55021[Diary entry: 22 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
22. This Week they workd 22 days upon her. Here GW means man-days. Hence, if four of the six slave carpenters GW had in 1765 worked a 5½-day workweek they would have put in 22 man-days for that week.
55022[Diary entry: 23 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
23. Began to sow Wheat from Colo. Colvils in Peach Orchard, & finishd 24th.—4 Bushls. Began to cut my Meadows at Hell hole & Creek. Col. Thomas Colvill (d. 1766), of Cecil County, Md., had inherited Cleesh, on the south side of Great Hunting Creek, from his brother John (d. 1756).
55023[Diary entry: 24 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
24. Took up Flax which had been in Water since the 12th. viz. 12 days. flax : Linum usitatissimum . Arthur Young chided GW 19 May 1789 for wasting his time with flax. “What in the name of wonder can you do with flax? Not make linnen I hope; buy from England, from France, from Russia, anywhere rather than employ a soul in fabrics while wastes surround you by millions” ( DLC:GW ).
55024[Diary entry: 25 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
25. Hempseed seems to be in good order for getting—that is of a proper ripeness—but oblige to desist to pull my fodder.
55025[Diary entry: 26 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
26. Began to get fodder at Doegs Run & River Plantn.—rather too dry.
55026[Diary entry: 28 September 1765] (Washington Papers)
28. This Week my Carpenters workd 22 day’s upon my Schooner. And John Askew 3 days upon her. GW revised his contract with his joiner Askew in April 1764, now paying him per diem at the rate of £4 per month. In Dec. 1765 Askew agreed to supervise GW’s slave carpenters for an annual salary of £35 per year plus some provisions and to pay GW £7 10s. per year for rent. Askew’s employment ended in...
55027[October 1765] (Washington Papers)
5. This Week my Carpenters workd 24 days upon the Schooner & John Askew 4 Do. 7. Finish’d gettg. & securing my fodder at Doeg Run. 8. Do.—Do. at Rivr. Plantation—too dry. 10. Finishd pulling Seed Hemp at River Plantation. 12. Finishd pullg. Do. Do. at Doeg Run. Not much, if any, too late for the Seed. This Week my Carpenters workd 22 days upon my Schooner & J. Askew 3 Do. 19. This Week the...
55028[Diary entry: 5 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
5. This Week my Carpenters workd 24 days upon the Schooner & John Askew 4 Do.
55029[Diary entry: 7 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
7. Finish’d gettg. & securing my fodder at Doeg Run.
55030[Diary entry: 8 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
8. Do.—Do. at Rivr. Plantation—too dry.
55031[Diary entry: 10 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
10. Finishd pulling Seed Hemp at River Plantation.
55032[Diary entry: 12 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
12. Finishd pullg. Do. Do. at Doeg Run. Not much, if any, too late for the Seed. This Week my Carpenters workd 22 days upon my Schooner & J. Askew 3 Do.
55033[Diary entry: 19 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
19. This Week the Carpenters workd 18 days which makes in all 190 days & 10 of Jno. Askew.
55034[Diary entry: 21 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
21. Began to sow Wheat in Hemp Gd. at Rr. Plantn.
55035[Diary entry: 22 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
22. Began to sow Wheat at Doeg Run, on the Corn field on this side.
55036[Diary entry: 25 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
25. Began to sow wheat in the Corn field on this side the Run at the Mill. Sowed three Pecks of Wheat (had from Colo. Lewis, of a sort, which he says is early and of an extraordinary Increase, also very large graind) behind the Garden in drills. Note it begins next the ditch & ends at a stake.
55037[Diary entry: 26 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
26. Sowed the Remaining part of the Turneps in drills with an early Wheat also abt. 3 Bushels more broad[cast] in the same Ground & the residue thereof in spelts—6 Bushels.
