1To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
A neighbour of mine having lately made an Excursion over the Mountains, was at the House of Mr Fairfax who formerly lived with you, and from whom the enclos’d Letters came to my Hands, requesting I wou’d forward them to you. We are now in Harvest, and hope to finish tomorrow, our wheat at least; never was there better Weather for the purpose of saving Grain, but the rains some time ago were so...
2To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 29 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
By Capt. Clapham a Gent. from our neighbourhood, & friend of mine, I trouble you with a few Lines, to begg the favour of you to send me 3 Bushells of red Clover Seed, with what you may be sending to Alexandria for yourself, as you generally purchase in Philada for yourself —I’ve here been endeavourg to purchase and cannot hear of any, or I wd not thus intrude on your time. I woud also begg the...
3To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 20 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
As I took the liberty of addressing you previous to my setting out to Bath, having return’d therefrom, I trouble you with a few Lines—Fanny I think is much better, but her Sister I think not so well, and as to myself, I’ve been several times (since I wrote you) at Deaths door, ’tho at present am again mending—my State of Health is exceedingly precarious indeed, and unless the Cause can be soon...
4To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 28 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Having heard that you had return’d to Mount Vernon, I take the liberty of troubling you with this Scroll. My Wife being alarm’d at the Idea of going to Sea, we have declined that Excursion, and now intend going over the Ridge, purposing to spend a few Weeks at Bath (and probably as much at the Sweet Springs) and then travelling about on that side of the Mountain, unconfin’d to any Spott. I...
5To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 29 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of requesting your Oppinion & advice respecting a Trip my wife & myself have a thought of making in a few Weeks. For many years past we have been visitting the different Baths in Virginia, in hopes thereby of removing many Complaints she has long been afflicted with, but, as yet, no Amendment seems to’ve taken place, & on the contrary her Breast & Bowells are more & more...
6To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 9 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a few days before Xmas, and concieve your great throng of Bussiness has prevented your yet favourg me with a Line. I shou’d by no meens be anxious was it not that I am here keeping a Person in Suspence with whom I’ve made a conditional Bargain for his Land. I expect the Letter I recd from Genl Knox is sufficient for me to have no doubt of my Place being taken for the Use of the...
7To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 19 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 25th of September I recd in due time, in which you mention’d your Expectation of seeing Genl Knox daily, and that you wd deliver him my Letter. Soon after you set out for the Army I recd a Letter from him, in which he inform’d me, that my Idea of the 100 Acres might be adapted, but that application must be made to the Assembly of Virga, and that after obtaing Permission,...
8To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 10 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I took the liberty of writing to you about 2 Weeks ago from Bath —At that time I expected my Wife wd have came there to me, but, she was then so sick she cd not, and I came down to her. We are now all at these Springs wch are only abt 8 miles from Colo. Washingtons & shall remain abt 10 days longer—Fanny is mendg but as to myself, ’tho I sometimes appear so, upon the whole I fear I do not. Our...
9To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 28 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
In addition to the Scroll I wrote you a few days ago, I take the liberty of mentiong some further Circumstances. I am inform’d Morgan & Dark are order’d upon the Expidition on the Insurgents, shd it be carryed on. In Frederick no Draft will be necessary, & Volunteers will turn out, as also in this County, from which (this County) the proportion is abt 200 men. I hope in God the deluded People...
10To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 24 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 10th I recd here on the 17th & shd e’er this have answer’d it; but wish’d to do it with better Information than I then had, and indeed I wd have waited another day, as this day I expect Genl Mason in from Loudoun, but, tomorrow is the Post day from Winchester and an opporty just now offers there. The Conduct of the People in the upper part of Pensylva. is exceedingly reprobated by...
11To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 19 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 10th came to hand yesterday, and this I shall send by the first Opporty that offers to any of the Post towns, there to be put in the Mail. Nothing can be more distressing, at this time, than the Conduct of the People opposed to the Excise in Pensylva., and I know how much it must distress you. As far as I’ve been able to judge of the dispositions of the People in the Counties of...
12To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 5 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours respecting Crow &c., for which I am greatly obliged to you—Previous to the rect thereof, I had understood that he was very fond of Compy & running about, which had predetermin’d me against him, & I have since the rect of yours got a man: I scarcely know what to say respecting parting with my Land, as no Idea had arose of the kind; but, reflecting seriously on the Subject, I am...
13To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 15 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours in Answer to mine respecting a Manager for a Tilt Hammer, and, if I finally conclude on erecting one, (of which I begin now to be a little doubtful) I will trouble you with an advertisement for the Philada & N: York papers. Mr Crow, one of your Overseers, being in this Neighbourhood looking for a Place, has today applyed to me, and, from a recommendation which he shew’d me from Mr...
14To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 24 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am happy to hear you are again at Mount Vernon, and hope you are still in health. My Health for a considerable time (many Months) has been in a delicate situation indeed, but, I thank God, I think I am now gaining flesh & Strength again—From 184 lbs. I was reduced to 147—a loss of 37 lbs. in a frame not very corpolent. The immense quantity of rains, cloudy and disagreeable Weather, not only...
