Title: [Diary entry: 13 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 13th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 35 at Night. Wind Southerly—air temperate but heavily charged with Snow or rain all the forenoon. In the afternoon it began to rain and continued to do so pretty steadily through the greater part of the Night. It cleared however before day. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations and to the Ditchers. At the first the People had begun to gather Corn in the cut on the Hill. At Dogue run the hands were also employed in gathering & husking of Corn. At Muddy hole a yard was clearing out to tread Rye.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 15th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 34 at Night. Morning a little Rainy, it having begun to fall (though not fast or much) sometime in the Night. Before Noon it ceased Raing. and the evening became clear with the Wind (tho’ not fresh) at North West. Mr. Bushrod Washington, his Wife and Miss Polly Blackburne came here whilst we were at Dinner. The River in the Ferry way became entirely free from Ice this Morning, and my Boat & hands which had been froze up on the Maryland side since Saturday last returned. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Saturday 16th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 41 at Night. Last Nights frost pretty hard. Day clear, calm, and pleasant for the Season—thawing after the Sun got up a little. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, dogue run and Muddy hole—Gathering and husking corn at the two first—Treading out a Stack of Rye at the latter. Received the following acct. of the Corn measured in the Neck by Jno. Fairfax, to day—viz. 42 Barrels from the riverside cut which makes the whole crop stand thus at that Plantation

Drilled Corn

Cut nearest the Barn
86 1/2

Middle cut
85

Easternmost ditto
24

Common Planting
195 1/2

Cut next the Barn
76

Middle do.
74

River side cut
42

Total
387 1/2

 The Oats made at, and recd. from that Plantation this year are

Of those drilled between
}
55

the rows of drilled Corn

From the point 29 Acres

275

Total

330

 The Wheat sowed here this year, is—

Bush.

In the field on the River

126

In part of the Middle cut
}
30

Timberlanding field

In all

156

Rye Ditto in field No. 1

50

Eastn. most cut of No. 2

 19

Sowed in all

69

Besides the Rye sowed as mentioned
}
Bush.

on the other side, there has been

used by the Negroes

25

Ditto by the Horses

65

Sent to Dogue run

19

brought from other side

69

178


Title: [Diary entry: 19 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 19th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 40 at Night. Quite calm all day, with slow rain, which contributed much to the dissolution of the Snow. At home all day. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. Killed 41 Hogs from the different Plantations—weights as follow

Ferry
19
3034

Dogue run
6
936

Muddy hole
6
798

River Plan.
10
1466

6234


Title: [Diary entry: 22 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Friday 22d. Mercury 34 at Morning—49 at Night [Noon] and 46 at Night. Morning Cloudy, but clear calm & pleasant afterwards—ground hard froze in the morning but thawed afterwards where there was no Snow. Rid to the Neck, Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations—getting Wheat into the Barn at the first—threshing it at the 2d. about finishing gathering Corn at the 3d. and cutting down Corn stalks for the Farm pen at the last. Doctr. Craik for whom I had sent to visit the sick people in the Neck came across from there after Sun down. Doctr. La Moyeur came in about the sametime from Alexandria. My Farmer brought home for the purpose of Stall feeding 3 Steers from Dogue run—Viz. the two old draught Steers wch. went from the House, & one that was on the Wheat field at Dogue run all last Winter & Spring—the latter to be slaughtered tomorrow. Doctr. Craik who visited my Sick people in the Neck came here to night as did Doctr. La Moyeur.


Title: [Diary entry: 23 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 23d. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—39 at Noon and 30 at Night. Morning very cloudy—about 8 Oclock began to rain and continued to do so, more or less, through the day—in the forepart of which it was Southerly. Afterwards it got to the Northward blew hard & turned very cold by night when there fell a mixture of snow and rain, and was exceedingly disagr[eeable]. Doctr. Craik went away after breakfast—Mr. Bushrod Washington & his wife were prevented doing it by the Weather. I remained at home all day. Finished gathering & husking of Corn at Dogue run, yesterday; but the weather to day prevented the measuring & lofting it. Ordered the Overseer at the Ferry and my Negroe Overseers, to kill of the Hogs up fatting, each as follow.

weight

Ferry. Hezh. Fairfax
2
279

River Plantation
2
247

Dogue run Ditto
2
256

Muddy hole Do.
2
143

Head Carpr. Isaac f[ro]m do.
1
84

1009


Title: [Diary entry: 24 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 24th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind very high from the No. West all day, & cold—also clear. Ground which was uncovered in places yesterday was slightly covered this Morning (not an Inch deep) and no thawing except on the Sun sides of Houses out of the Wind. At home all day. B. Washington & his wife left this.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 25th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 36 at Night. Clear and pleasant with the Wind at South. River froze across in the Morning but open afterwards. At home all day. Miss Allan—Betcy, Patcy and Nelly Custis came here to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 26th. Mercury at 29 in the Morning 48 at Noon and 36 at Night. The Wind shifting last Night to the No. West, it grew colder but this day was pleasant notwithstanding and clear. Doctr. La Moyeur went to Alexandria to day and Colo. Lee (late of Congress) came here to Dinner as did Mr. Lund Washington.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 27th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 42 at Night. Quite calm and pleasant, with little or no wind, and that from the Southward—clear. After Breakfast Colo. Lee set out for Richmond. Mr. Lear returned from his journey into the Western Country about 4 Oclock to day having been absent 28 days. Miss Allan returned to Abingdon to day and Doctr. La Moyeur came back from Alexandria. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 28th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 50 at Night. Calm, clear, warm, and very pleasant all day; towards evening it began to lower a little in the So. Western horizon—A very white frost in the Morning. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 51 at Night.  Clear, calm, warm, and exceeding pleasant all day. The hollidays being over, and the People all at work, I rid to the Ferry—Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Ditchers (who were at Work). At the first Plantation cutting stalks and getting farm pen in order—at the next (Dogue run) measured the remainder of the Corn.

Barls.

viz.
106

27th. Novr. was measured
68

         6 Decr.
         Do.
         Do.

41 1/2

         Given to Hogs
         25
         Neg[roe]s
         15

40

         At the Plantation
         Total

255 1/2

 My whole Crop of Corn will stand

Neck Plantation
387 1/2
Barls.

Dogue run
255 1/2

Muddy hole
201

Ferry
174

Total
1018

 Mrs. Peake and Miss Eaglin dined here to day and returned afterwards.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 December 1786]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 30th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 30 at Night. An exceeding heavy close fog all day without Wind. Staked out the fields at the Ferry Plantation to day, according to the late modification of them. Visited the Ditchers and rid to Dogue run where the People had just finished securing the corn measured yesterday and were going to grub a piece of ground for the Muddy hole plows to work on East of the Branch in Field No. 1. The Muddy hole hds. began to succour, or take the sprouts from the stumps in the New ground to prepare it for Hoeing for corn. Killed the following Hogs
Neck Plantn.	25 Hogs	2861
Dogue Run Do.	5 Do.	571
Ferry Do.	8	867
From this quantity	4299
Thoms. Bishop has had	400
Thos. Green—2d. parcel	200
Richd. B. Walker	300
Overseer Morris	45
Ditto Davy	55
Ditto Will	157
Ditto Isaac	116
1273
In addn. to the former
Killed the 19th. & 20th.	9476
Ditto at the Plantns. for Overrs.	1009
Ditto for forward Bacon
from Neck 6 Hogs	905
Mill 3 Do.	460
1365
Total amt.	120 Hogs	16149
Delivered to sundries pr. the foregoing acct.	2282
For family consumpn.	13867
 Besides the above, there are 4 Hogs yet at the ferry Plantn. to Kill—from which the overseer [will receive] the Balle. due to him. The Snow was mostly gone especially off Grass land. Wheat Fields still were partly covered.


Title: December 1786
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 1st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and  at Night.
Wind Southerly and pretty fresh—clear and pleasant all day.
Employed as yesterday, running round the Lands of Manley and French.
Geo. Washington and his wife returned home in the Evening.
Received 50 Bushels of Buck Wheat from Colo. Leven Powell of Loudoun.

   Leven (Levin) Powell (1737–1810), a Loudoun County merchant, was a major in the Virginia militia 1775–76 and a lieutenant colonel of the 16th Regiment of the Continental line 1777–78. Powell served as a Virginia delegate in the late 1780s and early 1790s as well as a United States congressman 1799–1801. For a discussion of GW’s experiments with buckwheat, see the entry for 2 Aug. 1762.

Saturday 2d. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 45 at Night.

Wind at No. West very early in the Morning—after which it turned calm and then came out pretty brisk from Southward.
Finished running round the Fields of Manleys and French’s and rid afterwards to Dogue run and Muddy hole plantations.
Measured at the latter 19 Barrls. of long Corn & 6 of Short which with the 42 Measured there on Thursday last makes 67 out of that cut and 201 Barrls. in all made at the Plantation this year.

Sunday 3d. Mercury at 38 in the morning—46 at Noon and 42 at Night.
Clear and very pleasant in the Morning with a light air from the Westward. Continued fine till towds. evening when the Sky looked gloomy in the horizon of the Suns setting and a great circle appeared round the Moon at Night.
At home all day alone.

Monday 4th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night.
Began to Snow an hour or two before day, and continued steadily at it quite through it—by Night it was about 6 Inches deep—the Wind at No. East.
No stirring out to day. Doctr. Craik who had been sent for to a laying in Woman at the river Plantation came here after dark and stayed all Night.

