1321George Mercer to William Daingerfield and John Dean, 8 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby Ordered to continue Recruiting until the 20th December next; at which time you are peremptorily ordered to Rendezvous, with what men you have raised, at Alexandria. I am &c. LB , DLC:GW . Assigned on 3 Sept. 1755 to William Peachey’s company in the Virginia Regiment as a newly appointed ensign, William Daingerfield was shifted to Henry Woodward’s company in the summer of 1756. A...
1322George Mercer to John Savage, 8 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You will receive by Colonel Eyre £45 for Recruiting; and you are allowed a further day, until the 25th of December, for that Service; at which time it is expected you will, without fail, repair to your Rendezvous at Alexandria, with what men you can raise. You may assure all Deserters from the Regiment, that if they will surrender themselves to you, or return immediately to their Duty, they...
1323George Mercer to John Jones, 9 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
It is Colonel Washingtons Orders that you, until a Commissary arrives at Winchester, purchase all the Pork you can at the lowest rates, at the market price. If any news should come to Town concerning the Indians and French, or any Expresses from Pennsylvania; you are to hire an Express immediately, and send him down to Alexandria, with orders, that if he does not meet with Colonel Washington...
1324To George Washington from Robert Orme, 10 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Just before I left Boston I received your very friendly and affectionate Letter be assured it met with that Return in my Mind which ever attends the Acknowledgement of a wished for Friendship[.] Your aimable Character made me desirous of your Acquaintance and your Acquaintance confirmed the Regard and Opinion your Character had imprinted in my Mind and be assured my dear George Distance...
1325Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 11 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), pp. 19–21. Upon learning of Indian attacks at Penn’s Creek and other places in the Susquehanna Valley, Governor Morris summoned the Assembly for Nov. 3, 1755. He urged them to pass a militia law and provide funds for defense, although he cautioned them to “not waste your Time in offering me such...
1326Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 11 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 21. While Morris and his Council were considering the governor’s message to the Assembly of November 8, Conrad Weiser arrived with Scaroyady and other Indians who came with pleas of action to defend the frontier lest the few still loyal Indians defect or become the victims of their armed and...
1327From George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 11 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered to proceed immediately to Norfolk; where you are to use your utmost endeavours to enlist what able-bodied Men you can: You are to be at Alexandria the 25th of December, without fail. LB , DLC:GW . Robert McKenzie remained captain of his company until early fall 1761 when William Byrd III, GW’s successor as colonel of the Virginia Regiment, ordered him to report to the...
1328Memorandum, 11 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Captain Cocke the same Instructions —except being ordered to any place where you have the greatest probability of success; and your Rendezvous to be at Winchester. LB , DLC:GW . GW to Robert McKenzie, 11 Nov. 1755 .
1329From George Washington to Thomas Walker, 11 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered to proceed with the utmost dispatch to Winchester, where you will receive the Orders left there by me, which you are, as soon as possible, to execute. The Cattle I shall leave entirely to you; to order up altogether or in small droves, as you shall think proper. You are to set up Advertisements, at all the most public places convenient to the Fort, for the Inhabitants to...
1330To Benjamin Franklin from William Alexander, 12 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library Genl. Shirley being informed by Mr. Scott one of [the] Waggon-Masters, that he has brot with him to this place all your Original Contracts for Waggons and Horses for the Late Genl. Braddock’s Army, with the receipts of the Money advanced in part payment of them, has directed them to be sent to you, to enable you to settle that account. I now send them to Mr. P V B...
1331George Mercer to James Craik, 13 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to apply to Mr Prentis or Mr Withers, to know what time the Sloop will be ready to take in her lading: and you are to see the arms and ammunition carefully stowed in her, and immediately dispatch her. You are, after the Sloop is ladened and dispatched, to proceed immediately to Alexandria, where you will receive further Orders. Given &c. at Williamsburg 13th November, 1755. LB , DLC:GW...
1332Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on Three Petitions, 14 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 54. The crucial Assembly session of November 1755 began under a deluge of petitions, mostly from frontier counties pleading for measures of defense against Indian attacks. Other representations, however, presumed to tell the Assembly how to fulfill its obligations, sometimes backing up...
1333[November 1755] (Adams Papers)
We had a severe Shock of an Earthquake. It continued near four minutes. I was then at my Fathers in Braintree, and awoke out of my sleep in the midst of it. The house seemed to rock and reel and crack as if it would fall in ruins about us. 7 Chimnies were shatter’d by it within one mile of my Fathers house. First entry in “Paper book No. 1” (D/JA/1), which is the first in the series of...
1334November 18th. 1755. (Adams Papers)
We had a severe Shock of an Earthquake. It continued near four minutes. I was then at my Fathers in Braintree, and awoke out of my sleep in the midst of it. The house seemed to rock and reel and crack as if it would fall in ruins about us. 7 Chimnies were shatter’d by it within one mile of my Fathers house. First entry in “Paper book No. 1” (D/JA/1), which is the first in the series of...
1335Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 18 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), pp. 26–8. Replying to the Assembly’s message of November 11 six days later, Governor Morris agreed that the dispute over exemption of proprietary lands from taxation “must in the end be determined by His Majesty.” His message dealt entirely with the manner of presenting the question to the King...
