16051To George Washington from John Dickinson, 4 April 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Dickinson, 4 April 1775. On 13 April GW wrote Dickinson that he had received “your favour of the 4th Instt.”
16052To James Madison from William Bradford, 4 April 1775 (Madison Papers)
Though the business that at present surrounds me on every side, makes writing inconvenient, yet I cannot let Mr. Hoops return without a few Lines to one I value so much. [Mr Dunlap’s paper &c] I send with this Furguson which I could not get for less than 12/ tho’ you will perceive it is somewhat soil’d. I also send the friendly address &c. & The other side of the Question. I dare not add more...
16053Speculation on the Speed of Ships, 5 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
MS : Library of Congress During his homeward voyage Franklin took time off from writing his journal of the peace negotiations in London to return to a question that had intrigued him for years: why do westbound ships have a longer crossing of the Atlantic than eastbound? Almost three decades earlier he had advanced a tentative answer in terms of the earth’s rotation; he now sketched a new one...
16054[Diary entry: 5 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
5. At home all day with the above Gentleman.
16055[Diary entry: 5 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
5. Wind very fresh and Cold from the No. West all day.
16056From George Washington to George Mercer, 5 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
The writing of this Letter, has been delayed longer than I expected, for the following reasons—want of opportunities of Collectg the inclosed papers—want of a conveyance to forward them afterwards—the necessity of comparing, & examining the Sales, and making some alterations with respect to the purchasers—executing Deeds for the Land &c. This delay, I conceived, could be attended with no great...
16057From George Washington to Edward Montagu, 5 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the 4th of December to Colo. Mercer (dispatched by the first opportunity that offered after the close of his Sales) would inform you of the total amount thereof; & that the contest between Miss Wroughton and Messrs Dick & Hunter, respecting a preference of Mortgages, would, more than probable, be avoided. I have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 29th of August,...
16058To George Washington from William Grayson, 5 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 2nd of Aprill; in answer to which, it is the desire of our Officers, that if they can’t be furnished with such sashes, as are proper; they would not incline to have any; but this matter is altogether left to yourself, as the person most capable of determining; with respect to the mode of conveying the arms from Philada to this place; I cannot at this time...
16059To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 5 April 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know that the terms on which the crown engaged to grant the lands in Virginia are contained in any other charter than that by Car. ii. the 10. of Oct. 28 of his reign. The original, I believe although the seal is not now to it, I found in my office; and I understand it is recorded in the Secretary’s office. A copy of it I now inclose to be sent by the first opportunity. In the mean...
16060[Diary entry: 6 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
6. All the above Gentlemen except Mr. Magowan went away after Breakfast. Mr. R. Adam came in the Evening & stayd all Night.
16061[Diary entry: 6 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
6. A hard frost—day colder & wind harder from the same Quarter than yesterday.
16062From George Washington to George William Fairfax, 6 April 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George William Fairfax, 6 April 1775. On 30 June 1786 GW wrote Fairfax : “The letters of ... 6th of Apl and 31st of May 1775 ... contain a full, & accurate acct of every thing that had occurred relative to your business.”
16063To George Washington from Edward Snickers, 6 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Receved a letter from youre miller in Regard to the whet I Sent Last to youre mill whare in he is under Sum mistake to think the whet Belonged to Mr Wormley for the whet wase my propertey but it Came from one of Mr Wormley quorters as he wase in Due me for whet I Sent him Last fall from my plantashon in Loudon to Soe and youre miller wase much in the Right to waye it and Give a Resait for...
16064To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 6 April 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of yesterday, I have looked cursorily over all the charters in my office. Of those sent by Mr. Montagu the three which seem to concern the matter you are considering are the same that are in the appendix to Mr. Stith’s history and the other which is all that I have of them besides is an ordinance relating to the appointment of a council in England for the affairs of the colony....
16065[Diary entry: 7 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
7. Mr. Adam went away after Breakfast. I continued at home all day.
16066[Diary entry: 7 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
7. Pleasant forenoon, but rather cool & Raw afterwards notwithstandg. the Wind was Southerly.
16067To George Washington from George Digges, 7 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Father & Mr Hawkins will take four hundred Bushel of your Salt, & I will copy a few Advertisements to be put up in this Neighbourhood—your Vessel may come along side of our Warf, which I apprehend wou’d be more Convenent for the people that may want to purchase. The family Join in Comptts to all at Mt Vernon, with Dear Sir Your Mos. Od. Sert ALS , DLC:GW . GW’s brigantine Farmer arrived at...
