1651[Diary entry: 5 July 1772] (Washington Papers)
5. At home all day alone.
1652[Diary entry: 2 September 1772] (Washington Papers)
2. Finishd Sowing Wheat at Muddy hole Plantation 123½ Bushls. in the whole. Finishd Sowing Wheat at the Ferry Plantation also 84 Bushls. on the other side the Swamp next Mrs. French’s making in all 152½ Bushl. Sowed there.
1653[Diary entry: 17 April 1770] (Washington Papers)
17. Returnd home in the Afternoon with Mr. Josh. Gallaway, & Colo. R. Lee. In court today Thomas Montgomerie of Dumfries had recorded a letter from Margaret Savage which granted him power of attorney in her affairs (Fairfax County Order Book for 1770–72, 15, Vi Microfilm). Mrs. Savage’s husband had apparently coerced or coaxed her into taking this step, which put her trustees, GW and Bryan...
1654[Diary entry: 25 July 1766] (Washington Papers)
25. Began to Sow Turneps in Drills behind Quarter.
1655March [1766] (Washington Papers)
21. Sowed Hemp about the old Tobo. House at Muddy hole. Note, the latter part of Feby., & all Mar. till the 19th. was extreamely wet and disagreeable—scarce two fair days together & sometimes hard Frosts, insomuch that neither Hoe nor Plow coud be stuck into the Ground, which prevented my sowing Hemp till the 21st. as above. 22. Began to sow Hemp (adjoining the Lane going to Mrs. Wades) at the...
1656[Diary entry: 22 February 1772] (Washington Papers)
22. Wind very fresh all the forepart of the day from the Southward Melting all the Snow in the Fields & drying the Ground fast.
1657[Diary entry: 11 September 1770] (Washington Papers)
11. Cloudy with appearances of Rain but none fell.
1658[Diary entry: 5 January 1769] (Washington Papers)
5. Calm Morning with heavy Clouds & gr. appearance of Rain. Abt. 10 Oclock the Wind comg. to No. Wt. & blowg. fresh dispeld the Clouds toward the afternoon. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run and the Mill and in the Afternoon went into the Neck.
1659Memorandum, 7 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
From hence I set out on the 7th to Williamsburgh; and from Todds Ordinary wrote the following, in answer to a Letter I received from Major Lewis. LB , DLC:GW . GW traveled from Fredericksburg to Dr. George Todd’s ordinary in Caroline County, on the stage road. Andrew Lewis’s letter has not been found.
1660[Diary entry: 13 January 1775] (Washington Papers)
13. At home all day alone.
1661III., 1757 (Washington Papers)
I am really sorry, that I have it not in my power to answer your request in a more satisfactory manner. If you had favored me with the journal a few days sooner, I would have examined it carefully, and endeavoured to point out such errors as might conduce to your use, my advantage, and the public satisfaction; but now it is out of my power. I had no time to make any remarks upon that piece,...
1662[Diary entry: 28 January 1771] (Washington Papers)
28. Hard frost Wind Northwardly clear and Cold.
1663Orders, 31 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
As there has issued Orders several times for every Officer to provide himself with a proper Regimental Dress (which dress is also particularly described:) Colonel Washington is a good deal surprized to find that some Officers are yet unprovided; and declares, that if they do not immediately procure them, or such thereof as can be had—it will be looked upon as disobedience of orders, and will...
1664[Diary entry: 17 August 1769] (Washington Papers)
17. Mr. Jno. Lewis & W. Washington dind here. We drank Tea with My Lord.
1665[Diary entry: 25–28 August 1766] (Washington Papers)
25 - 26. 27. & 28. Spreading flax at Home.
1666[Diary entry: 14 November 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Dined and Supped at Mrs. Campbells. GW on this date paid 2s. 6d. to a tailor and lost 7s. 6d. at cards. “Coffee &ca. at Mrs. Campbells” cost him 2s. ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 296). At Eltham, Patsy was today visited by Dr. John de Sequeyra (1712–1795) of Williamsburg, who prescribed...
1667[December 1770] (Washington Papers)
Decr. 1st. Reachd home from Wests after an absence of 9 Weeks and one Day. 2. At home all day alone. 3. Rid to the Mill in the forenoon, and returnd to Dinner. 4. Rid by Posey’s to the Mill, and to the Ditchers. Mr. Boucher and Jacky Custis came here in the Afternoon. Boucher had not given up the idea of taking Jacky to Europe. At this time he was urging the Washingtons to prepare the boy for...