1336Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 18 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 29. After Braddock’s defeat, deteriorating relations with the Indians became one of the most troublesome and pressing concerns of the Pennsylvania authorities and an added source of conflict between the governor and the Assembly. William Penn had established the policy of fair play toward the...
1337From George Washington to Robert Stewart, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to repair immediately to Winchester; in the neighbourhood of which you are to recruit your Troop to the establishment of men. You are not to go any distance from that Town, until further Orders, as you will have the care of the Recruits which rendezvous there. You are to direct Corporal Broughton, who has the charge of the Troop of Horses, to be particularly careful of them; and you...
1338From George Washington to George Fraser, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to remain at this place, in order to receive any Recruits which may come here, and forward up any Stores which may be wanted at the Fort. You may enlist all the men you can meet with here, without going out of Town (Servants and Apprentices excepted) and are not to discharge any Man after he is duly enlisted. If Captain Harrison should arrive here, without receiving any particular...
1339From George Washington to Austin Brockenbrough, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to those public places, where you have the greatest probability of success, and use your utmost endeavours to enlist what able-bodied men you can for his Majesty’s Service. You are not to enlist Servants or Apprentices, nor discharge any man after he is duly enlisted, upon any pretence whatsoever. In marching your Recruits to the place of Rendezvous, if there are any...
1340From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have had advice of Captain Hogg’s Company at Fort Dinwiddie mutinying for want of their pay; which must be attributed entirely to your neglect: as I gave you orders in my last, to go, or send to that Fort, with the money for that Company. If you should not have sent it before this reaches you, you are to proceed immediately to that Fort, with two months’ pay. You are only to pay the...
1341From George Washington to Thomas Walker, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
As Captain Hogg has purchased a sufficient quantity of Beef for his Company at Fort Dinwiddie, you are to send him sixty pounds by the paymaster, or any other safe hand, in order to pay for it. You are to acquaint him, that if that sum is not sufficient, that he is to draw on you for the balance: &c. LB , DLC:GW . On 8 Nov. Capt. Peter Hog estimated that he had on hand for the 1st company of...
1342From George Washington to Adam Stephen, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I came to this place on Sunday last and intended to proceed immediately up, but receiving your’s, and other Letters contradicting the reports lately transmitted, determined me to go to Alexandria where I shall wait a few days in hopes of receiving the express from General Shirley, who the Govornor sent to for Commission’s for the Field Officer’s. I beg that you will be particularly careful in...
1343From George Washington to George Fraser, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to see that no more Houses are made use of here, than are absolutely necessary for the Soldiers; and to have a house in which the Sick men are, belonging to Mrs Thornton, cleared, if it can be conveniently done. What absolute necessaries the Soldiers want, you must give an order for, and take a particular account of it, that it may be the easier settled. You are to be careful that no...
1344Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 19 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 30. While the Assembly was considering his amendments to the £60,000 tax and defense bill, Governor Morris asked for emergency funds for protecting the frontier in the interval which would pass before the still-contested appropriation bill could take effect. He also pressed for a bill...
1345To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 21 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d here last night where I found Colo. Stephens, Mr Boyd & Mr Gordon, and as the latter returns immediatly to Fort Cumberland Colo. Stephens thinks it unecessary to send any Express; I by Mr Gordon send for Serjt Hughs and a return of the Troop, which when recd will transmit ⅌ first oppy or by Express if any other Papers should ere then come to hand, there’s no Letters but those...
1346From George Washington to Denis McCarty, 22 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry you have given me occasion to complain of your conduct in Recruiting; and to tell you, that the methods and unjustifiable means you have practised, are very unacceptable, and have been of infinite prejudice to the Service: of this I am informed by many Gentlemen, as well as by all the Officers who were ordered to recruit in these parts: and am further assured, that it is next...
1347To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 22 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I had just finish’d my Letter of this date when Capt. Stewart deliver’d me Yours of the 18th Inst. The Men I am in great hopes will answer Your Expectations They Shoot extreamly well, but are much harass’d at present with the Cattle—I make the Butchers, Cutters, Salters, & Coopers wait on McLean for Orders every morning—and a Return is made to me every night of what work is done. To keep...
1348To George Washington from Thomas Gage, 23 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 17th Octr was forwarded from Philadelphia to this Place, & came to my Hands yesterday. It gave me great Pleasure to hear from a Person, of whom The World has justly, so good an Opinion; & for whom I have so great an Esteem. I shall be extreamly happy to have frequent News of your Welfare, & hope soon to hear, that your laudable Endeavours, & the Noble Spirits you...
1349To George Washington from Christopher Gist, 24 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have Sent twenty of My Soldiers to York Town who are all in good Sperritts there and Two I now Send to them. To Morrow I Shall follow them I have been forced to Borrow Money, and if Could have had Money enough I Bleive I Should have had 50 Men by this Time, I hope I Shall be properly Supploy’d with cash to Answer what I have done and if We want men I think I Can Soon get them. We have had No...
1350Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the Governor’s Message, 25 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), pp. 42–44. A sharp message from Governor Morris on November 22, answering one from the Assembly of four days earlier, dealt principally with precedents for the amendment of money bills. Probably both weary of the dispute and sensing no advantage to be gained by further responses, the Assembly...