Mr. Willm. Digges’s where we dined. In the Afternoon the Govr. Mr. Calvert, Majr. Fleming Mr. Boucher, Mr. Geo. Digges and Doctr. Digges came over with me.

   Benedict Calvert (c.1724–1788), an illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, fifth Baron Baltimore (1699–1751), lived at Mount Airy (later called Dower House) in Prince George’s County, Md., near present-day Rosaryville. Born in England, he was known in his early years as Benedict Swingate, but Lord Baltimore, while refusing to identify Benedict’s mother, acknowledged him as his son and provided well for him. Benedict took the Calvert name and at the age of 18 went to Maryland, where in 1745 he was appointed collector of customs at Patuxent and in the following year became a member of the provincial council. In 1748 he married a distant relation, Elizabeth Calvert (1730–1798), daughter of the Charles Calvert who was governor of Maryland 1720–27 (NICKLIN [2]John Bailey Calvert Nicklin. “The Calvert Family.” Maryland Historical Magazine 16 (1921): 50–59, 189–204, 313–18, 389–94., 58, 313–14; W.P.A. [2]W.P.A. Writers’ Project. Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State. American Guide Series. New York, 1940., 464–65).

   Maj. William Fleming of the British army, currently acting commander of the 64th Regiment of Foot stationed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, was visiting the southern provinces for his health. He apparently returned north early the next summer when his regiment was moved to a post near Boston (Thomas Gage to William W. Barrington, 6 Jan. 1769, GAGE PAPERSClarence Edwin Carter, comp. and ed. The Correspondence of General Thomas Gage with the Secretaries of State, 1763–1775. 2 vols. 1931–33. Reprint. Hamden, Conn., 1969., 2:493–94; DAVIESK. G. Davies, ed. Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783; (Colonial Office Series). 21 vols. Shannon and Dublin, 1972–81., 1:304).

   Dr. Joseph Digges, son of William Digges and younger brother of George Digges, had studied at the University of Edinburgh but had not received a degree. During the Revolution he was surgeon to the Charles County, Md., militia 1777–78. In Oct. 1778 the Maryland state council gave him permission to go to Bermuda to recover his health, which had been bad “for some time past” (MD. ARCHIVESArchives of Maryland. 72 vols. Baltimore, 1883–1972., 21:222). He was apparently taken prisoner by the British during the trip; on 1 Nov. 1779, he wrote GW from Teneriffe in the Canary Islands that he had been paroled but had not heard of his being exchanged, “from whence I conclude, that the Family at Warburton either believe me Dead, or have neglected writing me” (DLC:GW). Digges died at Teneriffe a short time later (RAMSBURGHEdith Roberts Ramsburgh. “Sir Dudley Digges, His English Ancestry and the Digges Line in America.” Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine 57 (1923): 125–39., 131).

10. The above Gentlemen dined here as did Colo. Fairfax who went away in the Afternoon.

11. The Govr. and all the Compy. dined at Colo. Fairfaxs & returnd in the Afternoon.

12. The foregoing Gentlemen still here.

13. The Governor, and other Gentlemen cross’d over to Mr. Digges on their return home. I dined with them there & came back in the Aftern.

14. Went a fox hunting with John Parke Custis Lund Washington & Mr. Manley—killed a Fox.

15. At home all day alone, in the Evening the same.

16. At home all day. In the Evening Mr. Adam Mr. Belmain, Mr. Campbell & Price Posey came here.

   Robert Adam was about to make a voyage to Great Britain, and GW recently had given him several “little Commission’s to execute” there (GW to Robert Cary & Co., 22 Nov. 1771, DLC:GW). Adam was to have a gun repaired for GW and was to buy a gold-headed cane with the Washington arms engraved on it, 400 or 500 bookplates also engraved with the Washington arms, and for Jacky, a white agate stone set in a gold socket and engraved with the Custis arms. Also, GW had instructed Adam to try to buy the bounty land rights of two former Virginia Regiment officers who had gone to Britain after the war and, if the opportunity occurred, to engage “a good Kitchen

Gardner” for Mount Vernon. Adam apparently sailed for London a week later aboard his and Thomas Adam’s new ship Martha (see main entry for 14 Mar. 1771; GW to Robert Cary & Co., 8 Jan. 1772, DLC:GW).

   mr. belmain: probably William Balmain (d. 1784), the Alexandria merchant.

