151[Diary entry: 10 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Apl. 10th. Mrs. Washington was blooded by Doctr. Laurie who stayd all Night. This Morning my Plows began to Work in the Clover Field, but a hard Shower of Rain from No. Et. (where the Wind hung all day) abt. 11 Oclock, stopd them for the Remainder of the day. I therefore Employd the hands in making two or three hauls of the Sein, & found that the Herrings were come. Val Crawford...
152[Diary entry: 11 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Apl. 11th. Set one Plow to Work again in the Morning the other about 10 Oclock in the Clover Field. Tryd the new Plow brot. Yesterday, found she did good Work and run very true but heavy—rather too much so for two Horses, especially while the Gd. was moist. Abt. 11 Oclock set the People to Hauling the Sein and by Night and in the Night Catchd and dressd Barrels of Herring and 60 White...
153[Diary entry: 12 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday April 12th. Hard No. West the whole day, very clear and Cool. Hauld the Sein but without Success. Some said it was owing to the wind setting of the Shore, which seems in some Measure confirmd by the quantity we catchd Yesterday when the Wind blew on upon it. About 11 Oclock finishd plowing the Clover Field. Abt. 1 Mullatto Jack began harrowing it with the wide Toothd Harrow and got...
154[Diary entry: 13 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday April 13th. Fine clear still Morng. Abt. 10 Oclock the Wind (what little there was before being So.) came Easterly, blew fresh and Clouded. Towards Evening the Atmostphere was quite Overcast and threatned Instant Rain. My Negroes askd the lent of the Sein to day but caught little or no Fish. Note the Wind blew upon the shore to day.
155[Diary entry: 14 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Apl. 14. Fine warm day, Wind So[uther]ly and clear till the Eveng. when it clouded. No Fish were to be catchd to day neither. Mixd my Composts in a box with ten Apartments in the following manner viz.—in No. 1 is three pecks of the Earth brought from below the Hill out of the 46 Acre Field without any mixture—in No. All mixd with the same quantity & sort of Earth in the most effectual...
156[Diary entry: 15 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday April 15th. Sent Tom and Mike to Alexandria in my Boat for 20 or 25 Bushels of Oats. Went up myself there to Court after calling at Mr. Green’s & leaving Mrs. Washington there. Mr. Darrell not being there the Execution of his Deeds were again put of. Being informd that French, Triplet and others were about buying (in conjunction) a piece of Land of Simon Piarson lying not far from my...
157[Diary entry: 16 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Apl. 16. My Boat which the Wind and Rain prevented from returning Yesterday came home this Morning the Wind being at North West and Fresh. Mr. Triplet & his Brother came this day to Work. Abt. 10 Oclock they began, and got the Wall between the House and Dairy finishd. Thinking the Ground Rather too wet for Sowing I set my Horses to Carting Rails, and both my Plows were stopd Cook...
158[Diary entry: 17 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday April 17th. By 3 Oclock in the afternoon Mr. Triplet finishd the Wall between the Dairy and Kitchen. The Rain from that time prevented his Working. Sowed my Clover Field with Oats, 24 Bushels. The upper part next the Peach Orchard was Harrowed in during the Rain but before it began to Clog much. Also sowd 18 Rows of Lucerne in the 12 Acre Field below the Hill. The first 4 Rows were...
159[Diary entry: 18 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday April 18th. Righted up all my Fencing. Planted other Pine Trees in the Fencd place at the Cornr. of the Garden the first being broke, and much hurt by Creatures. Began Sowing my Clovr. and got 4 Acres sowd 14 lb. to the Acre. Harrowd it in with the fine toothd Harrow as light as I coud. Tryd my Roller wch. find much too light. Sowd 69 Rows more of Lucerne which makes 87 in all. Got my...
160[Diary entry: 19 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Apl. 19th. Crossd at Mr. Possey’s Ferry and began my journey to Williamsburg about 9 Oclock. Abt. 11 I broke my Chair and had to Walk to Port Tobo. where I was detaind the whole day getting my Chair mended—no Smith being with 6 Miles. Lodgd at Doctr. Halkerston’s. John Posey’s ferry crossed the Potomac River from the lower point of the Mount Vernon neck to Marshall Hall in Charles...