16068[Diary entry: 8 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
8. Mr. Magowan went away after Breakfast. Mrs. Washington & self rid to the Mill.
16069[Diary entry: 8 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
8. Rather Cool, Wind, what there was of it at No. East.
16070[Diary entry: 9 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
9. Went to Pohick Church & returnd to Dinner. Doctr. Craik and Mr. Danl. Jenifer came in the Afternoon and stayed all Night.
16071[Diary entry: 9 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
9. Again Cool, & Wind still at No. East.
16072To George Washington from William Preston, 9 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 27th Ult. came to hand yesterday with my Fee & that to Mr Floyd with which we are Sattisfied. Henderson I hear has made the Purchase & got a Conveyance of the great and Valluable Country below the Kentucky from the Cherokees. He and about 300 adventurers are gone out to take Possession, who it is said intends to set up an independant Government & form a Code of Laws for...
16073XI. To the Inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, 10 April 1775 (Adams Papers)
The cases of Wales and Ireland are not yet exhausted. They afford such irrefragable proofs, that there is a distinction between the crown and realm, and that a country may be annexed and subject to the former, and not the latter, that they ought to be thoroughly studied and understood. The more these cases, as well as those of Chester, Durham, Jersey, Guernsey, Calais, Gascoine, Guienne, &c....
16074[Diary entry: 10 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
10. At home all day alone.
16075[Diary entry: 10 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
10. Lowering all day with the wind at No. Et.
16076To George Washington from James Cleveland, 10 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
With much Difictualy I got out the fifth Day of April to Gilbert Simpsons; Wheare I found all the Hands but under Stood that ther Was but two Cannues—Next Day I Went to Magr Crawfords to see Stephenes & And Crawford Stephenes told me that he had been there Tenn Dayes, getting the tules I asket him how did you Expect to git Down he said he had made the hands Digg one ⟨Weich⟩, he said made...
16077Franklin, Thomas Walpole, Samuel Wharton, and John Sargent: Power of Attorney to William Trent, 11 April 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The promoters of the Walpole grant in London were becoming more and more unsure of obtaining it. Franklin’s ostensible withdrawal from their group in January, 1774, had had no perceptible effect in forwarding their cause, and their chance of success diminished as war drew nearer. They waited for over a year. Then in the spring of 1775 they apparently...
16078[Diary entry: 11 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
11. At home. Captn. Saunders came and lodged here. captn. saunders : probably either Joseph Saunders (died c.1792), a merchant of Philadelphia, or his son John Saunders, who was settling in Alexandria in this year (Fairfax County Wills, Book F–1, 251–55, Vi Microfilm; Fairfax County Deeds, Book M, 41–46, Vi Microfilm).
16079[Diary entry: 11 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
11. Misting all day and a good deal of Rain in the Night—with the Wind at No. Et.
16080To George Washington from Thomas Contee, 11 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Terms for the Brigantine Farmer and her Apparel, the New Boat Excepted, I agree to your proposal and Capt. Bradstreet will take her in Charge when or as Soon as you please. The Eighty pounds Bills will be paid you on receipt of the Vessel and the Cash you may rely on by or before the first day of May next. I am Sir your very humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . The letter is...
16081[Diary entry: 12 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
12. Captn. Saunders went away after Dinner. A Lloyd from Pen[n]s[ylvani]a Came to Dinner & stayd all Night. Mr. Andw. Stewart also came to Dinr. & returnd. This Lloyd may be John Lloyd (1751–1811), who was traveling through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia at this time as a partner of his brother-in-law, Osgood Hanbury (1731–1804), of London ( SAYERS R. S. Sayers. Lloyds Bank in the...
16082[Diary entry: 12 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
12. Raining in the forenoon but clear afterwards.
16083To George Washington from Thomas Newton, Jr., 12 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Received your favor of 3d instant, I also have received the herrings 60 Bars. of which I have sold at 15/ & am in hopes of getting clear of the remainder at the same price payable next October. the ship stuff is still on hand tho. I hope to get ten shillings for it soon. I will endeavor to get a vessell to bring up the sand tho. I am afraid I shall not procure it to be done under 5d. or 6d....
