15481[Diary entry: 9 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
9. At home all day.
15482[Diary entry: 9 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
9. Cold Wind hard at West or No. West all day.
15483To George Washington from Gilbert Simpson, 9 November 1774 (Washington Papers)
I have sent my son to you. for some money to pay off the men that is at work at the Mill: which they want Clothing and Cannot get any Cloths for the want money. the walls of Mill is done and the Race is not done by Reason for the want Powder by which it Could not be had: and the frame is all got but the Rafters and they are about them now. I expect the House will be done by the 10th of Next...
15484[Diary entry: 10 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
10. At home all day. Doctr. Craik came here in the Evening and stayed all Night.
15485[Diary entry: 10 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
10. Clear, & not quite so cold notwithstanding the Wind kept in the same place but not quite so hard.
15486To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 11 November 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS :Historical Society of Pennsylvania My Lord Chancellor finished his Petitions this Evening, but did not hear any of the Exceptions, So that your Exception in the above Cause Stands 9th. in His Lordship’s Paper as before for hearing the next day of Petitions, which in all probability will be on Wednesday next. I am sir Your very humble Servant Whately’s suit was dragging on. This and the...
15487[Diary entry: 11 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. At home all day. Mr. Bryan Fairfax came here & stayed all Night.
15488[Diary entry: 11 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
11. Clear, warm and pleasant with but little Wind and that Southerly.
15489[Diary entry: 12 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. I went up to George Town To an intended meeting of Trustees for openg. Potomack River. None Met. Returnd home at Night. After inspecting canal works in England, John Ballendine had returned to the Potomac valley in the late summer of 1774 with a plan for opening navigation of the Potomac River “at and above the Lower Falls” to boats that could carry wheat and iron downriver to the ports of...
15490[Diary entry: 12 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
12. Exceeding pleasant, being clear and without wind.
15491[Diary entry: 13 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. Went up to Alexandria Church. In the Evening Colo. Blackburn Mr. Lee, & Mr. Richd. Graham came here as a Committee from the Prince Wm. Independ. Compy. Mr. Lee was Philip Richard Francis Lee (died c.1834), son of Squire Richard Lee of Blenheim, Charles County, Md. Philip Richard, a merchant in Dumfries, was a captain in the Prince William Independent Company, which was absorbed into the 3d...
15492[Diary entry: 13 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
13. Clear and pleasant being quite warm.
15493[Diary entry: 14 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. At home all day. Those Gentn. Went away after Dinnr.
15494[Diary entry: 14 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
14. Warm and pleasant with but little Wind. Lowering in the Evening.
15495To George Washington from William Crawford, 14 November 1774 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday returd from our Late Expedition against the Shawnees, and I think we may with Propreity Say we have had Great Sucksess as we have maid them Senceable of there Veleny and weekness, and I hop maid peace with them on such a footing as will be Lasting if we make them adhare to the tinner of the agreement which is as follows. First they have to give up all the Prisoners taken ever by...
15496To George Washington from Hanburys & Lloyd, 14 November 1774 (Washington Papers)
We have now to acknowledge receipt of thy ⟨esteemed⟩ favors of 3⟨0⟩ Decr 30 Apr. 1 June & 4 Augst the Contents whereof are duly ⟨notic⟩’d—We observe by the second that our friend J. P. Custis is married we congratulate him ⟨upon illegible sion⟩ & heartily wish him health & happiness. We are sorry to see by thine of 4 Augst that thou art displeas’d at our ⟨su⟩ffering thy Bill on us to John Page...
15497[Diary entry: 15 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. At home all day alone.
15498[Diary entry: 15 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
15. A little Rain in the Night & lowering in the forenoon. Clear afterwards.
15499From George Washington to George William Fairfax, 15 November 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George William Fairfax, 15 Nov. 1774. On 2 Mar. 1775 Fairfax wrote GW that he had received “Your very obliging favor of the 15th of November.”
15500To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 16 November 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania His Lordship has only heard 2 Exceptions this Evening Your Cause[?] therefore Stands now the Seventh. His Lordship sits again next Friday Evening when it may probably come on. I am Sir Your very humble Servant See the preceding document. BF ’s case advanced toward argument at the pace of a lazy snail, and a month later was second in line: Life to BF...
15501[Diary entry: 16 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. Ditto. Ditto.
15502[Diary entry: 16 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
16. Rain in the Night & this Morning. Clear afterwards & windy from the No. West. Cold.
15503To George Washington from John Tayloe, 16 November 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Tayloe, 16 Nov. 1774. In a letter of 30 Nov. to Tayloe , GW refers to “your favr of the 16th Instt.”
15504Reply to A Friendly Address to All Reasonable Americans, 17 November 1774 (Adams Papers)
Enquire who is the Author? Whether a Sandemanian, a Quaker, or an high Churchman? The Character you give me from an English Writer, of our civil Government, will not be disputed by me. The british Constitution, is in Theory, an excellent Structure,: and when wisely and justly ad ministered, has produced as great and good Men, and as much Happiness and Glory to the Nation, as any form of civil...
15505[Diary entry: 17 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
17. At home. Mr. Francis Willis Junr. dined here, & went to B[elvoir].
15506[Diary entry: 17 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
17. Clear with not much Wind & that Southerly.
15507From George Washington to William Milnor, 17 November 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Milnor, 17 Nov. 1774. On 29 Nov. Milnor wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 17th Inst. came to hand.”
