1From George Washington to Peter Hog, 21 March 1774 (Washington Papers)
The design of my giving you the trouble of this Letter, is to request the favour of you to aid Captn Crawford in qualifying, & giving Security, to his Commission as assistant Surveyor to Colo. Thomas Lewis. He is informed by that Gentleman, that there will be no Court in Augusta to do business in the next Month, but that, if he will get there a few days before (which he strongly urges both to...
2From George Washington to Hugh Mercer, 28 March 1774 (Washington Papers)
By my Deeds, the Tract which I hold, adjoining Mr Hunter contains 600 acres; whether it measures more or less, I really know not, as it never was survey’d to my knowledge. The value I always set upon this Land, on accot of its situation, & contiguity to Fredericksburg, was, two thousand pounds Virga currency; but having an eye to some other Land, more convenient to me; about eighteen months,...
3From George Washington to James Mercer, 28 March 1774 (Washington Papers)
A Man in Trust is laid under greater difficulties than one acting on his own Acct; In the latter case he hath nothing more to do than to please himself; in the former, he may please himself and displease his Constituents. So soon therefore as I became sure (and this was upon running the last course down little River) that Mr Powells Mill would be Included within your Survey I felt a good deal...
4From George Washington to Valentine Crawford, 30 March 1774 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed without loss of time to your own Settlement on Youghiogany, and there if it is not already done provide such, and so much Provision, as you shall think necessary to take down with you to my Lands on the Ohio. You are also to provide Canoes for transporting of these Provisions—The Tools—& the Workmen. You are to engage Three good hands as labourers to be employd in this...
5Cash Accounts, April 1774 (Washington Papers)
Cash April 1— To Ditto [Cash] recd from Captn [Thomas] Conway [£] 97.12.4 2— To Cash recd from Southy Bell by Griffith Kelly for 600 Bushls of oats belonging to Mr Custis 29.12.6 9— To Cash recd from Mr Robt Adam viz. 86 half Joes @ 46/3 198.17.6 18— To Cash recd from Mr [William] Ellzey on acct of Distress made on my Ten[an]ts in Fauqr 25. 3.0 19— To Ditto recd for 20,160 Herrgs @ 3/ 3. 0.6...
6From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 2 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Griffen Gilley’s receipt for sixty Barrels of superfine Flour; as also an invoice of the weight &c. of each barrel. Please to dispose of it to the best advantage, for my interest, on credit not ecceeding October. I was obliged to buy in the Anne & Elizabeth myself at the price of £175 which is thirty odd, short of what it stands me—Will this Vessel, do you think, sell at...
7From George Washington to Hugh Mercer, 11 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
The Land may be conveyed to you at any time, & for this purpose I will bring down my title papers & leave them with you, as I go to the Assembly. When, possession can be given, I am not altogether clear in, as I believe Mr Fitzhugh & Mr Hunter look upon the tillable & Pasture Land as engaged to them till the Fall; but Colo. Lewis can give you the best information on that head, as it was with...
8From George Washington to James Mercer, 11 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
I have receivd your Letter of the 5th, and consider’d the Report which you have drawn up for the Commissioners to make to the Generl Court; and not knowing (as things are Situated) what better can be done, I have given them ⟨ta⟩cit consent to their proceeding; agreeably thereto, as you required, in case of my approbation thereof. My fear however is, that, a Partition of the Land, consequent of...
9From George Washington to Myles Cooper, 15 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
As your letter (& accot) to Mr Custis, was receivd by him posterior to the one written to me, & not immediately given into my hands, (as the young Gentn since his marriage has been good part of his time in Maryland) I could not make you the enclos’d remittance much sooner. You will now receive a Draft on Messrs Osgood Hanbury & Company for £65 Sterling, which please to dispose of, & with the...
10From George Washington to Margaret Savage, 15 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
I am really sorry I cannot give you a more agreeable account, than the following of your Suit against Dr Savage. At March Court for this County, with much difficulty, we brought the matter to a hearing, & obtained a judgement for six hundred & odd pounds, being the Sum due on the Bond to the commencement of the Suit. Against this, the Doctor filed a Writ of Error, which (as there will be no...
