1To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 3 July 1769 (Washington Papers)
I have at Last found Leisure to peruse & consider the papers you left with me for my Opinion on the nature of your Interest in your Fairfax Lands. The deed of Settlement made by your Father on your brother Lawrence is long & complicated occasioned chiefly by an Intention to provide against the contingincie of the Prince Wm Lands which were the Subject of that deed & the Westmorland Lands...
2From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, May 1770 (Washington Papers)
Receiving the above Letter in answer to one I had wrote to Mr West, I went to him three days after and entered into the written Agreement which I now lay before you —At this time (as recited in the articles) a Suit was depending in Fairfax Court for Six Acres of the Land, with all the Improvements belonging to the whole Tract, which prevented an absolute conveyance at that time—Since this, the...
3To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 31 August 1772 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr by Mr Manly, who I think has a very good right to the 2400 acres of Land called Hallows’s Marsh, but must bring a writ of right, being barr’d of an Ejectment, For which he is luckily just within time, & I shall order it out immediately, I forget whether I spoke to Mr Mason or not, & therefore he says he will write to him immediately. I left your papers with Mr Attorney in May,...
4To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 19 December 1772 (Washington Papers)
I will pay you the Sum of Four hundred pounds which my Nephew Informs me he is to give you for the Land he purchased of you in Frederick. I am Dr Sir Yr Mo. Obedt Humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . In January 1772 Philip Pendleton bought in Frederick County for £400 what GW describes as “a piece of about 180 Acres of Land sold him—joining my other Land, his own Land, & the Land of the Haynes’s” (...
5To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 4 December 1773 (Washington Papers)
I received yr Favr & am very glad you have made the purchase of Mr Black. I am Possessed of none of the title Deeds, probably Colo. Brooke may to whom I immediately wrote & desired him, if he had, to forward them to Colo. Bassetts For you, or to Wmsburg to Mr Wythe, but have since heard he was not come home two days agoe. I imagine part of the conveyances are in the Secretary’s Office, & the...
6To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 10 January 1775 (Washington Papers)
Mr Valentine Crawford and Mr John Neavill have given bonds to Mr Benjamin Temple for £400. for Lands sold them on the Ohio, in which a brother of mine is Interested—the remote Situation of those Gentn makes it difficult to know how to come at the money, and they think your Connection with that Countrey, & particularly with Mr Crawford will enable you to serve them in it, as they would be happy...
7To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 21 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have procured a Copy of Dr Savage’s Bill Which I now inclose you with the other papers, as I imagine Yr Answer may be drawn above with more convenience to you. As to the Release he sets up, ’twil be necessary to set forth where it was made by your consents, or on her privy examination in Court, so far as you are acquainted wth the Facts. it will be time enough to have the Answer agt October,...
8To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 12 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
My friend Mr George Baylor will be the bearer of this, who has caught such a Military Ardor as to travel to the Camp For instruction in that Art, I beg leave to recommend him to your Countenance & Favor, not only on Account of his worthy Father, but from my Opinion of his own Merit. He is a Lieutent in our independant Company & has gained great Applause there by his diligent Attention to the...
9From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 12 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly sorry to hear of the accident you have lately met with, an acct of which I receivd from B. Genl Woodford, whom I am glad to find will again enter into the Service. I have been favour’d with your Letter by Majr Taliaferro and shall always think myself happy in shewing proper attention to any Gentn of your recommending—Motives of prudence and policy however forbid me to be...
10To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 27 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
It gave me infinite pleasure to hear by my Worthy Friend Woodford that you was in fine health, a circumstance the more pleasing, as it could scarcely have been expected, after such uncommon & unremitted toil For near three years. I am not Superstitious, nor disposed to offend you by what I know you abhor, yet it is firmly my creed that Heaven has raised & will preserve you For the Sake of the...
11From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 12 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Edmund Pendleton, 12 Oct. 1778. Pendleton wrote GW on 22 Dec. 1778 : “I thank you for yr esteemed favr of Octr 12th lately come to hand.”
12To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 22 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for yr esteemed favr of Octr 12th lately come to hand & assure you that in laying by my former letters ’til you could tel me you was in health, without interfering with more important Objects, (than my letters I mean, not yr health,) you did with them as I wished, and the hope of that alone induced me to write. I am under great Obligations by your Attention to Majr Taylor & feel...
