Part 5

Then Survey'd for George Fairfax Esqr. Three Thousand & twenty Three Acres of Land lying in Frederick County[46] on Long Marsh Joyning Thomas Johnstones Land and bounded as follows

[Footnote 46: Frederick county, Virginia, was formed by Act of Assembly in 1738, out of Orange county at the same time that Augusta county was created. The boundaries of Frederick county were measurably well defined; to Augusta, however, was left all the western territory belonging to Virginia, much of it at that time an unexplored wilderness. This immense area has since been divided and now forms four great and independent states of the Union, namely, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Frederick county, by a return of the effective militia made to the governor of Virginia in 1777, had but 923 men. The total population of the town of Winchester at that time was 800 and a fraction.--_Kercheval_.]

Beginning at (A) Three Hickorys Corner Trees to Thomas Johnstones Land & Extending thence along his S 13 W^t One Hundred Seventy two Poles to (B) a Locust Johnstones Corner thence along another of his Lines S 34 E^t 150 po. to (C) a White Oak another of his Corners thence S^o 75 E^t 186 po & to (D) a large Hickory thence N^o 58 E^t 160 po xing a Spring Run to (E) three Red Oak Fx on a Ridge thence N^o 30 E^t 436 po to a Hickory an Red Oak Fx at (F) thence N^o 60 W^t 90 po to (G) a Large White Oak Fx thence N^o 7 E^t 420 po xing Long Marsh to (H) two Red Oaks and a W: O: Fx in a Bottom in y^e afores^d Thomas Johnstones line finally along his line S^o 80 E^t one Hundred fourteen Poles to y^e Beginning Containing Three Thousand & twenty three Acres.

p^r JAMES GENN

HENRY ASHBY } _Chain Men_ RICHARD TAYLOR } ROBERT ASHBY _Marker_. WM. LINDSEY _Pilot_.

N. B. The Distances in y^e above Writing ought to be Written in Letters not in figures only I have done it now for Brevity sake[47]

[Footnote 47: At this place in the journal three leaves, six pages, have been torn out. The edges left show that they had been written upon by Washington. The next record of a survey in the hand-writing of Washington is signed by him with the name of James Genn, as is also the incomplete plot of a survey here reproduced from the original by tracing; whether it is a study from field notes by James Genn or an actual survey by Washington himself does not appear. The paper upon which it is drawn and the style of the hand-writing, place it as of a date current with the added records of 1747-8.]

The Courses & Distances of the Following Plat is as follows viz beginning at A and running thence N^o 30 E^t 436 poles thence N 60 W^t 90 pole thence N^o 7 E^t 365 pole to Long Marsh & 420 to the end of the Course thence N 65 W^t 134 pole thence S^o 20 W^t 126 poles crossing Long Marsh to a Branch thereof commonly calld Cates Marsh 218 pole to the end of the Course thence N 80 W^t 558 pole thence S 25 W^t 144 pole thence S 33½ E^t 96 pole S 20 E^t 316 pole thence S 80 E^t 114 pole thence East 280 pole thence S 15 E^t 262 to the Beginning Survey'd by

JAMES GENN

The Courses of the Town of Alexandria[48]

[Footnote 48: Alexandria, Virginia.--This seems to be a brief record of the course and distances of a survey by Washington of the shore-line of the town of Alexandria before the river bank was improved or altered by the building of wharves and the grading of streets. It is probable that these lines were run in the winter when the river was closed with ice.]

The Meanders of the River

S 84½ E^t 3 Chain

S 52 E^t 4 C 17 L

S 24 E 5 C 9 L to the Point at a sm^l Hickory stump above the Landing Place

S 70 E 1 C 25 L

S 45 E 3 C 18 L

DEAR SIR

I should receive a Letter or Letters from you by the first and all oppertunetys with the greatest sense or mark of your esteem and affection whereas its the greatest Pleasure I can yet forsee of having in fairfax to hear from my Intimate friends and acquaintances I hope you in Particular will not Bauk me of what I so ardently Wish for[49]

[Footnote 49: This appears to have been a study for a letter to some youthful companion. Even to the close of his life it was the habit of Washington, in writing important letters and papers, to make rough drafts of them as a study. However, in copying them off, he frequently changed expressions and amplified their contents as his judgment approved. The original drafts of many of his letters are preserved in the Department of State at Washington and illustrate this fact. Hence the transcripts in his letter-book are not always true copies of either his drafts or his original autograph letters. These drafts were kept by him as memoranda, rather than as exact copies. It is also probable that there are many drafts preserved of letters which were never actually sent. In some cases he endorses this fact upon drafts of letters.]

