1[Diary entry: 27 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 27th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Clear and pleasant all day; Wind at No. West in the forenoon and Eastwardly afterwards, but not much of it. Mrs. Washington set out after breakfast for Abingdon—to see Mrs. Stuart who is ill. I rid to my Mill and to the Plantation at Dogue run—also to the places where the Muddy hole & ferry people were at Work. Mr. Shaw...
2[Diary entry: 17 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 17th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 48 at Night. A thick fog till 9 oclock A.M. when it dispelled; was clear and pleasant till towards Sunsetting when the western horison seemed to cloud & lower. Wind Southerly all day but the ground very wet—Snow all dissolved where the Sun had access. Rid to my Mill, and the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue Run & ferry. Sent for...
3[Diary entry: 31 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 31st. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 34 at Night. The morning was a little cloudy but the weather soon cleared with a brisk No. Wester which occasioned a great change in the air. Planted a few pine trees in my Wildernesses.
4[Diary entry: 7 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 7th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—⟨4⟩6 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning clear & calm—grd. a little frozen. Wind pretty fresh afterwards from the Northwest—notwithstanding which it lowered a good deal towards evening. I rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations and by the grd. where the ferry hands were at work.
5[Diary entry: 21 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 21st. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at N. Clear, with the wind pretty fresh at No. West in the forenoon calm afterwards. A Mr. McPherson of Alexandria came & returned before dinner. His business was, to communicate the desires of a Neighbourhood in Berkeley County, to build a School & Meeting House on some Land of mine there, leased to one . My answer was, that if...
6[Diary entry: 11 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 11th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 40 at Night. Weather clear and cool, Wind at No. West, and ground hard froze in the Morning. Rode to all my Plantns. and to the Mill. On my Return found a Mr. James Hains, the Manager of the James River Canal here—sent by the Directors to me—and to proceed with Letters from me to the Potomack and Susquehanna Works which being...
7[Diary entry: 1 April 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 1st. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 32 at Night. A very disagreeable mixture of Rain and fine hail fell all day, with a fresh and cold No. easterly wind. Towards night and in the Night it snowed. Few days or Nights this year have been more inclemt. and disagreeable than this.
8[Diary entry: 7 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 7th. Road to my Mill, Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole Plantations. Preparing my dry well, and the Well in my New Cellar for the reception of Ice. But little wind, and that Southwardly. Day very pleasant—tho’ it thawed but little. The well in the new cellar was to prove unsatisfactory (see entry for 5 June ). The dry well that GW used as an icehouse was first mentioned in 1773, when it...
9[Diary entry: 11 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 11th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning 40 at Noon & 44 at Night. Until Noon it was foggy, with but little wind. Afternoon it cleared, & was very pleasant. The wind pretty fresh from the So. West—which bringing the Ice to the Shore again I renewed the Work of filling my dry Well with it by assembly Carts & hands from my Plantations.
10[Diary entry: 29 June 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 29th. Mercury at 69 in the Morning—74 at Noon And 76 at Night. Clear & pleasant all day except being warm. Wind Westerly. Messrs. Philips and Edwards, and Mr. Booth & Mr. Hawkins left this after Breakfast. Colo. Bassett his two Sons, Fanny Bassett, and Nelly & Washington Custis, followed soon after for Abingdon. Mr. George Lee & Doctr. Craik came here to breakfast and after Dinner...
11[Diary entry: 1 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 1st. Mercury at 29 in the Morning, 28 at Noon and 34 at Night. Snowing, raining, or Hailing all day & Night and very disagreeable. Wind at No. Wt. and West the whole time.
12[Diary entry: 19 July 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 19th. Thermomiter at 70 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 76 at Night. Very little Wind through the day, and in general clear. Rid to the Plantation in the Neck—to Muddy hole, and to Dogue run at the last of which they were cutting grass and at the first just begin[nin]g.
13[Diary entry: 9 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 9th. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning—72 at Noon and 74 at Night. Having provided a light & convenient Boat—hired two hands to work her and laid in some Stores, Colonels Fitzgerald & Gilpin, and myself embarked in it, leaving Mr. Rumsey to engage more hds. & to set those he had to work about 6 Oclock P.M. In this Boat we passed through the Spout, and all the other Falls and rapids, and...
