81Acct. of the Weather in March [1775] (Washington Papers)
March 1st. Cloudy all the forenoon with a little Rain—clear afterwards. Wind very fresh all day from the No. West & towards Night cold. 2. Clear, with little or no Wind in the forenoon but Southerly afterwards. 3. Clear & very pleasant all day. In the forenoon the Wind was a little fresh from the Southward but quite calm afterwards. 4. Warm, Calm, and pleasant. In the Afternoon a little Wind...
82Cash Accounts, March 1775 (Washington Papers)
Cash March 12— To Cash an Error on the Contra Side of [£] 300. 0.0 To Mr John Stone for 3000 Bls Corn @ 2/ ⅌ Bl 300. 0.0 To an Acct agt his Craft 1.12.6 25— To Thos Newton Esqr. for Colo. Fieldg Lewis 100. 0.0 28— To the Treasurer my further Proportion of the Money raisd for the Delegates 13.15.6 Contra March 2— By Charity 0. 5.0 6— By Caleb Stone
83From George Washington to James Cleveland, March 1775 (Washington Papers)
I earnestly recommend to you, to follow after the People I have sent out as soon as you can do it with safety, as much depends upon making a proper beginning. If you should not arrive at Gilbert Simpsons till after Willm Stevens is gone with the People, Provision, and Tools; you will follow them by Land, or Water, as you shall find it most convenient. I directed Stevens to leave his Baggage...
84To John Adams from Samuel Swift, 31 March 1775 (Adams Papers)
I was in hopes you would have just called as you went out of Town, more especially as I Asked the favor I wanted to have troubled you with the inclosed —but you forgot me. I Sent and got the Group it is Admirally well done as far as it go’s, but, pauca desunt , vizt. Act. II. Scene I. The persons are, Hateall, Hazlerod, Monsieur, Beau-Trumps, Simple, Humbug, Sr. Sparrow, yet the first part...
85[Diary entry: 31 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
31. Set of from thence. Dined at Dumfries & reachd home about Sun Set.
86[Diary entry: 31 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
31. Cool with the Wind at No. West but not very hard.
87To George Washington from Henry McCabe, 31 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
Having Purchac’d a Farm Adjoining the Town of Leesburg, am in want of Some money to Assist in Purchaceing Horses, Implements of Husbandry &c. if you can Supply me with one hundred & fifty pounds, I will give you Security on the land; or on the Stone house in that Town; Or if you would rather Choose to be secured in this County will give you A Mortgage on my Houses in this place. Your Answer to...
88To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton Smith, 31 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
I some Time Past Purchased of the Reverend Mr Walter Magowan, a Parcell of Ticketts in Earl Stirlings Land and Cash Lottery, in the Provinces of New York and New Jersey. I am since Informed that the Lottery is drawn and that you have an Acct of the Prizes in this Lottery—I have therefore taken the Liberty to write to you upon this Subject, and shall be Extreemly obliged to you to Favour me...
89[Diary entry: 30 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
30. At Fredericksburg all day. Dined at Colo. Lewis’s.
90[Diary entry: 30 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
30. A tolerable pleasant day with but little Wind.
91[Diary entry: 29 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
29. Got to Fredericksburg abt. 11 Oclock. Dined at Colo. Lewis’s & spent the Evening at Weedons. George Weedon was described by an English traveler who stopped at his tavern about this time as “very active and zealous in blowing the flames of sedition” ( SMYTH J. F. D. Smyth. A Tour in the United States of America: containing An Account of the Present Situation of that Country; The Population,...
92[Diary entry: 29 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
29. Severe Frost. White & Black. Fruit distroyd.
93To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 28 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I did my self the honor to write you, 13 Septr last, by Mr. Quincy, acknowleging the receit of several curious Pamphlets, for which am much obliged to you, and beg the favor of you to present my respectful Compliments to Sir John Pringle, and Mr. Henley, for the particular honor they have done me, in sending me their curious Productions. Since that, I...
94[Diary entry: 28 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
28. Left Richmond. Dined at Hanover C[our]t Ho[use] & Lodged at Roys at the Bolling Green.
95[Diary entry: 28 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
28. Very Cold with a Frost—Wind fresh from the No. West.
Massachusettensis, in some of his writings has advanced, that our allegiance is due to the political capacity of the King, and therefore involves in it obedience to the British parliament. Governor Hutchinson in his memorable speech laid down the same position. I have already shewn from the case of Wales, that this position is groundless—and that allegiance was due from the Welch to the King,...
97[Diary entry: 27 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
27. Returnd to Richmond. Dined at Mr. Richd. Adam’s. Today, in its final session the Second Virginia Convention made Thomas Jefferson, delegate from Albemarle County, Peyton Randolph’s alternate delegate to the Second Continental Congress ( VAN SCHREEVEN William J. Van Schreeven et al., eds. Revolutionary Virginia: The Road to Independence. A Documentary Record . 7 vols. Charlottesville, Va.,...
