101[Diary entry: 22 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Feby. 22. The Wind in the Night encreasd to a mere Storm and raind exceedg. hard; towards day it moderated and ceasd Raining but the whole day afterwards was Squally. Laid in part the Worm of a fence round my Peach Orchard, & had it made. Waited on Lord Fairfax at Belvoir & engd. him to dine at Mt. Vernon on Monday next. Upon my return found one of my best Waggon Horses (namely Jolly)...
102[Diary entry: 23 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Feby. 23. Had the Horse slung upon Canvas and his leg fresh set—following Markhams directions as near as I coud. Laid the Worm round my Apple Orchard & made the Fence. The Wind for the first part was So[uther]ly but afterwards it shifted to No. West. blew fresh and grew a little Cool. Captn. Bullet came here from Alexandria, and engagd to secure me some Lands on the Ohio being lately...
103[Diary entry: 24 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Feby. 24th. Captn. Bullet dind here to day also. So did Mr. Clifton but the latter was able to give me no determinate answer in regard to his Land. Was unprovided for a demand of £90 made by Mr. Alligood in favour of Messrs. Atchinson & Parker of Norfolk. My note of Hand to Sampson Darrel but promisd the payment, & Interest, at the April Court next. Fresh Southerly Wind and Cloudy...
104[Diary entry: 25 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Feby. 25th. Lord Fairfax, Colo. F[airfa]x & his Lady, Colo. Martin, Mr. B. F[airfa]x, Colo. Carlyle, & Mr. Green & Mrs. Green dind here. So[uther]ly Wind and remarkable fine clear day. Set my People to Carting and carrying Rails round the Peach Orchard. The Broken Legd. horse fell out of his Sling and by that means and strugling together hurt himself so much that I orderd him to be...
105[Diary entry: 26 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Feby. 26th. Began Plowing the Field by the Stable and Quarter for Oats and Clover. Set two plows to Work under the care of Mulatto, & Cook Jacks. Layd the Worm round my Peach Orchard & had the Fence put up. Made an absolute agreement with Mr. Clifton for his Land (so far as depended upon him) on the following terms—to wit, I am to give him £1150 Sterling for his Neck Lands, containg....
106[Diary entry: 27 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Feby. 27. Very little Wind & that Southerly but raind of and on the whole day. Continued plowing while the Weather woud permit, and the People, viz. George, Kate, Doll, & little George were employd in Grubing the Field by the Garden. Nations’s horse that was destraind on for my Rent was sold at Publick Auction to Mr. Tom Triplet for £5. Peter had got his Coal drawn & brought in one...
107[Diary entry: 28 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Feby. 28th. Measurd the Fields by the Quarter & Garden as the Fences was intended to be run and found Six Acres in the former & Nine in the Latter. Also run the Round the Fields in the Lower pasture according as the dividing Fence is to go but the Compass being bad or some mistake happening I coud not close the plot with any exactness. Finished Grubbing the Field by the Garden....
108[Diary entry: 29 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Feby. 29th. The Rain continued by Intervals through the Night, and till afternoon when the Wind came to No. West and ceasd, growing clear. Stopd my Plows. The Gentlemen Dind here to day and two, viz. Mr. Ramsay & Captn. Stanley, returnd to Alexandria. The others went to Belvoir. A very great Circle rd. the Moon.
109[March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 1–1760. Finishd Bottling 91 dozn. Cyder. The wind for the first part was at No. West & very cold, but shifting Easterly & then to So. it grew something warmer but continued Cloudy. The Ground being hard froze stopd my Plows this day also—and employd all hands in running the dividing fence of my Pastures. Traversd the Fields in the Lower Pasture again & set a Course from the head...
110[Diary entry: 1 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 1–1760. Finishd Bottling 91 dozn. Cyder. The wind for the first part was at No. West & very cold, but shifting Easterly & then to So. it grew something warmer but continued Cloudy. The Ground being hard froze stopd my Plows this day also—and employd all hands in running the dividing fence of my Pastures. Traversd the Fields in the Lower Pasture again & set a Course from the head...
111[Diary entry: 2 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 2. The Morning calm & Serene. About 10 Oclock the Wind freshned from the No. West, and died away by two. At 5 it came Southerly & blew again seeming unsettled. Mr. Clifton came here to day, & under pretence of his Wife not consenting to acknowledge her Right of Dower wanted to disengage himself of the Bargain he had made with me for his Land on the 26th. past and by his Shuffling...
112[Diary entry: 3 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 3d. Bought 100 Bushels of Oats at 1/6. of Reuben Joyne. Finishd plowing the Clover field but not the dividing Fence in the Pastures. Wind for the most part was Southerly—sometimes blewing fresh & at other times quite calm but the day was cloudy & felt cold till towards Night.
