10051December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Friday 1st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind Southerly and pretty fresh—clear and pleasant all day. Employed as yesterday, running round the Lands of Manley and French. Geo. Washington and his wife returned home in the Evening. Received 50 Bushels of Buck Wheat from Colo. Leven Powell of Loudoun. Leven (Levin) Powell (1737–1810), a Loudoun County merchant, was a major...
10052[Diary entry: 1 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 1st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind Southerly and pretty fresh—clear and pleasant all day. Employed as yesterday, running round the Lands of Manley and French. Geo. Washington and his wife returned home in the Evening. Received 50 Bushels of Buck Wheat from Colo. Leven Powell of Loudoun. Leven (Levin) Powell (1737–1810), a Loudoun County merchant, was a major...
10053[Diary entry: 2 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 2d. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 45 at Night. Wind at No. West very early in the Morning—after which it turned calm and then came out pretty brisk from Southward. Finished running round the Fields of Manleys and French’s and rid afterwards to Dogue run and Muddy hole plantations. Measured at the latter 19 Barrls. of long Corn & 6 of Short which with the 42 Measured...
10054[Diary entry: 3 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 3d. Mercury at 38 in the morning—46 at Noon and 42 at Night. Clear and very pleasant in the Morning with a light air from the Westward. Continued fine till towds. evening when the Sky looked gloomy in the horizon of the Suns setting and a great circle appeared round the Moon at Night. At home all day alone.
10055[Diary entry: 4 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 4th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. Began to Snow an hour or two before day, and continued steadily at it quite through it—by Night it was about 6 Inches deep—the Wind at No. East. No stirring out to day. Doctr. Craik who had been sent for to a laying in Woman at the river Plantation came here after dark and stayed all Night.
10056[Diary entry: 5 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 5th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 31 at Night. Morning clear and cold. Wind (which had blown all Night) continued hard at No. West till near Sun down when it lulled, but rose again after dark. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. I remained at home all day writing.
10057[Diary entry: 6 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 6th. Mercury at 16 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 31 at Night. Morning calm and foggy—Wind Southerly afterwards, and towards evening rather brisk. River froze quite across in the Morning, but broke before Noon by the Wind; and by Night the Ice remained on the flats only. Writing in the forenoon prevented my riding out to day also. Major Washington measured 41½ barrls. of Corn at Dogue...
10058[Diary entry: 7 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 7th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 36 at Night. Wind Southerly all day and Weather lowering. In the afternoon it began to rain slowly, & continued to do so I believe through the Night. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Mill, & to the Ditchers—Grubbing at the first place and beating out & cleaning, for house use, Corn at the latter....
10059[Diary entry: 8 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 8th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 34 at Night. Wind Southerly all day & with the rain that fell last Night, and at intervals to day occasioned much Water in and on the Earth. Towds. Night a mixture of snow and fine hail began (from the No. West) & continued through the night. Rid to where the Ditchers were at work and to the Ferry Plantation.
10060[Diary entry: 9 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 9th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—26 at Noon and 26 at Night. A sharp hail, and hard wind all day from the No. West—very cold & disagreeable. Received the Accts. of Wheat sown at Dogue run—159 Bushels.
10061[Diary entry: 10 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 10th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—31 at Noon and 24 at Night. Wind fresh all day from the No. Wt. & Cold. The clouds dispersed in the Night—Morning & day clear excepting a few flying Clouds and freezing hard.
10062[Diary entry: 11 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 11th. Mercury at 14 in the Morning—26 at Noon and 24 at Night. Wind at No. West all day and Cold—very little, or no thawing though clear. The River was entirely closed this Morning and the Ice so hard as not to be opened or broke by the Wind or tide. At home all day. My Ditchers not being able to level & thereby to carry on the Ditch they were about I shifted them to the Wood on the...
10063[Diary entry: 12 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 12th. Mercury at 13 in the Morning—28 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind Southerly, but cold not withstanding with great appearances every now and then through the day of Snow. At other times the Sun seemed to prevail. Mr. Anstey & his companion going away about 11 Oclock I rid to the Ditchers and to Dogue run Plantation, also to Muddy hole—little doing at either. Geo. Washington went to...
10064[Diary entry: 13 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 13th. Mercury at 27 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 35 at Night. Wind Southerly—air temperate but heavily charged with Snow or rain all the forenoon. In the afternoon it began to rain and continued to do so pretty steadily through the greater part of the Night. It cleared however before day. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations and to the Ditchers. At the first the...
10065[Diary entry: 14 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 14th. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—59 at Noon and 49 at Night. Clear, calm, warm, and exceedingly pleasant over head—but wet under foot occasioned by the Thaw. Towards night the river began to open by the breaking of the Ice. Rid to the Neck, and all the other Plantations; and to the Ditchers. At Muddy hole the hands were employed in threshing Wheat—at all the others gathering Corn as...
