851[Diary entry: 2 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
[Friday] 2d. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 44 at Night. Morning very clear and pleasant—ground a little frozen. About 8 Oclock the wind sprung up at No. Wt. & blew rather cool. Before Noon it died away and became warm and pleast.—after which it began to lower and towards Night looked very hazy & portentious of a change. Rid into the Neck with my Compass to ascertain if...
852[Diary entry: 3 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 3d. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Very rainy Morning and till towards Noon—when it ceased, but no sun appeared all day. Wind, tho’ very little of it, was at No. Et. The Revd. Mr. Weems, and yg. Doctr. Craik who came here yesterday in the afternoon left this about Noon for Port Tobo. Doctr. Stuart came here in the evening. Mason Locke Weems (1759–1825), born...
853[Diary entry: 4 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 4th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 42 at Night. In the Morning early it was pleasand with the Wind at So. Afterwards it shifted to the No. Wt. and became variable with appearances all the evening of Snow or rain. Mr. William Fitzhugh (Son to the Colo.) came here before dinner.
854[Diary entry: 5 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 5th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 38 at Night. Cloudy morning with the Wind at No. West, but neither fresh nor cold. Cloudy all day with appears. of rain or Snow. Doctr. Stuart and Mr. Fitzhugh went away after breakfast. I rid to the Ferry, French’s Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations. Began at French’s to Sow Oats, & to harrow them in and at Dogue run to Cut & Maul...
855[Diary entry: 6 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 6th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 48 at Night. Wind at No. West tho’ not very fresh but raw and Cold; the Sun seldom appearing. Rid to all the Plantations; No appearance of the first sowed Oats coming up in the Neck—Women, there, putting up a fence by Williams’s house—at all the other places working as yesterday. On my return home found Colo. Ball here and soon after...
856[Diary entry: 7 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 7th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 54 at Night. Cloudy with the wind brisk at So. Et. in the Morning, and varying more westerly afterwards and blowing fresh all day—Clear after 8 Oclock. Mr. G. W. Lewis went away after breakfast. Colo. Ball rid with me to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, & Muddy hole—Sowing Oats at the 3 first as also grass seeds—At the...
857[Diary entry: 8 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 8th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 42 at Night. Grey Morning with some appearances of falling Weather—the wind however at No. West; about 9 Oclock it shifted to the No. East and blew raw and cold; before Noon it died away, and was very pleasant but towards evening it sprung up again at No. Et. and looked threatning again. Colo. Ball went away immediately after breakfast....
858[Diary entry: 9 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 9th. Mercury at 36 in the Morng.—44 at Noon and 42 at Night. A good deal of Rain fell last Night—wind at South all day. Abt. 9 Oclock it ceased raining; and about Noon the Sun came out, and it was very pleasant; but it clouded and lowered much afterwards. At home all day.
859[Diary entry: 10 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 10th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 59 at Night. A clear and pleasant Morning with the Wind at So. after wch. it shifted to the No. Wt. and blew fresh but not cold. Towards evening it became calm and exceeding pleasant. A violent [wind] in the Night with storms of rain. Rid to all the Plantations. Found that much rain had fallen and that the sowing of Oats was stopped at...
860[Diary entry: 11 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 11th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 50 at Night. Calm, clear and remarkably pleasant all day till about Sun down when the wd. sprung up fresh from the So. Et. and the Sky became Muddy. Doctr. Craik came here to dinner to day. Mrs. Jenifer came here to dinner yesterday. Mrs. Jenifer is probably Sarah Craik Jenifer, Dr. Craik’s daughter.
861[Diary entry: 12 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 12th. Mercury at 36 in the Morng.—60 at Noon and 58 at N. Morning a little Cloudy with the wind at South—much the same all day. Towds. Night the wind freshened and in the Night blew a storm. Rid to all the Plantations—Plowing, and Sowing Oats and grass Seeds at all except at Muddy hole—threshing clover Seed there. No appearance of the first Sowed Oats rising yet. Majr. Washington went...
862[Diary entry: 13 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 13th. Mercury at in the Morning—68 at Noon and 64 at Night. The Southerly Storm of last Night was very violent—blowing down some of my fencing and the tops of my Hay & wheat Stacks. Much rain also fell by which the ground was made very wet and the Runs filled with water. Till about 8 Oclock this morning it continued to rain fast after which it cleared with a fresh Southerly Wind which...
