8701To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 6–7 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 6–7, 1769. Sent the Post Office account book with his letter of October 5. Confined to his room and can barely sit up. Has not touched Benjamin Mecom’s books, but will as soon as he is able to stir——if he ever is. Postscript of Sept. ( i.e. , Oct.) 7: encloses originals of Hubbart’s two bills, of which seconds went by his letter of...
8702[Diary entry: 6 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
6. Went a hunting but found nothing after which Rid to Muddy hole, D. Run & Mill.
8703[Diary entry: 6 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
6. Cool Morning with the Wind fresh from the Northwest. Evening more moderate wind getting southwardly.
8704From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [7 October 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from a quotation by William Franklin in a letter of January 1, 1770, Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue , No. 860 (April 9, 1901), p. 9. It is very uncertain as yet what Turn American Affairs will take here on the Meeting of Parliament. The Friends of both Countries wish a reconciliation; the Enemies of either endeavour to widen the Breach, God knows how it will end.
8705[Diary entry: 7 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. At home all day.
8706[Diary entry: 7 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
7. Wind southwardly with apps. of Rain. A large circle rd. the Moon.
8707From George Washington to Robert Hanson Harrison, 7 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
I am informd that the Bill in Chancery exhibited against me by Mr Ross and others was presented and receivd last Court & an Order made for me to answer—I formerly told Mr Ellzey that, seeing no cause why he might not prepare the answer also (as I wanted nothing but my due, & not to procrastinate matters) he might do it accordingly but how far his ill health may suffer him to prosecute business...
8708[Diary entry: 8 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
8. Likewise at home all day. In the afternoon Mr. Robt. Alexander came.
8709[Diary entry: 8 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
8. Cloudy with the Wind southwardly the forenoon & Eastwardly afterwards.
8710[Diary entry: 9 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
9. Went a fox hunting & finding a Deer the Dogs ran it to the Water but we never see it. Mr. Alexr. went home.
8711[Diary entry: 9 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
9. Rain in the Night—but not much, & Misting all the forenoon with the Wd. at Et. then shifting to the southward & clearg.
8712From George Washington to Hector Ross, 9 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
Before this, you undoubtedly must have seen some of Captn Posey’s Advertisements for the Sale of his Estate —At the time he proposed it to me which was on Monday last I observd to him that as there was a Bill exhibited against me and then depending in our Court I did not know whether a Sale coud be appointed before a decree for that purpose took place; to this he answered that as his Estate...
8713To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 10 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Joshua Gilpin, A Memoir of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (Wilmington, Del., 1821), pp. 15–17, with additions from Thomas Gilpin, Jr., “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin, “ Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 305–7. This letter from Franklin’s new-found correspondent, Thomas Gilpin, is a minor but interesting...
8714[Diary entry: 10 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
10. Went to Captn. Poseys to run the Lines of the Land he bought of Mr. Marshall. Dined there. This land was the small strip on the Potomac involved in John West, Jr.’s suit against Posey. GW’s survey of this day, made “at the particular request of Captn. Posey,” differed slightly from the one West and Alexander had made earlier (the dated survey is at ViMtvL ).
8715[Diary entry: 10 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
10. Wind Eastwardly but not fresh. Warm—with a little, fine Rain in the Afternoon.
8716[Diary entry: 11 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
11. At home all day.
8717[Diary entry: 11 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
11. Misty and foggy all day with sometimes fine Rain.
8718[Diary entry: 12 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. Rid to Muddy hole Doeg Run and Mill. Captn. Posey dined here ⟨afterw⟩ard.
8719[Diary entry: 12 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. Wind very fresh from the So. West & very warm with flying Clouds.
8720[Diary entry: 12 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. Finished Hoeing over my Swamps at Doeg Run & preparing them for Barley.
8721To Benjamin Franklin from Grey Cooper, 13 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Shall come to Town on Monday next, and will [with] great pleasure carry you back with me, if you happen to be disengaged. Yours ever very truly Addressed: To / Dr. Francklin Presumably Sir Grey’s country house, where BF had written his essay on smuggling. See above, XIV , 315.
8722[Diary entry: 13 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
13. Captn. Marshall came over here & dined & I rid with him round his Land. Thomas Hanson Marshall owned 480½ acres that bordered the Mount Vernon tract on the west, lying on both sides of the road that ran from Gum Spring to Dogue Creek. GW had long wished to acquire that land, but Marshall, who was in no great want of money, had been reluctant to let it go unless he could make an exchange...
8723[Diary entry: 13 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
13. Wind tolerably fresh & cool from the No. West with Clouds also.
8724To George Washington from William Crawford, 13 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
They Sirwayrs is to be [here] to serway your Land soon and will want there cash which I have not for them. You may send it by Mr Harrison seald up in a Letter to me half Joes or Pensilvania mony will sute best for them. I beleve no Person interfares with you—I shall have the hole Runout before the Sirwayr coms on the spot I have bin unwell or I would have had it don befor now I shall have that...
8725Deed to James Mercer, 13 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
[ 13 Oct. 1769 ]. “This Indenture made the Thirteenth Day of October in the year 1769 Between George Washington of the County of Fairfax Esqr. and Martha his wife of the one part and James Mercer of The Town of Fredericksburg in the County of Spotsylvania attorney at Law of the other part Witnesseth That the said George Washington and Martha his wife for and in Consideration of the sum of...
8726[Diary entry: 14 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Went a Fox hunting. Started a Dog Fox by old Palmers & run it back of Mr. Clifton & there catched it. Went afterwards into the Neck. Mr. Matthew Campbell dined here.
8727[Diary entry: 14 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
14. Wind Eastwardly & very Cloudy in the Afternoon, it set in to raining & continued to do so most part of the Night. Warmer than yesterday.
8728From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 14 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you upon your easy passage over the Sickly Months: We have had a much more troublesome time of it in this Family, but are now tolerably well recoverd of those disorders which prevaild pretty generally in this part of the Country. Business of an unexpected kind, will detain me so long at home, as to leave no time to spend on the Road otherwise we shoud with great pleasure call...
8729To George Washington from George Mason, 14 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
As it is too common to put off what it’s supposed may be done at any Time, I delayed drawing the Deed of Release to You ’till this Week, & was unluckily on Monday Night last seized so violently with the Gout in one of my Feet that I was unable to stir for two or three Days, & cou’d never Sit up to write ’till Yesterday Afternoon; which has prevented my getting the Deed finished before this...
8730[Diary entry: 15 October 1769] (Washington Papers)
15. At home all day alone. My Brother Charles came at Night.