Tuesday 5th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 31 at Night.
Morning clear and cold. Wind (which had blown all Night) continued hard at No. West till near Sun down when it lulled, but rose again after dark.
Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. I remained at home all day writing.

Wednesday 6th. Mercury at 16 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 31 at Night.
Morning calm and foggy—Wind Southerly afterwards, and towards evening rather brisk. River froze quite across in the Morning, but broke before Noon by the Wind; and by Night the Ice remained on the flats only.
Writing in the forenoon prevented my riding out to day also.
Major Washington measured 41½ barrls. of Corn at Dogue run to day.

Thursday 7th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 36 at Night.
Wind Southerly all day and Weather lowering. In the afternoon it began to rain slowly, & continued to do so I believe through the Night.
Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Mill, & to the Ditchers—Grubbing at the first place and beating out & cleaning, for house use, Corn at the latter. Gathering in, and husking this at Dogue run.
The Wheat made, and disposition of it at the Ferry is as follow

Made
How disposed of

Bushels 245 1/3
Sowed
95 Bls.

Sent to D. Run
20

Ditto to the Mill
130 1/3

245 1/3

Acct. of Rye made at the same place and disposition of it.

Made
Disposed of
Bls.

Bushels 139
Sowed
25

Do. sent to D. run
28 1/2

Do. to Home Ho[use]
26

Do. to Muddy hole
19 1/2

Given to the Horses
25

Overseers Share
15

139

At Muddy hole 2 Stacks of Rye of equal size with three remaining have been got out, and disposed of as follows

To Dogue run
52 1/2
Bushls.

Sowed
28

Given to the Horses
24 1/2

105

Friday 8th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 34 at Night.
Wind Southerly all day & with the rain that fell last Night, and at intervals to day occasioned much Water in and on the Earth. Towds. Night a mixture of snow and fine hail began (from the No. West) & continued through the night.
Rid to where the Ditchers were at work and to the Ferry Plantation.

Saturday 9th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—26 at Noon and 26 at Night.

A sharp hail, and hard wind all day from the No. West—very cold & disagreeable.
Received the Accts. of Wheat sown at Dogue run—159 Bushels.

Sunday 10th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—31 at Noon and 24 at Night.
Wind fresh all day from the No. Wt. & Cold. The clouds dispersed in the Night—Morning & day clear excepting a few flying Clouds and freezing hard.

Monday 11th. Mercury at 14 in the Morning—26 at Noon and 24 at Night.
Wind at No. West all day and Cold—very little, or no thawing though clear. The River was entirely closed this Morning and the Ice so hard as not to be opened or broke by the Wind or tide.
At home all day.
My Ditchers not being able to level & thereby to carry on the Ditch they were about I shifted them to the Wood on the hither side Muddy hole branch wch. had been levelled by my Farmer.
In the Afternoon a Mr. Anstey (Commissioner from England for ascertaining the claims of the refugees) with a Mr. Woodorf (supposed to be his Secretary) came in and stayed all Night.

   John Anstey (d. 1819), the son of Christopher Anstey (1724–1805) and Ann Calvert Anstey of Bath, Eng., was a barrister of Lincoln’s Inn and a commissioner for auditing public accounts, as well as a poet who used the pseudonym John Surrebutter. In 1785 Anstey was made a member of the Commission for Enquiring into the Losses, Services, and Claims of the American Loyalists. After stopping at Mount Vernon, Anstey left for Charleston, eventually touring much of America before returning to England in Sept. 1788 to render a final report on the Loyalists’ claims (George William Fairfax to GW, 25 Jan. 1786, and GW to Edmund Randolph, 12 Dec. 1786, DLC:GW).

Tuesday 12th. Mercury at 13 in the Morning—28 at Noon and 26 at Night.
Wind Southerly, but cold not withstanding with great appearances every now and then through the day of Snow. At other times the Sun seemed to prevail.
Mr. Anstey & his companion going away about 11 Oclock I rid to the Ditchers and to Dogue run Plantation, also to Muddy hole—little doing at either.
Geo. Washington went to the Ferry Plantation & Measured the corn which was drilled. In the small piece by the fish house, containing rather under 2 acres, the yield was 9 Barrls. 1 bushl. & an half and in the other piece adjoining the Meadow containing 16¼ acres the yield was 29 Barrls. It is to be observed of both; that they

were late planted, which was apparently of considerable disadvantage to them and of the latter, that it was of the Eastern rare ripe Corn which had yielded so unproductively both at Muddy hole & in the Neck.

   rare ripe corn: any early ripening variety. GW sent a shipment of rare-ripe seed corn to William Pearce 27 July 1794, saying, “it will be fine for the wet grounds which cannot be planted early, next Spring” (DLC:GW).

Wednesday 13th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 35 at Night.
Wind Southerly—air temperate but heavily charged with Snow or rain all the forenoon. In the afternoon it began to rain and continued to do so pretty steadily through the greater part of the Night. It cleared however before day.
Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations and to the Ditchers. At the first the People had begun to gather Corn in the cut on the Hill. At Dogue run the hands were also employed in gathering & husking of Corn. At Muddy hole a yard was clearing out to tread Rye.

Thursday 14th. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—59 at Noon and 49 at Night.
Clear, calm, warm, and exceedingly pleasant over head—but wet under foot occasioned by the Thaw. Towards night the river began to open by the breaking of the Ice.
Rid to the Neck, and all the other Plantations; and to the Ditchers. At Muddy hole the hands were employed in threshing Wheat—at all the others gathering Corn as usual.
Doctr. La Moyeur came in just as we were going to dinner.

Friday 15th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 34 at Night.
Morning a little Rainy, it having begun to fall (though not fast or much) sometime in the Night. Before Noon it ceased Raing. and the evening became clear with the Wind (tho’ not fresh) at North West.
Mr. Bushrod Washington, his Wife and Miss Polly Blackburne came here whilst we were at Dinner.
The River in the Ferry way became entirely free from Ice this Morning, and my Boat & hands which had been froze up on the Maryland side since Saturday last returned.
At home all day.

Saturday 16th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 41 at Night.
Last Nights frost pretty hard. Day clear, calm, and pleasant for the Season—thawing after the Sun got up a little.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, dogue run and Muddy hole—Gathering and husking corn at the two first—Treading out a Stack of Rye at the latter.
Received the following acct. of the Corn measured in the Neck by Jno. Fairfax, to day—viz. 42 Barrels from the riverside cut which makes the whole crop stand thus at that Plantation

Drilled Corn

Cut nearest the Barn
86 1/2

Middle cut
85

Easternmost ditto
24

Common Planting
195 1/2

Cut next the Barn
76

Middle do.
74

River side cut
42

Total
387 1/2

The Oats made at, and recd. from that Plantation this year are

Of those drilled between
}
55

the rows of drilled Corn

From the point 29 Acres

275

Total

330

The Wheat sowed here this year, is—

Bush.

In the field on the River

126

In part of the Middle cut
}
30

Timberlanding field

In all

156

Rye Ditto in field No. 1

50

Eastn. most cut of No. 2

 19

Sowed in all

69

Besides the Rye sowed as mentioned
}
Bush.

on the other side, there has been

used by the Negroes

25

Ditto by the Horses

65

Sent to Dogue run

19

brought from other side

69

178

Sunday 17th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 40 at Night.
Perfectly calm all day—lowering with great appearances of Snow or rain till the afternoon when the clouds broke and the Sun set Clear.
In the afternoon a Mr. Brown Son of Mr. Jno. Brown of Providence came in and stayed all Night.

   John Brown (1736–1803), of Providence, R.I., the son of James and Hope Power Brown, was one of Rhode Island’s leading merchants. The voyage of John Brown’s ship the General Washington in 1787 marked the beginning of the Rhode Island trade with the East Indies and China. James Brown (1761–1834) was John and Sarah Brown’s eldest son, and the only one to survive to manhood. This younger Brown attended Rhode Island College, now Brown University, but graduated in 1780 from Harvard.

Monday 18th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 42 at Night.
Clear, warm, and perfectly calm & pleasant all day.
George Washington went up to town on my business.
I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run and Muddy hole—Gathering & husking Corn at the two first & cleaning Rye at the latter.
Rid also to the place where James Lawson ought to have been at Work, but he was not there. Patrick Sheriden his companion, was discharged on friday evening last.
Doctr. Craik who had visited Negroe Ben in the Neck came here last Night.

   Ben, a dower slave and laborer at River Farm, was about 57 years old.

Tuesday 19th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 40 at Night.
Quite calm all day, with slow rain, which contributed much to the dissolution of the Snow.
At home all day.
Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast.
Killed 41 Hogs from the different Plantations—weights as follow

Ferry
19
3034

Dogue run
6
936

Muddy hole
6
798

River Plan.
10
1466

6234

Wednesday 20th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 36 at Night.
A little Snow fell in the night scarcely half an inch thick. Weather cleared in the Night. Day fair, and tolerably [warm] for the Season tho’ the wind was pretty fresh from the No. West.
Mr. Bushrod Washington and Wife & Miss Blackburn went up to Alexandria after breakfast as did Doctr. La Moyeur. George Washington went up there also on my business; after having measured the remaindr. of the Corn at the Ferry plantation on the Hill, which with 6 Barrels brought home, and four given to the Hogs

amounted in that cut to
49
Barls.

