To George Washington from John Francis Mercer, 13 April 1794
From John Francis Mercer
Marlbro. [Md.] April. 13th [17]94.
Sir
I have this day enclosed Mr Gwinn Clerk of th[e] G.C. of Maryland, the Original Survey of partition of the Lands you purchased of me—& directed him to record the same & then transmit it to you—I now herewith transmit you the first deed executed to you, the record was delay’d untill the Deed ran out of date1—I then consulted Mr J.T. Chace, Judge of the G.C. of
M. who it is to be observ’d took all the acknowledgements, if it wou’d not be possible to alter the dates or render it efficient in some other manner, but after mature reflection he judged it necessary to execute another Deed entirely anew, & this was the sole cause why it was so done.2 I am with sincere respect & esteem Yr Ob. hbl. Sert
John F. Mercer
ALS, NN: Washington Collection.
1. GW had requested a copy of the original survey of the partition of Woodstock Manor in Montgomery County, Md., in a letter of 10 March 1794 to John Gwinn, clerk of the Maryland General Court. The 2 Jan. 1793 survey was recorded on 18 April 1794 (ViMtvL). On the original deed of 1 April 1793 for the 519 acres belonging to GW, see n.1 of GW to John Francis Mercer, 7 Aug. 1793.
2. Mercer had consulted with Jeremiah Townley Chase.