17. Mr. Belmain went away after Breakfast—the others after Dinner.

18. Went to Doeg Run & carried the Dogs with me who found & run a Deer to the Water.

19. Rid to the Ferry Plantation, Mill, & Muddy hole.

20. Rid into the Neck.

21. Went a hunting in the Neck with Mr. Peake & Mr. Wm. & Thos. Triplet the first two of whom dind with me. Found nothing.

22. Raining in the Night and most part of this day being tolerably warm. With but little Wind and that Southerly. At home all day alone.

23. At home all day writing and alone.

24. At home all day and writing as yesterday. Alone.

25. Went to Pohick Church with Mrs. Washington and returnd to Dinner.

26. Went a hunting in the Neck early. Killd a Fox and dined with several others at Mr. Peake’s.

27. Went a hunting again in the Neck found a Fox and lost it. Dined with others at Mr. Thos. Triplets.

28. Hunted again in the Neck and killed a Fox. Dined at home with the following Person’s—the two Mr. Triplets—Mr. Manley, Mr. Peake, young Frans. Adam’s and one Stone Street—also Peakes Daughter & Miss Fanny Eldridge.

   Francis Adams (1749–1811), only child of Abednego and Mary Peake Adams, inherited Mount Gilead from his father. Humphrey Peake’s daughter is probably Ann (Nancy), who later married Francis Adams.

   one stone street: Humphrey Peake’s wife, Mary Stonestreet Peake, had

three half brothers living in Maryland: Henry, Richard, and Butler Edelen Stonestreet.

   fanny eldridge: possibly Mary Peake’s niece, Frances Edelen, daughter of Richard and Sarah Stonestreet Edelen of Prince George’s County, Md. She was now about 16 years old and apparently a favorite of Humphrey Peake; in his will he bequeathed her a good horse with a saddle and bridle (codicil to will of Humphrey Peake, 10 Sept. 1783 and 11 Nov. 1784, Fairfax County Wills, Book E–1, 91–98, Vi Microfilm; will of Richard Edelen, 17 Jan. 1791, Prince George’s County, Md., Wills, No. 1, T, 300, MdAA Microfilm; BRUMBAUGHGaius Marcus Brumbaugh. Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church, from Original Sources. 2 vols. 1915 and 1928. Reprint. Baltimore, 1975., 1:59).

29. At home all day. The two girls above mentioned here.

30. Went a hunting again with the former Compa. but found nothing. Dined at Mr. Wm. Triplets. Miss Peake &ca. went home.

31. Went up to Alexandria at the request of Messrs. Montgomerie Wilson and Steward, to settle with them along with Mr. John (as Exr. of Colo. Thoms. Colvil) for the Maryland Tract of Land which they had Purchasd of Mr. Semple. Staid all Night.

   John Semple, plagued by many debts and unable to pay off the purchase bond for the Merryland tract that he had bought from Thomas Colvill, had assigned his rights to the land to three merchants: Thomas Montgomerie and Cumberland Wilson of Dumfries and Adam Stewart of Georgetown, Md. The Colvill executors—Frances Colvill, John West, Jr., and GW—had been empowered by the Maryland General Assembly on 23 Nov. 1771 to deed the Merryland tract to Semple, his heirs, or his assignees, provided that the balance due on the original contract was paid by 20 April 1773. If it were not paid, the executors could sell the land at public auction to the highest bidder (MD. ARCHIVESArchives of Maryland. 72 vols. Baltimore, 1883–1972., 63:293–95). The purpose of the meetings on this and subsequent days was to determine exactly what balance was owed for Merryland and to arrange for payment of it by the merchants (see “Remarks” entry for 1 and 4 Jan. 1772).