On the Flat comn. plantg.
87

Drilled Corn by Meadow
29

Do. by Fish House
9

Total made this yr.
174

Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole. James Lawson the Ditcher not at Work to day nor has he been seen since Sunday.
Killed the following Hogs to day

From Rivr. Plann.
12
1876

Muddy hole
11
1366

3242

Killed Yesterday

6234

9476

Supplied Ths. Green with

300

Remains

9176

Thursday 21st. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 45 at Night. Morning clear, calm, and very pleasant. Afternoon it lowered—but seemed to clear up again towards night.
Mr. Brown went away after Breakfast.
I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run and Muddy hole. Just finished securing the Corn at the Ferry which was measured yesterday—still gathering this at Dogue run and threshing at Muddy hole.
James Lawson (the Ditcher) returned to his work to day.
Bushrod Washington and his Wife returned from Alexandria to day—got in before dinner. Mr. Potts came soon after dinner and Mr. Richardson Stuart at Night.

Friday 22d. Mercury 34 at Morning—49 at Night [Noon] and 46 at Night.
Morning Cloudy, but clear calm & pleasant afterwards—ground hard froze in the morning but thawed afterwards where there was no Snow.
Rid to the Neck, Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations—getting Wheat into the Barn at the first—threshing it at the 2d. about finishing gathering Corn at the 3d. and cutting down Corn stalks for the Farm pen at the last.
Doctr. Craik for whom I had sent to visit the sick people in the Neck came across from there after Sun down.
Doctr. La Moyeur came in about the sametime from Alexandria.
My Farmer brought home for the purpose of Stall feeding 3 Steers from Dogue run—Viz. the two old draught Steers wch. went from the House, & one that was on the Wheat field at Dogue run all last Winter & Spring—the latter to be slaughtered tomorrow.
Doctr. Craik who visited my Sick people in the Neck came here to night as did Doctr. La Moyeur.

Saturday 23d. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—39 at Noon and 30 at Night.
Morning very cloudy—about 8 Oclock began to rain and continued to do so, more or less, through the day—in the forepart of which it was Southerly. Afterwards it got to the Northward blew hard & turned very cold by night when there fell a mixture of snow and rain, and was exceedingly disagr[eeable].
Doctr. Craik went away after breakfast—Mr. Bushrod Washington & his wife were prevented doing it by the Weather.
I remained at home all day. Finished gathering & husking of Corn at Dogue run, yesterday; but the weather to day prevented the measuring & lofting it.
Ordered the Overseer at the Ferry and my Negroe Overseers, to kill of the Hogs up fatting, each as follow.

weight

Ferry. Hezh. Fairfax
2
279

River Plantation
2
247

Dogue run Ditto
2
256

Muddy hole Do.
2
143

Head Carpr. Isaac f[ro]m do.
1
84

1009

Sunday 24th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind very high from the No. West all day, & cold—also clear. Ground which was uncovered in places yesterday was slightly covered this Morning (not an Inch deep) and no thawing except on the Sun sides of Houses out of the Wind.
At home all day.
B. Washington & his wife left this.

Monday 25th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 36 at Night.
Clear and pleasant with the Wind at South. River froze across in the Morning but open afterwards.
At home all day.
Miss Allan—Betcy, Patcy and Nelly Custis came here to dinner.

Tuesday 26th. Mercury at 29 in the Morning 48 at Noon and 36 at Night.
The Wind shifting last Night to the No. West, it grew colder but this day was pleasant notwithstanding and clear.
Doctr. La Moyeur went to Alexandria to day and Colo. Lee (late of Congress) came here to Dinner as did Mr. Lund Washington.

Wednesday 27th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 42 at Night.
Quite calm and pleasant, with little or no wind, and that from the Southward—clear.
After Breakfast Colo. Lee set out for Richmond.
Mr. Lear returned from his journey into the Western Country about 4 Oclock to day having been absent 28 days.
Miss Allan returned to Abingdon to day and Doctr. La Moyeur came back from Alexandria.
At home all day.

Thursday 28th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 50 at Night.
Calm, clear, warm, and very pleasant all day; towards evening it began to lower a little in the So. Western horizon—A very white frost in the Morning.
At home all day.

Friday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 51 at Night.

Clear, calm, warm, and exceeding pleasant all day.
The hollidays being over, and the People all at work, I rid to the Ferry—Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Ditchers (who were at Work). At the first Plantation cutting stalks and getting farm pen in order—at the next (Dogue run) measured the remainder of the Corn.

Barls.

viz.
106

27th. Novr. was measured
68

         6 Decr.
         Do.
         Do.

41 1/2

         Given to Hogs
         25
         Neg[roe]s
         15

40

         At the Plantation
         Total

255 1/2

My whole Crop of Corn will stand

Neck Plantation
387 1/2
Barls.

Dogue run
255 1/2

Muddy hole
201

Ferry
174

Total
1018

Mrs. Peake and Miss Eaglin dined here to day and returned afterwards.

Saturday 30th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 30 at Night.
An exceeding heavy close fog all day without Wind.
Staked out the fields at the Ferry Plantation to day, according to the late modification of them. Visited the Ditchers and rid to Dogue run where the People had just finished securing the corn measured yesterday and were going to grub a piece of ground for the Muddy hole plows to work on East of the Branch in Field No. 1. The Muddy hole hds. began to succour, or take the sprouts from the stumps in the New ground to prepare it for Hoeing for corn.
Killed the following Hogs

Neck Plantn.	25 Hogs	2861
Dogue Run Do.	5 Do.	571
Ferry Do.	8	867
From this quantity	4299
Thoms. Bishop has had	400
Thos. Green—2d. parcel	200
Richd. B. Walker	300
Overseer Morris	45
Ditto Davy	55
Ditto Will	157
Ditto Isaac	116
1273
In addn. to the former
Killed the 19th. & 20th.	9476
Ditto at the Plantns. for Overrs.	1009
Ditto for forward Bacon
from Neck 6 Hogs	905
Mill 3 Do.	460
1365
Total amt.	120 Hogs	16149
Delivered to sundries pr. the foregoing acct.	2282
For family consumpn.	13867

Besides the above, there are 4 Hogs yet at the ferry Plantn. to Kill—from which the overseer [will receive] the Balle. due to him.
The Snow was mostly gone especially off Grass land. Wheat Fields still were partly covered.

Sunday 31st. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 55 at Night.
Clear and remarkably pleasant—Wind Southerly all day but not fresh.
At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 2d. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 59 at Night. A Moist, vapoury morning but clear till afternoon when it lowered & looked much like rain. The ground quite uncovered and the frost entirely out of it. Colo. Walton White and Mr. West went away before breakfast. I rid to the Ferry—Frenchs & Dogue run Plantations. Set the Muddy hole Ploughs 3 to work, to prepare a small piece of ground East of the Branch in field No. 1 for Barley & grass Seeds.


Title: [Diary entry: 3 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 3d. Mercury at 53 in the Morning—61 at Noon and 60 at Night. Moist, warm, and giving all day; with little or no wind. At times it dripped a little of rain and at other times was foggy. Rid to Alexandria to a meeting of the board of Directors of the Potomack Co. Did the business which occasioned the Meeting. Dined at Lomax’s & returned home in the evening. Dug the 10 Rows of Carrots wch. I had sowed between the Rows of drilled Corn at Muddy hole Plantation which turned out as follow—viz.—the first and most Northerly row yielded 3 Bushls. and the next to this 2½ Bushels—the other 8 were measured together and amounted to 14 Bushels—The tops ends and fibres being first taken from the whole. It is to be noted, that these Carrots came up exceedingly thin, whether owing to the Seeds being burried too

deep, or to any other cause is not certain—They were even much thinner than the Potatoes in the same field—That the two rows first named were transplanted, the tip ends of the Roots being first taken off; which, or some thing else occasioned them to fork, & branch improperly—that the first of these rows i.e. the one which produced 3 bushels had no sprinkling of dung at the time of Planting—the second (yielding 2½ bushels) had and so alternately though the whole ten rows. The 8 rows not transplanted produced very fair Carrots the medium size of which might be  inches in length and  in circumference about midway the length of them. The greater part of these Carrots too grew in more indifferent land apparently than the Potatoes did tho part of the latter being low was drowned. Notwithstanding this I think there were more plants upon the whole of Potatoes than Carrots in the rows. Hence it appears that in the same kind of Land the latter yields more bushels to the acre than the former—for of Potatoes, 4 rows nearly of the same length as those with Carrots, produced only 6¾ Bush. and the best set one of the 4, two and a ¼ Bushels. The average of which is not quite a bushel and three pecks Whereas the average of the 10 rows of Carrots is nearly 2 Bushels—which of these is most valuable by the Bushel—in feeding or for any farm uses must be determined by experience or the accounts of others. One great advantage seems to attend Carrots and that is that they may remain without any detriment in the ground till this time for those now spoken off appear to have received no damage during the last severe frost. How much longer they woud. have remained unhurt in the ground I can not say.


