62701[Diary entry: 20 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 20th. Mercury at 50 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 56 at Night. Calm clear & pleasant in the Morning—lowering afterwards with the Wind Southe[r]ly. Rid (after Mr. Dawson & Mr. Lee went away) first to the Ferry plantation, and thence to Dogue run through the Plantation lately rented of Mrs. French which I find less injured by Gullies than I expected. At the Ferry the people were getting...
62702[Diary entry: 21 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 21st. Mercury at 50 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 55 at Night. Wind at No. Et. all day with various appearances—sometimes threatning Rain—at other times promising to be fair. Colo. Richard Henry Lee with his daughter Nancy, who came here yesterday to dinner, going away after breakfast, I rid into the Neck, and to Muddy hole & Dogue run Plantations. At the first the People had finished...
62703[Diary entry: 22 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 22d. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—59 at Noon and 56 at Night. Clear and pleasant with but little wind. The Honble. Wm. Drayton and Mr. Walter Izard came here to dinner and stayed all Night. Mr. Rumney, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Wilson & Mr. Porter also came here to dinner all of whom except the first went away after it. William Drayton (1732–1790), of Charleston, S.C., was the son of Thomas...
62704[Diary entry: 23 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 23d. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 58 at Night. Calm clear and pleasant all day. Mr. Rumney went away directly after breakfast and Mrs. Washington with Nelly and Washington Custis for Abingdon about the same time. I remained at home all day. In the evening Colo. Monroe, his Lady and Mr. Maddison came in. James Monroe (1758–1831) had served as a delegate from Virginia to...
62705[Diary entry: 24 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 24th. Mercury at 53 in the Morning—68 at Noon and 66 at Night. Clear, calm, and extremely pleasant all day. Mr. Drayton and Mr. Izard set out after breakfast on their rout to South Carolina. I remained at home all day, being prevented from going up to Abingdon to Meet Mrs. Washington according to promise by the above company. Entered into articles of agreement and bonds for the...
62706[Diary entry: 25 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 25th. Mercury at 53 in the Morng.—67 at Noon and 66 at Night. An exceedingly heavy fog till 10 Oclock—after which it became clear warm & pleasant. Mr. Maddison and Colo. Monroe & his Lady set out after breakfast for Fredericksburgh. I called at the Ferry, Dogue run, & Muddy hole plantations on my way to Mr. Fendalls where I met Mrs. Washington, dined, & returned home in the evening...
62707[Diary entry: 26 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 26th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning—70 at Noon and 68 at Night. Calm, clear, and very pleasant day throughout. Immediately after breakfast I rid into the Neck, and to Muddy hole & Dogue run Plantations. At the first finished sowing and plowing in all the Rye, but had not compleated the harrowing & Hoeing of it. This comprehended the 3d. cut of Wheat and the furthest cut of drilled corn...
62708[Diary entry: 27 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 27th. Mercury at 56 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. Cloudy in the Morning, with the wind very fresh at N. W. About 10 oclock it cleared but continued to blow fresh, and grew colder. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole and examined the Land I lately bought from the Exr. of Manley more attentively. Find some of it in very good condition and other...
62709[Diary entry: 28 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 28th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—62 at Noon and 60 at Night. Clear and pleasant all day with but little wind and that from So. West. Mr. Mayo, his wife and Miss D’Hart went away after breakfast. Rid to the Plantations in the Neck, Muddy hole, and Dogue Run. At the first compleated sowing Wheat yesterday and finished covering Rye with the Hoes & Harrows the same day—Gathering for...
62710[Diary entry: 29 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 29th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 58 at Night. Lowering at times through the day—very little wind and that South—very smoaky all day. About noon Mrs. Stuart and one of her youngest Children left this for Mr. Lund Washingtons. At the same time I crossed the river with intention to view & Survey my land in Charles County Maryland. Went to and lodged at Govr. Smallwoods...
62711[Diary entry: 30 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 30th. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—52 at Noon and 50 at Night. Raining all the forenoon with the Wind at No. Et.—Misting & very cloudy all the latter part of the day altho the Wind had shifted to the No. Wt. About One Oclock accompanied by the Governor, I set out to take a view of my land which lay 12 Miles from his House—after doing which and finding it rather better than I expected we...
62712[Diary entry: 31 October 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 31st. Mercury at 41 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 42 at Night. Wind pretty fresh at No. West in the Morning but cloudy which it continued to be through the day with Mists in the afternoon and rain at Night, the wind getting round to No. Et. After breakfast I left Govr. Smallwoods & got home to dinner. Attempted to cross at the Widow Chapmans in order to pay Colo. Mason a visit but...
