To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 26 December 1772
From Gilbert Simpson
Loudown December the 26: 1772
Sr
I Received yours of the 18 of this instant by the hand of Mr Crawford1 and I am a Greable to your perposeal in makeing of Corn the next Summer prvided there Could be Corn got to Live on which I doubt of at that time of year but you and I Shall be more able to Judg of that in the month of Feburery if Mr Crawford Coms in as he Say he will and if any goos out there must goe more than two for I perpose to goe my Self and my Negro fellow2 and you must Find one fellow and one wench I Shall Stand Good in labor against one [of] them for one Summer for I Should not Care to trust a thing of that Conciquinc with any Common person and there mut be a wagon imployd for to go out for I should Chuse to take tools of Every Sort Sutable for plantation business and to Carry Two of my harsses and two Cows and Calves and other NesCesryes.3 Sr there is one thing in the artickels of your agement and mine which is not as I perposed to you or Elce I mistake the mening of it which is that my Family was to hold the pllantation 21 years after my decees but it Looks to me as tho. it was but for that Teerm in my lif and theres which is not according to my Expectation and the Shortnes of your Leeses has put the people much out of heart of setling your Lots which they was very intent to have don4 but Sr I hope you will Consider that the time is two Short as the Rents is high Sr I Should be Glad to See you or to Receive a line or two from you the First opertunity I Shall Com down to you when Mr Crawford Coms if I Should not Chance to See you before So no more but Remain your humble Servant
Gilbt Simpson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found. There is no indication that William Crawford was at Mount Vernon during this time, but his brother, Valentine Crawford, arrived there on 15 Dec. and left on 16 December. Perhaps GW’s letter was dated 16 December.
2. The “Negro fellow” whom Simpson took with him to Washington’s Bottom in March 1773 was named Orson, valued at £55 (, folio 87).
3. For the goods, equipment, and slaves with which GW supplied Simpson for his use at Washington’s Bottom, see GW to Simpson, 23 Feb. 1773, n.2.
4. What the terms were of the leases provided to Simpson for renting parcels of the Washington’s Bottom tract has not been determined, but for the terms GW offered for the lease of other parcels, see Advertisement of Western Lands, 15 July 1773.