Title: [Diary entry: 4 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 4th. Mercury at 57 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 64 at Night. Exceedingly pleasant all day, being clear, calm and warm. Ground much dried. About dusk the wind sprung up from the South west and blew very fresh till near day. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations and to the Ditchers—also to Frenchs. At the last 3 Men had begun to get rails—at the Ferry the People were grubbing and cleaning up the Swamp below the Meadow and at Dogue run I set them to filling up gullies where the Plows were at work.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 5th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 46 at Night. Day clear. In the Morning it was calm but by 8 oclock the wind Sprung up at No. Wt. & encreased till it came to blow hard & continued

to do so till Night and some time within it. It grew colder but was not disagreeably cold. A Mr. Smith—Boat builder came here to build me a fishing Boat for which I am to allow him 8/. a foot and a pint of rum pr. day. Rid to the Plantations, all. In the Neck began with 8 plows to plow the cut which had been in drilled Corn next the Barn—crossing the old farrows at this plowing.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 6th. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 45 at Night. The wind pretty fresh all day from the Southward—weather tolerably clear & pleasant—ground not froze. Brought  Bullocks from the Mill Meadow to Stall feed. At home all day. Mrs. Stuart, Miss Allan, and the two youngest Children of the former came here just before dinner. The Muddy hole Plows finished plowing the ground they were in at Dogue run and began to plow No. 2 at home. Purchased, and had brought home from Alexandria 10 Bushels of red Clover Seed—a bushel of which was weighed 68½ lbs.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 7th. Mercury 32 at Morn 46 at Noon and 43 at Night. Wind Southerly and pretty brisk all day—clear and warm. At home.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 8th. Mercury at 45 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 46 at Night. Heavy & lowering all day & sometimes sprinkling. Abt. 4 Oclock it set in to a fine & constant rain which continued through the Night. But little Wind all day & tht. southerly till the evening whn. it got to the No. Et. Rid to all the Plantations. Finished cleaning and grubbing the New Meadow at the Ferry. Old Will & the Women at Fren[ch’s] were grubbing and clearing away for the Plows in the field (No. 1) on the Road. At Dogue run they were plowing & filling gullies—In the Neck clearing the ground from Corn Stalks before the Plows and the Muddy hole people employed as usual in the New ground front of the home house.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Tuesday 9th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—39 at Noon and 38 at Night. Wet Morning with the Wind tho’ light at No. Et. Cloudy and Mizzling all day. Two Millwrights who came to my Mill yesterday began to work to day on a new Cog wheel to the grist Mill. Kept within doors by the badness of the weather. Took an acct. of my grass seeds on hand—which are as follows

10 Bushl. Clover a 68 1/2
685
lbs.

Expected from Phil.
300

985

20 Bushels orchard Grass

16 1/2 Ditto Timothy

1 Ditto New river

6 Quarts Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Bushl. Magity bay Pease

1/2 Ditto Spg. Barley Mr. Lee

1/2 ditto Wheat of the Cape of Good hope.

 NB—The above Clover Seed at 10 lbs. to the Acre will sow 98½ acr.—at 12 lbs., 82 acres—at 14 lb. 70 lbs.—& at 16 lbs. the largest quantity bestowed on an acre. 61½ acres. The Orchard grass at a bus. to the acre will sow 20 acres. The Timothy Seed at a quart to the Acre, will sow 528 acres at 3 pints 352 acres and at 2 Quarts to the Acre, 264 acres. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 10 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wedneday 10th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 37 at Night. Raining in the Morning, and lowering, & sometimes mizzling the rest of the day with the wind at No. Et. Mrs. Stuart & her Children and Miss Allan went away after breakfast. Just before Dinner Mr. Brindley Manager of the Susquehanna Works & his Son in law came on their way to South Carolina.  About the sametime I recd. by express the acct. of the sudden death (by a fit of the Gout in the head) of my beloved Brother Colo. Jno. Auge. Washington. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 11th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. Cloudy all day with the Wind at No. East. The greatest part of the day it was spitting Snow, but so thin and lighty, as never to whiten the ground. Sent Mr. Lear to Alexandria to receive money and do other business for me. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s and Dogue run and to the Ditchers. At the first the labourers had begun to grub & clean up the 19 acre field on the hill part of No. 1.


Title: [Diary entry: 12 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 12th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—27 at Noon and 22 at Night. Wind at No. Wt. with flying clouds and very cold. At home all day, writing letters, & doing other matters previous to Majr. Geo. Washingtons setting of for New Kent for which place he set out after dinner, in order to receive & bring up some Negroes which his Wife’s Father Colo. Bassett had given him.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 14th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 46 at Night. Day clear and pleasant the Wind being Southerly. Doctr. Stuart stayed and dined as did Mr. Anstey after which both went away—the 1st. to his own home and the other to Alexandria. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 15th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 50 at Night. Rain last Night with the wind fresh from the So. Wt. which continued so through the day. Very lowering all day & now and then a sprinkling with rain but not enough to drive people from work. The Sun set clear and the Western horison indicated fair weather. Rid to all the Plantations & to the Ditchers. In the Neck set the best plowman (Nat) to marking field No. 3 into 5 feet rows for Corn, Potatoes, Pease &ca. and finding the plowing in No. 2 wet & heavy I directed the plows to list after Nat every alternate row as soon as he had got sufficiently ahead and in the meantime while No. 2 (which was in Corn last year) remained so wet to endeavour to plow the New field about to be taken in for Corn next year. Plowing and other work going on as usual at the other places. Began to Maul Rails for French’s & to fit up two plows for plowing there. James Lawson just finished the Ditch through the Woods from the Road to the fence where the Dutchman began & began below Manleys Ho[use] opposite to work up till he meets the Dutchman. Ascertained how many of the following Sorts of Seeds there are

in a lb. Troy—The weight of a bushel of each & how much an acre will take of each sort to sow it.

Sorts of Seeds
Numbr. of Grains
Propn. ofChaff in ea.
Weight ofa bushof ea. seed
Seeds for an Acre

at 4 Inchs. sqr.
at 12 Inch sqr.

in the lb.
in the Bush
lbs.
galls.
lbs.
galls.

Red Clover
71,000
4,863,500
1/30
68 1/2
5 4/8
0 5/8

Timothy
298,000
13,410,000
1/13
45
1 2/8
0 2/8

New Rivr. Grass
844,800
8,448,000
1/14
10
0 4/8
0 3/8

Orchd. grass
387,800
4,459,700
1/6
11 1/2
1
0 7/8

Eastn. Shore Pea
14,400
964,800
1/30
67

3
3/64

Bla: eye Pease
2,300
140,300
1/32
61

18 7/8
2 1/2

Crouder do.
1,600
97,600
1/34
61

27 2/8
3 4/8

Barley
8,925
455,685
1/37
51
44
7


Title: [Diary entry: 17 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 17th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 45 at Night. Clear, with the Wind very brisk all day from the So. West—moderate but not very warm. At home all day. Just as we had dined Messrs. Richd. & Theodk. Lee came in, and after Sundown Colo. Carrington from Congress, and Major Swan from Boston arrived, all of whom stayed the Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 19th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 27 at Night. Wind at No. Et. in the Morning, with appearances of a change of Weather. About Noon it was calm, clear, and very pleast. but towards sundown the wind Sprung up again at No. Et.—the clouds gathered fast, and indicated rain speedily. Went to French’s and marked of the fields (as they are to be divided in future) by stakes.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 20th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning 45 at Noon and 43 at Night. About 8 Oclock in the evening of yesterday it began a slow, & very moderate rain which continued it is supposed through the Night. In the morning it was very heavy with great appearances of a repetition of rain but none fell. Towards noon the Sun shone & the afternoon was clear & very pleasant. Wind at So. Et. all day but not much of it. Rid to the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole plantations—as also to the Ditchers and to the Mill. Employed as yesterday at all of them. Mr. Lund Washington dined here.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 21st. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 42 at Night. A very heavy thick fog till 10 Oclock—Cloudy & lowering Most part of the day afterwds. though the sun made feeble efforts to shine. Evening clr.—but little wind and that at No. Et. Major Swan (of Boston) & Mr. Hunter of Alexandria came here to dinner & stayed all nig[ht].


Title: [Diary entry: 23 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 23d. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 32 at Night. Heavy & thick—always misting & sometimes raining. A good deal of the latter fell in the night. Wind—tho’ not much of it at No. Et. At home alone all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 24th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 48 at Night. Raining more or less all day. In the Morning there were some appearances of the weather clearing, but it soon thickened and set in to raining, slowly till towards sundown, when the clouds again broke to the Westward. In the Night the wind blew fresh from the So. West & Continued to come from that quarter all day but very moderately. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 25th. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 39 at Night. Lowering morning, with some appearances of the weathers breaking in the forenoon but it soon thickened again and before 3 began a fine snow which soon turned to rain which it continued to do thru the whole, or greater part of the Night. Wind at So. West. Rid to the Ditchers & Mill and to the Ferry, French’s Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations. At work as usual at the Ferry and Frenchs—at Dogue run repairing & altering the Meadow fence & filling up gullies before the Plows. The Muddy hole Hoe People had returned to the New ground in front of the house and were breaking it up as heretofore. They came to this work on Monday Morning. On my return home found Mr. Madison here and after Dinner Mr. Griffith came in both of Whom stayed all night.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 26th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night. In the Morning early it rained—about 9 Oclock the weather seemed disposed to break but sooned thickened again and rained more or less from abt. Noon till Night when the weather again

seemed inclined to clear. Wind tho’ not much of it, was at So. Wt. in the Morning & more Westerly in the afternoon. Mr. Madison & Mr. Griffith going away after breakfast (the former to attend Congress) I rid as yesterday to all the Plan[tation]s. The Ditchers abt. Noon this day finished the level ditch as far as was intended on both sides the Swamp at French’s Plantation and then began to dig a 4 feet ditch at top, & a foot (intending it for a dble. ditch) deep, on the dividing line between this & the Ferry Plantation immediately after.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 27th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 36 at Night. A good deal of Rain falling in the Night, the ground was very wet; after 9 oclock it became clear with little or no Wind till towards Sundown, when it came out pretty brisk from the No. West. Rid to all the Plantations and to the Ditchers whom I found had made a mistake and instead of working on the line dividing the Plantations were on one which divides the fields 2 & 3. Shifted them to the right place about 1 Oclock.