55038[Diary entry: 28 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
28. Sowd. the residue of P. Orch. with spelts. B.
55039[Diary entry: 31 October 1765] (Washington Papers)
31. Finishd sowing Wheat in Hemp Ground at Rivr. Plantn. & plowd in a good deal of shattered Hemp Seed—27 Bushls. in all 152 .
55040[November 1765] (Washington Papers)
1st. Sent 1 Bull 18 Cows & 5 Calves to Doeg Run in all—24 head branded on the left Buttock GW. Sent 3 Cows, & 20 Yearlings & Calves to the Mill, wch. with 4 there makes 27 head in all viz. 5 Cows & 22 Calves & Yearlgs. branded on the Right shoulder GW. Out of the Frederick Cattle made the Stock in the Neck up 100 head—these branded on the Right Buttock GW. Muddy hole Cattle in all head branded...
55041[Diary entry: 1 November 1765] (Washington Papers)
1st. Sent 1 Bull 18 Cows & 5 Calves to Doeg Run in all—24 head branded on the left Buttock GW. Sent 3 Cows, & 20 Yearlings & Calves to the Mill, wch. with 4 there makes 27 head in all viz. 5 Cows & 22 Calves & Yearlgs. branded on the Right shoulder GW. Out of the Frederick Cattle made the Stock in the Neck up 100 head—these branded on the Right Buttock GW. Muddy hole Cattle in all head branded...
55042[Diary entry: 6 November 1765] (Washington Papers)
6. Finishd sowing Wheat at the Mill—viz. 19 Bushls. in the large cut within the Post & Rail fence & 6 B. in the small cut wch. with 27 Bushl. sowed the other side makes in all 52 B.
55043[Diary entry: 13 November 1765] (Washington Papers)
13. Finishd sowing Wheat at Doeg Run, viz.—on the other side—find. in Sepr 38 Bushl. Corn Gd. & Do. in one adjg. this 108 Early wheat in Tobo. Gd. &ca 5½ large white Do. in Orchd. ½ In all at Doeg R. 152 Do. in the Neck 152 Do. at Mudy. hole 75 Do. at the Mill 52 Do. at home
55044January [1766] (Washington Papers)
14. Flax at the Mill put out to Rot. 18. Flax at Doeg Run put out to Rot.
55045[Diary entry: 14 January 1766] (Washington Papers)
14. Flax at the Mill put out to Rot.
55046[Diary entry: 18 January 1766] (Washington Papers)
18. Flax at Doeg Run put out to Rot.
55047March [1766] (Washington Papers)
21. Sowed Hemp about the old Tobo. House at Muddy hole. Note, the latter part of Feby., & all Mar. till the 19th. was extreamely wet and disagreeable—scarce two fair days together & sometimes hard Frosts, insomuch that neither Hoe nor Plow coud be stuck into the Ground, which prevented my sowing Hemp till the 21st. as above. 22. Began to sow Hemp (adjoining the Lane going to Mrs. Wades) at the...
55048[Diary entry: 21 March 1766] (Washington Papers)
21. Sowed Hemp about the old Tobo. House at Muddy hole. Note, the latter part of Feby., & all Mar. till the 19th. was extreamely wet and disagreeable—scarce two fair days together & sometimes hard Frosts, insomuch that neither Hoe nor Plow coud be stuck into the Ground, which prevented my sowing Hemp till the 21st. as above.
55049[Diary entry: 22 March 1766] (Washington Papers)
22. Began to sow Hemp (adjoining the Lane going to Mrs. Wades) at the Mill. Sowed as far as a stick drove into the Ground. Also sowed Ditto in the lower part of new Ground at Muddy hole—to a stake. First part of this day warm Sun & southerly Wind. Latter part showery—high Wind at same place. Mrs. Valinda Wade, widow of Zephaniah Wade (died c.1746), lived with her three daughters, Valinda,...
55050[Diary entry: 23 March 1766] (Washington Papers)
23. High wind at No. Wt.—cold & Cloudy.