7701[Diary entry: 28 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 28th. Thermometer at 34 in the morning—43 at Noon and 44 at Night. Morning calm & clear but the [ground] hard frozen. About 10 oclock the wind sprung up at South, but did not blow hard. Thawed the ground a good deal. Went out after breakfast with my hounds. Found a Fox in the Branch within Mr. Thomson Masons Field and run him sometimes hard and sometimes at cold hunting from 11 oclock...
7702[Diary entry: 29 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 29th. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. The morning remarkably fine & pleasant, with little or no wind—the afternoon a little lowering and at Night it began a mizzling rain which encreased and continued raining all night. After breakfast the Gentlemen who came yesterday returned. In the afternoon Colo. Grayson & his Nephew Mr. Benjn. Orr, came in and stayed...
7703[Diary entry: 30 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 30th. Thermometer at 54 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 50 at Night. The Morning foggy, with showers at intervals till near 11 oclock after which it cleared, with a brisk Southwardly wind. Mrs. Washington with Betcy & Patcy Custis came home, from Abingdon before dinner and after it Colo. Greyson & Mr. Orr left this. Planted the Hemlock Pine wch. was brought to me by Cornelius McDermot Row...
7704[Diary entry: 31 January 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 31st. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 34 at Night. The morning was a little cloudy but the weather soon cleared with a brisk No. Wester which occasioned a great change in the air. Planted a few pine trees in my Wildernesses.
7705February 1786 (Washington Papers)
Wednesday first. Thermometer at in the Morng.— at Noon and at Night. Ground very hard froze, Wind Eastwardly in the Morning, and So. Et. the remaining part of the day; but clear, & tolerably pleasant notwithstanding. Not being able to leave here yesterday (as I intended) for the appointed meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Navigation at the Great Falls this day, I set out this Morning at...
7706[Diary entry: 1 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday first. Thermometer at in the Morng.— at Noon and at Night. Ground very hard froze, Wind Eastwardly in the Morning, and So. Et. the remaining part of the day; but clear, & tolerably pleasant notwithstanding. Not being able to leave here yesterday (as I intended) for the appointed meeting of the Directors of the Potomack Navigation at the Great Falls this day, I set out this Morning at...
7707[Diary entry: 2 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 2d. Thermometer at in the Morning— at [noon] and at Night. A very remarkable hoar frost, with but little Wind; day pleasant till the evening when it clouded up and abt. 8 oclock began to Snow. Spent this day in examining the ground more attentively, and levelling the different ways we had discovered yesterday but on acct. of the swolen state of the river, & rapidity of the currant we...
7708[Diary entry: 3 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 3d. Thermometer at in the Morng.— at Noon and at Night. The Snow that fell last Night did not cover the ground an Inch. The Wind was at So. West, and the day overhead was pleasant. Snow soon disappeared. After an early breakfast we left Mr. Scotts; and about noon I reached home; where I found an Eastern shore man delivering the Oats which Doctr. Stuart had engaged on my behalf of a Mr....
7709[Diary entry: 4 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 4th. Thermometer at 46 in the Morng.— at Noon and 40 at Night. Clear morning with very little wind—after which it sprung up but not fresh, from the Eastward, and lowered. Mr. Porter and Doctr. Craik went away before Breakfast and Mr. Rumsay after dinner. Having assembled the Men from my Plantations, I removed the garden Houses which were in the middle of the front walls to the extreme...
7710[Diary entry: 5 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 5th. Thermometer at 34 in the morning—36 at Noon and 37 at Night. Wind Northerly. About 9 oclk. last Night it began to Snow which turned soon to rain which continued through the Night and more or less all day, intermixed now & then with spittings of Snow. Abt. Noon the Wind shifted to the No. West and blew pretty fresh but the weather in other respects did not change.
7711[Diary entry: 6 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 6th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at Night. Flying Clouds in the morning with a brisk No. West wind all day and cold though clear after ten oclock. The largest of my Buck fauns which had been missing since friday last came home after dinner with its left hind knee broke & much shivered—supposed to be by a shot. Planting pines in the wilderness on the left of the...
7712[Diary entry: 7 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 7th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning— at Noon and 54 at Night. Morning clear & very pleasant, as it continued to be all day. Wind Southerly, but not fresh. Mrs. Washington, Kitty Washington, Miss Ramsay, Mr. Shaw and myself went to Colo. McCartys to the funeral of Mrs. Peers (one of his daughters). I took my ferry & dogue run plantations in the way. We returned home to dinner—after...