13From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 1 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Recollecting that I am your debtor for an obliging letter written sometime last Winter, I will, while my eyes are turned southwardly (impatiently looking for, or expecting to hear some thing decisively of Count D’Estaing) make my acknowledgments for it, as a proof that I am not unmindful of the favor, though I have been dilatory in thanking you for it. I shall not at this late period recount...
14To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 16 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I beg Pardon for having so long delayed to pay you my Annual Acknowledgment of regard & Esteem, as well as that for your very obliging favour of October 22d by General Green, who passed wth such rapidity to the Scene of his Command, as to Miss me, otherwise I should have been happy in shewing him every mark of respect due to his Merit and yr recommendation, as well as in the pleasure of his...
15To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 9 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Muse shewed me yr letter to his son requesting I would take charge of his Deeds to you, and procure them to be proved and recorded in the General Court, which I would most cheerfully have done, but do not go to Richmond ’til after that Court rises. I have seen the Deeds Executed before 5 Witnesses, and they are to be carried by one of them who is our Sherif & a careful man, to be lodged...
16From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I write to you, my dear Sir, on a subject which has engaged much of my reflection, and to which I am persuaded I shall obtain your ready and candid attention. Regarding the due administration of Justice as the corner stone of good government, I have considered the first arrangement of the judicial department as essential to the happiness of our country, and to the stability of its’ political...
17From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 14 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to favor me—dated the 9th instt—overtook me at Littlepages bridge the 11th. The hurry into which I was thrown by a variety of occurrances at Richmond, prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it before I left that City. I now do it, with assurances that it gave me sincere pleasure to find by it that you were well. The general arrangement of the Surveys...
18To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 11 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
I am Hond with the Commands of a very respectable body of Citizens, my County men, to transmit to Yr Excellency the inclosed Copy of certain Resolutions which they yesterday judged it wise & necessary to enter into, declaratory of their Sentiments on certain Political Subjects. I can truly say that the Numbers, their information as to the Subjects discussed, but above all their pure...
19To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 11 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
Being called to a public communication with you, I feel an Indispensible duty & inclination to pay you my personal respects at the same time, if it were only to reiterate, which I hope is unnecessary, sincere Assurances that neither time, or the dirty scriblings with which the public has been lately pestered, have produced the smallest abatement in my private Affection for you, or my unlimited...
20From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Resolutions of the Inhabitants of the County of Caroline, transmitted to me by you, were received with peculiar pleasure; because no Citizen of the United States can have a more sincere desire than I have to see all attempts at subverting or violating the Constitution or Laws of the Land, frustrated; and it gives me much satisfaction to be assured of the firm support of my Fellow Citizens...
21From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
With very sincere pleasure I received your private letter of the 11th instant. This pleasure was not a little enhanced by your reiterated assurance of my still holding that place in your estimation which, on more occasions than one, you have given me the most flattering testimony—highly gratifying to my mind. This assurance came opportunely, as I had begun to conceive (though unable to assign...
22To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 5 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Unwilling as I am to trouble you with Applications respecting the Appointments to Public Offices, I feel it a duty I am inclined to fulfill, to mention my Nephew Mr Nathaniel Pendleton, the present Fedral District Judge of Georgia; who, having heard that you intended to supply the next Vacancy in the Supreme Court, by appointment of a resident of that state, wishes to be considered as a...
23From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 17 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 5th instt came duly to hand. I know not from what source a report that, the next associate Judge was to be taken from the state of Georgia, could have been derived. Nothing from me, I can venture to say, gave rise to it; first, because there is no vacancy on that bench at present. 2d because, whenever one does happen, it is highly probable that a geographical arrangement...
24To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 30 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Lest I should suffer the year to expire, & recieve another rap on the knuckles for neglect, I take up the Pen to congratulate your safe return from the Westward, & on your having, as we hope, quelled the spirit of Anarchy & disorder in that quarter, without shedding other blood than what shall be found on a legal trial to have been justly forfeited to the Laws, a circumstance which affords...
25From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 22 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
From a long acquaintance with, and a sincere regard for you, I always feel pleasure in hearing from you—and of you—consequently, your letter of the 30th ult. was an acceptable annuity. Notwithstanding you have passed your 73 year, whilst you enjoy tolerable health, and retain your faculties in the vigor they are, I wish as well on public, as on private account, that length of days may be added...
