1From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago the enclosed a/c was sent in, and others of a similar nature have also been presented. To guard against these afterclaps was the reason why I urged you with so much earnestness to leave no accounts unpaid, of your own contracting. Why the balance, if just, was left unpaid, when you had money to go to, at pleasure, or why it was referred to Mr Lear to pay, I am unable to say—Some...
2From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
. . . but as the Season is now far advanced, and you have hitherto been unsuccessful, and the wages of those you think good, are besides high; I shall, rather than run a risk of doing worse, engage Cask [Cash], who seems to be a sober, active & obliging man, for the coming year, which will complete my wants. . . . The Collector, nos. 9–11 (1962), item r420. Only this printed fragment of the...
3To George Washington from William Pearce, 27 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have Receved your Letter of the 14th Instant—and I shall always be happy To have It in my Power to Serve you; but as yet, I have not been so fortunate as to Git an overseer for you, for those who would answer your purpose are so very high In thare demands In wages that they are far above what you are willing to Give, for the Lowest that I Can Git one who could be depended on for is £85 this...
4From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th of July has been received, and I thank you for your ready compliance with my request; but recollecting how I was served last year, I must remind you that the season will not allow me to wait long for your decisive answer—especially too, as persons are now applying in this quarter. I must repeat in this, what I said, or meant to say in my last—that is—that I do not wish...
5To George Washington from William Pearce, 24 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have Received your Letter of the 17th Instant and I will do every thing In my power to git you a proper Person as overseer for Union farm—but at this time I do not know of any one that would answear your purpose that Is uningaged. but I will spare no paines In Looking out For such a One. I am sorrey to heare that poor Mr Clark is Dead. If he had Lived he would have made you a good Overseer....
6From George Washington to William Pearce, 17 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
My Overseers at Union and Dogue run Farms endeavouring to play the same game they did last year—that is—to raise their wages; but as I am fully resolved not to do it (especially as the price of produce is reduced a hundred prCt) I am induced to ask you—as Clark who engaged with Mr Craik is dead, & expectation from that quarter is at an end—if you could recommend a person whom you know would...
7To George Washington from William Pearce, 3 January 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 3 Jan. 1797 . GW wrote James Anderson on 8 Jan. , acknowledging his letter “of the 3d instant, & Mr Pearce’s of the same date.”
8From George Washington to William Pearce, 1 January 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William Pearce, 1 Jan. 1797 . GW wrote James Anderson on 8 Jan. : “My last letter (this day week) to Mr Pearce.”
9From George Washington to William Pearce, 18 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th, with the enclosures, came to my hands yesterday; and I am sorry to find by it that so late as that , you were still without rain. I hope what has fallen to day, will have extended to you: here it has rained the whole day without ceasing. I do not know whether I understand Mr Alexr Smiths proposition, with respect to putting the note for 4839 dollars in the Bank, to be...
10From George Washington to William Pearce, 11 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you was dispatched, I have received your letters of the 30th of Novr and 4th inst. I am sorry to hear that your Wheat begins to heat. If it does this in a degree to do it much injury, it ought to be disposed of for the best price you can get; but otherwise, as I have waited so long to grind it, & shall have occasion for the Bran, I had rather Manufacture it myself. It is a...
11To George Washington from William Pearce, 11 December 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 11 Dec. 1796 . GW wrote Pearce on 18 Dec. : “Your letter of the 11th, with the enclosures, came to my hands yesterday.”
12From George Washington to William Pearce, 4 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Getting no letter from you by the Post of yesterday—nor receiving any account from home, leads me to conclude that something more than common has happened, as your last letter is dated the 17th of November. Hearing nothing of the state, in which my business is, for so long a time, especially too as the weather, for the Season, has been severe —I have but little to found my letter upon at this...
13To George Washington from William Pearce, 4 December 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 4 Dec. 1796 . GW wrote Pearce on 11 Dec. : “I have received your letters of the 30th of Novr and 4th inst.”
14To George Washington from William Pearce, 30 November 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 30 Nov. 1796 . GW wrote Pearce on 11 Dec. : “I have received your letters of the 30th of Novr and 4th inst.”
15From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th under cover from Mr Lear came duly to hand, as did the Weekly reports of the 19th yesterday. I am disposed to let Mr Smiths debt stand upon the security you have placed it—unless before the 24th of next month any circumstances should occur to render other measures necessary—or, on that day he should be unprepared to make payment & require further indulgence. In either...
16From George Washington to William Pearce, 20 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th instt, and the Reports of the preceeding week, were received yesterday. I am sorry to hear that the growing Wheat is suffering for want of Rain—but hope you had some on Tuesday last (three days subsequent to the date of your letter). If the fact however is otherwise, let the ground in which the Egyptian Wheat was deposited, be watered, & continu’d to be so until the...
