1[December 1770] (Washington Papers)
Decr. 1st. Reachd home from Wests after an absence of 9 Weeks and one Day. 2. At home all day alone. 3. Rid to the Mill in the forenoon, and returnd to Dinner. 4. Rid by Posey’s to the Mill, and to the Ditchers. Mr. Boucher and Jacky Custis came here in the Afternoon. Boucher had not given up the idea of taking Jacky to Europe. At this time he was urging the Washingtons to prepare the boy for...
2Acct. of the Weather in Decemr. [1770] (Washington Papers)
Decr. 1st. Cold & Raw in the forenoon & constant Snow in the Afternoon. 2. Clear, & tolerably pleasant, except being Cool. Wind at No. West. 3. Clear & cool, Wind at No. West, & Ground hard froze As it has been for several days. 4. Clear and Cool, Wind being Northwardly in the forenoon & Southwardly afterwards. 5. Lowering & like for Snow in the forenoon—but clearer afterwards. 6. Warm Morning...
3[Diary entry: 31 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
31. I rid to My Mill in the forenoon and Afternoon. Nancy Peake came here. GW gave Nancy £10 as a loan for her father, Humphrey Peake, who repaid the sum in June ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 307).
4[Diary entry: 31 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
31. Also clear and Pleasant.
5[Diary entry: 30 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
30. Mr. & Mrs. Cockburn went away. My Miller & his wife and Mr. Ball dind here. GW’s miller was William Roberts, a Pennsylvanian who had signed articles of agreement with Lund Washington 13 Oct. 1770 engaging himself to run the new mill at Mount Vernon for £80 a year plus the privilege of feeding a cow and raising domestic fowl at GW’s expense ( DLC:GW ). Roberts was highly skilled in the...
6[Diary entry: 30 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
30. Exceeding pleast. calm and clear.
7[Remarks and Occurences in December 1770] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 1st. Reachd home being absent from it Nine weeks and one day. 11th. Agreed with Christr. Shade to drive my Waggon by the year for the doing of which I am to find him in Bed, Board, & Washing, and to pay him Eighteen pounds a year. Shade was employed by GW as his wagoner until the end of 1774 ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers,...
8[Diary entry: 29 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
29. Went a fox hunting in Company with the two Mr. Triplets & Mr. Peake, found no Fox. Upon my return home found Mr. & Mrs. Cockburn here.
9[Diary entry: 29 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
29. Very pleasant and quite Calm but somewhat lowering.
10[Diary entry: 29 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
29. Truelove another Hound Bitch Shut up with Ringwood & by him alone lined.
11[Diary entry: 28 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
28. At the Mill in the Forenoon and Afternoon.
12[Diary entry: 28 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind.
13[Diary entry: 27 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
27. Went a fox Hunting and killd a fox in Company with the two Mr. Triplets and Mr. Peake who dined here.
14[Diary entry: 27 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
27. Frosty Morning but clear and pleasant afterwards.
15[Diary entry: 27 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
27. Shut up Singer after She had been first lined by one or two Cur Dogs. Jowler being put in with her lind her several times; and his Puppies if to be distinguished saved.
16[Diary entry: 26 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
26. At Home all day alone.
17[Diary entry: 26 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
26. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind.
18[Diary entry: 25 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
25. Went to Pohick Church and returnd to Dinner.
19[Diary entry: 25 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
25. Snowing in the Morning, but clear afterwards and Cool. Snow about an Inch deep.
20[Diary entry: 24 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
24. Rid to the Mill again in the fore and afternoon.
21[Diary entry: 24 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
24. Cloudy & like for Rain but none fell.
22[Diary entry: 23 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
23. Rid to the Mill before Dinner. At home afterwards alone.
23[Diary entry: 23 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
23. Clear & pleasant Morning but windy afterwards & a little Cloudy.
24[Diary entry: 22 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
22. Rid to the Mill & Mill Race in the fore and Afternoon. Jacky Custis had been indulged with a further reprieve from studying and apparently was now at Mount Vernon again; on this date GW recorded giving the boy £2 6s. 3d. “to buy Sundries at Fred[ericksbur]g” ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio...
25[Diary entry: 22 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
22. High wind all day from the North West—but not very cold.
26[Diary entry: 22 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
22. Began to Grind Sand in my Mill the Water being let in upon the Fore Bay. Dry sand was being ground between the new millstones “to smooth down the sharp points” on their faces. When the faces were fully finished and fitted together, they would be furrowed and dressed for grinding grain ( craik [1] David Craik. The Practical American Millwright and Miller: Comprising the Elementary...
27[Diary entry: 21 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
21. Rid to the Mill in the fore and Afternoon.
28[Diary entry: 21 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
21. Lowering Morning with a little Rain—but clear afterwards & windy.
29[Diary entry: 20 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
20. Returnd home.
30[Diary entry: 20 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
20. Very pleasant, being clear and Calm.