113[Diary entry: 4 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 4th. Rain without Intermission till Noon—thence at Intervals till Night, with strong So[uther]ly wind the whole time. Plows Stopd—but the dividing fence finishd. Gave up the Horse Cart, & the Dun horse and Jack to R. Stephens.
114[Diary entry: 5 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Mar. 5. High Wind from the West—the day clear & somewhat cold. Began plowing the field by the Garden for Lucern. Put in the great bay mare (& horse) King. The latter coud not be prevaild upon to plow. The other did very well: but the Plows run very badly. Finishd Plow Harness for my Chariot Horses. lucern : alfalfa or lucerne, Medicago sativa . Although this perennial legume is...
115[Diary entry: 6 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Mar. 6. Fitted a two Eyed Plow instead of a Duck Bill Plow and with much difficulty made my Chariot Wheel horses plow. Surveyd Captn. Posseys 145 Acres of Woodland Ground which he bought of my Bror. Chs. & find some of the Courses and distances to vary from those in the Deeds and that 136 Acres only, are Included. Also run the upper Courses of Frens Land and find some great Errors as...
116[Diary entry: 7 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Mar. 7th. Fine Morning, but Cloudy Afternoon, wind Southerly. Put the Poll end Horses into the Plow in the Morng. and the Postilion & hand Horse in the Afternoon but the Ground being well sworded over & very heavy plowing I repented putting them in at all for fear it should give them a Habit of Stopping in the Chariot.
117[Diary entry: 8 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 8. No. Et. Wind & Rain—Plows stopd. Gave Captn. Cawseys Skipper namely William Vicars—1 Tobo. Note and an Order on Hunting Creek Warehouses for 7 Hhds. of my Mountain Tobo. John Cawsey was captain of the Tyger , a 120–ton British-built ship which took a crew of nine and sailed in the Virginia tobacco trade for John Farrel & Co. of Bristol, Eng. William Vicars was probably...
118[Diary entry: 9 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 9. No. Et. wind, and Snow by Intervals the whole day.
119[Diary entry: 10 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 10th. No. W. wind and clear, but the Ground too Wet for Plowing. Rode to my Plantation and the Mill, & there partly agreed with Jerry Mitchell to rebuild my Mill when She runs dry in the Summer. Dispatchd Mulatto Jack to Frederick for some Mares from thence to Plow. The Snow (which was not more than an Inch & half deep) was entirely dissolvd today. Jeremiah Mitchell, an independent...
120[Diary entry: 11 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 11th. Visited at Colo. Fairfax and was informd that Clifton had sold his Land to Mr. Thompsons Mason for 1200 £ Sterlg. which fully unravelled his Conduct on the 2d. and convincd me that he was nothing less than a thorough pacd Rascall—disregardful of any Engagements of Words or Oaths not bound by Penalties. The day clear but something cold, Wind at No. West. George William...
121[Diary entry: 12 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Mar. 12. Returnd home, Mrs. Carlyle accompanying us, the day being exceeding fine. Wind at South. Found William Lodwick here with one Beef from Frederick. He set of with two but lamd the other and left him at Ricd. Colemans at the Sugar Lands. Lodwick was apparently hired for this job only. In 1756 Richard Coleman (d. 1764) and his son James received a license to run an ordinary on...
122[Diary entry: 13 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Mar. 13th. Incessant Rain and No. Et. Wind. Mr. Carlyle (who came here from Port Tobo. Court last Night) and Mrs. Carlyle were confind here all day. Mulatto Jack returnd home with the Mares he was sent for, but so poor were they, and so much abusd had they been by my Rascally Overseer Hardwick that they were scarce able to go highlone, much less to assist in the business of the...
123[Diary entry: 14 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Mar. 14th. No. Et. Wind & rain witht. Intermission till after Noon. The Rain then abated, but clouds continued. Mr. Carlyle & his Wife still remaind here. We talkd a good deal of a Scheme of setting up an Iron Work on Colo. Fairfax’s Land on Shannondoah. Mr. Chapman who was proposd as a partner being a perfect Judge of these matters was to go up and view the Conveniences and determine...
124[Diary entry: 15 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 15. Snowd in the Morng. but afterwards clearing. Mr. Carlyle and his Wife returnd home. Wm. Lodwick & the boy (Nat) who came down with him went up for the lame Beef they left upon the Road coming down. The Vast quantity of Rain which had fallen in the last two days had Swelld the Waters so high that dogue Run carried of the Tumbling Dam of my Mill and was near carrying of the...
125[Diary entry: 16 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 16th. In the Morning early began Snowing with a Strong No. Et. Wind and continued without the least Intermission, or Remission till dark, & how long after I know not.