98[Diary entry: 27 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
27. Raining in the Afternoon with the wind fresh at No. Et. In the Evening it got to No. Wt.
99From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 27 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
In looking over my memorandums, I find that my own warrant for 5,000 acres of Land, was directed to the Surveyor of Botetourt, and executed in part by Mr Lewis your Son, for 2,950 acres. Recollecting at the same time to have heard the little Kanhawa spoken of as a temporary boundary between your county and Augusta, and having a survey on the lower side of that river as inclosed, for 1800...
100From George Washington to William Preston, 27 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 27th and 31st of Jany were both deliverd to me at this place—the first Inclosing a Copy of the Survey at the Mouth of Coal River, and the Second an acct of the Expence of doing it. By Colo. Christian I send £3.6.8 for your Fee, & £2.10.0 for Capt. Floyd. It was impossible for me, with any sort of propriety to judge the value of Captn Floyds extra:Services; & being told that...
101Resolution on Land Grants, [27 March 1775] (Jefferson Papers)
His Excellency the Governor having by proclamation bearing date the 21st. day of March in the present year declared that his majesty hath given orders that all vacant lands within this colony shall be put up in lots to public sale and that the highest bidder for such lot shall be the purchaser thereof, and shall hold the same subject to a reservation of one half-penny sterling per acre by way...
102To George Washington from James Balfour, 25–26 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Partner Mr Barraud writes me that he has procur’d ev’ry thing in your Order that cou’d be got—I have been confin’d to my Bed for near Six Weeks occasion’d as the Old Women say by a Stone Bruise on my Heel be what bruise it may it had liked to have carry’d me to my long Home thank God I am now out of all danger tho’ still confin’d to my Bed—this has retarded sometime sending for the Flour....
103To Benjamin Franklin from James Kinsey, 26 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the favor of Mr. Wister I transmitt the Votes and Laws of the last Session of Assembly, Which I hope will be delivered safely to you together with this inclosing a Duplicate of the petition to the King. In my last I Stated Mr. Wilmotts Affair fully, hope he will see by it that the Colony has not been to blame and that he will speedily receive his Money....
104[Diary entry: 26 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
26. Stay’d at Wilton all day.
105[Diary entry: 26 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
26. Wind Easterly with Misting Rain all day.
106To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Quincy, Sr., 25 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society My dear Son has repeatedly acknowledged your friendly Reception and Patronage of him, since his Arrival in London: Be pleased, therefore, to accept of my gratefull Sense of your Goodness to him; with my ardent Wishes, that your united Endeavors to preserve your native Country from impending Ruin may be attended with Success. You would hardly be perswaded...
107[Diary entry: 25 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
25. Returnd to the Convention in Richmond. Dined at Galts & went to Mrs. Randolphs of Wilton. Today the convention accepted an amended report of the defense committee, which recommended that each county “form one or more voluntier Companies of Infantry and Troops of Horse,” that every infantryman have a rifle or firelock and a tomahawk and “be cloathed in a hunting Shirt by Way of Uniform,”...
108[Diary entry: 25 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
25. Wind Northerly & somewhat Cool but not unpleasant.
109From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 25 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
Mr Smith deliverd me your Letter of the 16th; but as one is generally in a hurry & bustle in such places, & at such times as these I have only time to acknowledge it, & add that it would have given me pleasure to have met you here —I shall refer you to Mr Smith for an Acct of our proceedings up to this day, & you cannot fail of learning the rest from the Squire, who delights in the Minutiæ of...
110Report of Committee to Prepare a Plan for a Militia, [25 March 1775] (Jefferson Papers)
The Committee appointed to prepare a plan for embodying arming and disciplining a militia for the purpose of putting this colony into an immediate posture of defence have had the same under their consideration and agreed to a report as follows. The Committee propose that it be strongly recommended to the colony diligently to put in execution the Militia law passed in the year 1738 entitled ‘An...
111[Diary entry: 24 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
24. Dined at Galts & spent the Evening & lodgd at Mr. Saml. Duvals. The convention decided on this day to send seven delegates to the Second Continental Congress ( VAN SCHREEVEN William J. Van Schreeven et al., eds. Revolutionary Virginia: The Road to Independence. A Documentary Record . 7 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1973–83. , 2:371). Samuel Du Val (1714–1784) lived near Shockoe Creek at...
112[Diary entry: 24 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
24. Clear & warm in the forenoon—Wind very fresh from the So. West. In the afternoon Wind shifting to the No. West & Cooler.
113Draft of Resolution concerning Adherence of New York to Articles of Association, [24 March 1775] (Jefferson Papers)
Ordered that certain paragraphs in the public papers, said to have been the votes of the house of representatives of New York be read. The house of Convention taking into their consideration that the said province of New York did by their delegates in General Congress solemnly accede to the compact of Association there formed for the preservation of American rights, that a defection from such...
114[Diary entry: 23 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
23. Dined at Mr. Patrick Cootes & lodgd where I had done the Night before. At this day’s session Patrick Henry proposed resolutions “that this Colony be immediately put into a posture of Defence.” After much debate, in the course of which Henry gave his “liberty or death” speech, the resolutions passed by a close vote. GW was appointed to a committee to “prepare a Plan for embodying, arming...
