1Receipt from William Pearce, 20 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 20, 1791. “Received Philadelphia Aug. 20, 1791 of Alexander Hamilton, one hundred dollars towards providing the use of Society for the establishment of Manufactures in the State of New Jersey certain machines & models of Machines to be delivered to the said Alexander Hamilton.” Receipt not found. ] AD , sold by Stan V. Henkels, Jr., May 15, 1931, Lot 23. On December 7,...
2Receipt from William Pearce, [7 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Received Philadelphia Sep 7. 1791 of Alexander Hamilton, Fifty Dollars towards providing Machines for a Cotton Manufactory. D , in writing of H and signed by Pearce, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For a list of these machines, see “Receipt from William Pearce,” August 20, 1791, note 2 .
3Receipt from William Pearce, 17 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Received of Alexander Hamilton, Fifty Dollars, towards procuring Machines for a Cotton Manufactory. DS , in handwriting of H, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For a “list of Mr Willm Pearce’s Machines,” see “Receipt from William Pearce,” August 20, 1791, note 2 .
4Receipt from William Pearce, [10 November 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Received Philadelphia November 10. 1791 of Alexander Hamilton One hundred and fifty Dollars on account of Machines. D , in writing of H and signed by Pearce, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For “A List of Mr Willm Pearce’s Machines,” see “Receipt from William Pearce,” August 20, 1791, note 2 .
5Receipt from William Pearce, 18 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] November 18, 1791 . “Received November 18. 1791 of Alexander Hamilton Fifty Dollars on account of Machines for a Cotton Manufactory.” D , in the handwriting of H and signed by Pearce, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For “A list of Mr Willm Pearce’s Machines,” see “Receipt from William Pearce,” August 20, 1791, note 2 .
6From Thomas Jefferson to William Pearce, 15 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The newspapers tell us you have invented a machine by which 700. ℔ of cotton a day can be cleaned of it’s seed. Knowing that this operation has been one of our greatest difficulties in the course of our houshold manufacture in Virginia, I feel much interest in this discovery. The purpose of this letter is merely to ask of you whether the newspaper information be true. Because if it be, I shall...
7From George Washington to William Pearce, 26 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I intended to have written to you somewhat sooner, but business of a public nature & pressing, prevented it until now. Although I have conviction in my own mind, that a hundred guineas pr annum is more than my Mount Vernon Estate will enable me to give the Superintendent of it; yet, the satisfaction (when one is at a considerable distance from property they possess, under circumstances which...
8From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a copy of our agreement with my Signature to it. Since you were here, Mrs Washington the Widow of my Nephew, who formerly lived at this place, has resolved as soon as we leave it, to remove to her Brother’s in the lower part of this State, and will not I believe, return to reside at it again. This will make it more convenient and agreeable, both for yourself and me, that you should...
9From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th came duly to hand. Tomorrow I leave this for Philadelpa or the vicinity of it; where, when you have occasion to write to me, direct your letters. As you seemed to be in doubt whether a proper character could be engaged in the part of the Country you live in, to look after my Negro Carpenters; and (having much work to do in their way, & not being willing to leave matters...
10From George Washington to William Pearce, 24 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my way to this place (about the last of Octr) I lodged a letter for you in the Post Office at Baltimore, which I hope got safe to your hands, although I have not heard from you since. I shall begin, now, to throw upon Paper such general thoughts, and directions, as may be necessary for your government when you get to Mount Vernon; and for fear of accidents, if transmitted to you thro’ any...
11From George Washington to William Pearce, 18 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
The paper enclosed with this letter will give you my ideas, generally, of the course of Crops I wish to pursue. I am sensible more might be made from the farms for a year or two—but my object is to recover the fields from the exhausted state into which they have fallen, by oppressive crops, and to restore them (if possible by any means in my power) to health & vigour. But two ways will enable...
12From George Washington to William Pearce, 23 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
The letter which I wrote to you on the 18th and the papers therein enclosed with the Plans of the several farms (which Mr Lewis was directed to leave with you) were designed to give you a general view of the business entrusted to your care. I shall now, as intimated in that letter, give you my sentiments on many other matters of a more particular nature. Among the first things to be done after...
13From George Washington to William Pearce, 28 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th instant from Kent County in Maryland came to hand yesterday. I am sorry to find you had not then removed to Mount Vernon, and am concerned for the cause of your detention. Acts of Providence no human foresight can guard against, and it is our duty to submit to them. In the situation you describe your daughter to be, I certainly should not have desired you to leave her;...
14From George Washington to Howell Lewis or William Pearce, 6 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Reports of the 28th of December have been received, and Mr Butlers acct therewith—As I have no Acct against him, and Mr Whiting only kept memorandums, instead of regular Accounts, he must be paid according to his own statement. for this, and other purposes, I send two bank notes for one hundred dollars each. It is very unlucky that the late spell of freezing weather should be suffered to...
15From George Washington to William Pearce, 12 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Taking it for granted that you have arrived at Mount Vernon, before this, I shall direct this letter to you at that place, & shall mention such things as have occurred to me, proper for your notice & government. From a review of the plan of rotation which has been already communicated to you, it appears (if it can be carried into affect this year) that you will want the following seeds, and at...