126[Diary entry: 17 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 17th. The Snow this Morng. was much drifted, & many places of considerable depth. It kept Snowing by Intervals till Noon & appeard unsettled the whole day. Went to my Mill and took a view of the Ruins the Fresh had causd. Determind however to repr. it with all expedition & accordingly set my Carpenters to making Wheel & Handbarrows. Beef from Coleman’s was brought down. Mr. Possey...
127[Diary entry: 18 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 18th. Cool in the morning, Wind at No. West, but afterwards Shifting to South grew more moderate and Melted the Snow much. Went to Court partly on my own private Business and partly on Cliftons Affair but the Commissioners not meeting nothing was done in regard to the Latter. Much discourse happend between him and I con⟨cer⟩ning his ungenerous treatment of me. The whole turning to...
128[Diary entry: 19 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Mar. 19. Cold Southerly Wind & Lowring Weather till towds. Evening when the Clouds dispersing it became more moderate. Peter (my Smith) and I after several efforts to make a plow after a new model—partly of my own contriving—was fiegn to give it out, at least for the present. Snow but little dissolvd. Colo. Fairfax & Mrs. Fx. came here in the Evening.
129[Diary entry: 20 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Mar. 20th. Cold Northerly Wind. Colo. F[airfa]x and I set out to Alexa. by appointmt. to Settle & adjust (with the other Comrs.) Cliftons & Carrols accts. conformable to a decree of our Genl. Court but not being able to accomplish it then the 28th. was a further day appointed to meet and my house the place resolvd upon. The other commissioners were Rev. Charles Green and John West,...
130[Diary entry: 21 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Mar. 21st. Colo. Fairfax & Mrs. Fx. returnd home. The Wind being No. Easterly the Morng. and indeed the best half of the day was very Cold and Cloudy. The Wind towards Evening seemd to be getting So[uther]ly. Brought 47 Bushels of Wheat from my Mill.
131[Diary entry: 22 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday March 22d. Cold southerly Wind and Cloudy, with Rain from 10 O’clock till Night. Doctr. Laurie came here. Agreed with George Taylor for 3 Sows and Pigs—at 45/. Taylor is a local small planter who apparently moved to Loudoun County later in 1760.
132[Diary entry: 23 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 23d. Southerly Wind and Warm. Miss Fairfax & Miss Dent came here. Hannah Fairfax was a younger sister of George William Fairfax. Miss Dent was possibly Elizabeth Dent (1727–1796) or one of her younger sisters, all daughters of Peter Dent (c.1694–1757), of Whitehaven, on Mattawoman Creek in the Piscataway region of Prince George’s County, Md. ( NEWMAN Harry Wright Newman. The...
133[Diary entry: 24 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 24th. Began repairing my Mill Dam—with hands from all my Quarters Carpenters Included. In digging Earth for this purpose great Quantities of Marle or Fullers Earth appeard. In the Evening, in a Bed that had been prepard with a mixture of Dung on Saturday last, I sowed Clo⟨ver,⟩ Lucerne, & Rye Grass Seeds in the Garden, to try their Goodness—doing it in the following Order. At the...
134[Diary entry: 25 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 25th. Set one Plow to Work on the Field below the Garden. All hands being employd on the Dam again the Water was Stopd. and the Work in a fair way of receiving a finish by tomorrow Night. The Wind was Southerly—the Day Changeable. Mrs. Possey, & some young woman whose name was unknown to any Body in this family, dind here.
135[Diary entry: 26 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Mar. 26. One Plow at Work today also. Miss Dent & Miss Fairfax returnd home. My Dam was entirely compleated by Evening. Spent the greatest part of the day in making a new plow of my own Invention. Wind at No. West & very boisterous.
136[Diary entry: 27 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Mar. 27. Southerly Wind, day warm and very fine. Sat my Plow to work and found She Answerd very well in the Field in the lower Pasture wch. I this day began Plowing with the large Bay Mare & Rankin. Mulatto Jack conting. to Plow the Field below the Garden. Agreed to give Mr. William Triplet £18 to build the two houses in the Front of my House (plastering them also) and running Walls...
137[Diary entry: 28 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Mar. 28. According to appointment, Colo. F⟨airfa⟩x & Mr. Green met here upon Clifton’s Affair, he being present as was Mr. Thompson Mason (as Council for him). Mr. Digges and Mr. Addison were also here and after examining all the Papers and Accts. on both sides, and stating them in the manner wch. seemd most equitable to Us, the debt due from Mr. Clifton according to that Settlement...
138[Diary entry: 29 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 29th. About noon sat one Plow into the Fallow Ground below the Hill, & about an hour before Sunset the other. Fresh and variable Wind chiefly from South. Carried out about Tumbril Load of Dung from the Stable upon the Clover Field.