161[Diary entry: 20 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Apl. 20th. Set out early, and crossd at Cedar point by 10; the day being very calm & fine, Dind and lodgd at my Brother’s. The Evening Cloudy with Rain. Wind tho little at So. West. The lower of the two Cedar Points in Maryland was about a 13–mile ride south from Port Tobacco. GW most likely used Hooe’s ferry, although several ferries crossed the Potomac from Cedar Point in 1760. His...
162[Diary entry: 21 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Apl. 21st. Crossd at Southern’s and Tods Bridge and lodgd at Major Gaines’s. After leaving his brother’s home GW rode about three miles below Leedstown to Southern’s (earlier Southings) ferry on the Rappahannock River, whose owner lived on the far side of the river in Essex County. In 1755 the ferryboat was manned by two Negroes ( HENING William Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large;...
163[Diary entry: 22 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday April 22d. Crossd Pamunky at Williams’s Ferry, and visited all the Plantations in New Kent. Found the Overseers much behind hand in their Business. Went to Mrs. Dandridges and lodgd. From Major Gaines’s, GW rode south through King William County to cross the Pamunkey River into New Kent County at Williams’s ferry. The crossing brought him very near the Custis plantations in the...
164[Diary entry: 23 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Apl. 23d. Went to Colo. Bassetts and remaind there the whole day. Burwell Bassett’s home, Eltham in New Kent County, was less than a mile up the Pamunkey River from West Point, where the Pamunkey joins the Mattaponi to form the York River.
165[Diary entry: 24 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday April 24th. Visited my Quarters at Claibornes and found their business in tolerable forwardness. Also went to my other Quarter at where their was an insufficient quantity of Ground prepard—but all that coud be had—it was sd. Dind at Mr. Bassetts and went in the Evening to Williamsburg. claibornes : This Custis plantation lay in King William County on the neck of land the Pamunkey...
166[Diary entry: 25 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Apl. 25th. Waited upon the Govr. The governor of Virginia was an appointee of the king. Since, in the British imperial practice, the governorship was considered to be a source of revenue as well as an administrative responsibility, the governor often obtained the royal appointment of a lieutenant governor, who would live in Virginia as the colony’s chief executive officer, and with whom...
167[Diary entry: 26 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Apl. 26th. Visited all the Estates and my own Quarters about Williamsburg. Found these also in pretty good forwardness. Receivd Letters from Winchester informing me that the Small Pox had got among my Quarter’s in Frederick; determind therefore to leave Town as soon as possible and proceed up to them. estates: John Parke Custis’s plantations in York County. He had also inherited the...
168[Diary entry: 27 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Apl. 27th. Went to Church. In the Afternoon some Rain, & a great deal of severe Lightning but not much Thunder. church: probably Bruton Parish Church on Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg.
169[Diary entry: 28 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Apl. 28th. Let my House in Town to Colo. Moore, for Colo. Dandridge, who is to come into it in the Fall, and pay me 45 £ pr. Ann. In the meanwhile I am to paint it. In the Afternoon after collecting what Money I coud I left Town and reachd Colo. Bassetts. This day agreed with Mr. Jno. Driver of Nansemond for 25,000 shingles to be deliverd in October. They are to be 18 inch shingles and...
170[Diary entry: 29 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Apl. 29th. Reachd Port Royal by Sunset. GW crossed the Pamunkey River at Thomas Dansie’s ferry and dined at Todd’s ordinary on his way to Port Royal ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 89).
171[Diary entry: 30 April 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 30th. Came to Hoes Ferry by 10 Oclock but the wind blew too fresh to cross: detained there all Night. Hooe’s ferry, running from Mathias Point in Virginia to lower Cedar Point in Maryland, was established in 1715 by Col. Rice Hooe (Hoe, Howe), grandson of Rice (Rhuys) Hooe, a seventeenth-century immigrant from Wales. At Colonel Hooe’s death (1726), the ferry was inherited and run by...
172[May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday May 1st. Got over early in the Morning and reachd home before Dinnertime and upon enquiry found that my Clover Field was finishd sowing & Rolling the Saturday I left home—as was the Sowing of my Lucerne: and that on the they began sowing the last field of Oats & finishd it the 25th. That in box No. 6, two grains of Wheat appeard on the 20th.; one an Inch high—on the 22d. a grain of...