DEAR FRIEND JOHN[50]

As its the greatest mark of friendship and esteem you can shew to an absent Friend In often Writing to him so hope you'l not deny me that Favour as its so ardently wish'd and desired by me its the greatest pleasure I can yet forsee of having in fairfax to hear from my friends Particularly yourself was my affections disengaged I might perhaps form some pleasures in the conversasion of an agreeable Young Lady as theres one now Lives in the same house with me but as that is only nourishment to my former affec^n for by often seeing her brings the other into my remembrance whereas perhaps was she not often & (unavoidably) presenting herself to my view I might in some measure eliviate my sorrows by burying the other in the grave of Oblivion I am well convinced my heart stands in defiance of all others but only she thats given it cause enough to dread a second assault and from a different Quarter tho I well know let it have as many attacks as it will from others they cant be more fierce than it has been I could wish to know whether you have taken your intended trip downwards or not if you with what Success as also to know how my friend Lawrence drives on in his art of courtship as I fancy you may both nearlly guess how it will respectively go with each of you

[Footnote 50: Dear Sir, Dear Friend John, and Dear Friend Robin.--These all seem to be studies or drafts of letters, which may have been impersonal or possibly to his youthful school-fellows and companions in Westmoreland and Stafford counties. It would be idle to speculate as to whom they were intended, in the absence of more definite information. They are in no wise remarkable, except as evidences of Washington's life-long habit of making memoranda, drafts and studies of his letters.]

DEAR FRIEND ROBIN

As its the greatest mark of friendship and esteem absent Friends can shew each other in Writing and often communicating their thoughts to his fellow companions makes me endeavour to signalize myself in acquainting you from time to time and at all times my situation and employments of Life and could Wish you would take half the Pains of contriving me a Letter by any oppertunity as you may be well assured of its meeting with a very welcome reception my Place of Residence is at present at His Lordships where I might was my heart disengag'd pass my time very pleasantly as theres a very agreeable Young Lady Lives in the same house (Col^o George Fairfax's Wife's Sister[51]) but as thats only adding Fuel to fire it makes me the more uneasy for by often and unavoidably being in Company with her revives my former Passion for your Low Land Beauty[52] whereas was I to live more retired from yound Women I might in some measure eliviate my sorrows by burying that chast and troublesome Passion in the grave of oblivion or etarnall forgetfulness for as I am very well assured thats the only antidote or remedy that I ever shall be releivd by or only recess that can administer any cure or help to me as I am well convinced was I ever to attempt any thing I should only get a denial which would be only adding grief to uneasiness

[Footnote 51: The young lady indicated was Miss Mary Cary, the daughter of Colonel Wilson Cary, of Ceeleys Hampton, Elisabeth City county, Va. For 34 years Mr. Cary was collector of customs for the lower James river district, and a man of large wealth and aristocratic notions. He had four daughters: Sarah, who married George W. Fairfax, of "Belvoir"; Mary, who married in 1754, Edward Ambler of Jamestown; Anna, who married Robert Carter Nicholas; and Elizabeth, who married Rev. Bryan, 8th Lord Fairfax. Col. Cary had also one son Wilson Miles Cary, who was a member of the Convention of Virginia in 1776. Some writers have confounded him with his father. Bishop Meade in his _Old Churches and Families of Virginia_, accepts traditions which other writers claim are authenticated by documents, preserved by the Ambler family, and accordingly his account credits the story that Washington, in his youth, was an ardent admirer of Miss Mary Cary, and solicited leave of Col. Cary to address his daughter, but was refused. (See _Meade_, vol. i, 108.) This draft of the letter addressed to "Dear Friend Robin," was probably made in the spring of 1748, when Washington was in his seventeenth year. In it, he playfully avows an admiration for the "lowland beauty" and, at the same time, admits the agreeableness of the "young lady in the house" with him at "Belvoir." Mr. Edward Ambler, educated at Cambridge, England, was collector for York river and a burgess for Jamestown. He died in 1768 in his thirty-fifth year and was buried at Jamestown; his widow survived him until 1781. Mrs. Ambler with her children and her sister, Mrs. Fairfax, were occasionally guests at Mount Vernon, as Washington's diaries show. I am inclined to believe that while it is true that Washington entertained a high regard for the Cary family and particularly the ladies, there is nothing but the lightest gossip to create an inference that there ever was even an incipient affair of the heart between either of the Misses Cary and Washington.]