16084[Diary entry: 13 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
13. Mr. & Mrs. Custis, & Mrs. Newman came to Dinner. Mrs. Slaughter also.
16085[Diary entry: 13 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
13. Clear but Windy from the No. West & Cool.
16086From George Washington to John Dickinson, 13 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lloyd did me the honour to call at this place with your favour of the 4th Instt. If the Letters I have given him to the Governor, and others, will, in the smallest degree contribute to his success, I shall think myself happy; but I dispair of it at this time, as his Lordship is, I know, under a prohibition, by a late Instruction, to grant no more Lands to the Westward of us (but on certain...
16087Alexander McDougall to ?, 14 April 1775 (Adams Papers)
This covers a Letter, and accompanies a Budle, to our mutual Friend John Adams Esqr, which I received by Capt Lawrence from London, to be forwarded to him, by a safe Conveyance. I must therefore beg your particular care in Conveying them to him. All the Letters by the late Vessels, which arrived here agree, that the sanguinary measures expressed in the address, of Both Houses to the king were...
16088[Diary entry: 14 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
14. Doctr. Rumney Mr. Adam & Captn. Broadstreet came to Dinner. The two first stayd all Night—the other went away. captain broadstreet : was probably Capt. Lyonel Bradstreet, who apparently brought GW the acceptance by Thomas Contee of GW’s offer to sell his brig Farmer . Contee assured GW that “Capt. Bradstreet will take her in Charge when or as Soon as you please” ( Contee to GW, 11 April...
16089[Diary entry: 14 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
14. Very Cool & Wind very hard at No. West.
16090Thomas Lewis and Samuel McDowell to Virginia Delegates, 14 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
we have it in command, from the freeholders of Augusta county, by their committee, held the 22d of last February, to present you with their grateful acknowledgments of thanks for the prudent, virtuous, and noble exertions of the faculties with which Heaven has endowed you, in the cause of liberty, and of every thing that men ought to hold sacred, at the late General Congress; a conduct so...
16091Virginia Delegates to Thomas Lewis and Samuel McDowell, 14 April 1775 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to transmit to the respectable freeholders of the county of Augusta our sincere thanks for their affectionate address, approving our conduct in the late Continental Congress. It gives us the greatest pleasure to find that our honest endeavours to serve our country on this arduous and important occasion has met their approbation, a reward fully adequate to our warmest wishes; and the...
16092[Diary entry: 15 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
15. Went up to Alexandria to the Muster of the Independt. Company. Returnd late at Night.
16093[Diary entry: 15 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
15. Very pleasant. Wind what little there was Southerly.
16094[Diary entry: 16 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
16. At home all day. Genl. Lee Mr. Harry Lee Junr. Mr. Geo. Mason, Mr. Thompson, & Mr. McDonald came to Dinner. The three last went away afterwards. Colo. Mason came in the Afternn. Charles Lee was returning north from Williamsburg to be present in Philadelphia when the Second Continental Congress convened there in May. Henry Lee (1756–1818), later known as Light Horse Harry Lee for his...
16095[Diary entry: 16 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
16. Warm & towards the Evening lowering. Wind very fresh from the So. West.
16096XII. To the Inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, 17 April 1775 (Adams Papers)
We now come to Jersey and Guernsey, which Massachusettensis says “are no part of the realm of England, nor are they represented in parliament, but are subject to its authority.” A little knowledge of this subject will do us no harm, and as soon as we shall acquire it, we shall be satisfied, how these islands came to be subject to the authority of parliament. It is either upon the principle...
16097To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Dalrymple, 17 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer Mr. William Whitchurch finding his Health much impaired by his assiduous application to his Business has been induced to make a Voyage to America; I believe you are not unacquainted with his Works as a Writing Engraver and if he finds the Climate agrees with him and that he can find suitable occupation he may remain at Philadelphia and I hope may...
16098To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 17 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As Major Trent is the Bearer of this Letter, it is the less Necessary for Me now to be very particular in my Communications. I presented, as you desired, your Respects to Lord Camden, and his Lordship requested Me to tell You, that He should have been much pleased to have seen you, before you embarked; That the Chancellor’s Decission in your Case is...
16099[Diary entry: 17 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
17. Colo. Mason & myself went up to Alexa. to a Committee & to a New choice of Delegates. I returnd at Night. This meeting was called in Alexandria for election of delegates to the Virginia Convention from Fairfax County. GW and Charles Broadwater were again elected. By early May GW and the other Virginia delegates to the Second Continental Congress, all of whom were also Virginia Convention...
16100[Diary entry: 17 April 1775] (Washington Papers)
17. Wind very fresh from the Southwest with Rain in the Night.