863[Diary entry: 14 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 14th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 58 at Night. Remarkably fine and pleasant all day with little or no wind. Rid to all the Plantations—began to sow Oats as usual. The first sowed ones in the Neck were beginning to come up. At that place Nat finished on Monday last laying off field No. 3 for Corn. At Dogue run finished filling gullies & grubbing before the Plows in the...
864[Diary entry: 15 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 15th. Mercury at 42 in the Morning— at Noon and at N. Clear and pleasant with [wind] at South. Towards sundown the horison looked a little thick in the West. Went out with my Compass in order to Mark the ground at Muddy hole intended for experiments, into half Acre lotts, and two other places adjoining all on field No. 2—into 10 Acre lotts—Also to mark the lines which divide field No....
865[Diary entry: 16 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 16th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 60 at Night. Clear, warm, and very pleasant all day with but little Wind and that Southerly. Rid to all the Plantations, to the Mill and to the Ditchers. The last began to ditch on both sides the New Meadow at the ferry—Plowing and sowing as usual at all the other places. Mrs. Jenifer and the two Miss Craiks went away yesterday and Mr....
866[Diary entry: 17 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 17th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 48 at Night. Morning tolerably clear but lowering all day afterwards and sometimes misting with the wind at No. Et. Mr. Griffith went away after breakfast. I rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, French’s, and Ferry Plantations. At French’s the Plows began yesterday after noon to plow in that cut of field No. 5 by Manleys houses. At the Ferry,...
867[Diary entry: 18 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 18th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 63 at Night. A thick fog in the early part of the Morning and lowering till towards Noon—Clear afterwards till evening when the Sun set in a bank—Wind at So. Et. till Night when it appeared to be at So. West. The day was warm & pleasant. Wind fresh in the Night. A Mr. Black from New York, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Porter, Mr. Monshur, Mr. Murray,...
868[Diary entry: 19 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 19th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—63 at Noon and 63 at Night. Morning lowering, and the Wind fresh from South. The same kind of Weather through the day, with drops of rain now and then. Rid to the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations; and to the Ditchers. Plowing and Sowing Oats as usual at the 3 first and at all of them the first sowed Oats were coming up. The ground is...
869[Diary entry: 20 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 20th. Mercury at 58 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 56 at Night. A Very thick fog all the Morning—lowering afterwds. with but little Wind. A little rain last N. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, and Dogue run. Had the hands from the latter and Muddy hole brot. to Frenchs to put up the fence along the Road, that that by Grays house might be removed out of the way of the plows....
870[Diary entry: 21 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 21st. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 60 at Night. Heavy, lowering Morning; with but little wind from the So. Et. Calm all day with Clouds and Sun shine alternately through the whole of it. When the Sun was out, it was very warm—Vegetation advancing very quick. The grass had come on surprisingly & the blossoms of the early fruits were putting forth as were the leaves of...
871[Diary entry: 22 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 22d. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 44 at N. Clear all day, with the wind pretty fresh from the Southward. Towards Night and in the Night, it encreased; and grew colder. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, & Dogue run. Began to sow Oats in Field No. 5 at Frenchs—in the West cut East side thereof with the Oats from George Town (the common kind). At Dogue run the...
872[Diary entry: 23 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 23d. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—46 at Noon And 38 at N. The Wind shifted from the Southward to the No. West in the Night and blew violently hard, which it continued to do all day turning cold & very disagreeable. Rid to all the Plantations. Finished about 9 Oclock breaking up all the ground in field No. 9 in the Neck. The Muddy hole force all at French’s putting up the fence along the...
873[Diary entry: 24 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 24th. Mercury at 28 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. The Wind still violent at No. Wt.—ground frozen and so dried & baked with the Wind as not to be in condition for plowing or harrowing in the Morning. Ice almost through the day which was very cold for the season and exceedingly disagreeable. Rid to the Ferry, French’s, and Dogue run Plantations—The Plows at the first listg. of...
874[Diary entry: 25 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 25th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 49 at Night. Very severe frost last Night—More Ice than yesterday morning—Wind still at No. West but not so fresh as yesterday and weather clear. Mr. Snow from Alexandria came down and dined and returned in the Afternoon with Captn. Rice—immediately after which a Mr. Martin—an English Gentleman came in and a few minutes afterwards Mr....
875[Diary entry: 26 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 26th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—58 at Noon And 54 at Night. Morning clear and pleasant Wind Southerly but not much of it. At home all day. The English Gentleman went away after breakfast and Mr. Lee after Colo. Gilpin—Doctr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart and Betcy & Patcy Custis came here to Dinner. The first went away after it. Finished sowing Oats in the Neck on Saturday last, in the...