115[Diary entry: 23 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
23. Cloudy & Chilly—with appearances of Snow—wind being Easterly but none fell. Afternn. clear.
116To George Washington from Valentine Crawford, 23 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Came to this place on fryday Evening and I Should have Com down Sooner But I Never Recved your Drafts till a fews days before I Came down and thinking you Might be gon to the Con grass I thought it advisable to Send them to you by Capt. Rutherford as you Might Meet with Mr Lewis there and have the plats Examenid by Lewis your Selfe. I hope you will Excuse My Not breng down all My acounts and...
117From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin: Journal of Negotiations in London, 22 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress When Franklin at long last set sail for home, memories of the past months were churning inside him. He spent much of the voyage recounting, in the guise of a letter to his son, the events that had crowded upon him since the previous summer and particularly since early December. He had with him a mass of papers with which he documented his journal; the bulk of...
118[Diary entry: 22 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
22. Dined at Galts Tavern & lodgd at a House of his providing. The convention concluded the day’s deliberations by voting unanimous approval to “the proceedings and Resolutions of the American Continental Congress” and unanimous thanks to their seven delegates ( VAN SCHREEVEN William J. Van Schreeven et al., eds. Revolutionary Virginia: The Road to Independence. A Documentary Record . 7 vols....
119[Diary entry: 22 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
22. Cold all day with the Wind fresh from the No. Wt.
120[Diary entry: 21 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
21. Dind at Cooleys Tavern in Richmd. & returnd to Colo. Carys. The convention spent this day’s session hearing reports from their seven delegates to the First Continental Congress and discussing the proceedings of that congress ( VAN SCHREEVEN William J. Van Schreeven et al., eds. Revolutionary Virginia: The Road to Independence. A Documentary Record . 7 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1973–83. ,...
121[Diary entry: 21 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
21. Very Windy all day from the West, & turnd much Cooler.
122To George Washington from Thomas Cresap, 21 March 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have just now Received Yours of Feby 7 last , wherein You tell me that the Executors of Your Brother have been lately informed of my having taken Possession of some Lands belonging to him, which Information is not true; for I only claim my Own which I have been always in Possession of, And the very Person who made that Complaint has Rented it of me these two Years past and being called on...
123Franklin’s Remarks on Judge Foster’s Argument in Favor of the Right of Impressing Seamen, [before 17 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy with autograph additions: Library of Congress Sir Michael Foster (1689–1763) was one of the most respected jurists of the eighteenth century. In 1743 he was recorder for the city of Bristol, a judicial post that required him to prosecute criminal cases such as the one which led to his discussion of the Royal Navy’s right to impress or forcibly recruit sailors. On April 25, 1743, Alexander...
124Memorandum for Mrs. Stevenson, [on or before 20 March 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Dr. William Hewson, Philadelphia, Pa. (1957) Franklin, like so many travelers embarking on a long voyage, had been unable to deal with everything before his departure; and as usual Mrs. Stevenson took care of tidying his affairs. But she was much more deeply involved in them than this memorandum indicates. He left owing her four years’ rent at £100 per annum, and she covered additional...
125VIII. (cont.). To the Inhabitants of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay, 20 March 1775 (Adams Papers)
Wales was a little portion of the island of Great-Britain, which the Saxons were never able to conquer. The Britons had reserved this tract of land to themselves and subsisted wholly by pasturage, among their mountains. Their princes however, during the Norman period, and untill the reign of king Edward the first, did homage to the crown of England, as their feudal sovereign, in the same...
126[Diary entry: 20 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
20. Reach’d Richmond abt. 11 Oclock. Dind at Mr. Richd. Adam’s. Went to Col. Archy Carys abt. 7 Miles in the Aftern. The Second Virginia Convention was called to order at the Henrico Parish Church in Richmond, built in the 1740s on Indian Town Hill and set in a yard which in time became bounded by Broad, Grace, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth streets. In 1772 a north wing was added, and it was...
127[Diary entry: 20 March 1775] (Washington Papers)
20. Lowering and very warm with the Wind fresh from the So. West.
128From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I leave Directions with Mrs. Stevenson to deliver you all the Massachusetts Papers, when you please to call for them. I am sorry that the Hurry of Preparing for my Voyage and the many Hindrances I have met with, prevented my meeting you and Mr. Bollan, and conversing a little more on our Affairs before my Departure. I wish to both of you Health and Happiness,...
129To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Votre derniere lettre m’ayant eté remise par Mr. Williams m’a fait un plaisir singulier. L’avantage qu’il a de vous appartenir de si près formoit un prejugé bien favorable pour lui, sa physiognomie ne previent pas moins en sa faveur, les qualités de son esprit et la douceur de ses moeurs y repondent parfaitement. Il se fait aimer generalement icy des hommes...
130To Benjamin Franklin from John Fothergill, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and extract: Library of Congress Be kind enough to take the charge of the inclosed and convey them at thy leisure. [ Deleted ] is a staunch Anti American. I have received a letter from him to day by way of Liverpool which hurts me much. Get him, Jas. Pemberton and two or three more together, and inform them, that whatever specious pretences are offerd, they are all hollow and that to get a...