139[Diary entry: 30 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 30th. Little Wind, but moist Weather. A misty Rain continuing at Short Intervals through the day.
140[Diary entry: 31 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 31st. Strong So[uther]ly Wind in the first part of the day with light Showers but Abt. Noon the Wind got No[rther]ly. Went to Belvoir (according to Appointment on the 28th. past) and drew up and Signd a Report of our Proceedings in Clifton’s affair to be sent with the Accts. to the Genl. Court. Finishd plowing the Fallowd Ground abt. Sun Setting. Mr. Walter Stuart who I met with at...
141[April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday April 1–1760. Crossd plowd the Fallow Field to day wch. contains 3.2.38 wch. shews that 2 Acres a day in Level ground already broke up may easily be accomplishd. Doctor Laurie came here. The Wind at No. West. Weather clear, somewhat Cool and drying. Moon at its first rising remarkably red. Recd. a Letter from Mr. Digges, Inclosing a Packet for Messrs. Nichos. & Withe wch. he desird I...
142[Diary entry: 1 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday April 1–1760. Crossd plowd the Fallow Field to day wch. contains 3.2.38 wch. shews that 2 Acres a day in Level ground already broke up may easily be accomplishd. Doctor Laurie came here. The Wind at No. West. Weather clear, somewhat Cool and drying. Moon at its first rising remarkably red. Recd. a Letter from Mr. Digges, Inclosing a Packet for Messrs. Nichos. & Withe wch. he desird I...
143[Diary entry: 2 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Apl. 2d. Got the above Ground ready for Sowing tomorrow. Begn. to Cross plow the first plowd Ground in the lower Pasture endeavouring to get it in Order for Sowg. Lucerne Seed In. A Drying Southerly Wind & Warm.
144[Diary entry: 3 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday April 3d. Sowd 17½ Drills of Trefoil Seed in the ground adjoining the Garden, numbering from the side next the Stable (or Work Shop) the residue of them viz. 4 was sowd with Lucerne Seed—both done with design to see how these Seeds answer in that Ground. Sowd my Fallow Field in Oats to day, and harrowed them in viz. 10½ Bushels. Got done about three Oclock. Cook Jack after laying of...
145[Diary entry: 4 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Apl. 4th. Sowd abt. one Bushl. of Barley in a piece of Ground near the Tobo. House in the 12 Acre Field. Harrowd, & crossd Harrowd the Ground in the sd. Field intended for Lucerne. Apprehending the Herrings were come Hauled the Sein but catchd only a few of them tho a good many of other sorts. Majr. Stewart and Doctr. Johnston came here in the Afternoon and at Night Mr. Richie attended...
146[Diary entry: 5 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Apl. 5th. Planted out 20 young Pine trees at the head of my Cherry Walk. Recd. my Goods from York. Hauld the Sein again catchd 2 or 3 White Fish more Herring than Yesterday & a great Number of Cats. Richie and Ross went away. Made another Plow the same as my former excepting that it has two Eyes and the other one. So[uther]ly Wind, but not so fresh as that wch. blew Yesterday....
147[Diary entry: 6 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday April 6th. Wind at No. Et. and Cool. About 3 Oclock it began Raining and continued to do so (moderately) for about an hour when it cleard, the Wind shifting So[uther]ly. I just perceivd the Rye grass Seed wch. I sowd in the Garden to try its goodness was beginning to come up pretty thick; the Clovr., Lucerne, & Barley I discoverd above Ground, on the first Instant. Majr. Stewart &...
148[Diary entry: 7 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday April 7th. Raind till 6 Oclock pretty hard and then cleard—Wind So[uther]ly and Cloudy all day. In the Evening Colo. Frog came here, and made me an offer of 2400 Acres of Land wch. he has in Culpeper for £400. This Ld. Lyes (according to his acct.) 46 Miles above The Falls of Rappahannock—is well Water’d Timberd & of a Fertile Soil—no Impr[ove]ments on it. I told him that I woud get...
149[Diary entry: 8 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday April 8th. What time it began Raining in the Night I cant say, but at day break it was pouring very hard, and continued so, till 7 oclock when a Messenger came to inform me that my Mill was in great danger of blowing. I immediately hurried off all hands with Shovels &ca. to her assistance and got there myself just time enough to give her a reprieve for this time by Wheeling dirt into...
150[Diary entry: 9 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Apl. 9th. Wind at No. Et. Very Cloudy and sometimes Misty. The Heavy Rains that had fallen in this few days past had made the Ground too wet for Plowing; I therefore set about the Fence which Incloses my Clover Field. Doctr. Laurie came here. I may add Drunk. Observd the Trefoil wch. I sowd on the 3d. Inst. to be coming up, but in a Scattg. manner. The Lucerne wch. was sewd at the...