876[Diary entry: 27 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 27th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 49 at Night. Very smoky, and lowering all day with but little wind & that from the Southward. Rid to the Ferry, French’s Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations. At the first began yesterday, & would finish to day, harrowing Timothy Seed on the Rye which had been omitted in the Fall; and on the Snow during winter. Ordered a part of it to be...
877[Diary entry: 28 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 28th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 54 at Night. A heavy fog in the Morning—a pretty brisk shower of Rain for about an hour at Noon and clear warm and pleasant Afternoon. Rid into the Neck and was [prevented] from going to the other places by the Rain. The cold winds and frost last Week had turned the Oats yellow and in some places had bitten the blades. Rid over my...
878[Diary entry: 29 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 29th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—56 at Noon And 50 at Night. Raining before day with the Wind fresh and cold from the No. West. About 8 Oclock it began to Snow, and continued to do so by intervals till 11 or 12 but not enough at any time to cover the ground. The afternn. was clear and tolerably pleasant the wind what remained of it having shifted round to the So. West. Rid to the...
879[Diary entry: 30 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 30th. Mercury at 39 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 44 at Night. A Frost this Morning, notwithstanding the Wind appeared to have been Southwardly all Night. Abt. 8 oclock, or Sooner the wd. shifted to No. Wt.—blew fresh—turned cold & spit Snow. Towards the afternoon it veered round more to the Southward again, but continued cool. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, French’s, and the Ferry. The...
880[Diary entry: 31 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 31st. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 54 at N. The ground was frozen this Morning. The Wind however had got Southerly and the day except flying clouds was for the most part clear. The evening was warm and pleasant. Rid to all the plantations. In the Neck 105 Pannels of Post and rail fencing which was begun there on Wednesday was compleated—Plows listing & women threshing....
881April 1787 (Washington Papers)
Sunday. first. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind at No. West in the Morning and Southerly afterwards but not very fresh at any time of the day—Weather clear. At home all day. Mr. Hunter, Mr. Rumney, Mr. Porter, Doctr. Craik and a Captain Nixon dined here—all of whom except Mr. Hunter went away after it. In the evening, one Young who lives on Colo. Balls place, a...
882[Diary entry: 1 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday. first. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Wind at No. West in the Morning and Southerly afterwards but not very fresh at any time of the day—Weather clear. At home all day. Mr. Hunter, Mr. Rumney, Mr. Porter, Doctr. Craik and a Captain Nixon dined here—all of whom except Mr. Hunter went away after it. In the evening, one Young who lives on Colo. Balls place, a...
883[Diary entry: 2 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 2d. Mercury at 37 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 47 at Night. Morning Mild, calm, & smoaky till abt. 8 oclock when the wind came out at No. Wt. and blew fresh all day. Weather clear. Mr. Hunter and Young went away before breakfast and after it I rid to Muddy-hole Dogue run—Frenchs and the Ferry Plantations. At the first began to sow Clover seed at the rate of 6 pints to the acre on the...
884[Diary entry: 3 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday. 3d. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 52 at Night. Ground froze, and Ice half an Inch thick with a small, white frost. Morning tho’ cool, pleasant, being calm and clear. Scarcely a Morning since the high wind the 23d. of March that has not produced frost in a greater or less degree. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck finished listing field No. 3. Ordered the Plows to do...
885[Diary entry: 4 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday. 4th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—73 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind southerly, and weather clear, & very warm all day and appearances of dry weather. Rid to the Fishing Landing and to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run, and Muddy hole. Finished harrowing in all the Oats that were sown in field No. 5 at Frenchs. To sow this field it took 117½ Bushels. The quantity of...
886[Diary entry: 5 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday. 5th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—80 at Noon and 76 at Night. Wind Southerly in the Morning, variable afterwards, often times at No. Wt. and pretty fresh but clear and very warm all day—very smoaky and hazy with the Sun red and other indications of a drought. Rid to the Fishing landing, and to the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run and Muddy hole. At the first, sowing Oats...
887[Diary entry: 6 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 6th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 45 at Night. In the Night it turned cool and continued so all day with the Wind at No. East and appearances of rain in the forenn. but much less afterwards. Mr. Beall went away after breakfast. Rid to all the Plantations and to the Fishing landing at the Ferry. Listing, and laying off Corn at Muddy hole, the latter in the South part of...