   mr. john: either John West, Jr., or John Semple.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. The Wind exceeding hard from the Northwest, & very cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Wind variable with Clouds, and at the sametime cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. The most variable Weather imaginable—sometimes sunshine sometimes snowing—sometimes calm & sometimes the wind very high from the South—the North & Northwest where it contd. all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 4. Wind at Northwest and very cold, with great appearances of Snow, a little of which fell in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Morning Snowy with the Wind hard from the No. West & cold. Afternoon clear & not so Cold.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Cold & Cloudy with appearances of Snow. Wind variable & in the Afternoon Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Morning Calm, and tolerably pleasant, with great appearances of Snow abt. Noon. Afternoon clear, Calm, & pleast. agn.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear and cool threatning bad weather but none fell. Wind North.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Clear and tolerably pleasant being Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Soft Morning but cloudy & lowering afterwards with the [wind] Westerly & something cooler.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Clear, calm, & pleasant Morning, Wind Southwest & West afterwards and something cooler.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Cool, and more or less Cloudy all day. About Noon it snowd fast—then cleard away and was a tolerable Evening.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear, calm, and pleasant till the Evening then lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Very Calm, & tolerable pleast.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

19. Wind Northerly & cold with Hail & Rain the first part of the day & constant Rain Afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. Clear and very pleasant all day with little or no Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

 21. Very white frost. Calm and quite pleasant in the forenoon but lowering afterwards with Rain in the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 22 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

22d. Raining in the Night, and most part of this day. At the sametime warm with but little Wind and that at So. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Very raw and Cold with the Wind Northerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. Clear and Calm morning and tolerable pleasant day.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. Clear and calm in the Morning and a remarkable white frost. Evening very lowering.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Remarkable clear, calm, & pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Not as pleasant though Cooler Wind getting Northerly.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Decr. [1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 1st. The Wind exceeding hard from the Northwest, & very cold.

2. Wind variable with Clouds, and at the sametime cold.

3. The most variable Weather imaginable—sometimes sunshine sometimes snowing—sometimes calm & sometimes the wind very high from the South—the North & Northwest where it contd. all Night.

4. Wind at Northwest and very cold, with great appearances of Snow, a little of which fell in the Night.

5. Morning Snowy with the Wind hard from the No. West & cold. Afternoon clear & not so Cold.

6. Cold & Cloudy with appearances of Snow. Wind variable & in the Afternoon Calm.

7. Morning Calm, and tolerably pleasant, with great appearances of Snow abt. Noon. Afternoon clear, Calm, & pleast. agn.

8. Clear and cool threatning bad weather but none fell. Wind North.

9. Clear and tolerably pleasant being Calm.

10. Mild, soft and giving with very little or no Wind.

11. Soft Morning but cloudy & lowering afterwards with the [wind] Westerly & something cooler.

12. Rain in the Night, and this Morning, but clear warm and pleasant afterwards with but little Wind.

13. Clear, calm, & pleasant Morning, Wind Southwest & West afterwards and something cooler.

14. Cool, and more or less Cloudy all day. About Noon it snowd fast—then cleard away and was a tolerable Evening.

15. Clear, calm, and pleasant till the Evening then lowering.

16. Clear Calm and pleasant with but little Wind.

17. Very Calm, & tolerable pleast.

18. Very white frost. Calm & lowering.

19. Wind Northerly & cold with Hail & Rain the first part of the day & constant Rain Afterwds.

20. Clear and very pleasant all day with little or no Wind.

21. Very white frost. Calm and quite pleasant in the forenoon but lowering afterwards with Rain in the Night.

22d. Raining in the Night, and most part of this day. At the sametime warm with but little Wind and that at So. West.

23. The Wind Shifting to Northwest in the Night, blew very hard & cold as it was all this day the ground being very hard froze.

