3951[March 1769] (Washington Papers)
Mar. 1. Rid to Muddy hole—Doeg Run & Mill Plantations with Mr. W[arne]r Washington, who with his Lady & Miss Betcy Washington that came yesterday also dind & lodgd here today &ca. Mr. Willm. Crawford came in the Afternoon. 2. At home all day with the above Company. 3. Went to the Vestry at Pohick Church and returnd abt. 11 Oclock at Night. Found Mr. Tibbles here. GW was late in returning...
3952[Diary entry: 1 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
Mar. 1. Rid to Muddy hole—Doeg Run & Mill Plantations with Mr. W[arne]r Washington, who with his Lady & Miss Betcy Washington that came yesterday also dind & lodgd here today &ca. Mr. Willm. Crawford came in the Afternoon.
3953[Diary entry: 2 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
2. At home all day with the above Company.
3954[Diary entry: 3 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
3. Went to the Vestry at Pohick Church and returnd abt. 11 Oclock at Night. Found Mr. Tibbles here. GW was late in returning because the proposed location of the new Pohick Church was not wearing well with the minority of vestrymen who lived conveniently near the old church. After prolonged debate lasting well into the evening, the vestry finally accepted Daniel French’s bid for building the...
3955[Diary entry: 4 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
4. Warnr. Washington & Lady & Captn. Crawford & Mr. Tibbles went away after Brea[kfast]. Myself at home all day.
3956[Diary entry: 5 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
5. Went up to Alexa. after fieldg. Lewis & brot. him down to Dinner where I found Mr. Wr. Washington—who returnd after Din[ner].
3957[Diary entry: 6 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
6. Set out with Fieldg. Lewis for Fredg. where we reachd after dinner at Peyton’s on Acquia—i.e. reachd my Mother’s. Peyton’s ordinary, on Aquia Creek in Stafford County, was about 16 miles above Fredericksburg on the main road from Alexandria (see rice Howard C. Rice, Jr., and Anne S. K. Brown, eds. The American Campaigns of Rochambeau’s Army, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783 . 2 vols. Princeton, N.J.,...
3958[Diary entry: 7 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. Went to Fredericksburg & remaind there all day—ding. at Colo. Lewis’s.
3959[Diary entry: 8 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
8. Still there, dind at the same place, spending the Evening at Weedon’s at the Club. George Weedon (c.1734–1793) kept a “large and commodious” tavern on the main street of Fredericksburg (now Caroline Street) “nearly opposite” the town hall and public market. Frequented “by the first gentlemen” of Virginia and “neighboring colonies,” it contained “a well accustomed billiard room” and was the...
3960[Diary entry: 9 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
9. Set of for Robt. Ashbys, and after dining by the way, reachd it a little after dark. Capt. Robert Ashby (c.1707–1792) was the second son of Thomas Ashby (see entry for 12 Mar. 1748 ). Robert had worked as a marker for GW during the survey of the Fairfax lands in 1748 and was now living at Yew Hill, Fauquier County, about eight miles south of Ashby’s Gap on the southern road to Winchester.
3961[Diary entry: 10 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
10. Went out to run out the bounds of the Land I bot. of Carters Estate but the Weathr. being very cold & windy was obligd to return. George Carter, the youngest son of Robert “King” Carter, died intestate in England c.1742. To settle his estate the Virginia Assembly passed an act ( hening William Waller Hening, ed. The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia, from...
3962[Diary entry: 11 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
11. Went out again on the same business & returnd at Night to Captn. Ashbys.
3963[Diary entry: 12 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. At Captn. Ashbys all day. In the afternoon Captn. Marshal came & spent the Evening. Thomas Marshall (1730–1802), father of Chief Justice John Marshall, was a burgess for Fauquier County 1761–67, 1769–73, and 1775–76. He was a delegate to the first three Virginia Conventions in 1775, and served as colonel of the Third Virginia Regiment during the Revolution. In the 1780s he moved with his...
3964[Diary entry: 13 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
13. Out a Surveying till Night with sevel. attending.
3965[Diary entry: 14 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Out in like manner.
3966[Diary entry: 15 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
15. Out again with many People attending.
3967[Diary entry: 16 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
16. Ditto—Ditto—Ditto.
3968[Diary entry: 17 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
17. Executing Leases to those who had taken Lotts—being at Captn. Ashbys. GW had cut up his purchase of Carter’s land into lots of about 100 acres each and was leasing them on a long-term basis to local farmers for about £4 Virginia currency per lot. On this day GW made at least 11 leases, some of which were for more than one lot. In GW’s lease to George Russell, a fairly typical one, Russell...
3969[Diary entry: 18 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
18. Went up to Greenway Court where I dined and stayd all Night. Met Colo. Lewis here. Greenway Court was not only the residence of Lord Fairfax but also the permanent location of the proprietor’s land office. There GW and Fielding Lewis, in their capacity as trustees for the sale of George Carter’s estate, paid Fairfax the balance of quitrents owed by the estate since 1746 (receipt from...
3970[Diary entry: 19 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
19. Went with Colo. Lewis to his Plantations where I stayd all day & Night.
3971[Diary entry: 20 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
20. Executing in the forenoon Deeds, & settling with those who had purchd. Carters Land upon Opechon. In the afternoon rid to Valentine Crawfd. Opequon Creek, then in Frederick County, now divides Berkeley and Jefferson counties, W.Va. It rises a few miles southeast of Winchester and flows into the Potomac 15 or 16 miles above Harpers Ferry ( kercheval Samuel Kercheval. A History of the Valley...
