31[Diary entry: 18 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
18th. Set out with Doctr. Craik for my Land on Millers run (a branch of Shurtees [Chartier’s] Creek). Crossed the Monongahela at Deboirs Ferry—16 Miles from Simpsons —bated at one Hamiltons about 4 Miles from it, in Washington County, and lodged at a Colo. Cannons on the Waters of Shurtees Creek—a kind hospitable Man; & sensible. Most of the Land over which we passed was hilly—some of it very...
32[Diary entry: 19 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
19th. Being Sunday, and the People living on my Land, apparently very religious, it was thought best to postpone going among them till tomorrow —but rode to a Doctr. Johnsons who had the Keeping of Colo. Crawfords (Surveying) records—but not finding him at home was disappointed in the business which carried me there. These settlers were Seceders, a Presbyterian sect that had broken with the...
33[Diary entry: 20 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
20th. Went early this Morning to view my Land, & to receive the final determination of those who live upon it. Having obtained a Pilot near the Land I went first to the plantation of Samuel McBride, who has about 5 Acres of Meadow & 30 of arable Land under good fencing—a Logged dwelling house with a punchion roof, & stable, or small barn, of the same kind—the Land rather hilly, but good,...
34[Diary entry: 21 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
21st. Accompanied by Colo. Cannon & Captn. Swearingin who attended me to Debores ferry on the Monongahela which seperates the Counties of Fayette & Washington, I returned to Gilbert Simpson’s in the Afternoon; after dining at one Wickermans Mill near the Monongahela. Colo. Cannon, Captn. Sweringin & Captn. Richie all promised to hunt up the Evidences which could prove my possession &...
35[Diary entry: 22 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
22d. After giving instructions to Major Thomas Freeman respecting his conduct in my business, and disposing of my Baggage which was left under the care of Mr. Gilbert Simpson—consisting of two leather & one linnen Valeses with my Marquee & horseman’s Tent Tent Poles & Pins—all my bedding except Sheets (which I take home with me)—the equipage Trunk containing all that was put into it except the...
36[Diary entry: 23 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
23d. Arrived at Colo. Philips abt. five oclock in the afternoon 16 Miles from Beason Town & near the Mouth of Cheat Rivr. The land thro’ wch. I rid was for the most part tolerably level—in some places rich—but in general of a second quality. Crossed no water of consequence except Georges Creek. An Apology made to me from the Court of Fayette (thro’ Mr. Smith) for not addressing me; as they...
37[Diary entry: 24 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
24th. And crossed it at the Mouth, as it was thought the river was too much swelled to attempt the ford a little higher up. The fork was about 2 Miles & half from Colo. Philups, & the ground betwn. very hilly tho’ rich in places. The Cheat at the Mouth is about 125 yds. wide—the Monongahela near dble. that. The colour of the two Waters is very differt., that of Cheat is dark (occasioned as is...
38[Diary entry: 25 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
25th. Having obtained the foregoing information, and being indeed some what discouraged from the acct. given of the passage of the Cheat river through the Laurel hill and also from attempting to return by the way of the Dunkers bottom, as the path it is said is very blind, & exceedingly grown up with briers, I resolved to try the other rout, along the New road to Sandy Creek; & thence by...
39[Diary entry: 26 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
26th. Having found our Horses readily (for they nevr. lost sight of our fire) we started at the dawning of day, and passing along a small path much enclosed with weeds and bushes, loaded with water from the overnights rain, & the showers which were continually falling, we had an uncomfortable travel to one Charles friends, about 10 Miles; where we could get nothing for our horses, and only...
40[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...
41[Diary entry: 28 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
28th. Remained at Colo. Hite’s all day to refresh myself and rest my Horses, having had a very fatieguing journey thro’ the Mountains, occasioned not more from the want of accomodation & the real necessaries of life than the showers of Rain which were continually falling & wetting the bushes—the passing of which, under these circumstances was very little better than swimming of rivulets. From...
42[Diary entry: 29 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
29th. Having appointed to join Doctr. Craik and my Baggage at Colo. Warner Washington’s, but finding it required only one day more to take the rout of Mr. Thos. Lewis’s (near Stanton) from whose Office I wanted some papers to enable me to prosecute my ejectments of those who had possessed themselves of my Land in the County of Washington, State of Pensylvania; and that I might obtain a more...
43[Diary entry: 30 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
30th. Set out early—Captn. Hite returning home and travelled 11 or 12 Miles along the River, until I had passed thro’ the gap. Then bearing more westerly by one Bryan’s —the widow Smiths and one Gilberts, I arrived at Mr. Lewis’s about Sundown, after riding about 40 Miles—leaving Rockingham C[our]t House to my right about 2 Miles. From Brocks Gap, GW rode southwest for several miles along the...