11From George Washington to Philip Richard Francis Lee, 26 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
I will pay you at the next Meeting of Merchants in Williamsburg (this or next Month) or on my return from thence, on Acct of Mr Alexr Cleveland, the Sum of Fifty pounds Virginia Curry. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt ALS , owned (1990) by Mr. Leigh Lewis, Jr., Fairfax, Virginia. Philip Richard Francis Lee (died c.1834) was a son of Squire Richard Lee of Blenheim, Charles County, Maryland. Usually...
12From George Washington to Osgood Hanbury & Company, 30 April 1774 (Washington Papers)
On the 25th (Instt) I drew upon you in favour of the Reverend Doctr Myles Cooper, President of the College in New York, at which Mr Custis has been at School, for Sixty five pounds Sterlg; and of this date, have again drawn on you for the further Sum of One hundred and Ten pounds Sterlg payable to Captn William McGachin on Order, both of which Sums please to pay, & place to the debit of Mr...
13Cash Accounts, May 1774 (Washington Papers)
Cash May 13— To Cash recd from Mr Hunter Rent [£] 10. 0.0 To Ditto won at Cards 1. 0.0 17— To Ditto recd of Doctr [James] Carter—a yrs Intt of his Bond 10.16.0 To Ditto recd from Colo. Andw Lewis on acct of his Land under the Proclamation of 1754 10. 9.9 18— To Cash won at Cards 2.10.0 20— To Ditto recd from Mr Frans Whiting on acct of Rent 40. 0.0 23— To Ditto won at Cards 1.10.0
14From George Washington to William McGachen, 1 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have Bills on Messrs Osgood Hanbury & Co. for One hundred and Ten pounds Sterlg which be so good as to apply in discharge of payment for the Servants you obligingly bought for me. I really forgot to send these Bills by the last Post, but hope they are not much out of time now. Be pleased to let the Inclosed Letter of advice accompany the Bills, and accept my hearty thanks for the...
15From George Washington to Francis Willis, 4 May 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Francis Willis, Jr., 4 May 1774. Willis wrote GW on 15 May that he had “receiv’d yours of the 4th Instant.”
16From George Washington to Thomas Lewis, 5 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st of March did not come to my hands ’till the latter end of last month; and no direct opportunity that I have heard of, has offered since, this letter taking the chance of conveyance from place to place only. Immediately upon the receipt of your favor by Mr Young, I dispatched a letter to Capt. Crawford (covering yours to him) pointing out the necessity of his attempting...
17From George Washington to Francis Willis, 8 May 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Francis Willis, Jr., 8 May 1774. Willis wrote GW on 15 May : “I have likewis receivd yours of the 8th instant.”
18From George Washington to Robert McMickan, 10 May 1774 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to you for the many unanswered Letters you have been pleased to write me, & thank you very sincerely for the trouble you have had in the management of my business with Mr Daniel Jenifer Adams; but as my Connexion with that worthless young Fellow began in an ill-fated hour, so has it continued, and is like to end. From his idle, and ill formed expectation of obtaining...
19From George Washington to George William Fairfax, 15 May 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George William Fairfax, 15 May 1774. On 30 June 1786 GW wrote Fairfax : “The letters of . . . 15th of May [1774] . . . contain a full, & accurate acct of every thing that had occurred relative to your business.”
20From George Washington to William Crawford, 27 May 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Crawford, 27 May 1774. On 8 June Crawford wrote GW that he had received GW’s letters “dated 27th of May.”
21Cash Accounts, June 1774 (Washington Papers)
Cash June 6— To Ditto [cash] Ditto [won at cards] [£] 0.12. 6 7— To Ditto Ditto 1.10. 0 10— To Ditto of Mr Thos Prosser—Intt of his Bond 7. 5. 9 11— To Cash recd from Jno. Randolph Esqr. to be allowd in Acct with Jas Hill viz. 9 Guineas @ 26/ 11.14. 0 13— To Cash won at Cards 5. 5. 0 14— To Ditto recd from Mr Chas Yates for Wm Wrights part of the cost of Surveying & Patenting Land under the...