173[Diary entry: 1 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday May 1st. Got over early in the Morning and reachd home before Dinnertime and upon enquiry found that my Clover Field was finishd sowing & Rolling the Saturday I left home—as was the Sowing of my Lucerne: and that on the they began sowing the last field of Oats & finishd it the 25th. That in box No. 6, two grains of Wheat appeard on the 20th.; one an Inch high—on the 22d. a grain of...
174[Diary entry: 2 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday May 2d. Cold, & strong Westerly Winds. My English Horse Coverd the great bay Mare. GW had bought an English colt from Col. Bernard or Thomas Moore in Mar. 1759 for £17 10s. ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 55).
175[Diary entry: 3 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday May 3d. Wind got Southerly, but blew fresh and Cool. The Stallion coverd Ranken—and afterwards breaking out of his pasture Coverd the great bay Mare again.
176[Diary entry: 4 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday May 4th. Warm and fine. Set out for Frederick to see my Negroes that lay Ill of the Small Pox. Took Church in my way to Colemans where I arrivd about Sun setting.
177[Diary entry: 5 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday May 5th. Reach’d Mr. Stephenson in Frederick abt. 4 Oclock just time enough to see Richd. Mounts Interrd. Here I was informd that Harry & Kit, the two first of my Negroes that took the Small Pox were Dead and Roger & Phillis the only two down with it were recovering from it. Lodgd at Mr. Stephenson. Richard Stephenson (d. 1765) of Frederick County married the widow Onora Grimes...
178[Diary entry: 6 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday May 6. Visited my Brother’s Quarter, & just calld at my own in my way to Winchester where I spent the day & Evening with Colo. Byrd &ca. The Court was held to Day at Stephen’s Town but adjournd to Winchester to Morrow. Because of the smallpox epidemic in Frederick County, the county court was moved, by order of the governor 3 July 1759, to Stephensburg, “during the time the small pox...
179[Diary entry: 7 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday May 7. After taking the Doctrs. Direction’s in regard to my People I set out for my Quarters and got there abt. 12 Oclock—time enough to go over them and find every thing in the utmost confusion, disorder & backwardness my Overseer lying upon his Back of a broken Leg, and not half a Crop especially of Corn Ground prepard. Engagd. Vale. Crawford to go in pursuit of a Nurse to be ready...
180[Diary entry: 8 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday May 8th. Got Blankets and every other requisite from Winchester & settld things upon the best footing I coud to prevt. the Small Pox from Spreading—and in case of its spreading for the care of the Negroes. Mr. Vale. Crawford agreeing in case any more of the People at the lower Quarter getting it to take them home to his House—& if any of those at the upper Quarter gets it to have them...
181[Diary entry: 9 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday May 9th. Set out on my return Home. The Morning drizzling a little. Calld at the Bloomery and got Mr. Wm. Crawford to shew me the place that has been so often talkd of for erecting an Iron Work upon. The Convenience of Water is great—first it may be taken out of the River into a Canal and a considerable Fall obtained—& ⟨then⟩ a Run comes from the Mountain on which the largest Fall may...
182[Diary entry: 10 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday May 10. Arrivd at home abt. 10 Oclock where I found my Brother Jno. And was told that my great Chesnut folded a Horse Colt on the 6 Instt. and that my Young Peach trees were Wed according to Order. The Oats, & in short every thing else seemd quite at a stand, from the dryness of the Earth which was remarkably so partly for want of Rain and partly by the constant drying Winds which...
183[Diary entry: 11 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday May 11th. Mrs. Washington we[nt] to Church. My black pacing Mare was twice Coverd. Proposd a purchase of some Lands which Col. F[airfa]x has at the Mouth of the Warm Spring Run joing. Barwicks bottom. He promisd me the preference if he shd. sell but is not inclind to do it at prest.
184[Diary entry: 12 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday May 12th. Fine Rain began in the Morning and continued by Intervals all day. Sent Cook Jack & my Horses to get in Stephens Corn. Black Mare was coverd again to day. Mr. Alexander sent a Mare but She refusd the Horse. corn: Zea mays , Indian corn. GW’s principal variety was probably Virginia Gourdseed, a coarse, white dent corn with a red cob and soft and starchy kernel ( SINGLETON W....
185[Diary entry: 13 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday May 13th. Cloudy with some slight Showers of Rain. People all working at Muddy hole getting in Stephens’s Corn. My Brother Jno. returnd from Difficult. difficult: Difficult Run, which empties into the Potomac River between the Great Falls and the Little Falls. From 1757 until 1798 it was the upper half of the boundary between Loudoun and Fairfax counties.