Title: [Diary entry: 29 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night. Wind cold & raw from the So. West. About Sun rise it began to snow & continued to do so for 3 or 4 hours when it turned to rain, and rained thro’ the day. The Wind was Southerly but raw & cold; ground hard frozen. Rid in the Morning before breakfast to Muddy hole Plantation in order to set the Ditcher (Danl. Overdonck) to work, but the ground was so hard froze & the weather setting in so stormy he could not proceed and returned.


Title: [Diary entry: 30 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

 Tuesday 30th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 32 at Night. Foggy and warm with very little or no Wind the greater part of the day. In the evening it became clear. Rid to the Ferry, & French’s Plantation, and intended to have gone further but getting wet in passing a Mirey place at French’s I returned home to get on dry cloaths. Sent Danl. Overdonck to Muddy hole again who with a fellow Charles belonging to the place began a ditch 3 feet wide at top, one at bottom, and  Inches deep. Set the Plows to work again at French’s where the women & boys had begun to fence.


Title: [Diary entry: 31 January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 31st. Mercury at 32 in the Morng.—48 at Noon and 40 at Night. Wind at No. West and pretty fresh early in the Morning, but decreased as the Sun rose and became quite calm & a little lowering towards Night. Accompanied by Colo. Lee I rode to the Ferry, Frenchs Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations and also to my Mill & the Ditches. At Dogue run the Women were altering the Meadow fences and at Muddy hole finding the Ditch too small I ordered it to be made 4 feet wide. Being in a Sandy soil the ditching here was perfectly dry, but where James Lawson & Boston were ditching at French’s in Clayey ground it was very wet and disagreeable. Mr. Fendall returned from Maryld. to dinner.


Title: [January 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

[Monday 1st.] Mercury at 55 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 58 at Night.
But little wind and that southerly—very warm. Morning foggey—flying vapour rather than a standing fog.
Went to the Plantation of Jno. Robinson to have his Stock of Horses & Cattle appraised to me. Colo. McCarty on my part and Mr. Lund Washington on his valued them—as follow

£
s
d

A Black (or dark brown) Mare about 14 hands high—no white but a long switch tail and supposed to be 9 years old.
}
9
0
0

With a sorrel horsecolt of last spring—a long narrow blaze—a little white on the upper lip and 2 White hind feet

A Bla. Mare. No white except a few gray hairs on her nose abt. 13½ hands high 6 yrs. old
}
6
0
0

A bla. horse colt—last Spring no white but a small snip on the nose

A Sorrel Mare blazed face off hind foot white abt. 14 hands high 7 years old
}
11
10
0

A Sorrel Mare colt. 1 year old—blaze in the face

A Sorrel horse Colt of this Spring blaze in the face white rd. the hoofs both hers

A Sorrel Stallion—a blaze face—2 hind feet & off fore foot white—13½ hds. high & 6 years old
}
5
0
0

A Sorrel horse with a kd. of blaze & snip in one 2 hind feet white—Thin & badly made. 13½ hds. high and 7 years old
}
4
10
0

A Dark bay horse (Stallion) one hind foot near one white—4 next Spg. 13½ hands high.
}
5
10
0

A Sorrel two years old horse Colt—long Star & white Nose
}
3
0
0

11. in all amountg. to

£44
.10
—

Cattle

1 Brindle Bull. 3 yrs. next Sprg.

4
0
0

1 Red
}
Oxen

1 Brindle & pied

12
0
—

1 Brindle & White Steer unbroke

4
—

1 Bla. Cow—White Belly—& red Yearlg. Bull Calf
}
4
—

1 Bla. Cow & bla. Bull Calf

4
—

1 Brindle Cow & brind. B. Calf

4
—

1 Red Cow & pied bull Calf

4
—

1 Brindle Cow with white belly & red calf with wh. belly
}
4
—

1 Brindle hiefer with calf

2
10
—

15 head in all amt.

£42
.10

11 horses as above

44
.10

Total

£87
.

For the payment of the Sum on the other side viz. £87 I passed my Certificate payable to Mrs. French.
Besides the above 20 bushls. of Wheat sowed on the Plantation, and putting it in, was valued by the aforementioned Gentlemen at 7/6 pr. Bushel; for  Bushels I am to pay Thos. Pool.
It being wet where James Lawson was ditching, I ordered him to quit & go to that part where he had left off the  of Decr. last & to continue that ditch up to the road by the bridge.
Began to Plow in Field No. 1 at Dogue run to day 4 plows for Barley &ca. & to prepare the fencing for field No. 4. at the same place.
Also begun with the Muddy hole people to Hoe the ground on the right of the road (going out) at the Home House for Corn.
Colo. McCarty and Mr. Lund Washington came home with me to dinner. Found the wife of the latter & Colo. White and a Mr. West the two last of whom stayed all Night. The rest went away in the evening.

   Jno. robinson: John Robertson. horses & cattle appraised to me: GW’s agreement with Robertson on 24 Oct. 1786 had specified that GW would buy Robertson’s horses and cattle at an appraised price and pay the sum to Mrs. French. Robertson in turn would be exonerated from part of the rent owed to her (DLC:GW). thos. pool: GW may mean Peter Pool, who had relinquished his tenant house to Robertson (see entry for 24 Oct. 1786). Both Thomas and Peter Pool appear in the 1785 Virginia tax census in the same Fairfax County tax list (HEADS OF FAMILIES, VA.Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Virginia; Records of the State Enumerations, 1782 to 1785. 1908. Reprint. Baltimore, 1970., 85). GW’s opinion of the Pool family, which in 1794 was living on land near his mill, was that “a more worthless set are no where to be found” (GW to William Pearce, 14 Dec. 1794, DLC:GW).

   Anthony Walton White (1750–1803), of New Jersey, often called Walton White, was the son of Anthony and Elizabeth Morris White, daughter of Gov. Lewis Morris of New Jersey. White was privately educated and before the Revolution assisted his father in the management of the family’s considerable estates. During the Revolution he served as a lieutenant colonel and colonel in various New Jersey regiments. From 1788 to 1793 White resided in New York and attempted to recoup his finances, depleted by wartime expenditures and unsuccessful business ventures, through applications for a government post (White to GW, 1 May and 22 Sept. 1789, DLC:GW). In 1793 he returned to New Jersey.

Tuesday 2d. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 59 at Night.
A Moist, vapoury morning but clear till afternoon when it lowered & looked much like rain. The ground quite uncovered and the frost entirely out of it.
Colo. Walton White and Mr. West went away before breakfast. I rid to the Ferry—Frenchs & Dogue run Plantations. Set the Muddy hole Ploughs 3 to work, to prepare a small piece of ground East of the Branch in field No. 1 for Barley & grass Seeds.

Wednesday 3d. Mercury at 53 in the Morning—61 at Noon and 60 at Night.
Moist, warm, and giving all day; with little or no wind. At times it dripped a little of rain and at other times was foggy.
Rid to Alexandria to a meeting of the board of Directors of the Potomack Co. Did the business which occasioned the Meeting. Dined at Lomax’s & returned home in the evening.
Dug the 10 Rows of Carrots wch. I had sowed between the Rows of drilled Corn at Muddy hole Plantation which turned out as follow—viz.—the first and most Northerly row yielded 3 Bushls. and the next to this 2½ Bushels—the other 8 were measured together and amounted to 14 Bushels—The tops ends and fibres being first taken from the whole. It is to be noted, that these Carrots came up exceedingly thin, whether owing to the Seeds being burried too

deep, or to any other cause is not certain—They were even much thinner than the Potatoes in the same field—That the two rows first named were transplanted, the tip ends of the Roots being first taken off; which, or some thing else occasioned them to fork, & branch improperly—that the first of these rows i.e. the one which produced 3 bushels had no sprinkling of dung at the time of Planting—the second (yielding 2½ bushels) had and so alternately though the whole ten rows. The 8 rows not transplanted produced very fair Carrots the medium size of which might be  inches in length and  in circumference about midway the length of them. The greater part of these Carrots too grew in more indifferent land apparently than the Potatoes did tho part of the latter being low was drowned. Notwithstanding this I think there were more plants upon the whole of Potatoes than Carrots in the rows. Hence it appears that in the same kind of Land the latter yields more bushels to the acre than the former—for of Potatoes, 4 rows nearly of the same length as those with Carrots, produced only 6¾ Bush. and the best set one of the 4, two and a ¼ Bushels. The average of which is not quite a bushel and three pecks Whereas the average of the 10 rows of Carrots is nearly 2 Bushels—which of these is most valuable by the Bushel—in feeding or for any farm uses must be determined by experience or the accounts of others. One great advantage seems to attend Carrots and that is that they may remain without any detriment in the ground till this time for those now spoken off appear to have received no damage during the last severe frost. How much longer they woud. have remained unhurt in the ground I can not say.

Thursday 4th. Mercury at 57 in the Morning—67 at Noon and 64 at Night.
Exceedingly pleasant all day, being clear, calm and warm. Ground much dried. About dusk the wind sprung up from the South west and blew very fresh till near day.
Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations and to the Ditchers—also to Frenchs. At the last 3 Men had begun to get rails—at the Ferry the People were grubbing and cleaning up the Swamp below the Meadow and at Dogue run I set them to filling up gullies where the Plows were at work.