15508[Diary entry: 18 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
18. Captn. Dalton dined here and went away afterwards.
15509[Diary entry: 18 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
18. Hard Wind all day from the No. West and very cold. Weather clear.
The polite and respectful terms in which you are pleased to communicate your approbation of our conduct, in an important office, demand our most sincere and grateful acknowledgments. Honoured by the united suffrages of our fellow-citizens, and animated by a sense of duty, and the most cordial affection for our oppressed country, however unequal to the delicate and arduous task, we undertook it...
15511The Question Discussed, [19 November 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Verner W. Crane, Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press, 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, N.C., [1950]), pp. 270–6. Verner Crane attributed this letter, printed in an issue of the Public Ledger that is apparently unavailable in the United States, to Franklin on the basis of abundant analogues with his known writings. But the content and style, although they sound like his, do not...
15512[Diary entry: 19 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
19. At home all day.
15513[Diary entry: 19 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
19. Clear and Cold. Wind hard at No. West all day.
15514From George Washington to Townshend Dade, Jr., 19 November 1774 (Washington Papers)
As it is necessary that the Free holders of this County should be convened, in order to make choice of a Committee agreeably to the recommendation of the Congress for the purpose of carrying the Association more effectually into Execution I shall be obliged to you for giving notice at both your Churches that Wednesday the 30th of this Instt is appointed for this purpose at the Court House in...
15515[Diary entry: 20 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
20. Set out for Wests Ordinary in order to attend Colo. Mercers Sale of the Bull run Land. Dined at New Gate & lodged at Colo. Fras. Peytons. GW did more than “attend” the sale; he was in charge of the auctions to settle the estate of James Mercer’s brother George. Francis Peyton, son of Valentine Peyton, was a justice and burgess for Loudoun County. Peyton accompanied GW to the sale the next...
15516[Diary entry: 20 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
20. Not so cold as the two preceeding days wind not being so fresh—but in the same place.
15517[Diary entry: 21 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
21st. Attended at Wests Ordy. with Mr. James Mercer & sold all the Bull run Lands. Returnd to Colo. Peytons. GW found his role in the auctioning of the Mercer land, which had “a good deal of exceeding poor and broken ground in it,” to be a frustrating experience. As the auction proceeded, he saw he was not getting prices anywhere near the original estate inventory valuation made in 1767....
15518[Diary entry: 21 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
21. Snowing and raining all day and the greatest part of the Night. Wind at No. Et. & fresh.
15519[Diary entry: 22 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
22. At Colo. Peytons all day taking Bonds & making Conveyances.
15520[Diary entry: 22 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
22. Flying Clouds, & Wind fresh from the Northwest but not very cold.
15521[Diary entry: 23 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
23. Set out for Frederick, in order to sell Colo. Mercers Estate in that County. Dind at Morgan Alexanders Ordy. & lodged at Colo. Warner Washington’s. Morgan Alexander (1746–1783), originally of Gloucester County, moved to the Shenandoah Valley in the late 1760s and married Sarah Snickers (b. 1756). As she was a daughter of Edward Snickers, whose home and ordinary, in Frederick (now in...
15522[Diary entry: 23 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
23. Wind in the same Quarter but more moderate & not cold.
15523[Diary entry: 24 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
24. Went to the Sale, which began at the Middle Plantation, at Willm. Dawson’s, the Head Overseers. Lodged there. Having held the land sale at a spot convenient to buyers from both sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains, GW was now auctioning off the slaves, stock, and tools which were gathered together at the main Mercer plantation for examination by the bidders. GW was disturbed at finding “only...
15524[Diary entry: 24 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
24. Southerly Wind, after a very white frost & Cloudy.
15525[Diary entry: 25 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
25. Sale continued at the same place where I again lodged. In the margin of his Virginia almanac for this month, GW, apparently as a reminder, noted for 21 Nov. “Mercer’s sale at Wests” and for 24 Nov. “do. at Snicker’s,” but the latter sale seems to have been held at Dawson’s. Edward Snickers had a home where the road from Snickers’s ferry to Winchester crossed Buck Marsh Run, about three...
15526[Diary entry: 25 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
25. Raining more or less till abt. one Oclock—then clear.
15527From George Washington to Edward Montagu, 25 November 1774 (Washington Papers)
[25 November 1774] . “The power of attorney from Colo. Mercer, Mr. Graval, & Miss Wroughton, which you was pleased to inclose to Mr. Mason and us came to hand in July last; Mr. Mason declining the trust, we shall think ourselves happy if in the course of this transaction we shall be able to give you, our friend & acquaintance Col. Mercer, and the mortgagees, that satisfaction we shall aim at...
15528[Diary entry: 26 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
26. Sale again—remained there.
15529[Diary entry: 26 November 1774] (Washington Papers)
26. Clear and pleasant, with but very little Wind.
15530From James Madison to William Bradford, 26 November 1774 (Madison Papers)
The pamphlets & letters you sent me were safely delivered about ten days after the date of them. I esteem it a singular favor that you should be so thoughtfull of obliging me at a time when your attention must necessarally have been employed on many more important considerations. Your readiness also to serve me on any future occasion demands my acknowledgments. I have no acquaintance in...