14[Diary entry: 23 July 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 23d. Mercury at 79 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 80 at Night. Wind Westwardly in the forenoon, but quite calm afterwards; afternoon cool. Rid to Muddy hole and River Plantations. Finished my Hay Harvest in the Neck. Perceived a few Plants of the Pride of China (the Seed of which were Sowed on the 13th. of June) to be coming up. And also the Jien pien Cou fa—between the 8 & 9 pegs and...
15[Diary entry: 13 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 13th. Thermometer at 80 in the Morng.—84 at Noon and 86 at Night. Rid to my Muddy hole and Neck Plantations, and beheld Corn in a melancholy situation, fired in most places to the Ear with little appearance of yielding if rain should soon come & a certainty of making nothing if it did not. Attempts had been made at both these Plantations to sow Wheat, but stirring the ground in the...
16[Diary entry: 3 September 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 3d. Mercury at 65 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night. Much such a day as yesterday until the Evening when the Sun made a feeble effort to appear and the clouds began to thin and disperse. In the Evening James Madison Esqr. came in.
17[Diary entry: 26 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 26th. Thermometer at 58 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 60 at Night. Raining with little or no intermission through the day—a great deal having also fallen in the Night—Wind still at No. East. Sent 50 Barrels of Superfine flour by the sloop Tryal Peter Kirwin to Thos. Newton junr. Esqr. to be disposed of on my Acct. Half of this flour was shipped uninspected because Capt. Peter Kerwin,...
18[Diary entry: 29 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 29th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning 64 at Noon and 65 at Night. Morning clear, calm, and very pleasant. About Noon it began to lower a little, and continued to do so all the Afternoon. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry and Dogue run—at the last of which finished Sowing the Clover Seed which I sent there the 26th.; With this I mixed 9 Bushels of the pounded Plaister of Paris; and...
19[Diary entry: 16 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 16th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—82 at Noon and 80 at Night. Clear with little wind in the Morning. About 10 or 11 oclock a breeze sprung up from the Eastward but died soon afterwards—rising again in the afternoon at So. West. Finished my Mill race and Dam this Afternoon. Began about 10 Oclock to put up the Book press in my study.
20[Diary entry: 30 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 30th. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind tho’ not much of it, was still at East. Morning Misty and threatning till dinner time after which it cleared. Accompanied by Colo. Mead, I rid to muddy hole and Neck Plantations to shew him my experiments in the drill husbandry—with which he seemed to be pleased. G. A. Washington went up to Alexandria on my business & did...
21[Diary entry: 19 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and at Night. Wind at No. West and cold all day, with Clouds which threatned Snow in the evening. Ground very hard frozen. Finished digging my Summer Turnips and putting them in a Cellar. Also finished covering the Palmetto royal at the front gate, except a small piece on the south side, nearest the gate, for which brush could not be...
22[Diary entry: 20 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 20th. Mercury at 71 in the morning—77 at Noon and 78 at Night. Morning clear and pleasant with but little wind. In the afternoon the Wind blew from the Eastward, & a cloud arising in the contrary direction it began about 9 Oclock to rain very powerfully and continued to do so, more or less through the Night. Mr. Craik went away before Breakfast, and the rest of the Company about 11...
23[Diary entry: 9 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 9th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—39 at Noon and at Night. Not much wind—thick and Misting all day. Towards Night it began to rain fast & continued to do so until day. Planted the Crab trees which were brought home yesterday and more young pines.
24[Diary entry: 26 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 26th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 44 at Night. Morning clear, but a watery Sun, which was soon obscured by clouds; the whole day was lowering; towards Sundown it began to Snow, which continued until it became two Inches deep. The Wind was at No. East all day & was raw & chilling. My jobbers spent the greater part of this day in placing stakes for the Support of the...
25[Diary entry: 23 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 23d. Thermometer at 48 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and at Night. Clear, warm, and pleasant, with the Wind at South. Finished all the Brick work of my Ice House today. Miss Kitty Washington, Genl. Lincoln, Colonels Hooe & Lyles, Mr. Porter, Captn. Goodwin, Doctr. Swift, Mr. Potts, Mr. Dalby, Mr. Monshur Mr. Williams, Mr. Philips & a Mr. Cramer or Cranmur came here to Dinner and all of...
26[Diary entry: 16 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 16th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 54 at Night. A great Hoar frost and Ice at least the ⅛ of an Inch thick. What injury this may have done to the fruit & vegetation, will soon be seen. The Buds of every kind of tree & Shrub are swelling. The tender leaves of many had unfolded. The Apricot blossoms were putting forth. The Peaches, & Cherries were upon the point of doing...