Friday 5th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 46 at Night.
Day clear. In the Morning it was calm but by 8 oclock the wind Sprung up at No. Wt. & encreased till it came to blow hard & continued

to do so till Night and some time within it. It grew colder but was not disagreeably cold.
A Mr. Smith—Boat builder came here to build me a fishing Boat for which I am to allow him 8/. a foot and a pint of rum pr. day.
Rid to the Plantations, all. In the Neck began with 8 plows to plow the cut which had been in drilled Corn next the Barn—crossing the old farrows at this plowing.

   mr. smith: On 17 Mar. GW settled his account with Simon Smith “for buildg. & repai[rin]g boats” (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 242).

Saturday 6th. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 45 at Night.
The wind pretty fresh all day from the Southward—weather tolerably clear & pleasant—ground not froze.
Brought  Bullocks from the Mill Meadow to Stall feed.
At home all day.
Mrs. Stuart, Miss Allan, and the two youngest Children of the former came here just before dinner.
The Muddy hole Plows finished plowing the ground they were in at Dogue run and began to plow No. 2 at home.
Purchased, and had brought home from Alexandria 10 Bushels of red Clover Seed—a bushel of which was weighed 68½ lbs.

Sunday 7th. Mercury 32 at Morn 46 at Noon and 43 at Night.
Wind Southerly and pretty brisk all day—clear and warm.
At home.

Monday 8th. Mercury at 45 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 46 at Night.
Heavy & lowering all day & sometimes sprinkling. Abt. 4 Oclock it set in to a fine & constant rain which continued through the Night. But little Wind all day & tht. southerly till the evening whn. it got to the No. Et.
Rid to all the Plantations. Finished cleaning and grubbing the New Meadow at the Ferry. Old Will & the Women at Fren[ch’s] were grubbing and clearing away for the Plows in the field (No. 1) on the Road. At Dogue run they were plowing & filling gullies—In the Neck clearing the ground from Corn Stalks before the Plows and the Muddy hole people employed as usual in the New ground front of the home house.

   old will: Will was one of the 24 slaves belonging to Mrs. French who were leased to GW along with the land (deed of Penelope French to GW, Fairfax County Deeds, Book Q–1, 392–96, Vi Microfilm).

Tuesday 9th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—39 at Noon and 38 at Night.
Wet Morning with the Wind tho’ light at No. Et. Cloudy and Mizzling all day.
Two Millwrights who came to my Mill yesterday began to work to day on a new Cog wheel to the grist Mill.
Kept within doors by the badness of the weather.
Took an acct. of my grass seeds on hand—which are as follows

10 Bushl. Clover a 68 1/2
685
lbs.

Expected from Phil.
300

985

20 Bushels orchard Grass

16 1/2 Ditto Timothy

1 Ditto New river

6 Quarts Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Bushl. Magity bay Pease

1/2 Ditto Spg. Barley Mr. Lee

1/2 ditto Wheat of the Cape of Good hope.

NB—The above Clover Seed at 10 lbs. to the Acre will sow 98½ acr.—at 12 lbs., 82 acres—at 14 lb. 70 lbs.—& at 16 lbs. the largest quantity bestowed on an acre. 61½ acres.
The Orchard grass at a bus. to the acre will sow 20 acres.
The Timothy Seed at a quart to the Acre, will sow 528 acres at 3 pints 352 acres and at 2 Quarts to the Acre, 264 acres.
At home all day.

   two millwrights: Some time in late March or early April of this year these two artisans were paid a total of £12 12s. by GW “for repairs done my mill” (LEDGER BGeneral Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers., 245).

   New River grass is probably not a variety; GW often used localities as a means of designating plants for which he had no other name. The New River joins the Gauley to form the Kanawha, an affluent of the Ohio, and GW may have collected the grass seed on his western trip of 1784. In the entry for 14 May 1788 he says it appears to be a “course kind of grass.”

Wedneday 10th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 37 at Night.
Raining in the Morning, and lowering, & sometimes mizzling the rest of the day with the wind at No. Et.
Mrs. Stuart & her Children and Miss Allan went away after breakfast.
Just before Dinner Mr. Brindley Manager of the Susquehanna Works & his Son in law came on their way to South Carolina.

About the sametime I recd. by express the acct. of the sudden death (by a fit of the Gout in the head) of my beloved Brother Colo. Jno. Auge. Washington.
At home all day.

Thursday 11th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night.
Cloudy all day with the Wind at No. East. The greatest part of the day it was spitting Snow, but so thin and lighty, as never to whiten the ground.
Sent Mr. Lear to Alexandria to receive money and do other business for me.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s and Dogue run and to the Ditchers. At the first the labourers had begun to grub & clean up the 19 acre field on the hill part of No. 1.

Friday 12th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—27 at Noon and 22 at Night.
Wind at No. Wt. with flying clouds and very cold.
At home all day, writing letters, & doing other matters previous to Majr. Geo. Washingtons setting of for New Kent for which place he set out after dinner, in order to receive & bring up some Negroes which his Wife’s Father Colo. Bassett had given him.

   A notation in the Mount Vernon store book for this date says that the white workers are to have a bottle of rum per day “on acct. of the Cyder’s being out” (ViMtvL).

Saturday 13th. Mercury at 17 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night.
Wind at No. West in the Morning but at South East in the Evening—forenoon clear, but lowering afterwards but not very much—rather raw and cold.
Rid to the Ferry, French’s, and Dogue Run & Muddy hole Plantations; also to the Mill & the Ditchers—Nothing remarkable at any of them.
About 8 Oclock in the evening Doctr. Stuart on his return from the General Assembly at Richmond & Mr. Anstey came in.

Sunday 14th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—51 at Noon and 46 at Night.
Day clear and pleasant the Wind being Southerly.
Doctr. Stuart stayed and dined as did Mr. Anstey after which both went away—the 1st. to his own home and the other to Alexandria.
At home all day.

Monday 15th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 50 at Night. Rain last Night with the wind fresh from the So. Wt. which continued so through the day. Very lowering all day & now and then a sprinkling with rain but not enough to drive people from work. The Sun set clear and the Western horison indicated fair weather.
Rid to all the Plantations & to the Ditchers. In the Neck set the best plowman (Nat) to marking field No. 3 into 5 feet rows for Corn, Potatoes, Pease &ca. and finding the plowing in No. 2 wet & heavy I directed the plows to list after Nat every alternate row as soon as he had got sufficiently ahead and in the meantime while No. 2 (which was in Corn last year) remained so wet to endeavour to plow the New field about to be taken in for Corn next year. Plowing and other work going on as usual at the other places. Began to Maul Rails for French’s & to fit up two plows for plowing there.
James Lawson just finished the Ditch through the Woods from the Road to the fence where the Dutchman began & began below Manleys Ho[use] opposite to work up till he meets the Dutchman.
Ascertained how many of the following Sorts of Seeds there are

in a lb. Troy—The weight of a bushel of each & how much an acre will take of each sort to sow it.

Sorts of Seeds
Numbr. of Grains
Propn. ofChaff in ea.
Weight ofa bushof ea. seed
Seeds for an Acre

at 4 Inchs. sqr.
at 12 Inch sqr.

in the lb.
in the Bush
lbs.
galls.
lbs.
galls.

Red Clover
71,000
4,863,500
1/30
68 1/2
5 4/8
0 5/8

Timothy
298,000
13,410,000
1/13
45
1 2/8
0 2/8

New Rivr. Grass
844,800
8,448,000
1/14
10
0 4/8
0 3/8

Orchd. grass
387,800
4,459,700
1/6
11 1/2
1
0 7/8

Eastn. Shore Pea
14,400
964,800
1/30
67

3
3/64

Bla: eye Pease
2,300
140,300
1/32
61

18 7/8
2 1/2

Crouder do.
1,600
97,600
1/34
61

27 2/8
3 4/8

Barley
8,925
455,685
1/37
51
44
7

Tuesday 16th. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 52 at Night.
The forenoon a little lowering, but the afternoon clear and remarkably pleasant—little or no Wind all day.
Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run and Muddy hole—also to the Ditchers. The same kind of work going on as usual at all of them.
On my return home found Mr. Porter and Mr. Ingraham here, who dined and stayed all night.

   Nathaniel Ingraham was a business partner of Thomas Porter of Alexandria.

Wednesday 17th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 45 at Night.
Clear, with the Wind very brisk all day from the So. West—moderate but not very warm.
At home all day. Just as we had dined Messrs. Richd. & Theodk. Lee came in, and after Sundown Colo. Carrington from Congress, and Major Swan from Boston arrived, all of whom stayed the Night.

   Maj. James Swan (1754–1830), who was twice wounded at Bunker Hill, subsequently held several civil offices in Massachusetts during the Revolution. In 1785, at the request of Henry Knox, GW wrote Swan letters of introduction for a trip by Swan to France where he developed a career in commerce and international finance (GW to Knox, 28 Feb. 1785, NNGL: Knox Papers; PRICE [2]Jacob M. Price. France and the Chesapeake: A History of the French Tobacco Monopoly, 1674–1791, and of Its Relationship to the British and American Tobacco Trades. 2 vols. Ann Arbor, Mich., 1973., 2:834–37).

Thursday 18th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 47 at Night.
The Morning was exceedingly pleasant & perfectly calm. The Wind afterwards rose in the So. Wt. quarter & shifted to the westward. The ground was froze this Morning tho’ not very deep.
All the Gentlemen (messrs. Porter & Ingraham who had stayed two Nights with the others) went away after Breakfast.
I rid to all the Plantations. The plows began on Tuesday to break up the New field for Corn in the Neck on Tuesday last. Worked there yesterday and would do so to day also; after which, as the ground they had left, appeared to be a good deal dried by yesterdays Wind I directed them to return to it to morrow. Finished except two lands which were left untouched, plowing the

Lay land at Dogue run, and began to list the field (alternate rows) intended for Corn at that place and began plowing with 2 plows at French’s for Oats & Barley. Set another (makg. 3 plows) to work at the Ferry Plantation to day. The Muddy hole people went from the New ground in front of the Ho[me] Ho[use] to the Plantation to work, to grub & clear the stumps & bushes before the Plows at that place.