1668Cash Accounts, December 1767 (Washington Papers)
Cash Decr 5— To Do of Mr Jos. Thompson on Acct of Rent £ 6. 0. 0 7— To Do of Peter St Clair for weavg 9¾ yds 0. 9. 9 To Do of Captn Posey by Mrs Posey 2.19. 0 To Do won at Cards 5. 3. 6 Contra Decr 5— By my Brother John lent 25. 0. 0 By my Exps. at Snickers 0. 7. 6 6— By Ditto at Wests Ordy 0. 2. 0
1669[Diary entry: 4 July 1770] (Washington Papers)
4. Went into my Harvest field between breakfast and Dinner.
1670[Diary entry: 12 March 1772] (Washington Papers)
12. Dined at the Club and went to the Play. The play was presented by David Douglass’s American Company, which came to Williamsburg for the spring season, from the convening of the General Assembly in early February through the April session of the General Court ( RANKIN Hugh F. Rankin. The Theater in Colonial America . Chapel Hill, N.C., 1960. , 165).
1671[Diary entry: 4 September 1770] (Washington Papers)
Septr. 4th. Got on the 2d. Floor (or rather the last Floor the walls being at their Height) of my Mill. The Hound Bitch stately brought 7 Puppies viz 2 dogs & 5 Bitches 1 of the former dead—remaing. 1 dog & 5 Bitches.
1672From George Washington to Thomas Hanson Marshall, 16 March 1770 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your favour of the 12th, I have only to say, that I am really sorry we shoud misapprehend each others Intention’s concerning the agreement we entered into at my House; but since we have done so, in respect to one part of it, and since I am under no sort of apprehension of having the mistake rectifyed by giving you possession of any part of Mr Alexander’s Land adjoining you, or the...
1673[Diary entry: 3 January 1775] (Washington Papers)
3. Exceeding pleasant, being clear, warm, & Calm.
1674[Diary entry: 21 April 1770] (Washington Papers)
21. Rid to where they were digging the foundation of my Mill and home again by the Millwright and the fishery at Poseys.
1675[Diary entry: 24 November 1772] (Washington Papers)
24. Weather as the day before but the Rain rather more constt.
1676[Diary entry: 11 May 1762] (Washington Papers)
11. Told my Sheep as follows—viz. & Cut & Markd Ewes in all 104 Ewe Lambs 38 Weather’s Do. 29 left for Ram’s 4 Ram’s 6 Weather’s 8 139 left for killing 16 66 Note. The above Includes falling Sheep Ewes & Lambs. Put 31 hides in Soak for Tanning.
1677[Diary entry: 18 February 1771] (Washington Papers)
18. Those two Gentlemen went a Gunning & I rid to my Mill in the forenoon.
1678[Diary entry: 7 August 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. Warm, but a brisk breeze about Noon.
1679[Diary entry: 15 May 1771] (Washington Papers)
15. Went up to the Plantations about Rockahock. Dined at Mrs. Chamberlaynes with Mrs. Washington & returnd to Colo. Bassetts in the Eveng. Rockahock was the New Kent County neighborhood in which the Custis White House was located ( John Parke Custis to GW, 11 Sept. 1777 , ViHi ). The Custis plantations in New Kent were Rockahock, Brick House, Old Quarter, and Harlow’s, all belonging to Jacky...
1680[Diary entry: 4 November 1769] (Washington Papers)
4. Clear. Wind westwardly.
1681[Diary entry: 2 March 1772] (Washington Papers)
2. Pretty Cool all day—Wind being abt. No. Et. & Cloudy in the Afternoon.
1682[Diary entry: 24 May 1769] (Washington Papers)
24. Wind Westwardly with several showers of Rain. In the Evening the Wind shifted No. Wt.
1683[Diary entry: 21 August 1769] (Washington Papers)
21. Mr. Maze & Lady, Mr. Sebastian, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Allison dind here. Lord Fairfax &ca. drank Tea here. Rev. Benjamin Sebastian (c.1745–1834) was rector of Frederick Parish in Frederick County, 1766–67 and of St. Stephen’s Parish in Northumberland County, 1767–77. He removed to Maryland and then to Kentucky, where he practiced law and served as a judge during the 1790s ( goodwin Edward Lewis...