27[Diary entry: 13 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 13th. Thermometer at in the Morng. 47 at Noon and at Night. Wind Westerly, fresh, & air turning cold. Flying Clouds all day, but clear at Night, and still. Finished killing my Hogs—The Number & weight of which are as follow. No. Wt. River Plantn. 44 6814 Dogue run Do. 28 4003 Muddy hole Do. 30 3638 Ferry—Do. 26 2930
28[Diary entry: 30 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 30th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—62 at Noon and at Night. A good deal of rain fell in the Night—showers all day with thunder; & alternate Squals and calm. Doctr. Stuart went away after breakfast & carried the three Children Betcy, Nelly, & Washington Custis with him to Abingdon. Arthur Lee Esqr. came to Dinner. Eleanor Parke (Nelly) Custis (1779–1852) and George Washington Parke...
29[Diary entry: 6 May 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 6th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 64 at Night. Dark foggy Morning, with little wind, but great appearances of rain all the forenoon—after noon clear & pleasant. Breakfasted at Dumfries, & dined at home; where I found Mrs. Moylan (Genl. Moylan having gone on some business towards Fredericksburgh) Mr. Pine, Mr. Jno. Lewis & his Brother Lawrence—all of whom I had left at Mt....
30[Diary entry: 20 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 20th. Mercury at 44 this Morning. 44 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning clear and tolerably pleasant; but before eight Oclock the Wind coming hard from the No. West it clouded—grew cold and was very disagreeable, all day. No working of ground but sent my Roller to Muddy hole to Roll the orchard grass Seed wch. had been sowed in the 2 A[cres] 3 R[ods] 22 P[erches] of Wheat, friday last,...
31[Diary entry: 27 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
27th. I left Mr. Logston’s a little after day-break. At 4 Miles thro’ bad road, occasioned by Stone, I crossed the Stony River; which, as hath been before observed, appears larger than the No. Branch. At ten Miles I had by an imperceptible rise, gained the summit of the Alligany Mountain and began to desend it where it is very steep and bad to the waters of Pattersons Creek which embraces...
32[Diary entry: 10 May 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 10th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning— at Noon and 60 at Night. Wind pretty fresh all day from So. East—raw, cold, & not much unlike rain. Quitted fishing at the ferry landing, as I had done at the House landing on Saturday last. Began to weed a yard for Brick making at home. Rid into the Neck. Found my Wheat there tolerably promising. General Moylan returned before dinner. Doctr. Jenifer...
33[Diary entry: 29 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 29th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. The morning remarkably fine & pleasant, with little or no wind—the afternoon a little lowering and at Night it began a mizzling rain which encreased and continued raining all night. After breakfast the Gentlemen who came yesterday returned. In the afternoon Colo. Grayson & his Nephew Mr. Benjn. Orr, came in and stayed...
34[Diary entry: 19 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 19th. Thermometer at 35 in the morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Morning clear and tolerably pleasant, though the horison was red & angry at the place of the Suns rising. After noon it lowered a good deal and at Night there fell a mixture of Snow and Rain—which turned to a kind of misling rain that continued through the Night. But little wind in the fore part of the day—at So. Et. and...
35[Diary entry: 9 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 9th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 38 at Night. Clear all day, & for the Season cold, the wind being fresh from the No. West. After breakfast the Gentlemen who came yesterday returned to Alexandria and after candles were lighted Doctr. Jenifer came in and stayed all Night.
36[Diary entry: 23 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 23d. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind at East all day. By eight A.M. it began to Snow and continued to do so more or less all day, covering the ground by Night 3 or 4 Inches when it became a kind of Sleet. Mr. Lund Washington came here to dinner, and returned afterwards. A Mr. Rice Hooe came in the afternoon and stayed all Night. Mr. Shaw went to...
37[Diary entry: 13 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 13th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 48 at Night. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind, and that variable. In the forenoon it was Northerly and in the afternoon easterly and towds. Sun set lowering—the sun setting in a bank. Mr. Harrison and son went away after breakfast and Mr. Lund Washington came immediately afterwards and stayed till the afternoon. The ground...
38[Diary entry: 3 April 1786] (Washington Papers)
April 3d. Thermometer at 36 in the Morng.—50 at Noon and 50 at Night. A hard frost this morning & a good deal of Ice—Wind Southerly and clear till the afternoon, when it shifted to the East and lowered. Mr. Fendall went away before Breakfast and Mr. Wallace & Doctr. Middleton soon after it. Lund Washington dined here. Snow chiefly dissolved—ground very wet and unfit to stir. Planted stocks of...