Friday 19th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 27 at Night.
Wind at No. Et. in the Morning, with appearances of a change of Weather. About Noon it was calm, clear, and very pleast. but towards sundown the wind Sprung up again at No. Et.—the clouds gathered fast, and indicated rain speedily.
Went to French’s and marked of the fields (as they are to be divided in future) by stakes.

Saturday 20th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning 45 at Noon and 43 at Night.
About 8 Oclock in the evening of yesterday it began a slow, & very moderate rain which continued it is supposed through the Night. In the morning it was very heavy with great appearances of a repetition of rain but none fell. Towards noon the Sun shone & the afternoon was clear & very pleasant. Wind at So. Et. all day but not much of it.
Rid to the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole plantations—as also to the Ditchers and to the Mill. Employed as yesterday at all of them.
Mr. Lund Washington dined here.

Sunday 21st. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 42 at Night.
A very heavy thick fog till 10 Oclock—Cloudy & lowering Most part of the day afterwds. though the sun made feeble efforts to shine. Evening clr.—but little wind and that at No. Et.
Major Swan (of Boston) & Mr. Hunter of Alexandria came here to dinner & stayed all nig[ht].

Monday 22d. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 36 at Night.
Wind still at No. Et. Morning very heavy, which, about 10 Oclock turned to a thick mist and in the Afternoon to rain.

Major Swan & Mr. Hunter set off for Fredericksburgh before Breakfast.
At home all day.

Tuesday 23d. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 32 at Night.
Heavy & thick—always misting & sometimes raining. A good deal of the latter fell in the night. Wind—tho’ not much of it at No. Et.
At home alone all day.

Wednesday 24th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 48 at Night.
Raining more or less all day. In the Morning there were some appearances of the weather clearing, but it soon thickened and set in to raining, slowly till towards sundown, when the clouds again broke to the Westward. In the Night the wind blew fresh from the So. West & Continued to come from that quarter all day but very moderately.
At home all day.

Thursday 25th. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 39 at Night.
Lowering morning, with some appearances of the weathers breaking in the forenoon but it soon thickened again and before 3 began a fine snow which soon turned to rain which it continued to do thru the whole, or greater part of the Night. Wind at So. West.
Rid to the Ditchers & Mill and to the Ferry, French’s Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations. At work as usual at the Ferry and Frenchs—at Dogue run repairing & altering the Meadow fence & filling up gullies before the Plows. The Muddy hole Hoe People had returned to the New ground in front of the house and were breaking it up as heretofore. They came to this work on Monday Morning.
On my return home found Mr. Madison here and after Dinner Mr. Griffith came in both of Whom stayed all night.

Friday 26th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night.
In the Morning early it rained—about 9 Oclock the weather seemed disposed to break but sooned thickened again and rained more or less from abt. Noon till Night when the weather again

seemed inclined to clear. Wind tho’ not much of it, was at So. Wt. in the Morning & more Westerly in the afternoon.
Mr. Madison & Mr. Griffith going away after breakfast (the former to attend Congress) I rid as yesterday to all the Plan[tation]s.
The Ditchers abt. Noon this day finished the level ditch as far as was intended on both sides the Swamp at French’s Plantation and then began to dig a 4 feet ditch at top, & a foot (intending it for a dble. ditch) deep, on the dividing line between this & the Ferry Plantation immediately after.

Saturday 27th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 36 at Night.
A good deal of Rain falling in the Night, the ground was very wet; after 9 oclock it became clear with little or no Wind till towards Sundown, when it came out pretty brisk from the No. West.
Rid to all the Plantations and to the Ditchers whom I found had made a mistake and instead of working on the line dividing the Plantations were on one which divides the fields 2 & 3. Shifted them to the right place about 1 Oclock.

Sunday 28th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night.
Wind Westerly all day, and not much unlike Snow—Grd. froze in the Morning.
Colo. Henry Lee, his Lady, Miss Lee and Mr. Fendall came here to dinner—the last of whom went away afterwards (crossing the river for Maryland).

   Miss Lee is undoubtedly Mrs. Matilda Lee’s sister Flora Lee.

Monday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night.
Wind cold & raw from the So. West. About Sun rise it began to snow & continued to do so for 3 or 4 hours when it turned to rain, and rained thro’ the day. The Wind was Southerly but raw & cold; ground hard frozen.
Rid in the Morning before breakfast to Muddy hole Plantation in order to set the Ditcher (Danl. Overdonck) to work, but the ground was so hard froze & the weather setting in so stormy he could not proceed and returned.

Tuesday 30th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 32 at Night.
Foggy and warm with very little or no Wind the greater part of the day. In the evening it became clear.
Rid to the Ferry, & French’s Plantation, and intended to have gone further but getting wet in passing a Mirey place at French’s I returned home to get on dry cloaths.
Sent Danl. Overdonck to Muddy hole again who with a fellow Charles belonging to the place began a ditch 3 feet wide at top, one at bottom, and  Inches deep.
Set the Plows to work again at French’s where the women & boys had begun to fence.

Wednesday 31st. Mercury at 32 in the Morng.—48 at Noon and 40 at Night.
Wind at No. West and pretty fresh early in the Morning, but decreased as the Sun rose and became quite calm & a little lowering towards Night.
Accompanied by Colo. Lee I rode to the Ferry, Frenchs Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations and also to my Mill & the Ditches. At Dogue run the Women were altering the Meadow fences and at Muddy hole finding the Ditch too small I ordered it to be made 4 feet wide. Being in a Sandy soil the ditching here was perfectly dry, but where James Lawson & Boston were ditching at French’s in Clayey ground it was very wet and disagreeable.
Mr. Fendall returned from Maryld. to dinner.


Title: [Diary entry: 1 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

[Thursday 1st.] Mercury at 32 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night. Wind (tho’ not much of it) variable and weather lowering but with changeable appearances. Mr. Fendall, Colo. Lee & his Lady, & Miss Lee went away after breakfast. I rid to the Ferry & French’s Plantations. At the first the women were cleaning up field No. 1 below the Hill.


Title: [Diary entry: 2 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 2d. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 36 at Night. Very cloudy most part or all the day. Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning and So. Wt. afterwards and cold and raw.  Majr. G. Washington & Mr. Jno. Dandridge came here to dinner yesterday. Rid to all the Plantations to day and to the Ditchers. At the River Plantn. began to sow 3 pints of Timothy seed (mixed in a bushel of Ashes) to the Acre on Tuesday last, on the Snow—but it melted so fast that not more than 2 Acres were sown before the ground getting uncovered put a stop to the Sowing. Began at the same place to plow the Homestead for Barley or Oats, or both, as Seeds could be obtained. A horse failing at French’s yesterday one of the plows was stopped about 12 Oclock. Yesterday Morning the Dogue run (Men 3 of them) began to get rails to fence in the Largest piece of Tobo. ground at Frenches for Corn. The Mill wrights finished the repairs at my Mill last Night.


Title: [Diary entry: 5 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 5th. Mercury at 18 in the morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night. Ground very hard froze. Wind at So. Et.; raw & cold with great appearances of a change in the weather. After breakfast Doctr. La Moyeur went up to Alexandria and Doctr. Stuart and Mr. Jno. Dandridge to Abingdon. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs Dogue run & Muddy hole. At the Ferry the Overseer had begun to sow Timothy seed mixed with Sand in the Rye field on the Snow—but the Sand being too wet & clammy to do it regular I ordered him to desist

till the Sand could be dried. Three gallons of Timothy Seed mixed with ashes was Sown on Rye in the Neck on Saturday—adjoining what was sown there on the last Snow. Heaping the dung in the Farm pens at Muddy hole.


Title: [Diary entry: 6 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 6th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 48 at Night. Last evening & Night being Soft no frost to day—little or no Wind. Clear and exceedingly pleasant. Snow tho’ there was a good deal in the Morning had quite disappeared by Night. Mr. Willm. Craik who came here to dinner yesterday went away after breakfast. I rid to all the Plantations and to Simpsons with my Nephew G. A. Washington to advise him (as he was going to settle a plantation there) abt. his fencing. Sowed  gallons of Timothy Seed mixed in ashes on the Rye in the Neck. Began to put up a New fence through the wood at the Ferry plantation to day—The Dogue run people putting up the rails that wer mauled by them a round frenchs Tobacco grd.—French’s People also fencing and getting New rails. About Sun down Messrs. Bushrod & Corbin Washington came in on their return from Berkeley County.


Title: [Diary entry: 7 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 7th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 32 at Night. A good deal of rain fell in the Night. About Sun rise it began to Snow and continued to do so, more or less all day. Continued at home.


Title: [Diary entry: 8 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 8th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 30 at Night. The Wind which had been at No. Et. all day yesterday still continued there. In the Night and early this Morning it Rained after which it hailed and then Snowed. At home all day.


