William Crawford to George Washington, 23 May 1781
From William Crawford
May the 23d 1781
Dr Genaral
Som time ago I wrote you relative to your round bottom Tract of Land I can never find out what has bin don About it wheather Thomas Lewis has returnd it or not.1 If you can give me any Derection About it I will do any thing in my Power for you, the Survay Aught to be returnd to the Office if it has not bin returnd This I will have don if it has not bin returnd as I can have it don Emeditly.
I intend out with Genaral Clark on the Present Expedition if my Health will Permit2 but I am very un healthy latly haveing got much Cold on the two Last Expeditions they being mad⟨e⟩ in the Winter or at Least in cold weather3 Any Derections you may want to give me you can send by Mr Randolph he come to my house on his way to Genaral Clark.4 I am Sir your Very Humle Obedt Servant
W. Crawford
ALS, DLC:GW. GW replied to Crawford on 9 June.
1. Crawford had expressed concerns for GW’s Round Bottom tract along the Ohio River when he wrote GW on 10 Aug. 1779. He presumably wondered whether Thomas Lewis had prepared and filed the survey necessary to legally establish GW’s ownership. GW did not secure this land until February 1791 (see Crawford to GW, 2 Aug. 1771, n.6, in 8:514–15).
Thomas Lewis (1718–1790) served as surveyor of Augusta County, Va., from 1745 to 1777. His younger brother Andrew shared military experiences with GW during the early years of the French and Indian War and remained on friendly terms (see Andrew Lewis to GW, 18 Jan. 1776).
2. Brig. Gen. George Rogers Clark planned an expedition against Detroit. Clark abandoned the venture not long after its launch in August 1781 (see GW to Daniel Brodhead, 29 Dec. 1780, n.3).
3. Crawford may refer to Clark’s campaign that captured Vincennes on 25 Feb. 1779 and operations in Kentucky during 1780.
4. For the same courier, Capt. David Meade Randolph, see Clark to GW, 20 and 21 May 1781; see also GW to Clark, 8 June.