16From George Washington to William Pearce, 19 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instt came to my hands to day, when the Post ought to have been in yesterday. Having been very full in my late letters to you, I shall have less to say in this—The condition you describe my stock to be in at Union farm, and at Dogue run, & want of shelter for them at those places, is a fresh instance of the misconduct of Crow & McKoy; and of the neccessity of watching...
17From George Washington to William Pearce, 26 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d and the Reports, came duly to hand by yesterdays Post. You will perceive by my rotation plan (with which you have been furnished —or rather by the notes annexed thereto) that if the fields allotted for Corn at the several farms were deemed inadequate to the consumption of this article, that such parts of the fields as were designed for Buck Wheat, as a Crop, might be...
18From George Washington to William Pearce, 3 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Post which ought (in course) to have arrived here On Saturday last, will not be in, it seems, until tomorrow. When it arrives, I shall (if anything requires immediate notice) by the Post of Wednesday write to you—If not, I shall delay doing it until the usual time—that is, on Sunday next. By the last Post I sent you a bank note for One hundred dollars, to pay Mr Dulany—I hope it got safe...
19From George Washington to William Pearce, 9 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
since writing you a few lines on the 3d instant, I have received your letter of the 28th of last month, and that of the third of the present. If you are satisfied with Mr Butlers conduct and exertions, I shall be so. He has always appeared to me as a well disposed man, obliging and sober one who has seen better days: and must have had a good deal of practical knowledge in husbandry. If you can...
20From George Washington to William Pearce, 16 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th instant, covering the reports of the preceeding week, came regularly to hand and gave me concern to hear of the death of Mr Stuarts daughter. What was her complaint? My intention, with respect to the repairs of my house in Alexandria, and inclosing the lot, was, that every particle of the work, except putting it together, should be prepared at Mount Vernon, & carried...
21From George Washington to William Pearce, 24 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th instant came safe. Meeting your children at Baltimore is certainly necessary, and therefore I can have no objection to it. My last letter being full, respecting the repairs of my house in Alexandria, I shall add nothing on that subject in this; and as Mr Stuart has not, according to his declaration, received any money from Mr Whiting, let him be paid with the deduction...
22From George Washington to William Pearce, 2 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th Ulto, & Reports of the preceeding week, came to hand this day. Enclosed, agreeably to the promise contained in my last, I send you the copy of an advertisement which the Printers of Baltimore & George Town have been directed to publish four times; in each of their Gazettes; alternate weeks; that is—to insert it one Week & leave it out the next, until it has been four...
23From George Washington to William Pearce, 9 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instt is this moment received. The badness of the roads has occasioned irregularity in the Post. I approve your repairing my house in Alexandria with my own People (preparing every thing that can be, at home) and of your doing it in the manner proposed; that is, to board between the houses in a neat & workman like manner & to do the three sides of the lot with White Oak...
24From George Washington to William Pearce, 16–17 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th with its enclosures came to hand at the usual time; but not so as that, enquiry co[ul]d be made into the prices of linnen, & you to be informed, by the Post of tomorrow (this day being Sunday)—Go on therefore, until you hear further from me, to get linnen as fast as it can be worked up. The 11½ d. linnen is as good as any for the boys, girls & small people, who do...
25From George Washington to William Pearce, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The weekly reports, and your letter of the 18th instant, came regularly to hand. The insufferable neglects of my Overseers in not plowing as they ought to have done in the Fall, begins now to be manifest; for I perceive by the account given of the plowing, that I am driven to the alternative of putting my Oats into ground not half plowed, & prepared, & thereby little to expect from it; or, in...
26From George Washington to William Pearce, 30 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Reports, and your letter of the 25th instt have been duly recd. If you are satisfied from repeated trials, that the pieces of the treading floor at Dogue run Farm, are well placed at an inch and half a part, it would be well to lay them all at that distance, that you may derive as much benefit as you can from it in the present Crop, and that it may be ready against the next year. The Oats...
27From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter & Reports of the 1st instant I have received, and am glad to find by the first that you have got your family safe to Mount Vernon; as, unquestionably, it will be a satisfaction to you to have them along with you. Change of Air may, and I hope will, restore your eldest daughter to health again. I had no doubt but that the late capture of our Vessels by the British Cruisers, followed...
28From George Washington to William Pearce, 13 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
By your letter of the 9th instt (which with the weekly reports) have been duly received, I find you wish to open a communication between the lower rooms, in what is called the Servants Hall, and to make a closet therein: against the latter I have no objection at all—nor against the first provided the doing it does not cut away a brace, and thereby weaken the house. If the chimneys project into...
29From George Washington to William Pearce, 20 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th, with the weekly reports, came to hand as usual, yesterday. I was sorry to learn by the first that you had been unwell. It is almost impossible for me to say, with exactness, what I owe the Estate of Mr Anthony Whitting, because his accounts do not appear to have been regularly kept, but rather in detached Memms. More than his wages from the first of Jany until the day...
30From George Washington to William Pearce, 27 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d instant with its enclosures came duly to hand. Thomas Green’s account of the dimensions of the Rooms in my house in Alexandria, is so confused & perplexed, that I can make neither head nor tail of it. The length, breadth & height of each, with the distance from the washboard to the Chairboard, & the number of doors & windows in each room, was all I wanted; instead of...