26To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 13 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
However as a citizen I may depricate the consequences of your retirement from the helm of our political barque in the present lowering season, yet as your friend I sincerely congratulate you on having eased your body and mind of that heavy and anxious weight, & returned to a tranquil private life with both in full vigor enabling you to enjoy the sweets of domestic ease and social converse,...
27To George Washington from Edmund Pendleton, 24 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
The joy inspired by the speedy prospect of Peace, wch the King’s Speech to his Parliament affords, naturally turn’d my thoughts to the Army, to whom we are so much Indebted for the Accomplishment of the great event of peace & Independence, and reminded me of neglect in paying you my annual tribute of respect. I sincerely & warmly congratulate you & them on the glorious Occasion, and can truly...
28From John Jay to Edmund Pendleton, 21 September 1779 (Jay Papers)
This morning I had Yesterday the Pleasure of rec g your Favor of the 8 th : Inst and am happy to find that my supplying our Friends absence by in the Instance alluded to ^ to, ^ no less acceptable to You than agreable me— In the Packet enclosed with this are two Copies of a circular Letter from Congress to their Constituents which you I imagine . We rec d
29To John Jay from Edmund Pendleton, 27 September 1779 (Jay Papers)
I have had the Hon r . to acknowledge the receipt of each of y r . very obliging Fav rs . by return of Post, neither of which I presume had reached you when your last of the 14 th . was written, but will hereafter regularly find their way. I am just return’d from attending our High Court of Chancary, where we found little business, people appearing more inclined to hunt the Sources of money,...
30To John Jay from Edmund Pendleton, 11 October 1779 (Jay Papers)
As I conjectured so it happen’d that your esteem’d Fav r . of the 21 st . past made a visit to Williamsburg & found me on it’s return, your next I suppose is now on the same route, as it is not yet come to hand. I beleive Count D’Estang amongst the beneficial things he has done for America in General, has effected a most important purpose for Virginia, in stopping a larger embarkation from...
31To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 27 August 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Although the originals of this letter and, with few exceptions, the more than one hundred others which Pendleton wrote to JM are probably no longer extant, three partial collections (of which at least one is independent of the other two) are available. About 1890, Frederick B. McGuire of Washington, D.C., who had in his possession a considerable portion of...
32From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 12 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The address sheet is missing, but Pendleton wrote on the letter: “James Maddison, Esqr. Sepr. 12. 1780.” Although the originals of most of the letters from Pendleton to JM have not been found (see headnote to Pendleton to JM, 27 August 1780 ), JM’s letters to Pendleton, insofar as their present location is known, are with one exception in two repositories—the Library...
33From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 19 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I was in hopes when I wrote my last that I should be able by this post to congratulate you on the arrival of the french fleet from the W. Indies But so far is this from being the case, that it comes from authority which seems to have a just claim to our faith that Admiral Rodney is actually at the Hook with 12. Sail of the line & 4 frigates. It is still said however...
34To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 25 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I am made very happy by yr obliging favr of the 12th promising to indulge me in the desireable correspondence; since I requested it I have been informed you have ill health, I cordially wish its speedy restitution, but intreat you’l not Injure it by devoting to me too much of that small portion of time which health as well as vigor of mind requires should be...
35From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 26 September 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yesterday’s post disappointed me of the expected pleasure of a line from you. I hope the next will not fail to make amends for it. I have nothing to add to the inclosed paper except that Ternay is yet unreinforced, Graves at Sea no one knows where or for what purpose, and Rodney with 10 Ships of the line still at the Hook, though according to some private accounts he...
36To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 1 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Since my last I have yr favr of the 19th & can’t conceive where the great Fleet of our Allies are? they must have left the Windward Islands, & Rodney have been deceived by them if they did not come to America, As he would not otherwise have ventured to leave those seas: We hear nothing further of them to the Southward. I hope they are not in a state of such...
37From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 3 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 25 ulo. yesterday and am sorry it is not yet in my power to gratify your hopes with any prospect of a successful issue to this campaign. The reports of the approach or arrival of a French fleet continue to be circulated, and to prove groundless. If any foreign operations are undertaken on the continent it will probably be...