10066[Diary entry: 15 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 15th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—37 at Noon and 34 at Night. Morning a little Rainy, it having begun to fall (though not fast or much) sometime in the Night. Before Noon it ceased Raing. and the evening became clear with the Wind (tho’ not fresh) at North West. Mr. Bushrod Washington, his Wife and Miss Polly Blackburne came here whilst we were at Dinner. The River in the Ferry way...
10067[Diary entry: 16 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 16th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—47 at Noon and 41 at Night. Last Nights frost pretty hard. Day clear, calm, and pleasant for the Season—thawing after the Sun got up a little. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, dogue run and Muddy hole—Gathering and husking corn at the two first—Treading out a Stack of Rye at the latter. Received the following acct. of the Corn measured in the...
10068[Diary entry: 17 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 17th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 40 at Night. Perfectly calm all day—lowering with great appearances of Snow or rain till the afternoon when the clouds broke and the Sun set Clear. In the afternoon a Mr. Brown Son of Mr. Jno. Brown of Providence came in and stayed all Night. John Brown (1736–1803), of Providence, R.I., the son of James and Hope Power Brown, was one of...
10069[Diary entry: 18 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 18th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 42 at Night. Clear, warm, and perfectly calm & pleasant all day. George Washington went up to town on my business. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry—Dogue run and Muddy hole—Gathering & husking Corn at the two first & cleaning Rye at the latter. Rid also to the place where James Lawson ought to have been at Work, but he was not...
10070[Diary entry: 19 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 19th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 40 at Night. Quite calm all day, with slow rain, which contributed much to the dissolution of the Snow. At home all day. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. Killed 41 Hogs from the different Plantations—weights as follow Ferry 19 3034 Dogue run 6 936 Muddy hole 6 798 River Plan. 10 1466 6234
10071[Diary entry: 20 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 20th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 36 at Night. A little Snow fell in the night scarcely half an inch thick. Weather cleared in the Night. Day fair, and tolerably [warm] for the Season tho’ the wind was pretty fresh from the No. West. Mr. Bushrod Washington and Wife & Miss Blackburn went up to Alexandria after breakfast as did Doctr. La Moyeur. George Washington went...
10072[Diary entry: 21 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 21st. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 45 at Night. Morning clear, calm, and very pleasant. Afternoon it lowered—but seemed to clear up again towards night. Mr. Brown went away after Breakfast. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run and Muddy hole. Just finished securing the Corn at the Ferry which was measured yesterday—still gathering this at Dogue run and...
10073[Diary entry: 22 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 22d. Mercury 34 at Morning—49 at Night [Noon] and 46 at Night. Morning Cloudy, but clear calm & pleasant afterwards—ground hard froze in the morning but thawed afterwards where there was no Snow. Rid to the Neck, Muddy hole, Dogue run & Ferry Plantations—getting Wheat into the Barn at the first—threshing it at the 2d. about finishing gathering Corn at the 3d. and cutting down Corn...
10074[Diary entry: 23 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 23d. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—39 at Noon and 30 at Night. Morning very cloudy—about 8 Oclock began to rain and continued to do so, more or less, through the day—in the forepart of which it was Southerly. Afterwards it got to the Northward blew hard & turned very cold by night when there fell a mixture of snow and rain, and was exceedingly disagr[eeable]. Doctr. Craik went away...
10075[Diary entry: 24 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 24th. Mercury at 24 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 26 at Night. Wind very high from the No. West all day, & cold—also clear. Ground which was uncovered in places yesterday was slightly covered this Morning (not an Inch deep) and no thawing except on the Sun sides of Houses out of the Wind. At home all day. B. Washington & his wife left this.
10076[Diary entry: 25 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 25th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 36 at Night. Clear and pleasant with the Wind at South. River froze across in the Morning but open afterwards. At home all day. Miss Allan—Betcy, Patcy and Nelly Custis came here to dinner.
10077[Diary entry: 26 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 26th. Mercury at 29 in the Morning 48 at Noon and 36 at Night. The Wind shifting last Night to the No. West, it grew colder but this day was pleasant notwithstanding and clear. Doctr. La Moyeur went to Alexandria to day and Colo. Lee (late of Congress) came here to Dinner as did Mr. Lund Washington.
10078[Diary entry: 27 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 27th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 42 at Night. Quite calm and pleasant, with little or no wind, and that from the Southward—clear. After Breakfast Colo. Lee set out for Richmond. Mr. Lear returned from his journey into the Western Country about 4 Oclock to day having been absent 28 days. Miss Allan returned to Abingdon to day and Doctr. La Moyeur came back from...
10079[Diary entry: 28 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 28th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 50 at Night. Calm, clear, warm, and very pleasant all day; towards evening it began to lower a little in the So. Western horizon—A very white frost in the Morning. At home all day.
10080[Diary entry: 29 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 29th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—55 at Noon and 51 at Night. Clear, calm, warm, and exceeding pleasant all day. The hollidays being over, and the People all at work, I rid to the Ferry—Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Ditchers (who were at Work). At the first Plantation cutting stalks and getting farm pen in order—at the next (Dogue run) measured the remainder of the...