22From George Washington to Samuel Athawes, 1 June 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 12th of Feby last came duely to hand immediately upon the receipt of which I wrote to Colo. Fairfax’s Steward (who lives 70 Miles above me) to know how much Tobo he had, and when it would be ready, and was surprized at receiving for answer that there would not be above 16 Hogsheads, & that these could not be got ready before the 10th of Septr —As I can see no just cause for...
23From George Washington to Hanburys & Lloyd, 1 June 1774 (Washington Papers)
Captn Eston this Instt delivered me your Letters of the 24th of March to Mr Custis and myself with an Acct Current Inclosed. As you seem to be under a mistake in respect to my acting, or not acting, as Executor to Jno. Parke Custis I have delayed no time in rectifying the misapprehension you lay under—I always have, and still do act as the Guardian of Mr Custis; and in every draft, either upon...
24From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 1 June 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 5th of Mar: by Captn Peterson came to my hands in this City —In answer to it I shall briefly observe that, I am sorry my drafts in behalf of Mr Custis came to hand at an unseasonable time; but as his Guardian, I could let no consideration of a Debt due from me to you, Influence me in a purchase which I thought, and others advis’d, as tending much to the Interest of my ward...
25From George Washington to George William Fairfax, 10–15 June 1774 (Washington Papers)
In my way to this place I met with your Letter of the 10th of Jany at Dumfries—In consequence of which, I immediately wrote to Mr Willis (having an oppertunity so to do) desiring him to go to Belvoir, & after examining & considering every thing maturely, to give me his opinion of the Rent which ought to be set upon your Interest there (collectively or seperately) that I might, by knowing the...
26From George Washington to Edward Snickers, 16 June 1774 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will receive Mr Hughes’s warrant (in his own right) for 2,000 acres of Land, the getting of which, at this time he must look upon as a very great favour, as the Governor has dispensed with two positive instructions to oblige him. He would not grant a Warrant for the other claim under Johnston. Hughes was very negligent in not sending the former Certificates granted him: I wish you...
27Cash Accounts, July 1774 (Washington Papers)
Cash July 6— To Cash recd for Ferriage money Poseys [£] 0. 4. 0 13— To Ditto recd for Waggonage 0.18. 0 15— To Ditto recd from Messrs Hooe & Co. 182.16. 0 17— To Ditto recd of Captn [William] Buddicum 90.14. 2 27— To Cash on acct of Smith’s work 0. 5. 3 Contra July 2— By Do pd Mr Wm Wait for the use of Porter at Acquia
28From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 4 July 1774 (Washington Papers)
John has just delivered to me your favor of yesterday, which I shall be obliged to answer in a more concise manner, than I could wish, as I am very much engaged in raising one of the additions to my house, which I think (perhaps it is fancy) goes on better whilst I am present, than in my absence from the workmen. I own to you, Sir, I wished much to hear of your making an open declaration of...
29From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 11 July 1774 (Washington Papers)
The Morning after receiving your Letter of the 4th which came to hand the 8th at Night ⟨I sent⟩ up to Alexa. to ⟨i⟩nquire after your Bacon &c. and to obtain ⟨some⟩ satisfactory answers to your queries, respecting the price of Corn & Wheat than I was enabled to give myself having heard nothing said in respect to the latter since my return home—The Inclosed Letters convey the Sentiments of Mr...
30From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 20 July 1774 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 17th was not presented to me till after the Resolution’s (which were adjudg’d advisable for this county to come to) had been revis’d, alterd, & corrected in the Committee; nor till we had gone into a general Meeting in the Court House, and my attention necessarily call’d every moment to the business that was before it; I did however upon receipt of it (in that hurry &...