186[Diary entry: 14 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday May 14th. Wind at No. Wt. fresh and drying. Visited at Belvoir. People & Plows at Muddy Hole.
187[Diary entry: 15 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday May 15th. Drying Winds—People at Muddy hole again.
188[Diary entry: 16 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday May 16th. Still Cool and Windy—my People yet continuing at Muddy hole. My Brother Jno. left this and I got Nations Estate Appraisd by Messrs. McCarty Barry & Triplet—as follows viz. One old Gun & lock 7.6 1 Small Bell 2.6 1 Suit of Cloaths viz. } a Coat Waistt. Breechs. Shirt, Hat, Shoes & Garters
189[Diary entry: 17 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday May 17th. Mulatto Jack returnd from King William with 3 Yoke of Oxen & lost Punch the Horse he rid. Sent up 16 Hydes to Mr. Adams at Alexa. viz. 12 large & 4 Small ones to be Tan’d. Brought a Pipe of Wine from there wch. Captn. McKie brought from Madeira also a Chest of Lemons and some other trifles. Began weeding my Trefoil below the Hill. The Great Bay was coverd. Got an Acct. that...
190[Diary entry: 18 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday May 18th. Set out in Company with Mr. George Johnston. At Colchester was informd by Colo. Thornton and Chissel that the Assembly wd. be broke up before I could get down. Turnd back therefore & found Colo. Fairfax and his Family and that Lightning wch. had attended a good deal of Rain had struck my Quarter & near 10 Negroes in it some very bad but with letting Blood they recoverd. George...
191[Diary entry: 19 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday May 19th. Went to Alexandria to see Captn. Littledales Ship Launchd wch. went of extreamely well. This day was attended with slight shower’s. Colo. F[airfa]x had a Mare Cover’d. So had Captn. Dalton. In 1760 Isaac Littledale was establishing his trade between his home in Whitehaven, Eng., and the Potomac River valley. For this trade the Hero , a 200–ton ship which required 14 hands, was...
192[Diary entry: 20 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday May 20th. Being Court day Mr. Clifton’s Land in the Neck was exposd to Sale and I bought it for £1210 Sterlg. & under many threats and disadvantages paid the Money into the Comrs. hands and returnd home at Night with Colo. Fairfax & Famy. Captn. Dalton’s Dun Mare again Covd. The final decree of the General Court in chancery (decree, Clifton v. Carroll et al., 12 April 1760, NjWdHi )...
193[Diary entry: 21 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday May 21. Wrote to Messrs. Nicholas & With for Advice how to act in regard to Clifton’s Land. Sent the Letter by the Post. A good deal of Rain in the Night. Colo. Fairfax went home. Began shearing my Sheep. ⟨Dalton’s sorrel⟩ Mare coverd. In their reply of 27 May 1760 Robert Carter Nicholas and George Wythe stated they were “sorry to find you are likely to be involved in so much...
194[Diary entry: 22 May 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday May 22d. Continued shearing my sheep. A good deal of Rain at Night—and Cool as it has been ever since the first Reign on the 12th. Captn. Dalton had a sorrell Mare coverd. My Black Mare that came Frederick was Coverd Yesterday & the day before. Captn. McCarty had a Mare Coverd the 20th. Memms. To have 600 Tobo. Hills Marld at Williamsons quarter—to try the Virtues of it—to do it more...
195[The Weather] [January 1760] (Washington Papers)
1st. Fine warm Sun Shine—wind Southerly. 2. Warm, but Mist and Rain. 3. Just the same kind of Weather as Yestery. 4. Ditto. 5. Wind at No. West. Blew hard & grew very Cold. 6. Clear & tolerable warm. 7. Ditto. 8. The morng. fine, but Cloudy & cold afterwards. 9. High wind, but clear & tolerably warm. 10. Fine, clear & warm.
196[Diary entry: 1 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
1st. Fine warm Sun Shine—wind Southerly.
197[Diary entry: 2 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
2. Warm, but Mist and Rain.
198[Diary entry: 3 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
3. Just the same kind of Weather as Yestery.
199[Diary entry: 4 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
4. Ditto.
200[Diary entry: 5 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
5. Wind at No. West. Blew hard & grew very Cold.