To George Washington from Thomas Oliver, 2 October 1773
From Thomas Oliver
Marlbrough 2d Octr 1773
Sr
I had forgot to request the favour of you To order down by the vessel that comes For the Wheat a Cask of the best flower. It will save me the trouble of sending to Mr Brent’s Mill which in winter is sometimes daingerous.1 You’l Much Oblige Sr your Obt Humle Sart
Thos Oliver
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter is docketed on the reverse “Memorandom for Mr Cowan.”
Thomas Oliver seems to have been a manager at Marlborough, the Mercer plantation in Stafford County.
1. Robert Brent’s mill was on Aquia Creek in Stafford County. In his account with James Mercer, GW records on 8 Jan. 1774 receiving 771½ bushels of wheat from Marlborough for a total of £198.8.9. An undated entry, probably sometime in 1774, notes: “To a Barl of Flour to Thos Oliver 205 lbs. Nett @ 16/8 and Cask 1/8 – 1.15.10” ( , folio 84).