91[Diary entry: 12 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Feby. 12th. A Small Frost happening last Night to Crust the Ground causd the House to move much lighter and by 9 Oclock it was got to the spot on wch. it was intended to stand. Visited at the Glebe the day being very fine clear & still. No wind blowing from any Quarter perceivably. Sett Kate & Doll to heaping the Dung abt. the Stable. Recd. a Letter & Acct. Currt. from Messrs. Hanbury...
92[Diary entry: 13 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Feby. 13th. A fresh gale So. continued the whole day with clear and Warm Sun. Visited all my Quarters.
93[Diary entry: 14 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Feby. 14th. Mr. Clifton came here and we conditiond for his Land viz., if he is not bound by some prior engagement. I am to have all his Land in the Neck (500 Acres about his house excepted) and the Land commonly calld Brents for 1600 £ Curry. He getting Messrs. Digges &ca. to join in making me a good & less Colo. Carlyle will let me have his Land adjoining Brents at half a Pistole an...
94[Diary entry: 15 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Feby. 15th. A Small fine Rain from No. Et. wet the Top of my Hay that had been landed last Night. It was all carted up however to the Barn & the Wet and dry seperated. Went to a Ball at Alexandria—where Musick and Dancing was the chief Entertainment. However in a convenient Room detachd for the purpose abounded great plenty of Bread and Butter, some Biscuets with Tea, & Coffee which the...
95[Diary entry: 16 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Feby. 16. Returned home—receiving an Invitation to Mrs. Chews Ball on Monday night next, first. The Morning lowerd, and dript as yesterday, but abt. 10 Oclock the Wind So[uther]ly, blew fresh, and cleard. Mercy Chew (d. 1775), with her husband Joseph Chew, kept a tavern in Alexandria which GW patronized in the early 1760s (Fairfax County Deeds, Book C–1, 63, Vi Microfilm; Fairfax...
96[Diary entry: 17 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Feby. 17th. The Wind blew cold & fresh from the No. West. Went to Church & Dind at Belvoir. Sent 4 Yews & Lambs to the Mill to be fatted.
97[Diary entry: 18 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Feby. 18th. Dispatchd my Waggon with Tools &ca. for Frederick. Sent over for two more Tons of Hay—to Mr. Digges. The Morning was cold the Wind being at No. West. It afterwards changd to So. and grew more moderate but towards Night it agn. Shifted to the No. East, but made no perceptable change in the Air, as to heat or cold.
98[Diary entry: 19 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Feby. 19th. Went to Court, and Administerd upon Nations Effects. Got Mr. Smiths Lease to me recorded and Mr. Johnston not having Darrels Deeds ready I was obligd to get the acknowledging of them postpond. Recd. a Letter from my Brothr. Austin by Mr. Lane & answerd it. Fine moderate day with a brisk Southerly Wind which brought up the Vessell with my Corn. Mike and Tom began sawing in...
99[Diary entry: 20 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Feby. 20. Landed 65 Barrels of Corn. Fine moderate day. Very little wind. George & Billy sawd 155 feet of Oak Scantling.
100[Diary entry: 21 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Feby. 21. Finished landing the Corn, which held out only 1½ Bushells above measure. Paid the Skipper for the Freight. Visited at Mr. Clifton’s and rode over his Lands—but in an especial manner view’d that tract calld Brents, which wd. have pleas’d me exceedingly at the price he offerd it at viz. half a pistole an Acre provided Colo. Carlyle’s 300 Acres just below it coud be annexd at...
101[Diary entry: 22 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Feby. 22. The Wind in the Night encreasd to a mere Storm and raind exceedg. hard; towards day it moderated and ceasd Raining but the whole day afterwards was Squally. Laid in part the Worm of a fence round my Peach Orchard, & had it made. Waited on Lord Fairfax at Belvoir & engd. him to dine at Mt. Vernon on Monday next. Upon my return found one of my best Waggon Horses (namely Jolly)...
102[Diary entry: 23 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Feby. 23. Had the Horse slung upon Canvas and his leg fresh set—following Markhams directions as near as I coud. Laid the Worm round my Apple Orchard & made the Fence. The Wind for the first part was So[uther]ly but afterwards it shifted to No. West. blew fresh and grew a little Cool. Captn. Bullet came here from Alexandria, and engagd to secure me some Lands on the Ohio being lately...
103[Diary entry: 24 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Feby. 24th. Captn. Bullet dind here to day also. So did Mr. Clifton but the latter was able to give me no determinate answer in regard to his Land. Was unprovided for a demand of £90 made by Mr. Alligood in favour of Messrs. Atchinson & Parker of Norfolk. My note of Hand to Sampson Darrel but promisd the payment, & Interest, at the April Court next. Fresh Southerly Wind and Cloudy...
104[Diary entry: 25 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Feby. 25th. Lord Fairfax, Colo. F[airfa]x & his Lady, Colo. Martin, Mr. B. F[airfa]x, Colo. Carlyle, & Mr. Green & Mrs. Green dind here. So[uther]ly Wind and remarkable fine clear day. Set my People to Carting and carrying Rails round the Peach Orchard. The Broken Legd. horse fell out of his Sling and by that means and strugling together hurt himself so much that I orderd him to be...
105[Diary entry: 26 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Feby. 26th. Began Plowing the Field by the Stable and Quarter for Oats and Clover. Set two plows to Work under the care of Mulatto, & Cook Jacks. Layd the Worm round my Peach Orchard & had the Fence put up. Made an absolute agreement with Mr. Clifton for his Land (so far as depended upon him) on the following terms—to wit, I am to give him £1150 Sterling for his Neck Lands, containg....