15To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 27 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
For a considerable time past I have been in a bad State of Health, and to endeavour to regain it I took a Trip to Alexandria to put myself under the direction of Doctor Craik, & from thence made a Visit to Fredericksbg—I thank God, I find myself mendg, but have so little appetite I regain my flesh very slowly. I saw Mr Pearce 2 or 3 times, and being inform’d by him that he had only sowed about...
16To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 5 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Clover Seed & Chocolate Shells came safe to Hand yesterday —I recd yours of the 23d ult. on the same day, wherein you seem to despond abt the Buckwheat; but I’m happy now to inform you that, with 98. Bush: which went off today, I have deliver’d 454½ Bush:, which I hope is in full time for sowing—The Ball: of 44½ Bush. shall be sent down in the Course of the running of the Fish; and, as I...
17To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 13 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours a few days past mentiong that you had procured the Clover Seed for me, and that it wd be forwarded as soon as the Ice wd permit. As I have troubled you so far, I wd take the liberty of requesting you’ll be so good as to procure & send me 2 or 3 Bush: of the Chocolate Shells such as we’ve frequently drank Chocolate of at Mt Vernon, as my Wife thinks it agreed with her better than...
18To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 21 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you on the 17th ult: which I hope you recd—We have been obliged to Inoculate our family, White & Black, all of whom, (except one old woman not much less than 100 Years, who died) thank God, are at length over it. I mention this as some appology for my not havg yet totally finished gettg the Buck wheat. None is yet gone to Mt Vernon, but tomorrow I intended commencg that Bussiness—I...
19To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 17 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 24th Ult: with a Bank note of 200 dollars, and ought e’er this to have acknowledged the rect thereof, but have thus long delay’d writing, that I might be able to give you some satisfactory Accot respecting Buck wheat. I am now satisfyed that I shall be able to procure the quantity you want, as I have got about 300 Bushells, and the Ball: I may be sure of obtaining. I cou’d...
20To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 16 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
We have been here about ten days, and are now tollarably fix’d. I have been making Enquiry about Buck Wheat, and have given notice that I will give 2/ ⅌ Bush: (a Price the Merchts told me I might purchase for) but, from the Scarcity of Corn, which now sells @ 12/ ⅌ Barrell, I fear I shall not be able to get the Buck wheat for less than 2/6—For this price I’m sure I can get any quantity in a...
21To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 31 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
On our way to Loudon &c. we arrived here today—Everythg abt here, from the late rains, seem to look smiling, and from what I’ve seen as I rode along, you’re not suffer’d for rain anythg like so much as abt Fredericksbg. I have brot with me two Bush: of Early Wheat, and wish I cou’d have brot for you much more, for ’tho a good deal may be got in Fredericksbg, no opportys offer to this part of...
22To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 11 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
In my first Letter respecting Mr L: Lewis, I only meant that he wou’d answer your purposes at Mt Vernon ’till you got furnish’d with a Manager to your wishes; But, when I reciev’d your Answer thereto, wherein you seem’d to think, if he possess’d the Qualifications you required, he might (with the Plans you had laid down for your Overseers, and your frequent directions) answer altogether, I...
23To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 25 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 21st Inst. this Evening, and, as you seem to be misinform’d respecting Mr Laurence Lewis’s Intention of changing his State, I thought it best, on Information from Mrs Lewis (he being at present in Berkly) and his other friends here, to lose no time in writing to you again—They say (& I also believe) that he has no Notion at all of entering into the matrimonial State, and...
24To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 11 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Being sensible that the sooner your communications were made known to Mr Fitzhugh, and the result to you, so much the sooner wou’d your mind be reliev’d, I waited on him today and fully inform’d him of everything respecting the Conversation the Gentleman had with you at the Dinner in Alexandria on the 4th of July, and of your Sentiments on that Subject—Mr Fitzhugh had hear’d nothing, and says,...
25To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 26 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I fear you will think we have been very dilatary respecting the Settlement of the Old Ladys Affairs &c., as it has been a long time since we have given you any Information of them. For my part I have been so embarrass’d for some time by being Security for Majr Willis, that I cd scarcely think of any thg else. The Negroes are at length divided, but all the things of the Old Ladys are not yet...
26To George Washington from Burgess Ball and Charles Carter, 8 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
We have perused your Letter to Mrs Lewis dated the 13th of September, and shall take pleasure in giving her all the Assistance in our power. We shall in the next paper advertize the Stocks &c. to be sold abt the 29th Inst., and, in the same Paper shall request all Persons having Claims against the Estate, to bring ’em in properly attested, but, we believe we have already the whole Accots (as...
27To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 25 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry that it devolvs on me to communicate to you the loss of your Mother who departed this Life abt 3 oClock today. The Cause of her desolution (I believe) was the Cancer on her Breast, but for abt 15 days she has been deprived of her speech, and for the five last days she has remain’d in a Sleep. She has lived a good Age &, I hope, is gone to a happier place than we live at present in....