62713November [1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 1st. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 41 at Night. Cloudy all the forenoon, with a light sprinkle of rain—Wind at No. West, & afternoon clear. Rid to all the Plantations, & to the Ditchers. Found, in the Neck that the People had begun to take up the Irish Potatoes, and during the rain had been cleaning rye & thrashing out the Pease and yesterday, & part of this day, were...
62714[Diary entry: 1 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 1st. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 41 at Night. Cloudy all the forenoon, with a light sprinkle of rain—Wind at No. West, & afternoon clear. Rid to all the Plantations, & to the Ditchers. Found, in the Neck that the People had begun to take up the Irish Potatoes, and during the rain had been cleaning rye & thrashing out the Pease and yesterday, & part of this day, were...
62715[Diary entry: 2 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 2d. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—49 at Noon and 47 at Night. A very large white frost—the ground froze and Ice. Morning calm, wind afterwards variable and evening cool. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations. From the latter the Potatoes and Pease were brought home; of the former there were Bushels; and of the latter Bushels whereof were of the large kind (had from the...
62716[Diary entry: 3 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 3d. Mercury at 49 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 56 at Night. Cloudy with small showers at intervals, till after noon, when the weather cleared & became warm and pleasant. Wind Southerly all day. At home writing Letters.
62717[Diary entry: 4 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 4th. Mercury at 43 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 54 at Night. Morning mild, clear, and pleasant with the wind Southerly in the afternoon. Rid to all the Plantations. In the Neck, finished gathering and Measuring the Irish Potatoes, wch. turned out as follow—viz.—In the Cut next the Barn 100 Bushels—There being 10 rows, every alternate one had a sprinkling of dung; 4 of which produced...
62718[Diary entry: 5 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 5th. Mercury at 44 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 54 at Night. The forenoon variable—sometimes threatning and then promising—but clear, fine and agreeable in the afternoon. Wind southerly all day. Colo. Pickney &ca. set out after breakfast. At home all day writing.
62719[Diary entry: 6 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 6th. Mercury at 43 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 57 at Night. But very little wind and that southerly. Clear & remarkably pleasant all day. After breakfast Mrs. Stuart & all her Children except Washington Custis went away. I rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole—Making a farm pen at the latter. On my return home found Colo. Lewis Morris and his Brother Major Jacob...
62720[Diary entry: 7 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 7th. Mercury at 53 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 59 at Night. Clear mild & very pleast. all day—Calm in the forenoon & a light Southerly breeze after Noon. Rid to all the Plantations to day. In the Neck the people had just finished gathering and measuring the Pease which in all amounted to only 80 Bushels. They were, in places, very much missing to which this short quantity is...
62721[Diary entry: 8 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 8th. Mercury at 54 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 58 at Night. Very mild, with but little Wd. and that Southerly—Lowering more or less all day with great appearances now & then of rain but none fell. In the evening the clouds dispelled. Rid to the Ferry & Dogue run Plantations. At the first, the wheat & rye having been all Tread & threshed out, there was in the whole of the former...
62722[Diary entry: 9 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 9th. Mercury at 48 in the Morning—54 at Noon and 52 at Night. Morning heavy, about Noon it began to rain, & continued to do so all the Afternoon moderately. Rid to the River, Muddy hole, and Dogue run Plantations. At the first the People were employed in removing the Potatoes from thence to the Mansion House—at the 2d. in gathering Corn except the 3 plow people who were at Work at...
62723[Diary entry: 10 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 10th. Mercury at 53 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Morning a little lowering—more favourable at Noon but raining afterwards. But little wind in the forepart of the day and that Southerly. Towards evening it got to the Eastward and in the Night Westerly & cleared. With Mrs. Washington and all the family, I went to Alexanda. and dined with Doctr. Craik. Returned in the Evening....
62724[Diary entry: 11 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 11th. Mercury at 41 in the Morning—45 at Noon and 42 at Night. Morning clear and cool, with the wind pretty fresh from the No. Wt. By noon it became calm & very pleasant. Rid to the Mill, and to Dogue run & Muddy hole plantations. At the first named Plantation finished plowing for Rye in the Morning, but there remained of it 8 or 10 acres to sow & harrow in. By Night the ground from...
