To George Washington from Hugh Stephenson, 1 July 1767
From Hugh Stephenson
Bulskin July 1st 1767
Sir
I am sorry it was not in my power to Come Down according to prommise my bisness Lay so ilconvenent that I Cold not Come which I hope your Hounour will Excuse me for not Comeing at that time and you may Depend upon my Comeing in two or three weeks at the Longest the man that Lives on the Colo. Plantation be Low me is now down and is to Let me now when he returns what time Mr Fairfax will be at home that I mant miss of him when I go Down1—Mr Crawford desired me to Let you now that he had spoke to a woman to spin for you but do not think it is proper to send her before that he had an oppertunity to send som of her work to you that you mite see if she would sute you.2 I am Sir your Humble ⟨St⟩
Hugh Stephenson
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter is addressed “To Colo. George washonton at Mount varnell.”
Hugh Stephenson was one of the five sons of Richard Stephenson (d. 1765) and half brother to Valentine Crawford (d. 1777) and Col. William Crawford (1732–1782), all of whom lived in the vicinity of GW’s Bullskin plantation and had dealings with GW over the years. See , passim.
1. George William Fairfax had a plantation in Frederick County.
2. GW had employed Valentine Crawford until recently to bring his mountain tobacco down to Alexandria from Bullskin.