Friday 3d. Took my leave of the Governr. whose intention was to have atten[d]ed me to the line, but for my request that he would not; and about 4 Oclock proceeded on my journey. Breakfasted at troublesome Iron works (called 15, but which1 is at least) 17 Miles from Guilford partly in Rain and from my information or for2 want of it was obliged to travel 12 miles further than I intended to day—to one Gatewoods within two Miles of Dix’ ferry over the Dan, at least 30 Miles from the Iron works.
The Lands over which I passed this day were of various qualities and as I approached the Dan, were a good deal covered3 with pine.
In conversing with the Governor on the State of Politics in No. Carolina I learnt with pleasure that opposition to the Genl. Government, & the discontents of the people were subsiding fast and that he should, so soon as he received the Laws which he had written to the Secretary of State for, issue his proclamation requiring all Officers & members of the Governmt. to take the Oaths prescribed by Law. He seems to condemn the Speculators in Lands and the purchases from the State of Georgia, & thinks as every sensible & disinterested man must that schemes of that sort must involve the Country in trouble—perhaps in blood.
The Troublesome Iron Works, built by William Patrick in 1770, were on Troublesome Creek in southern Rockingham County, about a mile and a half north of present-day Monroeton (, 500; , 371–72). William Loughton Smith toured the works on 4 May 1791 and found that “the buildings, large reservoir of water, creek, and the people at work, with the noise of the machinery of the mills and the rapid currents which work them, have a pleasing and singular appearance just as you ascend the hill which overlooks them, after traveling a number of miles through the woods” (, 72). GW apparently lodged with Dudley Gatewood, of Caswell County, who in 1790 had been appointed one of the trustees responsible for extending the navigation of the Roanoke River above the falls (, 79; , 25:107).
Dix’s ferry, located near the site of present-day Danville, Va., was established in 1766 to run from the land of John Dix (died c.1784) on the north side of the Dan River across to Lewis Green’s land. By 1777 John Dix owned the land on both banks, and by 1791 the ferry had passed to Col. William Dix of Pittsylvania County, who also kept a tavern nearby (, 8:193, 9:334–35; , 71). The Dan River is a main branch of the Roanoke.
1. “which” inserted above line.
2. “for” inserted above line.
3. “covered” substituted for “grown.”