39[Diary entry: 9 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 9th. Not much wind, and that at West, & So. West. Moderate & thawing a little. The Mercury in the Thermometer was at 32 this afternoon. Appearances of Rain.
40[Diary entry: 13 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 13th. Mercury in the Thermomiter at 26 about Sunrise—30 at Noon & 32 at Night. Morning clear & cold, the Wind being fresh from the No. West, Which, about Noon, died away and grew moderate. Was envited, & went to the Funeral of Mr. Peake who died on Tuesday night. Returned to Dinner, accompanied by the Revd. Doctr. Griffith. Found a Mr. Dalby (an English Gentleman) here—both of whom...
41[Diary entry: 3 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 3d. Mercury this morning at 22 at Noon and at Night 28. Wind at No. West all day but it did not blow hard—clear & cold. Mr. Benja. Dulany came here to Dinner & returned afterwards. We concluded a bargain which has been long in agitation for the Exchange of his Land in this Neck which he & his wife have the reversion of for the tract I bought of Messrs. Adam Dow & McIver on Hunting...
42[Diary entry: 25 July 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 25th. Thermometer at 72 in the Morning—76 at Night [noon] and 76 at Night. Rid to my Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run and in the Neck. Southerly Wind, and warm in the Afternoon.
43[Diary entry: 15 August 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 15th. Thermometer at 78 in the Morning—82 at Noon and at Night. Wind Westerly in the Morning wch. died away about Noon—when clouds in the Southwest indicated Rain but none fell. Rid to my Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run and Muddy hole. Found the two first were suffering as I had described the other two on Saturday and that both had discontinued sowing of Wheat after putting about 30...
44[Diary entry: 5 September 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 5th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 72 at Night. Day clear & pleasant with very little wind. About 2 Oclock, Fanny Bassett and Mr. Craik third Son of the Doctr. came here; the last of whom went away after dinner. Mr. Madison left this after Breakfast. Began to spade up the Lawn in front of the Court yard. And also began to prepare the Scaffolds for Cieling the Piazza. The...
45[Diary entry: 28 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 28th. Thermometer at 66 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 68 at Night. The forenoon very rainy with high Wind from the No. Et. About Noon it ceased raining. The Wind moderated and veered round to the Southward and then died away. The continual, and excessive rains, has so surcharged the Earth with Water, that abt. 40 feet of my sunk wall, near the Ice house fell down and the greater part of...
46[Diary entry: 18 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 18th. Mercury at 78 in the Morning—84 at Noon and 78 at Night. Calm, clear, and very warm in the forepart of the day; abt. 2 Oclock a cloud arose to the Westward; and a pretty heavy shower of rain fell with some thunder & lightning; after which it cleared; but another shower came on about sun down tho’ it was very moderate & of short continuance.
47[Diary entry: 22 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 22d. Mercury at 63 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 68 at Night. Calm, clear, cool and pleasant all day. Mr. Fendall went away after Breakfast. I rid to all the Plantations, and to the Hay makers at the Ferry. The Plows finished the drilled Corn in the Neck on Monday afternoon and the hoes got over it on Tuesday Morning, and both went into the cut of common Corn by the Barn.
48[Diary entry: 28 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 28th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 56 at Night. Wind Southerly all day and clear weather. Mr. Henderson returned to the Meeting of the Commissioners abt. 10 Oclock and Mr. Chase went away after dinner. The commissioners’ final agreement and official letters all were dated Mount Vernon, 28 Mar. 1785, and historians have since referred to this meeting as the Mount Vernon...
49[Diary entry: 25 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Friday 25th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. at Noon and at Night. Wind Westerly & cooler than it had been the two days preceeding. About Noon a black Cloud arose to the Westward out of which came a mixture of Snow and Rain—this disappearing the Sun shone but the day upon the whole was variable & unpleast. Set out after breakfast, accompanied by Mr. G. Washington, to make Mr. Mason at...
50[Diary entry: 18 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 18th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind Southerly with great appearances of rain until the afternoon when there was a red sky and clear horizon towards the sun setting. Rid to Alexandria to the Election of Delegates for this County and dined at Colo. Fitzgeralds. Colo. Syme & Doctr. Steuart were chosen & for whom I gave my suffrages. Had the Roots, shrubs...