888[Diary entry: 7 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 7th. Mercury at 52 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 52 at Night. Wind Easterly in the Morning & cool; but shifting afterwards more Southerly and dying away till the evening it grew warmer. The appearances of rain vanished. Rid to the Fishing landing and the Plantations at the Ferry, French’s, Dogue run, and Muddy hole. At French’s the rolling of the Barley, and the Flax seed & Oats would...
889[Diary entry: 8 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 8th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. Wind Southerly, and Morning a little lowering—About 11 Ock. it began to rain moderately, and continued to do so 15 or 20 Minutes when it ceased and cleared. About Sun down a slight cloud arose in the So. Wt. quarter from whence proceeded a pretty heavy shower for a few minutes which seemed to discharge a good deal of rain for...
890[Diary entry: 9 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 9th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 68 at Night. Clear all day with the Wind variable from So. Wt. to No. Wt. and very high. Mrs. Stuart went away after breakfast leaving Betcy and Patcy Custis. At home all day.
891[Diary entry: 10 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 10th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 72 at Night. Clear, calm, and warm all day. The appearances of fruit is very great from the innumerable blossoms with which every Tree is loaded. Rid to all the Plantations, spreading as much dung as I could spare, & find time to carry out on the poorest part of the last years Turnip field in the Neck, I ordered it to be cross plowed...
892[Diary entry: 11 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 11th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night. Calm, clear, and Warm all day—Wind, what little there was of it, Southerly. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, cross plowing, as directed, for Barley. At Muddy hole finished harrowing in grass Seeds on the Rye by the Barn—viz.—a bushel of clean red clover Seed, and 13 gallons of Orchard grass seed—qty. of Land abt....
893[Diary entry: 12 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 12th. Mercury at 60 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 74 at N. Clear and Warm, wind fresh all day from the Southward. The Sun set in a bank. Rid to all the Plantatns. The Women from Dogue run had joined those at the Ferry and were working in the New Meadow—preparing it for Oats and Timothy. At French’s, the Roller w[oul]d about got over the Wheat which had been sown with grass Seeds and...
894[Diary entry: 13 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 13th. Mercury at 62 in the Morng.—74 at Noon and 74 at N. A Fresh Southerly wind all day with some appearances of rain. Warm. Rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, French’s and the Ferry—and to the Fishing Landing. At Muddy hole the artichokes were planted as directed yesterday but upon recollection the method does not seem to be proper, because the cross in which they were...
895[Diary entry: 14 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 14th. Mercury at 62 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 68 at Night. Cloudy in the Morning with a few drops of rain, but the Wind getting to No. Wt. it soon cleared, and blew pretty fresh all day. Towds. Night it grew cool. Mr. Grymes went up to Alexandria after breakfast, returned to dinner, and crossed the river afterwards. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck Sowed on the Barley which...
896[Diary entry: 15 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 15th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and at N. Clear, with the Wind fresh and Cool from the No. West all day.
897[Diary entry: 16 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 16th. Mercury at in the Morning— at Noon and at N. Morning Cold with the wind (tho not fresh) still at No. Wt. calm afterwards—frost. Went up to Alexandria to the Election of Delegates to represent the County in General Assembly—when Colo. Mason and Doctr. Stuart were chosen. Returned in the Evening, accompanied by Colo. Mason—his two Sons William and George—& his Son in Law Colo....
898[Diary entry: 17 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 17th. Mercury at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Calm and very smoaky, but not warm. Towards night it seemed to lower and put on appearances of rain but cleared after dark again. Colo. Mason and his Sons, & Colo. Cook, going away about 11 Oclock I rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole—Dogue run, Frenchs and the Ferry. At the first they had begun to harrow the List and plant Corn...
899[Diary entry: 18 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 18th. Mercury at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind at So. West in the forenoon and at No. Et. afterwards—Cloudy all the forenoon with slow rain; but not much more of it than would lay the dust. About 2 Oclock the Sun came out after which it clouded agn. Mr. Jonathan Williams of Nantz—Nephew of Doctr. Franklins came here yesterday, dined, and returned to Alexandria in order...
900[Diary entry: 19 April 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 19th. Mercury at in the Morning— at Noon And at Night. The Wind shifting to No. Wt. in the Night it blew fresh and cold. This morning there was a small white frost and a black one wch. was so severe as to stop brick laying till the sun had removed the effect of it. The leaves of the clover in the lawn were quite stiff & there was Ice full half an inch thick. Before noon the Wind got...