From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 29 June 1796
To Bushrod Washington
Mount Vernon 29th June 1796.
Dear Bushrod,
You have not informed me what or whether any thing has been done in the Court of Chancery (in this State) for bringing the acct of my administration of Colo. Colvills Estate to a close, that my hands may be entirely clear, of it. I therefore give you the trouble of this enquiry: as I am extremely anxious to be acquitted. The balance due from me, (and at present lodged in the Bank of Alexandria) is ready to be applied in any manner and at any moment to the Chancellors order.1
I drew a prize in Colo. Byrds lottery, of a half acre lot—no. 265—I believe in the Town of Manchester and I have a lot in some Town that was established on James River (below Richmd) by a certain John Wood for which I have a deed (but it is in Philadelphia) if these are to be found and worth your acceptance, I will give them to you—I am entitled also in partnership with, or the Heirs of Peyton Randolph, Richard Randolph Mr Fitzhugh of Chatham, George Wythe, Richard Kidder Medde[,] Lewis Burwell, John Wales Nathaniel Harrison Junr—and Thomson Mason—to a tenth part of two or three half acre lots & 200 acre lots in the aforesaid lottery—But as Thomson Mason (with or without authority) sold this property and never to me at least accounted, for an ioto of the amount little I presume is to be expected from this concern but if you think or find it otherwise upon enquiry, I give you all the Interest I have therein & you may act accordingly.2 With sincere friendship I remain Yr Affec. Uncle
Go: Washington
LB, DLC:GW. Bushrod Washington replied to GW on 3 July.
1. GW summarized his actions as executor of the Thomas Colvill estate when he wrote to Bushrod Washington on 10 Feb. (second letter; see also Bushrod Washington to GW, 24 Jan. and 29 Feb.).
2. William Byrd III (1728–1777) was a member of the Virginia colonial council. He served as colonel of the 2d Virginia Regiment in 1758 and subsequently succeeded GW as colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment.
Attempting to stave off financial ruin, Byrd advertised in Purdie and Dixon’s Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg) for 23 July 1767 a lottery of his “Land and Tenements … being the entire towns of Rocky Ridge and Shockoe, lying at the Falls of James river, and the land thereunto adjoining.” For GW’s participation in the lottery held at Williamsburg in November 1768, see GW to Edmund Randolph, 10 July 1784, and Randolph to GW, 20 July 1784, in 1:494–96, 2:4–5; see also Cash Accounts, May 1769, and n.10, in 8:191–95.
The deed has not been identified. GW purchased the lot in October 1760 from John Hood (died c.1766) of Prince George County, Va. (see Cash Accounts, October 1760, and n.3, in 6:465–66). The proposed town of Edinburgh south of the James River never came into existence. In his will, GW offered the Edinburgh lot and the Byrd lottery properties to his nephew William Augustine Washington (see 4:485).
Peyton Randolph (c.1721–1775) was attorney general in Virginia from 1748 until 1766, when he became speaker of the House of Burgesses. He held that position until his death.
Lewis Burwell (d. 1784) lived near Williamsburg at Kingsmill in James City County.
John Wayles (d. 1773) resided in Charles City County.
Nathaniel Harrison (1703–1791), of Brandon in Prince George County, was a cousin of Benjamin Harrison.