44[October 1784] (Washington Papers)
October 1st. Dined at Mr. Gabriel Jones’s, not half a mile from Mr. Lewis’s, but seperated by the South fork of Shannondoah; which is between 80 and a hundred yards wide, & makes a respectable appearance altho’ little short of 150 Miles from its confluence with Potomack River; and only impeded in its navigation by the rapid water & rocks which are between the old bloomery and Keys’s ferry; and...
45[Diary entry: 1 October 1784] (Washington Papers)
October 1st. Dined at Mr. Gabriel Jones’s, not half a mile from Mr. Lewis’s, but seperated by the South fork of Shannondoah; which is between 80 and a hundred yards wide, & makes a respectable appearance altho’ little short of 150 Miles from its confluence with Potomack River; and only impeded in its navigation by the rapid water & rocks which are between the old bloomery and Keys’s ferry; and...
46[Diary entry: 2 October 1784] (Washington Papers)
2d. I set off very early from Mr. Lewis’s who accompanied me to the foot of the blew ridge at Swift run gap, 10 Miles, where I bated and proceeded over the Mountain. Dined at a pitiful house 14 Miles further where the roads to Fredericksburgh (by Orange C[our]t House) & that to Culpeper Court House fork. Took the latter, tho in my judgment Culpeper Court House was too much upon my right for a...
47[Diary entry: 3 October 1784] (Washington Papers)
3d. Left Quarters before day, and breakfasted at Culpeper Court house which was estimated 21 Miles, but by bad direction I must have travelled 25, at least. Crossed Normans ford 10 Miles from the Court Ho[use] and lodged at Captn. John Ashbys occasioned by other bad directions, which took me out of the proper road, which ought to have been by Elk run Church 3 or 4 Miles to the right. GW took...
48[Diary entry: 4 October 1784] (Washington Papers)
4th. Notwithstanding a good deal of rain fell in the night and the continuance of it this morning (which lasted till about 10 Oclock) I breakfasted by Candlelight, and Mounted my horse soon after day break; and having Captn. Ashby for a guide thro’ the intricate part of the Road (which ought, tho’ I missed it, to have been by Prince William old Court Ho[use]) I arrived at Colchester, 30 Miles,...
49January 1785 (Washington Papers)
First Monday. Colo. Bassett, who brought his daughter Fanny to this place to remain on the 24th. of last Month set off on his return to the Assembly now sitting at Richmond. I took a ride to my Plantations in the Neck, & called to see my neighbour Humphrey Peake who has been long afflicted with ill health and appears to be in the last stage of life & very near his end. Wind Southwardly. The...
50[Diary entry: 1 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
First Monday. Colo. Bassett, who brought his daughter Fanny to this place to remain on the 24th. of last Month set off on his return to the Assembly now sitting at Richmond. I took a ride to my Plantations in the Neck, & called to see my neighbour Humphrey Peake who has been long afflicted with ill health and appears to be in the last stage of life & very near his end. Wind Southwardly. The...
51[Diary entry: 2 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 2d. Doctr. Craik came here to Dinner & stayed all Night. Drizzly Morning which first turned to rain, & then to snow.
52[Diary entry: 3 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 3d. Doctr. Stuart—his wife Betcy & Patcy Custis who had been here since the 27th. ulto. returned home. Doctr. Craik visited Mr. Peake & returned to Dinner. While we were at Dinner Colo. Blackburne & his daughter Sally came. The whole remained the Evening. Variable & very squally weather with Snow & Sunshine alternately. Towards evening the Wind came from the No. West & blew violently....
53[Diary entry: 4 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 4th. Colo. Blackburne went to Alexandria leaving his daughter here. Doctr. Craik attempted to cross the river at my Ferry, but failing on acct. of the Ice returned, & stayed dinner & the evening. Wind variable & cold.
54[Diary entry: 5 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 5th. The Doctr. in vain attempted my ferry & being disappointed went to George Town with a view of crossing on the Ice. Colo. Blackburn returned this Evening from Alexandria. Wind Northwardly & cold.
55[Diary entry: 6 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 6th. Colo. Blackburn & his daughter left this after breakfast. Wind from the Southwest, raw, cold & disagreeable.
56[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...
57[Diary entry: 8 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 8th. Drawing Ice from the river to my well in the Cellar—got it ¾ full & well pounded, as it was thrown in. Wind pretty fresh from the Southwest. The little Snow, not exceeding 2 Inches with which the ground was covered began to disappear and the ground to soften very much. The day for the greater part was lowering & variable.
58[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.
59[Diary entry: 10 January 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 10th. Mercury at Sun rise was at 38—at Noon the same and at Night 42. Drizzly all day with but little wind—that westerly. Made a finish of the Ice in my well in the Cellar and began to fill the dry well—but the Ice unexpectedly leaving the Shore was obliged to quit. But little thawing to day, notwithstanding the wind & weather.
60[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.