3972[Diary entry: 21 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
21. Went & laid of 4 Lots at the head of Bullskin for several Tenents.
3973[Diary entry: 22 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
22. Filling up leases for them at Val Crawfords all day.
3974[Diary entry: 23 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
23. Set of homewards. Breakfasted at Mr. Ariss’s dind undr. the Ridge & lodgd at Wests. John Ariss (d. 1799), originally of Westmoreland County, was one of the most successful architects and builders in Maryland and northern Virginia. In 1769 he moved from Richmond County to Frederick (later Berkeley) County. Although he has been credited with participating in work on the Mount Vernon mansion...
3975[Diary entry: 24 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
24. Reachd home before dinner. Found Colo. Bassett, Lady & 2 Childn. Betcy & Nancy here also Mr. W[arne]r Washington & Jacky Custis. Betcy and Nancy are Elizabeth Bassett (1758–1773), who died in childhood, and Anna Maria Bassett (1763–1773), who was the second Bassett daughter so named, the first, born in 1760, having died in infancy.
3976[Diary entry: 25 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
25. Went a fox hunting with Colo. Bassett & Mr. Bryan Fairfax—who also came here last night. Started & run a fox into a hole after an hours chase. Mr. Fairfax went home after dinner. Dog fox killd.
3977[Diary entry: 26 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
26. Took an airing with Colo. Bassett on horse back. Mr. R. Alexander came in the Evg.
3978[Diary entry: 27 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
27. Went a Fox hunting—found and was run out of hearing by some of the Dogs.
3979[Diary entry: 28 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
28. Hunting again. Found a fox & killd it in an hour and an half. Mr. Magowan & Vale. Crawford came here today. On 26 Jan. of this year GW wrote to Rev. Jonathan Boucher that Magowan “has been fortunate in a Presentation to a good Parish . . . and is now living therein” ( writings John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799 . 39...
3980[Diary entry: 29 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
29. Rid with Colo. Bassett into the Neck. Vale. Crawford went to Colo. Fairfax’s.
3981[Diary entry: 30 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
30. Dined at Colo. Fairfax’s along with Colo. Bassett & Lady—returnd in the Eveng.
3982[Diary entry: 31 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
31. Hunting—found a fox & killd him in a hour. This & the last were both Dog Foxes. Mr. Magowan went to Alexandria.
3983An Acct. of the Weather—in March [1769] (Washington Papers)
Mar. 1. No frost but raw & cold. Wind North in the Morning—but No. East afterwards and very cloudy—with Misling Rain at Night. 2. Not much Rain in the Night but some hard showers today, with the Wind Southwardly in the forepart of the day and No. Wt. afterwards.—then growing clear & cold. 3. The ground slightly froze. Wind still at No. West—but not cold. Weathr. clear. 4. Ground again slightly...
3984[Diary entry: 1 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
Mar. 1. No frost but raw & cold. Wind North in the Morning—but No. East afterwards and very cloudy—with Misling Rain at Night.
3985[Diary entry: 2 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
2. Not much Rain in the Night but some hard showers today, with the Wind Southwardly in the forepart of the day and No. Wt. afterwards.—then growing clear & cold.
3986[Diary entry: 3 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
3. The ground slightly froze. Wind still at No. West—but not cold. Weathr. clear.
3987[Diary entry: 4 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
4. Ground again slightly froze. Wind at No. Et., & day lowering. In the Afternoon fine Rain or Mist & wind fresh from the same point. Evening calm but still misty.
3988[Diary entry: 5 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
5. Morning clear & Wind Southwardly. Abt. 10 Oclock the Wind came hard from the Westward & contd. all day but not cold.
3989[Diary entry: 6 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
6. Ground a little froze. Wind Westwardly but not hard. Pleast. till Evening then raw cold & cloudy. Wind Eastwardly.
3990[Diary entry: 7 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. Ground slightly froze. Weathr. raw cold cloudy, & in the Afternn. Snowg.; wind Northwd.
3991[Diary entry: 8 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
8. Ground coverd two or 3 Inches with Snow but not being cold it thawd fast after the morng. when the Sun broke out.
3992[Diary entry: 9 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
9. Ground hard froze—& very raw cold, and cloudy till 12 oclock then more moderate. Wind southwardly and clear.
3993[Diary entry: 10 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
10. Exceeding high & cold wind from the No. West all day. Ground hard froze.
3994[Diary entry: 11 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
11. Ground excessive hard froze & Morning very cold—wind being fresh from the No. Wt. but the Afternoon more moderate wind falling.
3995[Diary entry: 12 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. Ground hard froze. Calm Mild & pleasant with passive clouds & sunshine.
3996[Diary entry: 13 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
13. Ground hard froze but the Weather very mild & pleasant after the Morning.
3997[Diary entry: 14 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Very pleasant and warm there being but little Wind.
3998[Diary entry: 15 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
15. Again warm & pleasant with but little Wind.
3999[Diary entry: 16 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
16. Morning lowering and sometimes raining with high squals of wind.
4000[Diary entry: 17 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
17. Morning pretty sharp wind having shifted to the No. West in the Night—but the day clear still & pleasant.