24. Exceeding hard & frozen with the Wind still high and Cold from the Northwest.

25. Very raw and Cold with the Wind Northerly.

26. Clear and Calm morning and tolerable pleasant day.

27. Clear and calm in the Morning and a remarkable white frost. Evening very lowering.

28. Raining all the latter part of the Night. The first of the day Cloudy & threatning but the Evening clear and pleasant.

29. Remarkable clear, calm, & pleasant.

30. Calm, and tolerably pleasant but lowering especially in the Morning.

31. Not as pleasant though Cooler Wind getting Northerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 16. Finished planting the Grape Cuttings in the Inclosure below the Garden. The first 29 Rows of which Reckoning from the side next the Spring are the winter Grape the other five are the Summer grape of tolerable good taste and ripening in October.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Agreed to raise Christophr. Shades Wages to £20 pr. Ann.


Title: Remarks & Occurances [December 1771]
From: Washington, George
To:

Decr. 16. Finished planting the Grape Cuttings in the Inclosure below the Garden. The first 29 Rows of which Reckoning from the side next the Spring are the winter Grape the other five are the Summer grape of tolerable good taste and ripening in October.

17. Killed my Porke and distributed the Overseers their Shares.

18. Agreed to raise Christophr. Shades Wages to £20 pr. Ann.

   Shade worked at this rate until 25 Dec. 1773, when his salary was reduced to £18 a year. GW today advanced Shade £4 cash on his wages (General Ledger AGeneral Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 331; General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 39).


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. 1st. Upon the same business this day as brought me to Alexandria yesterday. Came home in the Afternoon and found Mr. Ramsay and his daughter here.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Still at home with the above Gentlemen. In the afternoon Mr. & Miss Ramsay returnd to Alexandria and Mr. B. Fairfax came.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

4. Went a Hunting with the above Gentlemen. Found both a Bear & Fox but got neither. Went up to Alexandria with these Gentlemen to finish the business with Montgomerie &ca. which was accordg. done.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

5. Returnd home. Mr. Fairfax came with me. A Mr. Willis, & a Rhode Island Captn. dind here. The two latter went away afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Went a Hunting in the Neck with Mr. Fairfax. Found a fox & run him into a hole near Night, without Killing him. Found Doctr. Rumney & Mr. Magowan here when we returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. The above Gentlemen continued here all day and Night. Mr. Fairfax & myself rid to my Mill before Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8th. At home all day. Mr. Fairfax and Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Mr. Magowan left this after breakfast for Colchester. I rid to the Ferry Doeg Run & Muddy hole & found Mrs. French & Daughter here when I returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 10. Mrs. French & Daughter went away before Dinner. I went to the Ferry Plantn. to run some lines for my fencing &ca.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Went a Hunting in the Neck. Found a fox about One Clock and killed it about 3 Oclock. Mr. Magowan returnd from Colchester to Dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. At home all day. Mr. Magowan went to Mr. Peakes to Dinner & returnd again at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Went again to the Ferry Plantation to run some lines for my Fencing. Mr. Magowan went to Mr. T. Triplets to Dinner and returnd.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Went to Belvoir with Mrs. Washington, Miss Custis & Mr. Gowan [Magowan] dind and stayed all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

17. Went into the Neck to remeasure the Creek field and lay of some Fences. Upon my return to Dinner found one Mr. Hanna here who stayd all Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

18. Mr. Hanna went away after Breakfast as Mr. Magowan also did. I went a Hunting & killd a Fox—was joind by Mr. M. Campbell—Mr. Manley & Mr. Peake who dined here & went away afterwds.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. After Breakfast the Majr. went away for Court and Messrs. Lawe. & Jno. Washington with Mrs. Polly Washington came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

23. Went up to George Town to convey Deeds to Messrs. Montgomerie Stewart & Wilson for the Marryland Tract of Land wch. was accordingly done Mrs. Colvil being carried up in my Chariot returnd to Mr. Jno. Wests at Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Went from Mr. Wests to Alexanda. and returnd home to Dinner. In the Afternoon Mr. John Byrd and a Mr. Drew came here.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

26. At home all day alone that is with the Family.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

27. At home by ourselves the day being dreadfully bad.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. Just such a day as the former & at home alone.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

 29. With much difficulty rid as far as the Mill the Snow being up to the breast of a Tall Horse everywhere.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. At home all day it being almost impracticable to get out.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. Still at home for the Causes above.