17To George Washington from William Pearce, 17 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have Receved your Letter of the 14th Instant. With Respect to Mr Alexander Smith I have Taken up his Note of 6439 Dollars which was Lodged In the Bank of Alexandria—& have Taken 2 others one payable on the 24th day of December—for 1600 Dollars—the other for 4839 Dol[la]rs payable the first day of March those notes are now Indorsed by Danniel Duglass—& Jes[s]e Simes they are both co⟨nsi⟩dered...
18From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th was received (with the Reports) on Saturday; but I do not clearly understand by it, whether James Wilkes reembarked with, or without a bed, or is yet at Mount Vernon. If the latter, he had better (if his health is sufficiently restored) offer himself to Mr Law as A Coachman; for before he could get here, and be well settled, I shall be making my arrangements to return to...
19To George Washington from William Pearce, 13 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have Receved your Letter of the 6th Instant Togeather with the Memorandom and three heads of the Egyption wheat you Mention; This I have planted as you directed—and as to the directions Contained In the memorandom I will pay all the Attention to them In my power, during my stay on your Estate, and will Likewise point out to Mr Anderson your Ideas of the diffirent things which you spoke to me...
20To George Washington from William Pearce, 6 November 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 6 Nov. 1796 . GW wrote Pearce on 14 Nov. : “Your letter of the 6th was received (with the Reports) on Saturday.”
21Memorandum for James Anderson and William Pearce, 5 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I shall communicate such directions as have occurred to me since I left Mount Vernon, and are necessary to be followed, in this way; that such of them as may not be executed, or executed in part only, by Mr Pearce, may be consigned over & compleated, or attempted to be completed by his Successor, Mr Anderson. The Plan for the Crops of next year (as handed to me by Mr Pearce) may be adopted: or...
22From George Washington to William Pearce, 26 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Cyrus was obliged to come on to this place, in order to take the horses back, which Mr Frestal & Mr La Fayette rode, which is the cause of his delay. Mrs Washington desires me to inform you that there was some Butter left in the Cellar, and some Beef in a Tub which (after supplying James ) may be applied to any uses you think proper. Let my Study be cleaned out, & the Room afterwards locked...
23From George Washington to William Pearce, 11 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 4th instt came to my hands yesterday, and the one you wrote me from Chester Town has also been received. My last would have informed you of the reason, which, probably, prevented your receiving a former one at that place, but which I expect has got to hand ’ere this; as the Postmaster was requested, in case you had left it to send it by the Mail to Alexandria. As your letter...
24From George Washington to William Pearce, 5 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st of Augt from Chester Town, came duly to hand; but as you did not acknowledge the receipt of the one I wrote you from hence, this day week, I presume it had not got to hand; Owing, I conceive to a misapprehension of mine as to the time of closing the Mail for the Eastern shore which I find is an hour and an half earlier than those which go Southerly or Easterly. I put my...
25To George Washington from William Pearce, 4 September 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 4 Sept. 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 11 Sept. : “Your letter of the 4th instt came to my hands yesterday.”
26To George Washington from William Pearce, 31 August 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 31 Aug. 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 5 Sept. : “Your letter of the 31st of Augt … came duly to hand.”
27From George Washington to William Pearce, 28 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d instt with the Reports, came to my hands yesterday; and this will be put into the Post office tomorrow for Chester Town. From what you have said of the person I wa⟨s⟩ enquiring after, I am well Satisfied h⟨e⟩ would not answer my purposes, as a Manager. Propensity to gaming, & running about, are such disqualifications in ⟨m⟩y estimation, as scarcely to find a...
28To George Washington from William Pearce, 23 August 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 23 Aug. 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 28 Aug. : “Your letter of the 23d instt … came to my hands yesterday.”
29From George Washington to William Pearce, 19 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
At this place I have seen Mr Thos Ringgold, who is very desirous of availing himself of your testimony in his pending suit. I have told him, that my consent to this measure has been freely given—and that it depended entirely upon yourself, and the state of your health, whether you attended or not. Mentioning to him the probability of your quitting the Superintendance of my business, he said it...
30From George Washington to William Pearce, 5 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received your letters of the 22d & 29th of last Month—The first came to hand on Tuesday, the other on Saturday, as usual. On Wednesday last Congress closed their Session; but there is yet a good deal for me to do, before I can leave the Seat of the Government. My present expectation however is, that I shall be able to do this on tomorrow week: but as this is not certain,...
31From George Washington to William Pearce, 29 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
No Mail beyond Baltimore (Southerly) was received at the Post Office in this City yesterday; consequently, I got no letter from you; what may have been the cause I know not, unless the considerable falls of rain which happened here during last week, may have rendered the waters between Alexandria and Baltimore (if they extended so far) impassible. You have never mentioned in any of your late...
