To George Washington from Richard Graham, 12 October 1785
From Richard Graham
Dumfries October 12, 1785
Sir,
I received your packet by last post directed to Mr Henderson enclosing the Surveys of the Great Kanhawa Lands—& the courses of the Lands on the Little Kanhawa for which your Excellency will please accept our thanks. I have taken a Copy of the Surveys & now return them.1 I must make out a plott of the Little Kanhawa Lands including these Surveys that we may See what Land is left out on the dividing Ridge where Col. Crawford has entered between 40 & 50,000 Acres for Mr Henderson & myself—& we are likely to meet with some difficulty in finding them out—We have the first fifty seven enterys that were made on Mr Maddisons Books Surveyor at that time, of Monongalia County—I have taken the liberty to Send you a sketch of the Enterys—As you probably may be able, from your knowledge of that Country to give us Some usefull hints2—I have the honor to be with the highest esteem Your Excellencys Most Obedient Servant
Richd Graham
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The copy of the surveys of his Great Kanawha lands (see GW to Lewis, 1 Feb. 1784, and notes) that GW “directed” to Alexander Henderson (d. 1815) has not been identified. Henderson, a merchant in Colchester, and Richard Graham (d. 1796), who was a merchant in nearby Dumfries, were both heavily involved in speculation in western lands.
2. The “sketch of the Enterys” that Graham enclosed is in DLC:GW. Graham wrote in the margin of his listing: “We are informed that the Lands on the Dividing Ridge are very fine—.” “Mr. Maddison” may be William Strothers Madison.