106[Diary entry: 27 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Feby. 27. Very little Wind & that Southerly but raind of and on the whole day. Continued plowing while the Weather woud permit, and the People, viz. George, Kate, Doll, & little George were employd in Grubing the Field by the Garden. Nations’s horse that was destraind on for my Rent was sold at Publick Auction to Mr. Tom Triplet for £5. Peter had got his Coal drawn & brought in one...
107[Diary entry: 28 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Feby. 28th. Measurd the Fields by the Quarter & Garden as the Fences was intended to be run and found Six Acres in the former & Nine in the Latter. Also run the Round the Fields in the Lower pasture according as the dividing Fence is to go but the Compass being bad or some mistake happening I coud not close the plot with any exactness. Finished Grubbing the Field by the Garden....
108[Diary entry: 29 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Feby. 29th. The Rain continued by Intervals through the Night, and till afternoon when the Wind came to No. West and ceasd, growing clear. Stopd my Plows. The Gentlemen Dind here to day and two, viz. Mr. Ramsay & Captn. Stanley, returnd to Alexandria. The others went to Belvoir. A very great Circle rd. the Moon.
109[March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 1–1760. Finishd Bottling 91 dozn. Cyder. The wind for the first part was at No. West & very cold, but shifting Easterly & then to So. it grew something warmer but continued Cloudy. The Ground being hard froze stopd my Plows this day also—and employd all hands in running the dividing fence of my Pastures. Traversd the Fields in the Lower Pasture again & set a Course from the head...
110[Diary entry: 1 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 1–1760. Finishd Bottling 91 dozn. Cyder. The wind for the first part was at No. West & very cold, but shifting Easterly & then to So. it grew something warmer but continued Cloudy. The Ground being hard froze stopd my Plows this day also—and employd all hands in running the dividing fence of my Pastures. Traversd the Fields in the Lower Pasture again & set a Course from the head...
111[Diary entry: 2 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 2. The Morning calm & Serene. About 10 Oclock the Wind freshned from the No. West, and died away by two. At 5 it came Southerly & blew again seeming unsettled. Mr. Clifton came here to day, & under pretence of his Wife not consenting to acknowledge her Right of Dower wanted to disengage himself of the Bargain he had made with me for his Land on the 26th. past and by his Shuffling...
112[Diary entry: 3 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 3d. Bought 100 Bushels of Oats at 1/6. of Reuben Joyne. Finishd plowing the Clover field but not the dividing Fence in the Pastures. Wind for the most part was Southerly—sometimes blewing fresh & at other times quite calm but the day was cloudy & felt cold till towards Night.
113[Diary entry: 4 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 4th. Rain without Intermission till Noon—thence at Intervals till Night, with strong So[uther]ly wind the whole time. Plows Stopd—but the dividing fence finishd. Gave up the Horse Cart, & the Dun horse and Jack to R. Stephens.
114[Diary entry: 5 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday Mar. 5. High Wind from the West—the day clear & somewhat cold. Began plowing the field by the Garden for Lucern. Put in the great bay mare (& horse) King. The latter coud not be prevaild upon to plow. The other did very well: but the Plows run very badly. Finishd Plow Harness for my Chariot Horses. lucern : alfalfa or lucerne, Medicago sativa . Although this perennial legume is...
115[Diary entry: 6 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Thursday Mar. 6. Fitted a two Eyed Plow instead of a Duck Bill Plow and with much difficulty made my Chariot Wheel horses plow. Surveyd Captn. Posseys 145 Acres of Woodland Ground which he bought of my Bror. Chs. & find some of the Courses and distances to vary from those in the Deeds and that 136 Acres only, are Included. Also run the upper Courses of Frens Land and find some great Errors as...
116[Diary entry: 7 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Friday Mar. 7th. Fine Morning, but Cloudy Afternoon, wind Southerly. Put the Poll end Horses into the Plow in the Morng. and the Postilion & hand Horse in the Afternoon but the Ground being well sworded over & very heavy plowing I repented putting them in at all for fear it should give them a Habit of Stopping in the Chariot.
117[Diary entry: 8 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Saturday Mar. 8. No. Et. Wind & Rain—Plows stopd. Gave Captn. Cawseys Skipper namely William Vicars—1 Tobo. Note and an Order on Hunting Creek Warehouses for 7 Hhds. of my Mountain Tobo. John Cawsey was captain of the Tyger , a 120–ton British-built ship which took a crew of nine and sailed in the Virginia tobacco trade for John Farrel & Co. of Bristol, Eng. William Vicars was probably...
118[Diary entry: 9 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Sunday Mar. 9. No. Et. wind, and Snow by Intervals the whole day.
119[Diary entry: 10 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Monday Mar. 10th. No. W. wind and clear, but the Ground too Wet for Plowing. Rode to my Plantation and the Mill, & there partly agreed with Jerry Mitchell to rebuild my Mill when She runs dry in the Summer. Dispatchd Mulatto Jack to Frederick for some Mares from thence to Plow. The Snow (which was not more than an Inch & half deep) was entirely dissolvd today. Jeremiah Mitchell, an independent...
120[Diary entry: 11 March 1760] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Mar. 11th. Visited at Colo. Fairfax and was informd that Clifton had sold his Land to Mr. Thompsons Mason for 1200 £ Sterlg. which fully unravelled his Conduct on the 2d. and convincd me that he was nothing less than a thorough pacd Rascall—disregardful of any Engagements of Words or Oaths not bound by Penalties. The day clear but something cold, Wind at No. West. George William...