Title: [January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jany. 1st. Upon the same business this day as brought me to Alexandria yesterday. Came home in the Afternoon and found Mr. Ramsay and his daughter here.

2. At home all day. Mr. Montgomerie Mr. Piper and Mr. Harrison came to dinner & staid all Night.

   These gentlemen came to try to resolve the continuing problem of the annuities that Margaret Savage was supposed to receive from her husband, Dr. William Savage (see main entries for 22 Sept. 1769 and 17 April 1770). Harry Piper had replaced Thomas Montgomerie as Mrs. Savage’s legal representative in June 1771, but during the previous April her trustees, GW and Bryan Fairfax, had been obliged to settle with Montgomerie for her annuities through 1771, allowing him to receive the money on her behalf. Mr. Piper and the others were now faced with the task of forcing Montgomerie to relinquish those annuities, which he, who was also agent for Dr. Savage, had not sent her. At the same time they had to demand payment of this year’s annuity from him (GW to Margaret Savage, 5 Sept. 1771 and 20 Sept. 1772, DLC:GW). When no satisfactory settlement was reached during the next few days, GW and Fairfax directed Robert Hanson Harrison to bring suit against Dr. Savage. Before the end of the month, GW advanced £53 sterling to Mrs. Savage, who was now living apart from her husband in Dublin and was much in want of funds (GW to Margaret Savage, 27 Jan. 1772, DLC:GW).

3. Still at home with the above Gentlemen. In the afternoon Mr. & Miss Ramsay returnd to Alexandria and Mr. B. Fairfax came.

4. Went a Hunting with the above Gentlemen. Found both a Bear & Fox but got neither. Went up to Alexandria with these Gentlemen to finish the business with Montgomerie &ca. which was accordg. done.

5. Returnd home. Mr. Fairfax came with me. A Mr. Willis, & a Rhode Island Captn. dind here. The two latter went away afterwards.

   Francis Willis, Jr. (1745–1829), son of John Willis (1719–1769) of Brunswick County, apparently lived in Leesburg at this time (Willis to GW, 16 Aug. 1773 and 17 Oct. 1773, ViMtvL). He later moved to Berkeley County and eventually settled in Georgia (see “Remarks” entry for 5 Jan. 1772).

   The Rhode Island captain was probably John Howland, master of the sloop Nelly of Nantucket, which entered the Potomac River in late Dec. 1771 from Rhode Island with a cargo of British goods, loaf sugar, chocolate, iron and wood ware, and 2,500 pounds of cheese (P.R.O., C.O.5/1350, f. 107).

6. Went a Hunting in the Neck with Mr. Fairfax. Found a fox & run him into a hole near Night, without Killing him. Found Doctr. Rumney & Mr. Magowan here when we returnd.

7. The above Gentlemen continued here all day and Night. Mr. Fairfax & myself rid to my Mill before Dinner.

8th. At home all day. Mr. Fairfax and Doctr. Rumney went away after Breakfast.

9. Mr. Magowan left this after breakfast for Colchester. I rid to the Ferry Doeg Run & Muddy hole & found Mrs. French & Daughter here when I returnd.

   Penelope Manley French, sister of Harrison Manley and widow of Daniel French, was still residing with her only child, Elizabeth, at her late husband’s home, Rose Hill. Although Mrs. French lived at least until 1799, she never remarried and apparently remained at Rose Hill until her death (will of Daniel French, 20 May 1771, Fairfax County Wills, Book C–1, 134–36, Vi Microfilm; GW to Benjamin T. Dulany, 12 Sept. 1799, NN).