Title: [Diary entry: 9 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 9th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 38 at Night.  Clear, with the wind at No. Wt.; but neither hard, nor cold. Mr. Bushrod Washington and his Brother Corbin went away after breakfast and Geo. Washington went up to Alexandria. Doctr. La Moyeur left this but meeting with some accident to his Chaise returned again. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole and to the Mill & Ditchers. At the first the people were cutting down Corn stalks—at the latter heaping the dung of the Farm yards and at the other two fencing. In the evening Doctr. Craik returned with Majr. Washington.


Title: [Diary entry: 11 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 11th. Mercury at 31 in the Morng.—33 at Noon and 33 at Night. Began to rain at or before day and kept very steadily at it—sometimes hard, till abt. 2 Oclock when the Sun came out for a short duration—little or no Wind & that Southerly.


Title: [Diary entry: 14 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 14th. Mercury at 36 in the Morng.—36 at Noon and 36 at Night.  Thick and heavy clouds in the Morning and wind at No. Et. About 8 Oclock A. M. it began to rain and kept steadily at it all day—at times raining very fast. Rid immediately, after breakfast to French’s Plantation to see a sick man and intended to have gone to others but was driven back by the rain.


Title: [Diary entry: 15 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Thursday 15th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 48 at Night. Clear, wind at So. Wt. in the Morning which blew fresh by Noon—after which it came out at No. Wt. blew hard and turned cold. Rid to the Plantations at The Ferry, French’s Dogue run and Muddy hole—also to the Mill and ditchers—Plowing at all except Muddy hole—the plows of that being at Fr[enc]hs—where No. 5 being too wet they were plowing in No. 2—at the other two places, plowing the ground intended for Meadow.


Title: [Diary entry: 16 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 16th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning 52 at Noon and 50 at Night. Very clear and pleasant in the Morning with little or no Wind. About 9 Oclock it Sprung up at No. Wt. and seemed inclined to blow hard—but before Noon it died away and came out afterwards at So. Wt. Mr. Dandridge went away after an early breakfast and G. A. Washington set out for Berkley. I rid to all the Plantations. Plowing at all except at Muddy hole the plows of wch. at Frenchs—In the Neck the men employed in getting Posts for railing. The Plows at that place had just got into the Orchard—the Women heaping dung. Bath (a Negro Man from the Neck) joined the Dutch man Danl. Overdonck in ditching, yesterday. Mr. & Mrs. Lund Washington dined here to day.


Title: [Diary entry: 17 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 17th. Mercury at 32 in the Morng.—48 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind Southerly and warm all day. Towards night it lowered. Went into the Neck to Mark some lines for fences. Finished this Evening plowing the orchard for Barley. Received, before I had done a message acquainting me that Colo. Wadsworth and a Mr. Chaloner were here which brought me home.


Title: [Diary entry: 18 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 18th. Mercury at  in the Morning— at Noon and  at N. Clear, Warm, and very pleasant all day, with very little wind. Towards dusk it began to lower again. After dinner Colo. Wadsworth & Mr. Chaloner returned to Alexandria.


Title: [Diary entry: 19 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 19th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 56 at N. A very thick fog till nine or 10 Oclock when it dispelled, became clear & exceedingly pleasant. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck heaping dung with the

Women ar[oun]d the Barn. Began after the Fog dispelled to plow for Oats in the Easternmost cut of drilled Corn (Timber landing field) intending to sow and harrow close at the heels of the Ploughs. At the other Plantations (Muddy hole plows at Frenchs) Plowing as before. The Muddy hole People finished hoeing thr. side of the New ground in front of the house.


Title: [Diary entry: 20 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 20th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—35 at Noon and 30 at Night. The Wind in the Night sprung up at No. West and blew very hard all day and till within Night. Ground froze this Morn. Went with Mrs. Washington to Mr. Fendalls to make a visit to Colo. and Mrs. Lee. Dined and returned home in the Evening. Found Doctr. Craik here.


Title: [Diary entry: 21 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 21st. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 36 at Night. Morning clear, but cold; ground hard froze—wind fresh all day from West. Doctr. Craik went away before breakfast—after wch. I rode to Muddy hole and Neck Plantations. Began to Sow Oats at the latter in the ground which the Plows went into on Monday abt. Noon, & finished yesterdy. about dinner time. They were not more than half (at the East end) harrowed; in the way the plow went yesterday and this forenoon it was too hard to do it. Ordered it to be done this afternoon tho’ the ground has not thawed much. Part of the ground about the place where the water had been drained from broke up in large flakes—whether because wet, or because the frost was in it when plowed yesterday I know not, but does not appear as if it would be made fine by harrowing & cross harrowing. The ground adjoining this (intended for Barley) which they were plowing to day, broke up in large flakes owing to the frost not being sufficiently out of it. Quaere will these large lumps or flakes crumble & fall to pieces by the sun & Rain when the frost is out?


Title: [Diary entry: 23 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Friday 23d. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—33 at Noon and 30 at Night. The Wind which shifted last Night to No. Et. brought Snow which by day break was abt. 2 Inches deep. It continued Snowing with the wind in the same quarter till 12 Oclock this day when the Sun appeared, tho it did not perfectly clear. At home all day. In the Evening Mr. Griffith came in and stayed all night.


Title: [Diary entry: 24 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Saturday 24th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 36 at Night. Cloudy, heavy morning—wind Southerly tho not fresh—Red horison at the Suns rising & lowering all day. After breakfast Mr. Fairfax, his wife & daughter and Mr. Griffith went away. I rode to the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, & Muddy hole. Plowing at Frenchs and Dogue run. Finished the Ditch at Muddy hole which divides fields No. 2 & 3. Would this afternoon finish plowing the other piece about 5¾ acres of Wheat Stubble on the East of the Mill race for Barley. This would have been done yesterday but there was no plowing any where.  Looked at the Dogue run Wheat. That which was sowed on lay land seemed to be well set in the ground—the Roots but little turned out with the frost. The early sown wheat in the Corn ground also looked tolerably well; but in places the roots were turned out of the ground, and in spots was injured by Water lying, or remaining on them too long. The latter sown Wheat cut but a very indifferent appearance—little being to be seen & that which was, seemed (the Root) to be entirely thrown out, except on the highest parts of the ridges. What alterations, or whether any for the better will take place must be determined here-after.


Title: [Diary entry: 25 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Sunday 25th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 44 at Night. Dull heavy morning, with the Wind what little there is of it at No. Et. The Moon last Night had a dim circle round it—also a bur and the Stars when they did appear were dim also. About Noon it became quite calm—this afternoon was clear & exceedingly pleasant.


Title: [Diary entry: 26 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Monday 26th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 32 at Night. Red Sky at Sunrising—Wind Southerly in the fore Noon and at East in the afternoon. Morning heavy and damp with great appearances of rain. About Noon the clouds broke and the Sun appeared after which it clouded and looked very much like rain. Rid to all the Plantations—to the Mill, and to the Ditchers. In the Neck, the ground which had been sowed the 21st. instt. with Oats, and which (though I sent 15 bushels of seed for it) was sown with 12 (on about 8 acres) was this day cross harrowed with the light harrows—the part I mean which was not cross harrowed on Thursday last and sowed with quarts of Timothy seed previous to the last harrowing. Finished at the same place plowing in the Middle cut adjoining the Wheat, and went about 11 Oclock into field No. 9 to breaking up—The other People grubbing, cutting, & filling up Gullies in the same field. At Muddy (except the Plows, which were at French’s) the People were making the New fence. At Dogue run the Plows began to Plow in the No. end of the field west of the Mill race for Oats—all the other hands filling gullies before them the 2 Men who were Mauling. At Frenchs the Plows &ca. were employed as on Saturday. At the Ferry Caesar was beginning to lay out the list for Corn. The other two were plowing in

the ground intended for the New Meadow. The Women were fencing. Began to Ditch along the Ferry road from where the New fence East of the Plantation comes to it towards the Mill—The Dutchman, Charles Bath & Cupid employed abt. it. G. A. Washington returned this Evening from Berkeley.


Title: [Diary entry: 27 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Tuesday 27th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 44 at Night. Morning early, cloudy, with the Wind Southerly. Before Noon it became clear—warm, and very pleasant, after which the wind came out at No. Wt. blew pretty fresh turned cloudy, & grew colder, but not disagreeably so, or likely to freeze. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenches, Dogue run and Muddy hole. Set the Plows at the first to crossing the Winter fallow, in order to sow Oats. The Plows and hands at the other Plantations, all working as yesterday.


Title: [Diary entry: 28 February 1787]
From: Washington, George
To:

Wednesday 28th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 44 at Night. Morning clear—ground not froze—Wind westerly, but not very fresh. Afterwards it shifted more to the No. West and blew hard but did not freeze. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck began to cross the Plowing in the homestead (orchard inclosure) in order to sow Oats; but the grd. in places having been tolerably well turfed, and stiff and not having had time since the plowing thereof for the grass to rot the last furrows were only cut in two, and remained exceedingly rough. Finding this would not answer I ordered the Plows to discontinue crossing and a heavy harrow to go over the ground the way the Ploughs run last to see if that, and harrowing after the Seed was sown, & cross harrowing, would be sufficient for the Oats. Began to cross the So. Et. quarter of the plowing at the ferry, to prepare it for Oats; intending to Sow the No. Et. quarter without crossing. At French’s finished plowing all the ground between the Wheat and the Creek about 10 Oclock; and got into that pt. which was in Wheat last year immediately afterwards. At the Ferry spread some dung which had been carted out on the plowed ground which would be with in the New Meadow No. Wt. Corner of it. On my return home, found young Doctr. Craik and his two Sisters Mariamne and Nancy here. The first returned after dinner—the girls remained.