Agreement with James Donaldson, 29 September 1794
Agreement with James Donaldson
[29 Sept. 1794]
Memorandum of the allowance proposed to be made to James Donaldson, and what is expected from him
400 lbs. of Porke | ||
200 do. Beef | ||
1000 Herrings | ||
200 Shad | per Annum | |
200 lbs. of midling flour | ||
20 bushels of Indian Meal or midlg flour equivalent | ||
One hundred & twenty dolrs |
To pay his, & families passage round to Mount Vernon, & furnish him with the use of Tools with which to work when there.
To let him have the use of a house to live in, and the Garden adjoining, and also of a Cow to give him milk; or to allow him Provender, if he chuses to keep one himself.
And when necessity requires it, he may be absent a day, or so, but such times he thus takes to himself, or looses, it to be made up at the years end.
James Donaldson is to find his own bedding & drink. He is to work from the time it is light enough in the morning, until twilight in the evening (with a proper allowance at his breakfast & dinner) wheresoever the business of the Farms at, or adjoining to Mount Vernon shall require. And if any of the Negro Carpenters belonging to the Estate should be committed to his care and management, he will use his best endeavours to keep them to their work, & instruct them in whatsoever he, or they, may be employed about.
Fuel, carried to the house for the said Donaldson, is also to be allowed him—In witness of this agreement the parties have interchangeably set their hands this 29th day of Septr 1794.
Go: Washington
ADS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW. In 1941 the ADS signed by Donaldson as well as GW was reportedly in the possession of Charles J. Donaldson of Dresbach, Minn., and a transcription was printed in the La Crosse Tribune and Leader Press, 23 Feb. 1941. It does not differ significantly from the letterpress copy.