10. Mrs. French & Daughter went away before Dinner. I went to the Ferry Plantn. to run some lines for my fencing &ca.

11. Went a Hunting in the Neck. Found a fox about One Clock and killed it about 3 Oclock. Mr. Magowan returnd from Colchester to Dinner.

12. At home all day. Mr. Magowan went to Mr. Peakes to Dinner & returnd again at Night.

13. Went again to the Ferry Plantation to run some lines for my Fencing. Mr. Magowan went to Mr. T. Triplets to Dinner and returnd.

14. Went to Belvoir with Mrs. Washington, Miss Custis & Mr. Gowan [Magowan] dind and stayed all Night.

15. Dined at Belvoir this day also, and returnd with Mr. Magowan In the Evening.

16. Went to Run some Lines between Mr. Barry & me at the Mill—also to try some of the Lines of Mr. Jno. Wests Land.

17. Went into the Neck to remeasure the Creek field and lay of some Fences. Upon my return to Dinner found one Mr. Hanna here who stayd all Night.

   Mr. Hanna is Francis Hanna of Prince William County (DLC: Toner Collection).

18. Mr. Hanna went away after Breakfast as Mr. Magowan also did. I went a Hunting & killd a Fox—was joind by Mr. M. Campbell—Mr. Manley & Mr. Peake who dined here & went away afterwds.

19. At home all day. In the Afternoon Majr. Wagener and Mr. John Barnes with Doctr. Craik came here.

   John Barnes, eldest son of Abraham Barnes (d. 1777) of St. Mary’s County, Md., had recently gone bankrupt as a tobacco merchant in Port Tobacco, Md. After settling his firm’s affairs, he moved to western Maryland, where he eventually developed a prosperous plantation called Montpelier (COPELANDPamela C. Copeland and Richard K. MacMaster. The Five George Masons: Patriots and Planters of Virginia and Maryland. Charlottesville, Va., 1975., 110, 160–61).

20. After Breakfast the Majr. went away for Court and Messrs. Lawe. & Jno. Washington with Mrs. Polly Washington came here.

   Polly Washington is probably Miss Mary Townshend Washington (see main entry for 10 April 1770).

21. Mr. Barnes and Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. The other two Gentlemen & myself rid to my Mill and back before Dinr.

22. At home all day with the two Mr. Washington’s.

23. Went up to George Town to convey Deeds to Messrs. Montgomerie Stewart & Wilson for the Marryland Tract of Land wch. was accordingly done Mrs. Colvil being carried up in my Chariot returnd to Mr. Jno. Wests at Night.

   As arranged at previous meetings, the three merchants today gave the Colvill executors £816 13s. 7d. in bills of exchange drawn on Glasgow firms (see “Remarks” entry for 1 and 4 Jan. 1772). GW received the bills on behalf of the executors and later this year converted them to Virginia currency (General Ledger BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., folio 21). Although the Merryland tract was not formally deeded to the merchants until this date, they had begun to advertise in the Maryland Gazette on 16 Jan. that they would offer it for sale to the public on 28 May “in separate Lots or all together, for Sterling or Current Money.” Merryland was eventually sold to several purchasers. However, money was still being collected from the merchants in Nov. 1790, and their obligations to the Colvill estate were not fully discharged until May 1795 (Thomas Montgomerie to GW, 17 Nov. 1790, DLC:GW; LEDGER CGeneral Ledger C, 1790–1799. Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, N.J., 16).

24. Went from Mr. Wests to Alexanda. and returnd home to Dinner. In the Afternoon Mr. John Byrd and a Mr. Drew came here.

   Mr. John Byrd is probably John Carter Byrd (b. 1751), second son of Col. William Byrd III and his first wife, Elizabeth Hill Carter Byrd. Mr. Drew is William or Dolphin Drew, both of whom settled in the Shenandoah Valley. William was appointed clerk of the county court when Berkeley County was organized in 1772 and served in that post until 1785. Dolphin, possibly a brother, practiced as an attorney in Berkeley County from 1772 (NORRIS [1]J. E. Norris, ed. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley. 1890. Reprint. Berryville, Va., 1972., 224, 235, 295).