7713[Diary entry: 8 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 8th. Thermometer at 42 in the Morng.—52 at Noon and 44 at Night. Day rather variable, but upon the whole pleasant; In the morning there were flying clouds with the wind pretty fresh from the No. West—after which it was clear and still, till the evening, when the Wind came out at So. East. After Breakfast Mr. Griffith went away, and before dinner Mr. Wm. Craik came in and stayed all...
7714[Diary entry: 9 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 9th. Thermometer at 43 in the Morng.—54 at Noon and 50 at Night. Clear morning, with a remarkable white frost. Wind Southerly all day. Went early in the Morning to my river Plantation. Took the Dogs with me and on my return hunted, but never got a fox a foot tho I dragged one to Mr. Robt. Alexanders Pocoson at whose house I called. In my way home I took Muddy hole plantation. Found...
7715[Diary entry: 10 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 10th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 66 at Night. Wind Southerly & pretty fresh all day, till evening, when it shifted to the No. West and turned cold—a large circle round the Moon. This day was remarkably fine & promotive of vegitation. The buds of the lylack were much swelled & seemed ready to unfold. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. I began to hand weed the...
7716[Diary entry: 11 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 11th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 30 at Night. Wind at No. East all day—very raw, and cold—a red angry sky at Sunrising; lowering about Noon and snowing afterwards, by intervals, towards night. A Mr. Wooldridge (an English gentleman) and a Mr. Waddell of No. Carolina—together with Mr. Murray, Mr. Wilson, & Mr. Maize came here to dinner & stayed all night....
7717[Diary entry: 12 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 12th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morng.—32 at Noon and 34 at Night. Snow about half an inch deep in the Morning but soon disappeared afterwards—cloudy for the most part and but a feeble Sun at any time of the day—not much Wind and that about So. Et. Messrs. Wilson, Murray, and Mease went away before breakfast—Mr. Wooldridge and Mr. Waddell after it and Miss Ramsay & Kitty Washington some...
7718[Diary entry: 13 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 13th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 32 at Night. Cloudy Morning but tolerably clear afterwards till Noon when it lowered and sprinkled fine Snow by intervals till Night by which the ground was not covered more than half an inch. Wind Southerly but raw and cold notwithstanding. Planted the two peach trees which were brought on Saturday from Doctr. Griffiths in my fruit...
7719[Diary entry: 14 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 14th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—36 at [noon] and 38 at Night. In the course of last night there fell 8 Inches Snow and it continued snowing slightly till 10 or 11 Oclock when it cleared & became a fine afternoon and evening—Not much wind and that variable sometimes at So. Et. then at No. West and then calm. Employed all the women and Weak hands (who on acct. of the Snow) could...
7720[Diary entry: 15 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 15th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 36 at Night. Morning lowering. Towards Noon it became clear and warm, after which it clouded up again. Between 4 and 5 it began to Rain wch. turned to snow in a little time soon after which it ceased. Wind for the most part of the day was Southerly. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. Began with some of the Men abt. the House...
7721[Diary entry: 16 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 16th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night. Morning cloudy and not pleasant, wind being at No. West, but not fresh. Afterwards it became clear, calm, and exceedingly agreeable. The warm & pleasant afternoon almost carried of the Snow. Put one of Doctr. Gordons Subscription Papers (yesterday) in the hands of Doctr. Craik to offer to his acquaintance. Dr. William...
7722[Diary entry: 17 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 17th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 48 at Night. A thick fog till 9 oclock A.M. when it dispelled; was clear and pleasant till towards Sunsetting when the western horison seemed to cloud & lower. Wind Southerly all day but the ground very wet—Snow all dissolved where the Sun had access. Rid to my Mill, and the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue Run & ferry. Sent for...
7723[Diary entry: 18 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 18th. Thermometer at 45 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 50 at Night. The morning lowered—cleard at Noon and about two it rained a little; with appearances of a good deal, at first—however it soon ceased, though it continued cloudy till night, when the Wind, which had blowed pretty fresh from the Southward all day, shifted to the No. West. Began the yards back of the Green house designed...
7724[Diary entry: 19 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 19th. Thermometer at 35 in the morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Morning clear and tolerably pleasant, though the horison was red & angry at the place of the Suns rising. After noon it lowered a good deal and at Night there fell a mixture of Snow and Rain—which turned to a kind of misling rain that continued through the Night. But little wind in the fore part of the day—at So. Et. and...
7725[Diary entry: 20 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 20th. Thermometer at 35 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 38 at Night. Missling all day intermixed at times with Rain with but little wind. Began, though the ground was too wet, to set the Posts of my Paddock fence. Mr. Lawrence Washington of Chotank, Mr. Wm. Thompson Mr. Willm. Stuart and Mr. Lund Washington came here to dinner—all of whom except the first went away after it. William...
