To George Washington from Thomas Peter, 14 May 1798
From Thomas Peter
George Town 14th May [1798]
Dear Sir
Immediately on getting home I sought out for the Persons I promised you; the Brick & Stone Mason will be happy of such imployment as yours, & his lowest prices are £12 pr Month, ten Shillings a day, twelve Shilling & six pence a thousand for Bricks, & three & nine pence a perch for stone, Maryland Cuy—Mr Warring who is Master to the brick Maker I informed you off, on application ⟨to⟩ him said I Should have him, but he ha⟨s n⟩ot seen him for some time, I made Inquiries after him, & to day have been informed he has ingaged himself to Ranaldo Johnson to make Bricks all this Season, I have been looking out for some other person, but have no prospect to procure one for you.1
Tuesday last I called at Mr ⟨Rools⟩ office with your order, but was informed by Colo. Deakins he was at Annapolis, I then shewed him your Order, he told me there were about ten pounds in the Hands of a Mr Perry (a few miles from Town) which he would send for against Mr ⟨Rools⟩, Returned this Morning I waited on Mr ⟨Rools⟩ he told me the money was not yet come in, this Evening ⟨mutilated⟩ected it, the account should be made out ⟨mutilated⟩ Ready for you against Tomorrow, I shall ⟨mutilated⟩ him for the Acct & Money, & Transmit the same by the next Stage.2 Make my best Regards to Mrs Washington & am with the greatest Esteem Dear sir yours Sincerly
Thomas Peter
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Thomas Peter left Mount Vernon with his wife and children on 8 May (, 6:296). John Waring (Warring) was a tenant on GW’s land in Montgomery County, Maryland. Rinaldo Johnson (c.1755–1811), son-in-law of George Mason of Gunston Hall, was a planter in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
2. Benjamin Perry may be the Mr. Perry with whom GW had dealings in 1797 (see GW to Daniel Jenifer, Jr., 7 June 1797). In his letter to GW of 16 May, Peter indicates that the £10 “in the Hands of” Perry was a part of the payment of rent owed to GW by his tenant Priscilla Beale, Perry’s mother-in-law. Mr. Rools, or Roots, has not been identified.