To George Washington from Warner Washington, 7 August 1784
From Warner Washington
7th Augt 1784
Dear Sir
At the request of Mr Henry Whiting a Neighbour and Relation of mine I write to you in his Name to beg you would be kind enough to allow Him to give up his Lease as the keeping it two Years longer would he says, be certain ruin to Him. He does not desire to make any advantage from it, either by selling or any other way neither does he make one farthing towards paying his Rent—I am informed Mr Ariss is desirous of taking the place and has wrote to you, should you think proper to let Him have it I am satisfied He would make you a better Tenant in every respect.1
I understand you intend up the begining of next Month, pray let us have the pleasure of seeing you—I am Dr Sir Yours Affectionately
Warner Washington
Mr Whiting will pay the whole Rent that will be due to you, this Fall.2
ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection.
1. Since the early 1770s Warner Washington, Sr. (1722–1790), had been living at Fairfield near the line between Frederick and Berkeley counties in that part of Frederick County later to become Clark County. Henry Whiting’s sister Mary was married to Warner Washington, Jr. (1751–1829). John Ariss, who requested in his will, probated in 1800, that he be buried in the graveyard at Fairfield, may have been the builder of the house for Warner Washington.
2. GW saw both Warner Washington and Henry Whiting while at Charles Washington’s house in Berkeley County on 3–4 September. See , 4:4–8. For Whiting’s payment of his debt, see John Ariss to GW, 5 Aug., n. 1, and GW to Ariss, 8 Aug., n.3.