62725[Diary entry: 12 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 12th. Mercury at 41 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 48 at Night. Morning clear, wind fresh from the Southward—lowering after wards till Noon when it began to rain & continued to do so moderately all the afternoon.
62726[Diary entry: 13 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 13th. Mercury at 39 in the morning—47 at Noon and 46 at Night. Morning clear and cool, the Wind being fresh at No. West. Towards the afternoon the wind veered round (backed) to the Southward and in the evening lulled. Rid to all the Plantations—getting up Hogs for feeding at all. Finished sowing and harrowing in Rye at Dogue run & began to gather Corn in the Neck and at the Ferry for...
62727[Diary entry: 14 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 14th. Mercury at 41 in the Morning—50 at Noon and 50 at Night. Lowering in the Morning with appearances of rain. About Noon the Clouds broke; and the afternoon became clear mild & exceedingly pleasant. Rid to Muddy hole, Dogue run, & Ferry Plantations. At the latter compleated all my fall Sowing of winter grain, by putting into the Corn ground wch. had been prepared for the purpose, 6½...
62728[Diary entry: 15 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 15th. Mercury at 46 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 54 at Night. Wind Southerly but not very fresh in the forepart of the day. About Noon it came out very powerfully at No. West and towds. Night turned cold. Rid to Muddy hole and Dogue run Plantations. The hands at these places & the ferry at work on the public Roads. Attempted to level to day, but the wind was too high to admit it.
62729[Diary entry: 16 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 16. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 47 at Night. Morning windy clear, and cold; before Noon it moderated and became mild & pleasant and before Night it got to the Southwd. and lowered a little. Mr. & Mrs. Fendall came from Maryland here to Breakfast—as did Mr. Willm. Craik—after which they all went away. Rid into the Neck, and to Muddy hole plantations. At the first having...
62730[Diary entry: 17 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 17th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—44 at Noon and 45 at Night. Cloudy with drops of rain now and then in the forenoon—more promising afterwards with the wind fresh from the Southward all day. At home writing all day. Finished the ditch along the side of my Mill Meadow intended to conduct the water in common heights of the run.
62731[Diary entry: 18 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 18th. Mercury at 43 in the Morning—43 at Noon and 40 at Night. Wind Easterly all day and very cloudy and like for snow—sometimes drops of it for the first this year. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run & Muddy hole Plantations—gathering & husking Corn at all. Also rid to the Ditche[r]s who had begun to scour a ditch in the Mill Meadow. One of them, James Lawson went up to Town to day....
62732[Diary entry: 19 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 19th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—38 at Noon and 32 at Night. Ground lightly covered with Snow this Morning. Continued cloudy all day and Snowing a little, at times, but the ground was never more than an inch thick. At home all day.
62733[Diary entry: 20 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 20th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Noon and 34 at Night. A thick fog & Mist all day with little or no wind. After dark the Clouds dispelled and Stars appeared. At home all day.
62734[Diary entry: 21 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 21st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—40 at Night [Noon] and 38 at Night. Flying clouds with the Wind pretty fresh from the No. Wt. in the Morning and cold. Pleasanter afterwards and clear Wind moderating about Noon and by night was calm. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole Plantn.—gathering and husking Corn at all of them. Sent George Washington to Town on business. Colo. Darke...
62735[Diary entry: 22 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 22. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. Two inches or more snow fell in the Night—more [or] less fell all day—but little Wind and that Southerly. At home all day.
62736[Diary entry: 23 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 23d. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 36 at Night. Very cold in the forenoon and not very agreeable at any time of the day—Wind at No. West. Rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole & Dogue run. At the first raking up dung—at the other gathering and husking of Corn. Set James Lawson and his comrade, Patrick Sheriden, to running a level ditch 2 feet wide at top, 1 at Bottom, and...
62737[Diary entry: 24 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 24th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 36 at Night. Very clear, and pretty cold in the Morning Wind being at No. West but not hard. About Noon it moderated, and at Night was calm. After breakfast Judge Harrison and Mr. Craik returned to Maryland. I rid to the Ditchers and thence to the Ferry Plantation—Grubbing at the latter and getting up wild hogs. Major Washington went...
62738[Diary entry: 25 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 25th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Mild and but little wind, which was Southerly—lowering all day. In the Night the Wind came out from the No. Wt. and it froze hard. Rid to Alexandria to place the Papers respecting the Administration of Colo. Thos. Colvills Estate in the hands of Mr. Keith to adjust & settle them & to do some other Business. Bought the time...
