George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-12-02-0394

From George Washington to Robert Lewis, 29 April 1793

To Robert Lewis

Philadelphia April 29th 1793

Dear Sir

The Land which was given to me by my mother, or as Heir at law I am entitled to without1—I do, as I told you at Mt Vernon, make you a present of. It lyes near the Accoceek old Furnace and about eight miles from Falmouth on the Road leading to it containing, as I have generally understood, about 400 Acres of the most valuable Pine in that part of the Country; but which, as I have been informed, has been much pillaged by Trespassers. When you can ascertain the bounds by a Survey thereof for I have no Papers to aid you in doing it I shall be ready to convey to you my Right.2

I repeat my wish that you would attend to that small tract of mine on Potomac, abt a dozn miles above the town of Bath; & to the lots which I have in that place.3 And whensoever you may be in Winchester, I request you will make particular enquiry into the condition of a lot which I have in that town, & an out lot belonging to it in the Common adjoining thereto; & know if some advantage cannot be made of them—The Number of either I am unable to give, unless I was at Mount Vernon; but the enclosed letter contains the most recent information of the town Lot.4

Do you know whether Major Harrison went to Mount Vernon as you expected he would do? Or have you heard any thing further of his intentions, respecting his Land adjoining me. I do not wish you to appear forward in your Overtures to him, but wis⟨h⟩ notwithstanding to know what may be expected in this matter.5 Remember me to Mrs Lewis and be assured of the frien⟨d⟩ship & regard of Your Affecte Uncle

Go: W——n

ADfS, owned (1987) by Mr. S. Howard Goldman of Weston, Conn.; LB, DLC:GW.

1GW’s original version of the opening of the draft reads: “Having told you that the Land which has been given to me by my mother, or as Heir at law I am entitled to—no Deed having been made for it in ⟨illegible⟩ whilst she was living.”

2Accokeek ironworks in Stafford County, Va., was on land formerly owned by GW’s father.

3GW’s 240–acre tract in Hampshire County, Va., in present-day West Virginia, remained in his possession until his death in 1799, at which time it was valued at $3,600. GW also owned two adjoining lots in Bath, now Berkeley Springs, W.Va., that in 1799 were worth a total of $800 (Schedule of Property, enclosed in GW’s Last Will and Testament, 9 July 1799, and notes 5, 21; Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 4:10–13, and note 2).

4GW’s lots in Winchester, Va., covered about 6½ acres and were valued at $400 in his will (Schedule of Property, 9 July 1799 and note 20; ibid., 517–18). Lewis was unable to visit these lots until late 1793 (Lewis to GW, 17 July). The enclosed letter has not been identified, but GW enclosed additional information on his Winchester lots in his letter to Lewis of 26–28 July 1793.

5For GW’s unsuccessful attempt to acquire land from his neighbor William B. Harrison, see GW to Lewis, 23 Dec. 1792, and enclosure, and GW to Lewis, 26–28 July 1793, Lewis to GW, 17 July 1793.

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