38To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 8 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr obliging favr of the 26th past, I know not when my first letter, after you kindly accepted my proposed correspondence, should have reached you, but be assured I have not miss’d a week since, nor shall I unless sickness prevents me, being a very Punctual tho’ not an entertaining correspondent; at this time I have not a word of foreign or domestic...
39From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 10 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the first Inst. came safe to hand yesterday. The inclosed was sent to Mr. Pendleton who is still in town. All we know of the several fleets in the American Seas is that Rodney with a few ships at N. York, the remainder having joined Graves & Arbuthnot whom we know nothing about: Ternay is still at Rhode Island. The main french fleet under Guichen left...
40From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 17 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The Southern Post having not yet arrived, I have not the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your favor, which I have found you too punctual to doubt his havg. for me. The best news I have to give you is contained in the inclosed paper in a letter from Eustatia, which comes from a person known to many Gentlemen here who say it may be fully credited. The Saratoga...
41To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 17 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I am anxious to hear from you, since missing that pleasure last week, I fear the General sickness of the Citizens has reached you. I shall be happy to learn it proceed from any other cause. The story we have of Gen. Arnold’s corruption is indeed shocking to humanity & I wish much to know the utmost consequences of the discovery, as far as they are manifest &...
42To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 23 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Since my last I have not only received yr favr. of the 10th but that of the 3d, when I supposed you had not written, also reached me after a Circuitous trip to Richmond, & removed my fears for yr want of health. I have no particulars of the Affair at Charlotte, mentioned in my former, but its authenticity seems confirm’d, & as our recruits are March’d that way, I...
43From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, [24] October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). In its present state the original letter lacks its last line. In the copy below, this line is taken from Madison, Writings (Hunt ed.) Gaillard Hunt, ed., The Writings of James Madison (9 vols.; New York, 1900–1910). , I, 75. At the head of the letter, JM left a space between “Octr” and “1780” without filling in the date of the month. In view of what he states in the...
44To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 30 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). Since my last yr favr of the 17th has come to hand & we have a Visit from the Troops imbarked at New York. My accounts of them are very Imperfect, but they seem to have divided themselves, landing 1000 Infantry & 100 horse at Hampton & another body at Portsmouth. We have just heard that they have re-imbarked from Hampton after taking about 500 head of cattle, but...
45From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 31 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 23. came to hand yesterday. We received notice of the invasion of Virga. yesterday morning and more fully last evening. I am sensible of the great difficulties you will have to contend with and that no practicable exertions can save the State from much injury whilst the Enemy have a total command of the Bay & rivers. The meeting of the Legislature...
46To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 6 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). My friend Mr Griffin left me this Morning by whom I sent you my best Wishes for yr health which he told me was low. I hope the Approaching Cold Season may brace up yr Nerves. I judged from yr Account of the number of the Enemy embarked from New York, that they were in pursuit of something to eat; we now hear they have pick’d up a quantum suffici[en]t to load their...
47From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 7 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Your favor of the 30 of last month came by yesterday’s post, and explained a report which had amused us here for several days. It was said that some movements of the French to the Southward, had alarmed the enemy to such a degree that they had suddenly re-embarked their troops and were leaving Virginia. The re-embarkation of the detachment which had taken possession...
48To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 13 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I have yr favr of the 31st past & am pleased to hear the former Account of the Arrival of the Cork fleet proved premature, since we are so bad Christians as to be gratified with the distress of our Enemies. It was probably the transports with their new levies which were mis taken for the others. The Enemy here have collected a handsome recruit of Provisions, but...
49From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 14 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Yr. favor of the 6th. inst: came to hand yesterday. Mr. Griffin by whom you appear also to have written has not yet arrived. It gives me great pleasure to find that the Enemy’s numbers are so much less formidable that [than] was at first computed, but the information from N. York makes it not improbable that the blank in the computation may shortly be filled up. Genl...
50To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 20 November 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC (University of Virginia Library). This is apparently the only one of the many letters written by which still exists in original manuscript form ( Pendleton to JM, 27 August 1780 , headnote). How it alone survived is problematical. Perhaps the neatly printed “To James Madison Nov: 20th: 1780.” near its bottom margin was added by an autograph collector to whom JM gave the letter. The letter...