7726[Diary entry: 21 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 21st. Thermometer at 40 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 38 at N. Clear, with the wind pretty fresh at No. West in the forenoon calm afterwards. A Mr. McPherson of Alexandria came & returned before dinner. His business was, to communicate the desires of a Neighbourhood in Berkeley County, to build a School & Meeting House on some Land of mine there, leased to one . My answer was, that if...
7727[Diary entry: 22 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 22d. Thermometer 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 40 at Night. A grey Morning with a red and angry looking horison at the place of the Suns rising. About 10 Oclock it began to lower very much & at Noon to drip Rain which continued with intervals all the remaining part of the day but not so as to drive people from their work. Calm all day. After breakfast Colo. Carrington & Mr....
7728[Diary entry: 23 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 23d. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind at East all day. By eight A.M. it began to Snow and continued to do so more or less all day, covering the ground by Night 3 or 4 Inches when it became a kind of Sleet. Mr. Lund Washington came here to dinner, and returned afterwards. A Mr. Rice Hooe came in the afternoon and stayed all Night. Mr. Shaw went to...
7729[Diary entry: 24 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 24th. Thermometer at 32 in the morning—33 at Noon and 29 at Night. Cloudy about day break—but it soon cleared, and about 8 oclock the wind began to blow very high from the No. Wt. and continued to do so all day—growing very cold & freezing hard especially towards Night. Mr. Lawe. Washington and Mr. Hooe left this after breakfast, and crossed in my Boat (which could not get back till the...
7730[Diary entry: 25 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 25th. Thermometer at 24 in the morning—31 at Noon and 30 at Night. Clear and calm in the forenoon—wind Southerly afterwards and thawing, the ground being hard frozen. Renewed the fencing of my Paddock to day. Went into the Neck and to Muddy hole Plantations to measure the fields which I had plowed for Oats & for experiments—also to Dogue run to divide some fields and to mark the Rows...
7731[Diary entry: 26 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 26th. Thermometer at 29 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Clear & calm all the forenoon, wind Southerly afterwards, & towards sunset lowered a good deal; but cleared again after dark.
7732[Diary entry: 27 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 27th. Thermometer at 38 in the morning—46 at Noon and 43 at Night. Forenoon warm, and variable with but little wind. About noon it sprung up fresh from No. West and blew hard all the afternoon. Mr. Booth went away after breakfast—and Doctr. Brown came after dinner (and returned) to visit Boatswain a sick Negro man. Having received, yesterday Evening, a number of fruit trees from my...
7733[Diary entry: 28 February 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 28th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morng.— at Noon and at Night. A hard frost, and very cold morning, Wind being still at No. West. The forenoon clear—afternoon lowering and about eight oclock in the evening it began to Snow. Set out, by appointment, to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Potomack Company at the Great Falls. Dined and lodged at Abingdon, to which place Mrs....
7734March 1786 (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 1st. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. The Snow which fell in the night was little, if any over an inch deep this Morning. The forenoon of the day was variable and foggy—the afternoon clear, warm, and pleasant till the evening, when it lowered and threatned a disagreeable change. After a very early breakfast at Abingdon I set off for the meeting at the Great falls...
7735[Diary entry: 1 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 1st. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. The Snow which fell in the night was little, if any over an inch deep this Morning. The forenoon of the day was variable and foggy—the afternoon clear, warm, and pleasant till the evening, when it lowered and threatned a disagreeable change. After a very early breakfast at Abingdon I set off for the meeting at the Great falls...
7736[Diary entry: 2 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 2d. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. A little Snow fell in the Night. About Sun rise there were some appearances of fair weather but about 8 Oclock it began to Snow fast. By 10 it was intermixed with hail & Rain—which, about Noon, became wholly Rain and towards Sun down all Snow, and storming; indeed the day through it blew hard from the No. East quarter....
7737[Diary entry: 3 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 3d. Thermometer at in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. The Snow which fell yesterday & last night covered the ground at least a foot deep and continuing snowing a little all day, & blowing hard from the No. West. We were obliged tho’ we assembled at the huts again to relinquish all hopes of levelling & Surveying the ground this trip; & therefore resolved on the Rout for the Canal from...
7738[Diary entry: 4 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 4th. Thermometer at in the Morng.— at Noon—30 and at Night. The Wind blew hard all last Night at No. West, and it was as cold this Morning as at any time this winter; but not havg. the thermometer to apply to, I could only judge from appearances, & my own feelings. After breakfast Colo. Fitzgerald and myself set off on our return home, & parted at 4 Mile Run. About half after four I...