1684[Diary entry: 14 December 1772] (Washington Papers)
14. Went into the Neck on foot crossing the Creek with a Gun. Captn. McCarty & his Bro. Thadeus, & a Dutch Minister Dined here. Thaddeus McCarty (c.1737–1812), of Loudoun County, was the youngest of the three sons of Denis and Sarah Ball McCarty of Cedar Grove, and hence a brother of GW’s neighbor Capt. Daniel McCarty. Thaddeus married Sarah Elizabeth Richardson in 1768.
1685[Diary entry: 8 February 1771] (Washington Papers)
8. Frozen Morning & Cold. Midday Clear & Pleasant. Afternoon very Cloudy & Raining from the Eastward.
1686From George Washington to Robert Stewart, 27 April 1763 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters of the 18th Jany & 2d of Mar. came to my hands at the sametime about the 10th Instt. I knew of no ship then on the point of Sailing for any part of Great Britain, and therefore have been unavoidably silent till now; indeed I coud have given but a very unsatisfactory answer before this. I participated in the pleasing prospect which seemed to flatter your wishes about the time of...
1687[Diary entry: 5 May 1771] (Washington Papers)
5. Clear & Cool. Wind in the same place.
1688[Diary entry: 2 August 1771] (Washington Papers)
2. Clear and warm again with the Wind in the same place. The Afternoon Cloudy with a little thunder & appearances of Rain but none fell here.
1689[Diary entry: 17 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
17. Executing Leases to those who had taken Lotts—being at Captn. Ashbys. GW had cut up his purchase of Carter’s land into lots of about 100 acres each and was leasing them on a long-term basis to local farmers for about £4 Virginia currency per lot. On this day GW made at least 11 leases, some of which were for more than one lot. In GW’s lease to George Russell, a fairly typical one, Russell...
1690Memorandum, 8–9 July 1755 (Washington Papers)
N.B. The 8th of July I rejoined (in a covered Waggon) the advanced division of the Army under the immediate Comd of the General. On the 9th I attended him on horse back tho. very weak and low —on this day he was attacked and defeated by a party of French & Inds. adjudged not to exceed 300 —When all hope of rallying the dismayed troops & recovering the ground, our provisions & Stores were given...
1691[Diary entry: 22 February 1771] (Washington Papers)
22. Rid to my Mill in the forenoon. All the Gentlemen went away after Breakfast. Doctr. Rumney came in the Afternoon and stayed all Night.
1692[Diary entry: 11 August 1769] (Washington Papers)
11. Lowering Morning with a thunder shower in the Afternoon & exceedg. Hott.
1693[Diary entry: 6 March 1765] (Washington Papers)
6th. Grafted 10 Cornation Cherrys on growing Stocks in the Garden—viz. 5 of them in and about the Mint Bed, 3 under the Marella Cherry tree 1 on a Stock in the middle of the border of the East square, and just above the 2d. fall (note this Graff is on the Northernmost fork of Do. On the Westernmost one is a Bullock Heart & on the Easternmost one is a May Cherry out of the Cherry Walk) 1 other...
1694[Diary entry: 4 December 1772] (Washington Papers)
4. Clear and Calm in the Morning, but Winday afterwards from the Northwest.
1695[Diary entry: 29 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
29. Clear & pleasant with but little wind & that southwardly.
1696From George Washington to Charles Lawrence, 26 April 1763 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to send me a genteel sute of Cloaths made of superfine broad Cloth handsomely chosen; I shoud have Inclosed you my measure but in a general way they are so badly taken here that I am convinced it woud be of very little service; I woud have you therefore take measure of a Gentleman who wears well made Cloaths of the following size—to wit—Six feet high & proportionably made; if any...
1697[Diary entry: 17 July 1768] (Washington Papers)
17. Wind Westwardly and little of it. Day moderate.
1698[Diary entry: 28 June 1774] (Washington Papers)
28. Exceeding Warm, wind being Southerly with great appearances of Rain—but none fell here.
1699[Diary entry: 7 March 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. Ground slightly froze. Weathr. raw cold cloudy, & in the Afternn. Snowg.; wind Northwd.
1700[Diary entry: 25 October 1774] (Washington Papers)
25. Again foggy in the forenoon but clear and warm afterwards.