To George Washington from Angus McDonald, 8 January 1774
From Angus McDonald
Frederick County 8th Jany 1774
Sir
You have aplantation on powtomaak about 12 miles above the warm Spring1 and near my aplantation, there is one worthington Lives on your Land that dos you no good. if you will Send me derections I will Put Some body on it that will Either pay rent or make Some Improvement.2 I am Sir with Esteem your obedient Servant
Angus McDonald
ALS, DLC:GW. On the reverse of this letter GW wrote: “On the 28th of this Instt Jany I gave the within Majr McDonald a power to Rent the Land there mentiond from year to year or for a term of years not exceeding five to the best advantage he could and to receive the Rents for my use. [signed] Go: Washington 1774.”
Angus McDonald (c.1727–1778), a Scot, enlisted in the Virginia Regiment of 1754 in March 1754, before reaching the age of 20. In 1756 he was a sergeant in Capt. George Mercer’s company of GW’s Virginia Regiment. In 1768 he became Lord Fairfax’s agent. At this time he was a member of the county court of Frederick County, and he became the county’s sheriff in 1775.
1. McDonald wrote “warn Spring.”
2. See GW to McDonald, 28 January.