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.
201[Diary entry: 6 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
6. Clear & tolerable warm.
202[Diary entry: 7 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
7. Ditto.
203[Diary entry: 8 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
8. The morng. fine, but Cloudy & cold afterwards.
204[Diary entry: 9 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
9. High wind, but clear & tolerably warm.
205[Diary entry: 10 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
10. Fine, clear & warm.
206[Diary entry: 11 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
11. Morng. Lowering, but fine & warm afterwards.
207[Diary entry: 12 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
12. White frost & clear in the Morng. but Cloudy afterwd.
208[Diary entry: 13 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
13. Wind at N. Wt. very clear, & extrame cold.
209[Diary entry: 14 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
14. Wind Do. but not hard—yet very cold & frosty.
210[Diary entry: 15 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
15. Do. pretty fresh & very cold & frosty.
211[Diary entry: 16 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
16. Wind at So. Wt. very cloudy in the Mg. At 12 begn. to Sn[ow].
212[Diary entry: 17 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
17. Wind at No. Et. and Rain till Noon then Mist.
213[Diary entry: 18 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
18. Great Sleet, & mist till Noon, then clear Wd. So.
214[Diary entry: 19 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
19. Wind So. tolerable clear—but cloudy afternn.
215[Diary entry: 20 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
20. Wind Contd. So[uther]ly with Rain, & Warm.
216[Diary entry: 21 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
21. So[uther]ly in the Morng. and Rain till Noon—then No[rther]ly & clear.
217[Diary entry: 22 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
22. Wind cond. No[rther]ly. Clear, cold, & hard frost.
218[Diary entry: 23 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
23. Clear and Moderate—wind Westerly.
219[Diary entry: 24 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
24. Fine day. Wind So[uther]ly. Gradual thaw.
220[Diary entry: 25 January 1760] (Washington Papers)
25. Warm & So[uther]ly wind in the Mg. Afterwards. at No. Wt.