3351[Diary entry: 8 July 1788] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Thermometer at 76 in the morning—82 at Noon and 82 at night. Morning clear with the Wind pretty fresh from the Southward which continued all day. Visited all the Plantations. At the Ferry—Only one plow at Work (the driver of the other being sick). About Noon sent two more Cradlers to this place—one from Dogue run & the other from Muddy hole to assist in cutting down Wheat that the...
3352[Diary entry: 27 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 27th. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 58 at Night. A remarkably great white frost and the ground a little frozen. Wind Southerly all day, after it rose in the Morning, but not very fresh. Forenoon clear but the afternoon, especially towards the Suns setting, a little hazy & lowering. Mr. Battaile Muse came here before dinner but would not stay to it. After finishing...
3353[Diary entry: 14 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 14th. Mercury at 68 in the Morning—74 at Noon and 76 at Night. After an early breakfast Judge Harrison left this for his own house and in Company with Colo. Senf, I set out for our Works at the great falls; where we arrived about 11 Oclock and after viewing them set out on our return & reached Colo. Gilpins where we lodged. Mr. Rumsey was not there (at the Falls) having gone that...
3354[Diary entry: 22 June 1788] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 22d. Thermometer at 67 in the Morning—78 at Noon And 76 at Night. Clear all day with the Wind at So. Wt. Mr. Fendall, and Mr. Willm. Craik came to dinner and went away afterwards—the latter to Alexandria and the former to Westmoreland.
3355[Diary entry: 17 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 17th. Thermometer at 58 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 62 at Night. Colo. Lee & all the Company went away after Breakfast. Mr. Shaw went up to the Assembly in the Afternoon ’at Alexand. Morning a little foggy & thick but clear afterwards with the Wind at No. West and cool. assembly . . . at alexand. : “The Gentlemen of Alexandria, who are desirous to become Subscribers to the...
3356[Diary entry: 28 June 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday—28th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s in a large Compy. Drank Tea there & spent the Evening in my own room.
3357[Diary entry: 12 July 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Thermometer at 78 in the Morning—86 at Noon And 85 at Night. Morning calm & clear—So. Westerly Wind thereafter. Visited the Plantations at the Ferry, Frenchs, Dogue run and Muddy hole. At the first—Four Cradlers were cutting Wheat in No. 6 and binding it—but after cutting that which stood tolerably well would go to French’s. At French’s—all hands (Plow drivers included) were...
3358Certificate for James Rumsey, 7 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have seen the model of Mr Rumsey’s Boats constructed to work against stream; have examined the power upon which it acts; have been an eye witness to an actual experiment in running water of some rapidity; & do give it as my opinion (altho’ I had little faith before) that he has discovered the art of propelling Boats, by mechanism & small manual assistance, against rapid currents: that the...
3359[Diary entry: 31 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 31st. Thermometer at 52 in the Morng. 54 at Noon and 56 at Night. A raw and moist air, with a westerly wind & lowering Sun. Mr. Shaw returned to Breakfast, & Mrs. Stuart, Miss Allan &ca. went away after it. A Captn. Fullerton came here to Dinner on business of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pensylvania; for whom I signed 250 Diplomas as President. Went away after. Sent half a...
3360[Diary entry: 7 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 7th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning & 59 at Noon—but removing it afterwards out of the room where the fire was, into the East Entry leading in to my Study, this circumstance with the encrease of the cold fell the Mercury to 42. Morning clear calm & pleast.; but the wind coming out violently from the No. West about half after eight Oclock, it turned cold & uncomfortable. Doctr....
3361[Diary entry: 18 July 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 18th. Dined at Mr. Milligan’s and drank Tea at Mrs. Meridiths.
3362[Diary entry: 2 August 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 2d. Thermometer at 68 in the Morning 77 at Noon and 73 at Night. Wind Southerly all day and tolerably clear. Visited all the Plantations. At the Ferry—Six plows were turning in B. Wheat—three of them from Frenchs. Tried the Patent Plow sent me by Major Snowden, whh. run easy and did good work. Gathered up the thin wheat wch. had been cut down some days ago. At Frenchs—The hands were...
3363[Diary entry: 24 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 24th. Mercury at 40 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 45 at Night. Wind Southerly. The Sun, tho’ it rose clear had a Watery look and soon became obscured. The Weather very lowering. About 4 Oclock it began to Snow (fine Snow) & continued to do so with a small mixture of rain until I went to bed. Finding the Trees round the Walks in my wildernesses rather too thin I doubled them by putting...
3364[June 1787] (Washington Papers)
Friday 1st. June. Attending in Convention and nothing being suffered to transpire no minutes of the proceedings has been, or will be inserted in this diary. Dined with Mr. John Penn, and spent the evening at a superb entertainment at Bush-hill given by Mr. Hamilton—at which were more than an hundred guests. Saturday 2d. Majr. Jenifer coming in with sufficient powers for the purpose, gave a...
3365[Diary entry: 21 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Monday 21st. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning— at Noon and at N. Lowering morning, with the wind at No. Et. About half after ten A.M. it began to Snow & continued to do so (of a Wet kind) until Night, when it ceased tho’ the ground was not covered more than an Inch thick. Colo. Harrison & Doctr. Craik left this after Breakfast, and I went up to Alexandria with G. Washington to meet the...
3366[Diary entry: 8 August 1787] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 8th. Dined at the City Tavern and remained there till near 10 Oclock.
