To George Washington from Hugh Stephenson, 12 September 1772
From Hugh Stephenson
Sepr 12th 1772
Dear Sir
I Receved yours of 2d of June and am veary Sorrey I Mist Seing of you as I Went to Colo. Samuell Washington in order to waight upon to talke about this Matter on Thirsday Morning and Mist of you I should have Came to Mr Wornar Washington to you but Meeting with Mr John Aris Who told Me you wase Left the County1 and as I had Not the Money it wase usless to folow you and thrugh the bad management of My people when I wase over the Mountains Last fall have had all My Tobaco Refused which I thought to have Made you a payment out off and as I must Acknoladge you have Ever been a frend to the famely and have Endulged us verey Much and I hope as you have Endulged us So Long you Still will for bare a Litle Longer and My Mother and My Selfe will Make you all the Payment we Can by the first of octobr2 there wase 40 Bushells Sead wheat that wase deliverd to Edward vilot to Soe which Mr Lound washington promised to give Credit on the bond3 for that is Not done when william Crawford Coms down he will pay you part the Bond and My Mother and Selfe will Make you up all we Can against that time and you May depend on the hole by the first of March.4 I am dear Sir your Most Hble Servt
Hugh Stephenson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found. GW spent the night of 1 June at the house of his brother Samuel Washington and the nights of 2 and 3 June at Warner Washington’s, before leaving Frederick County for Mount Vernon on 4 June (, 3:112–13).
2. The estate of Richard Stephenson of Frederick County, a man with whom GW had long-term business dealings, owed GW £85.0.2 (, folio 331; , folio 38). Richard Stephenson’s widow and Hugh’s mother, Onora Grimes Crawford Stephenson, was also the mother of the Crawford brothers, William and Valentine.
3. After receiving this letter GW made this entry in his account with the Stephenson estate: “By 40 Bushls of Wheat said to be delvd at my Plantn in Frederick for seed @ 3/—£6.0.0” (, folio 38). Edward Violet had been the overseer of GW’s Bullskin plantation in Frederick County since 1762 (Agreement with Edward Violet, 5 Aug. 1762).
4. In , folio 38, GW credits William Crawford with a payment of £20 on 15 Dec. 1772 and with another of £25 in 1773, after which Hugh Stephenson and his brother, John, gave GW their bond for the balance, still unpaid after the war (see GW to John Stephenson, 13 Feb. 1784, n.2).