To George Washington from William Pearce, 31 August 1794
From William Pearce
Mount Vernon Augt 31st 1794
Sir
I Receved your letter of 24th Instt, Mr Groves the person who I have imployed as overseer For Union farm, is a Maried Man & has four Children he Comes well recommended—from Several others as well as the Mr Masons, and he is said to be Very attentive to his Business & Carefull of his stock If he should a[n]swear this description I shall not be Affraid but the business will be Carried on well, and from what I have seen of him I have a Very favourable opinion of him my self.1
I have not heard any thing from Pine lately, the last I heard of him he had gone to the Federal City.
In my last letter I informed you That the people ware Sickly with the Ague & Fever.2 they Continue to have it Very much yet and the young Gardener has had a sevear atack of the Nervous fever & for several days Doctor Craick had but little hopes of his Giting over it But he is now Gitting the better of it—we have Lost the Girl Jinney at Dogue run she died Last Wednesday Evening in Labour she Could not be delivered of her child,3 Doctor Craick was sent for as soon as I had Notice of her Situation but altho he was with her 2 days and a night he Could not Deliver her we have a Tollarable prospect for turnips but they do not Answear my Expectation for The fly took the first sowing which has made them rather backward for a good full crop.
my youngest Daughter has had The Ague & fever but has got better and my Eldest is Likewise much better than she has been for some time past. but I fear her Complaint is such that it Cannot easily be removed so as for her to git intirely rid of it.
while the people keeps so Sickly I do not like to leave home, and as we shall Nea[r]ly be done seeding wheat by the Last of next week I must put it off till Then The money Is paid to Mr William hartshorn as you Derected.4 I am Sir with Greatest Respect Your Humble Servt
William Pearce
P.S. Mr Butler desired me to request the favour of a recommendation from you Respecting his soberiety &c. & That he undersants the raisig Thorn hedges, he sais his Giting a good place depends on it. W.P.
ALS, DLC:GW.
With this letter Pearce enclosed his weekly farm report and reports of work done by the gardeners; spinners, sewers, and knitters; and carpenters, all dated 30 Aug. (DLC:GW). He probably also enclosed a report of gardeners dated 23 Aug., on which he wrote, "omited Last time Through mistake" (DLC:GW).
1. John Groves replaced Hiland Crow in January 1795, but he became ill in July 1795 and died before the year was out. The administrators of his estate were paid his wages for eight months (Mount Vernon Accounts, 1794-1797).
2. Pearce evidently was referring to his letter of 24 Aug., which has not been found.
3. Jenny (c.1777-1794) was a daughter of the Dogue Run dower slave Lucy (born c.1749). The previous Wednesday was 27 August.
4. See GW to Pearce, 17 Aug., and n.3 to that document.