3367[Diary entry: 14 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 14th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 58 at Night. Winds variable—in the Morning Easterly—then, Southerly—then Calm. Afterwards pretty fresh at So. West—Sometimes with appearances of rain—but generally clear. Sowed the ground at Muddy hole, which had been twice plowed—once harrowed & gone over with the Hoes to break the clods. Began to Sow the field at the House, but my...
3368[Diary entry: 11 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 11th. Thermometer at 38 in the Morng. 50 at Noon and 58 at Night. A heavy mist all day with little or no wind. At or before dusk it began to rain fast and about 9 at Night it cleared with a puff of Wind from the Southward and the Moon & Stars appeared. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Sanderson and a Mr. Hugh Mitchel dined here and went away in the afternoon. Hugh Mitchell is probably a member of the...
3369[Diary entry: 22 July 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 22d. Left town by 5 Oclock, breakfasted at General Mifflins—rode up to the Spring Mills and returnd. to Genl. Mifflins to Dinner, after which came to the City.
3370October [1787] (Washington Papers)
October 1st. Thermometer at 56 in the Morning—64 at Noon and 62 at Night—Cloudy in the Morning but clear afterwds. with variable winds. Mrs. Fanny Washington, and the Children, and Mrs. Jenifer went up to Abingdon. Colo. Gilpin and Mr. Willm. Craik dined here. The latter stayed all Night. Rid to all the Plantations. Work at each as usual except that the Plows at Dogue run were putting in rye...
3371[Diary entry: 28 January 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 28th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind Westerly all day, and not much unlike Snow—Grd. froze in the Morning. Colo. Henry Lee, his Lady, Miss Lee and Mr. Fendall came here to dinner—the last of whom went away afterwards (crossing the river for Maryland). Miss Lee is undoubtedly Mrs. Matilda Lee’s sister Flora Lee.
3372[Diary entry: 4 May 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 4th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning 59 at Noon and 64 at Night. Raining until 7 O’clock, when the wind getting to the Westward, the Clouds broke, & the weather cleared & was tolerably pleast. After doing a little business, & calling upon Judge Mercer and the Attorney General, I left Richmond about 11 Oclock. Dined at one Winslow’s abt. 8 Miles from the City, & lodged at Clarkes Tavern...
3373[Diary entry: 12 August 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 12th. Dined at Bush-hill with Mr. William Hamilton. Spent the evening at home—writg.
3374[Diary entry: 18 February 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 18th. Mercury at in the Morning— at Noon and at N. Clear, Warm, and very pleasant all day, with very little wind. Towards dusk it began to lower again. After dinner Colo. Wadsworth & Mr. Chaloner returned to Alexandria.
3375[Diary entry: 15 October 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday. 15th. Thermometer at 52 in the Morning 56 at Noon and 52 at Night. Clear all day—Wind at So. Wt. in the Morning and at No. Wt. afterwards. Ordered the Buckwheat to be immediately cut—beginning with that at Dogue run (abt. 12 Acres) which was accordingly done this forenoon (when the frost was likewise severe) before the moisture was off the Straw. Put the Buck Wheat, as cut (with scythe...
3376[Diary entry: 2 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday—2d. Rode to Mr. Bartrams & other places in the Country and dined & drank Tea at Mr. Grays.
3377[Diary entry: 25 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
25th. Having obtained the foregoing information, and being indeed some what discouraged from the acct. given of the passage of the Cheat river through the Laurel hill and also from attempting to return by the way of the Dunkers bottom, as the path it is said is very blind, & exceedingly grown up with briers, I resolved to try the other rout, along the New road to Sandy Creek; & thence by...
3378[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....
3379[Diary entry: 5 November 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 5th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. But little Wind, clear & pleasant all day. Mr. & Mrs. Powell remaining here I continued at home all day.
3380[Diary entry: 22 February 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 22d. Mercury at 30 in the morng.—55 at Noon and 48 at Night. Day pleasant, with the Wind at South till the evening when it began to lower. The Wind had shifted to the No. Et. & the Moon & Stars looked dim. Rid to Muddy hole Dogue run & Frenchs Plantation. At the first about a fence on the New ditch which was begun yesterday. At the second, the Plows having done all they could in the...
3381[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...
3382September 1784 (Washington Papers)
Having found it indispensably necessary to visit my Landed property west of the Apalacheon Mountains, and more especially that part of it which I held in Co-partnership with Mr. Gilbert Simpson —Having determined upon a tour into that Country, and having made the necessary preparations for it, I did, on the first day of this month (September) set out on my journey. Having dispatched my...
3383[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...
3384[Diary entry: 8 July 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 8th. Mercury at 74 in the Morning—78 at Noon and 77 at Night. Clear & warm, with very little Wind till about 2 oclock, when a black & extensive cloud arose to the westward out of which much wind issued with considerable thunder & lightning and a smart shower of Rain. Rid to the Ferry, Muddy hole & Neck Plantations. Finished cutting the Rye about noon at the latter, and set into the...
3385[Diary entry: 24 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday. 24th. Thermometer at 62 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 70 at Night. Wind Westerly with some Clouds. After breakfast I rid to the Plantatns. at the Ferry—Frenchs—Dogue run & Muddy hole. At the first, the hands were getting out Wheat & Rye; and the Plows were putting in Wheat in field No. 6. At the next, 4 plows were putting in Rye in No. 6 and the rest of the hds. grubbing in the New...
3386[Diary entry: 12 July 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 12th. Mercury at 79 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind pretty fresh from the So. West all day. About Noon a cloud arose in the west, from whence proceeded a shower of rain and severe lightning and loud thunder. Visited all my Plantations and the Mill to day. Finished the wheat harvest at the Ferry about Noon. Gave the People employed in it the remainder of the day for them...