62739[Diary entry: 26 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 26th. Mercury at 32 in the Morning—43 at Noon and 40 at Night. Wind at No. West in the fore noon, but not hard; about Noon it died away, and in the evening was quite calm. Ground pretty hard frozen in the Morning. The following Gentlemen dined here. Colonels Hooe & Henley—Dr. Craik, Mr. Porter, Mr. Swift, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jenkes, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Abenethy, Mr. Mr. Peran,...
62740[Diary entry: 27 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 27th. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 44 at Night. Wind Southerly, and moderately all day. Sometimes there were great appearances of rain at other times it looked promising. Evening clear but a circle and bur both rd. the Moon. Rid to the Ferry, Dogue run and Muddy hole Plantations—also to the Mill and to the Ditchers—about the Corn at all the places—Measd. 68 Barls. at...
62741[Diary entry: 28 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 28th. Mercury at 36 in the Morning—29 at Noon and 27 at N. Wind fresh all day from the No. West, and North, with clouds and appearances of Snow. Towards evening it cleared, and was very cold all day. A Hound bitch which like most of my other hounds appearing to be going Mad and had been shut up getting out, my Servant Will in attempting to get her in again was snapped at by her at the...
62742[Diary entry: 29 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 29th. Mercury at 17 in the Morning—23 at Noon and 22 at Night. Wind Northerly and rather fresh in the forenoon and about So. Et. afterwards—very raw and cold all day with appears. of Snow. Towards Night a mixture of it and hail fell but not enough to cover the ground. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Dogue run, and Muddy hole and to the Ditchers. At the first G. Washington...
62743[Diary entry: 30 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 30th. Mercury at 26 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Morning cloudy but Mild—Wind westerly all day. About 9 or 10 Oclock the clouds dispersed and the day turned out very fine and pleasant. Thawing considerably—the frost having stopped the Plow at the Ferry Plantation. Surveying my New purchases of Manley’s and French Land, in order to lay the whole of into proper inclosures. Geo....
62744December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Friday 1st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind Southerly and pretty fresh—clear and pleasant all day. Employed as yesterday, running round the Lands of Manley and French. Geo. Washington and his wife returned home in the Evening. Received 50 Bushels of Buck Wheat from Colo. Leven Powell of Loudoun. Leven (Levin) Powell (1737–1810), a Loudoun County merchant, was a major...
62745[Diary entry: 1 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Friday 1st. Mercury at 36 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Wind Southerly and pretty fresh—clear and pleasant all day. Employed as yesterday, running round the Lands of Manley and French. Geo. Washington and his wife returned home in the Evening. Received 50 Bushels of Buck Wheat from Colo. Leven Powell of Loudoun. Leven (Levin) Powell (1737–1810), a Loudoun County merchant, was a major...
62746[Diary entry: 2 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 2d. Mercury at 35 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 45 at Night. Wind at No. West very early in the Morning—after which it turned calm and then came out pretty brisk from Southward. Finished running round the Fields of Manleys and French’s and rid afterwards to Dogue run and Muddy hole plantations. Measured at the latter 19 Barrls. of long Corn & 6 of Short which with the 42 Measured...
62747[Diary entry: 3 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 3d. Mercury at 38 in the morning—46 at Noon and 42 at Night. Clear and very pleasant in the Morning with a light air from the Westward. Continued fine till towds. evening when the Sky looked gloomy in the horizon of the Suns setting and a great circle appeared round the Moon at Night. At home all day alone.
62748[Diary entry: 4 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Monday 4th. Mercury at 31 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. Began to Snow an hour or two before day, and continued steadily at it quite through it—by Night it was about 6 Inches deep—the Wind at No. East. No stirring out to day. Doctr. Craik who had been sent for to a laying in Woman at the river Plantation came here after dark and stayed all Night.
62749[Diary entry: 5 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 5th. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—34 at Noon and 31 at Night. Morning clear and cold. Wind (which had blown all Night) continued hard at No. West till near Sun down when it lulled, but rose again after dark. Doctr. Craik went away after Breakfast. I remained at home all day writing.
62750[Diary entry: 6 December 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 6th. Mercury at 16 in the Morning—30 at Noon and 31 at Night. Morning calm and foggy—Wind Southerly afterwards, and towards evening rather brisk. River froze quite across in the Morning, but broke before Noon by the Wind; and by Night the Ice remained on the flats only. Writing in the forenoon prevented my riding out to day also. Major Washington measured 41½ barrls. of Corn at Dogue...