32To George Washington from William Pearce, 29 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 29 May 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 5 June : “I have received your letters of the 22d & 29th of last Month.”
33From George Washington to William Pearce, 22 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th instt, enclosing the Reports of the preceeding Week, came duly to hand. I am glad to hear that the weather has been Seasonable of late; but sorry indeed, to find by your letter that the grain & grass has received so little benefit from the rains which have fallen; here, in great abundance. And it is peculiarly unfortunate after giving so high a price for clover Seed,...
34from William Pearce, 22 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 22 May 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 5 June : “Since my last I have received your letters of the 22d & 29th of last Month.”
35From George Washington to William Pearce, 15 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th, with the Reports, are at hand; and I am glad you sowed all the Peas (except the small reserve mentioned in your letter) and the Chiccory; as I think it better than withholding them, until next Seed time. I am glad also that you have got your flour off hand (as warm weather and accidents were against keeping it longer) altho’ I am convinced that if I had held it up a...
36To George Washington from William Pearce, 15 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 15 May 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 22 May : “Your letter of the 15th instt … came duly to hand.”
37From George Washington to William Pearce, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your letter of the first instant, that the rain wch fell here on the 27th Ulto had extended to you. The cold & drying Winds I knew would deprive the plants of some of its good effects; but benefit must have resulted to them notwithstanding. If the frosts which accompanied those Winds have injured the fruit (as you fear) it will be a circumstances much to be regretd altho’...
38To George Washington from William Pearce, 8 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 8 May 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 15 May : “Your letter of the 8th, with the Reports, are at hand.”
39From George Washington to William Pearce, 1 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th Ulto has been received, and I am sorry to find by it that the drought still continued with you. On this day week there was a very good rain here, and on wednesday following a great deal fell; but the weather has been windy, cold and disagreeable ever since—notwithstanding which, the Grain and grass in these parts look extremely well. I am glad to find that you were, at...
40To George Washington from William Pearce, 1 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 1 May 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 8 May : “I am glad to find by your letter of the first instant, that the rain wch fell here on the 27th Ulto had extended to you.”
41From George Washington to William Pearce, 29 April 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to William Pearce, 29 April 1796. GW wrote Pearce on Sunday, 1 May: “I wrote you on friday last.”
42From George Washington to William Pearce, 24 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by your letter of the 17th instant, accompanying the reports of the preceeding week, that the drought continued; and that the prospect for good crops of small grain was so unpromising. I should hope, however, that they cannot be so much injured yet, as not to be recovered by seasonable weather. If the grain stands sufficiently thick on the ground, I shall not regard the...
43To George Washington from William Pearce, 24 April 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 24 April 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 1 May: “Your letter of the 24th Ulto has been received.”
44From George Washington to William Pearce, 17 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th instt with a Postcript three days later, came to hand in due course of Post. I am sorry to hear that Maria continues unwell—& that Charles Washington was siezed with a fever: Let them want for nothing, and whenever it is needful get Doctr Craik to attend them. It would be unlucky, as my crop of Wheat last year turned out but indifferently, and the prospect of a good one...
45To George Washington from William Pearce, 17 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have Recevd your Letter of the 10th Instant with Respect to the price of Flour It sells In alexandria for a 11 or 12 dollars ⅌ Barrell at most for cash and I beleve some Gives 13 Dollars ⅌ Barrell on a Creddit of 60 days—Mr Smith has Returnd from New york and I have Sounded him on the subject of buying yours at 15 Dollars ⅌ Barrell at the c[r]edit he offered to take it at before he went from...
46To George Washington from William Pearce, 10– 13 April 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 10–13 April 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 17 April : “Your letter of the 10th instt with a Postcript three days later, came to hand.”
47From George Washington to William Pearce, 10 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instant, with the Weekly reports, was received yesterday; and I have also seen Mr Lear, who arrived here yesterday about the sametime. As there is no prospect from the last European accounts (down to the first of March) of Peace; but on the contrary, every appearance of a vigorous prosecution of the War—at least for another Campaign—and they speak (tho’ flour is low in...
48From George Washington to William Pearce, 3 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ulto, with a Post[s]cript of the 29th, came duly to hand yesterday. As I have expectation that by the time this letter will have reached you, a Vessel from Liverpool called the Commerce will have arrived at George Town with eight bushels of the field Pea; as much of the Chiccory as will sow four Acres of land; and eight bushels of the Winter Vetch—for, and on my...
49To George Washington from William Pearce, 3 April 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Pearce, 3 April 1796. GW wrote Pearce on 10 April : “Your letter of the 3d instant … was received yesterday.”
50To George Washington from William Pearce, 27–29 March 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Pearce, 27–29 March 1796. On 3 April, GW wrote Pearce: “Your letter of the 27th Ulto, with a Postscript of the 29th, came duly to hand yesterday.”