7739[Diary entry: 5 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 5th. Thermometer at 24 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 34 at Night. Wind pretty fresh from the No. West all day, and much appearance of Snow; but none fell. Mr. Richd. Bland Lee came here to dinner and stayed all Night. Richard Bland Lee (1761–1827) was the third son of Henry Lee of Leesylvania, and younger brother of Light Horse Harry and Charles Lee. He lived in Loudoun County, which he...
7740[Diary entry: 6 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 6th. Thermometer at 36 in the morng.—37 at Noon and 37 at Night. Cloudy & heavy all day, with little wind & that soft. Mr. Lee went away about 10 Oclock and Mr. Thornton Washington came in after we had dined and stayed all night. Mr. Lund Washingtons Negro Shoemaker left working here on saturday last. Returned to the erection of my deer paddock, which the bad weather had impeded....
7741[Diary entry: 7 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 7th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—⟨4⟩6 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning clear & calm—grd. a little frozen. Wind pretty fresh afterwards from the Northwest—notwithstanding which it lowered a good deal towards evening. I rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations and by the grd. where the ferry hands were at work.
7742[Diary entry: 8 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 8th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—43 at Noon and at Night. Morning clear and calm; but very strong appearances of Snow afternoon, not enough how[eve]r to cover the ground—The Wind all the latter part of the day blowing pretty fresh from the No. West. A Mr. Nisbett brother to J. M. Nisbett accompanied by Colo. Fitzgerald, Mr. Herbert and Mr. Potts came here to dinner and stayed...
7743[Diary entry: 9 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 9th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 38 at Night. Clear all day, & for the Season cold, the wind being fresh from the No. West. After breakfast the Gentlemen who came yesterday returned to Alexandria and after candles were lighted Doctr. Jenifer came in and stayed all Night.
7744[Diary entry: 10 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 10th. Thermometer at 32 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 44 at Night. Ground very hard froze in the Morning, which was cold—the wind being fresh all day at No. West. In the evening it became calm. The day was clear. Lund Washington came here to Breakfast—after which he and Doctr. Jenifer both went away. Between breakfast and Dinner, a Mr. Rollins, who has undertaken to finish my new Room...
7745[Diary entry: 11 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 11th. Thermometer at 34 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 40 at Night. Weather clear and cool, Wind at No. West, and ground hard froze in the Morning. Rode to all my Plantns. and to the Mill. On my Return found a Mr. James Hains, the Manager of the James River Canal here—sent by the Directors to me—and to proceed with Letters from me to the Potomack and Susquehanna Works which being...
7746[Diary entry: 12 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 12th. Thermometer at 36 in the Morng.—53 at Noon and 50 at Night. Very clear and pleasant, all day, till towards sunset, when the western horison became thick. The Wind in the forenoon was at No. West but not hard. Afterwards it was at East and variable —a large circle round the Moon at 8 and 9 Oclock in the Evening. About dusk, Mr. William Harrison (a delegate to Congress from the...
7747[Diary entry: 13 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 13th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 48 at Night. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind, and that variable. In the forenoon it was Northerly and in the afternoon easterly and towds. Sun set lowering—the sun setting in a bank. Mr. Harrison and son went away after breakfast and Mr. Lund Washington came immediately afterwards and stayed till the afternoon. The ground...
7748[Diary entry: 14 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 14th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 42 at Night. A Red horison in the East at Sunrising; but tolerably clear till towards Noon, with a large circle round the sun. After noon it turned cloudy, and towards night there were strong appearances of rain—Wind at East all day. Rid to my Plantations at Dogue Run, Muddy Hole, and in the Neck. At the former had begun to sow Oats...
7749[Diary entry: 15 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 15th. Thermometer at 38 in the morning—41 at Noon and 46 at Night. Misting all day, and now and then raining pretty smartly, wind constantly at East. The wet obliged me to discontinue my working on the Mounds and set the people to picking the wild onions out of the Oats which I am abt. to sow. In the afternoon, the Vessel wch. I sent to york river for Corn from the Plantations of the...
7750[Diary entry: 16 March 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 16th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—57 at Noon and 50 at Night. Misling morning. About 9 Oclock it cleared and was warm and pleasant overhead but very wet under foot, occasioned by the quantity of Rain that fell last Night—but little wind and that from the Westward. About 4 oclock a pretty heavy shower of Rain fell. Finished the Mound on the right and planted the largest weeping...