To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 21 January 1797
From Bushrod Washington
Richmond Jany 21. 97
My dear Uncle
I recd your favor of the 10th during my confinement under a severe attack of the Pleuresy1—I am now on the recovery, tho’ very weak, nor have I yet left my room.
The deed you wrote for is now enclosed, but I find it was not recorded within the time prescribed by Law.2
I have received no answer to my letter respecting your Kanawa Lands—As that letter was interesting to you, I hope it did not miscarry.3
Nancy joins me in Love to your[s]elf & my Au⟨nt⟩.4 Believe me to be very sincerely My dear Uncle Your Affect. Nephew & much obliged Servt5
B. Washington
ALS, ViMtvL.
1. GW’s letter to Bushrod Washington of 10 Jan. has not been found.
2. The deed has not been identified. However, it may be related to the Rough (Ruff) Creek land in Kentucky that GW had acquired from Henry Lee, and about which he sought Bushrod’s advice in January 1798 when he acknowledged that Lee’s “Deed … was not recorded in the time prescribed by Law” (GW to Bushrod Washington, 30 Jan. 1798, in 2:60–61). For more on that Kentucky land, see Alexander Spotswood to GW, 24 Jan., and n.1 to that document; see also Spotswood to GW, 22 March 1797, and n.1 to that document, in 1:43–44. The deed may also pertain to bounty lands on the Kanawha River that GW had acquired years earlier. GW recently had exchanged correspondence with John William Bronaugh on that matter (see GW to Bronaugh, 28 Aug. 1796, found at Bronaugh to GW, 19 July 1796, n.2; Bronaugh to GW, 7 Oct. 1796; and GW to Bronaugh, 13 Nov. 1796). GW previously also had advised Bushrod about a deed to a Virginia lot (see GW to Bushrod Washington, 29 June 1796, and n.2).
3. Bushrod’s letter about GW’s Kanawha River lands has not been found, but the two men later exchanged correspondence pertaining to back taxes due on GW’s western lands (see GW to Bushrod Washington, 18 Dec. 1797, and Bushrod Washington to GW, 9 Jan. 1798, in 1:522–23; 2:12–13).
4. “Nancy” refers to Bushrod’s wife, Julia Ann (Nancy) Blackburn Washington.
5. No reply to Bushrod from GW has been found, but GW wrote his nephew from Philadelphia in a letter dated “Thursday 16th Feb. 1797”: “The enclosed letter was sent to me from the Post Office with many others, & the Seal broke before I discovered the error; but I assure you upon my honor I know not a word it contains—for seeing the beginning I looked to the Subscription, and instantly closed it again. With affectionate regard I am ever Yours” (ALS, PWacD: Sol Feinstone Collection, on deposit at PPAmP). The enclosure has not been found.