25. These Gentlemen went away after breakfast. I contd. at home all day.

26. At home all day alone that is with the Family.

27. At home by ourselves the day being dreadfully bad.

28. Just such a day as the former & at home alone.

29. With much difficulty rid as far as the Mill the Snow being up to the breast of a Tall Horse everywhere.

30. At home all day it being almost impracticable to get out.

31. Still at home for the Causes above.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jan. 1st. Lowering with the Wind Westwardly. In the Afternoon it threatned Snow much and at Night began to Rain which contd. till near day.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

2. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind and that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

3. Very pleasant forenoon but lowering afterwards with the Wind fresh from the Southward.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

6. Ground hard froze and Morning lowering without Wind. About 12 Oclock it began to Snow & continued to do so the remainder of the day very fast.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

7. Soft and giving with very little Wind & no Sun. Snow about 3 Inches deep.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8. Clear, tolerably pleasant & thawing with but little Wind & that Northerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

9. Very pleasant Mild Morning, & Clear day. Abt. Noon the Wind blew pretty fresh from the Westward but not Cold—Snow melting.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

11. Lowering Morning, and very Cloudy Afternoon, with but little Wind and that from the Northward. Ground froze in the Morning but thawd afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

12. Snow fell in the Night and was about an Inch deep this Morning. Misty all day and thawing there being no frost, nor no Wind.


Title: [Diary entry: 13 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

13. Cloudy forenoon but, tolerably Clear afterwards without any frost. Wind Westwardly but neither Cold nor hard.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

14. Ground froze in the Morning, and thawd in the Afternoon. Wind fresh in the forenoon from the So. West but still afterwds. Clear.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

15. Clear and very pleasant, with but little Wind, and that Easterly. Ground froze in the Morning & thawd afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

16. Cloudy Morning with the wind pretty fresh from the Westward—clear afternoon. The Ground froze but not hard in the Morning. Thawd Afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

20. No frost, but Cloudy all the forenoon with the wind fresh & Cold from the No. West.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

24. Ground Open and Morning Foggy and Warm, with a few drops of rain. Afternoon clear and remarkably pleasant and Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

25. Ground frozen but afterwards thawd. Day clear & a little cool wind being at Northwest Eveng. Calm.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

28. The Same Snow continued all last Night and all this day with equal violence the Wind being very cold and hard from the Northward—drifting the Snow into high banks.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

29. Fine pleasant Morning without any Wind—but before 11 Oclock it clouded up & threatned Snow all the remaining part of the day—being full 3 feet deep every where already.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

30. Snowd all Night, with a brisk Wind from the Northward. The day cloudy and Misty—now & then Raining till the Afternoon when it grew clear, wind Westerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

31. For the most part Cloudy and hazy like with but little Wind & that from the Southward. Warm at least not Cold.


Title: Acct. of the Weather in Jany. [1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

Jan. 1st. Lowering with the Wind Westwardly. In the Afternoon it threatned Snow much and at Night began to Rain which contd. till near day.

2. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind and that Southerly.

3. Very pleasant forenoon but lowering afterwards with the Wind fresh from the Southward.

4. A little Rain fell last Night. The Morning calm, and Mild with Clouds; but the Afternoon cold with the Wind hard at No. West.

5. Clear and cool, with the Wind still at No. West; but neither hard nor cold—tho’ the Ground was very close blockd up with frost.

6. Ground hard froze and Morning lowering without Wind. About 12 Oclock it began to Snow & continued to do so the remainder of the day very fast.

7. Soft and giving with very little Wind & no Sun. Snow about 3 Inches deep.

8. Clear, tolerably pleasant & thawing with but little Wind & that Northerly.

9. Very pleasant Mild Morning, & Clear day. Abt. Noon the Wind blew pretty fresh from the Westward but not Cold—Snow melting.

10. Ground froze in the Morning. Till 8 or 9 Oclock it was clear & very pleasant—then cloudy & lowering till abt. two after

which it grew clear & very pleast. No wind all day. Snow melted in the Fields.

11. Lowering Morning, and very Cloudy Afternoon, with but little Wind and that from the Northward. Ground froze in the Morning but thawd afterwards.

12. Snow fell in the Night and was about an Inch deep this Morning. Misty all day and thawing there being no frost, nor no Wind.

13. Cloudy forenoon but, tolerably Clear afterwards without any frost. Wind Westwardly but neither Cold nor hard.

14. Ground froze in the Morning, and thawd in the Afternoon. Wind fresh in the forenoon from the So. West but still afterwds. Clear.

15. Clear and very pleasant, with but little Wind, and that Easterly. Ground froze in the Morning & thawd afterwards.

16. Cloudy Morning with the wind pretty fresh from the Westward—clear afternoon. The Ground froze but not hard in the Morning. Thawd Afterwards.

17. Very hard frost in the Morng. Ground pretty well thawd in the Evening; which was pleasant—the Morning being cool, the Wind Southerly.

18. Cloudy in the forenoon, with a little Wind from the Southward; clear, Calm & pleasant afterwards. The Ground froze in the Morng. but thawd afterwards.

19. Soft and giving Morning without any Wind. The Afternoon Raining with but little wind which contd. through the Night.

20. No frost, but Cloudy all the forenoon with the wind fresh & Cold from the No. West.

21. Ground hard froze. Weather clear and very pleasant without any Wind.

22. A White Frost and ground froze a little. Day a little lowering but very pleasant notwithstanding with the Wind Southerly.

23. Soft Morning and a White frost. Weather exceeding pleasant as it continued to be through the day without Wind & clear Sky.

24. Ground Open and Morning Foggy and Warm, with a few drops of rain. Afternoon clear and remarkably pleasant and Calm.

25. Ground frozen but afterwards thawd. Day clear & a little cool wind being at Northwest Eveng. Calm.

26. Raw, Cold, and Cloudy all day with the Wind tho not much of it Northerly.

27. A Snow which began in the Night and was about 5 or 6 Inches deep this Morning kept constantly at it the whole day with the Wind hard & Cold from the Northward.

28. The Same Snow continued all last Night and all this day with equal violence the Wind being very cold and hard from the Northward—drifting the Snow into high banks.

29. Fine pleasant Morning without any Wind—but before 11 Oclock it clouded up & threatned Snow all the remaining part of the day—being full 3 feet deep every where already.

30. Snowd all Night, with a brisk Wind from the Northward. The day cloudy and Misty—now & then Raining till the Afternoon when it grew clear, wind Westerly.

31. For the most part Cloudy and hazy like with but little Wind & that from the Southward. Warm at least not Cold.

   For several days GW had been experiencing what one meteorologist has called “the greatest snowstorm in the history of the middle and lower Potomac Valley” (LUDLUMDavid M. Ludlum. Early American Winters, 1604-1820. Boston, 1966., 144; BETTS [2]Edwin Morris Betts, ed. Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book, 1766–1824: With Relevant Extracts from His Other Writings. Philadelphia, 1944., 33; FAIRFAX[Sally Cary Fairfax]. “Diary of a Little Colonial Girl.” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 11 (1903–4): 212–14., 213). Deep snows at Williamsburg delayed the convening of the General Assembly, and the Virginia Gazette carried no news from a northern source until 5 Mar.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1772]
From: Washington, George
To:

8th. Engaged to advance by, or at the April General Court for the use of Mr. Bryan Fairfax £150, or thereabouts, to discharge the Balle. of his Bond to Doctr. Savage. Also promised, if I could, to take up a Bill of Excha. of about £160 Sterg. with Int[eres]t thereon at the same time; In consideration of which I am to have the liberty of taking any of the Tracts of which he has given me a Mem[orandu]m at the prices there Stipulated in case I like them, or either of them upon examination thereof within  Months from this date. If not he is then to become my Debtor for the money I shall advance on these two Accts. Receivd 563½ Bushels of Oats from Arlington.