[Footnote 52: Lowland beauty.--Who this object of Washington's early admiration was, if she had a veritable existence, is not positively known. Irving, followed by Everett and others, accepts the tradition, or rather surmises, that this sobriquet referred to Miss Lucy Grymes of Westmoreland county, who in 1753 married Henry Lee, Esq. Their son was the gallant General Henry Lee, "Lighthorse Harry," of the Revolution. Some recent writers, affect to believe that this draft of a letter is conclusive that there was a real love affair but that Betsy Fauntleroy, of Fredericksburg, Va., was the person referred to, and have published a letter purporting to have been addressed by Washington to William Fauntleroy, Sr., Esq., in Richmond, enclosing one to Miss Betsy, who, it is made to appear, had also refused Washington's addresses. Letters and traditions of this character should be received with caution, for while vague reports and surmises of an affair of the heart may be dilated upon in a bantering way among friends of the parties where there is little or no foundation for the allegation, yet they should be subjected to scrutiny and some positive evidence adduced before they are accepted as historical facts.]

DEAR SALLY

This comes to Fredericksburg fair in hopes of meeting with a speedy Passage to you if your not there which hope you'l get shortly altho I am almost discouraged from writing to you as this is my fouth to you since I receiv'd any from yourself I hope you'l not make the Old Proverb good out of sight out of Mind as its one of the greatest Pleasures I can yet foresee of having in Fairfax in often hearing from you hope you'l not deny it me

I Pass the time of much more agreeabler than what I imagined I should as there's a very agreeable Young Lady lives in the same house where I reside (Col^o George Fairfax's Wife Sister) that in a great Measure cheats my sorrow and dejectedness tho not so as to draw my thoughts altogether from your Parts I could wish to be with you down there with all my heart but as it is a thing almost Impractakable shall rest myself where I am with hopes of shortly having some Minutes of your transactions in your Parts which will be very welcomely receiv'd by Your

DEAR SIR--It would be the greatest Satisfaction

Memorandom[53] to have my Coat made by the following Directions to be made a Frock with a Lapel Breast the Lapel to Contain on each side six Button Holes and to be about 5 or 6 Inches wide all the way equal and to turn as the Breast on the Coat does to have it made very Long Waisted and in Length to come down to or below the bent of the knee the Waist from the armpit to the Fold to be exactly as long or Longer than from thence to the Bottom not to have more than one fold in the Skirt and the top to be made just to turn in and three Button Holes the Lapel at the top to turn as the Cape of the Coat and Bottom to Come Parrallel with the Button Holes the Last Button hole in the Breast to be right opposit to the Button on the Hip[54]

[Footnote 53: The minuteness of detail is very characteristic of the writer. While Washington was observant of the proprieties of life and of good taste in dress, there was not the least leaning to foppishness. But it was a principle with him to have whatever he bought, consonant with good taste and of the best quality.]

[Footnote 54: At this point in the book there are 18 blank pages.]

DEAR RICHARD

The Receipt of your kind favour of the 2^d of this Instant afforded me unspeakable pleasure as I am convinced I am still in the Memory of so Worthy a friend a friendship I shall ever be proud of Increasing you gave me the more pleasure as I receiv'd it amongst a parcel of Barbarians and an uncooth set of People the like favour often repeated would give me Pleasure altho I seem to be in a Place where no real satis: is to be had since you receid my Letter in October Last I have not sleep'd above three Nights or four in a bed but after Walking a good deal all the Day lay down before the fire upon a Little Hay Straw Fodder or bearskin whichever is to be had with Man Wife and Children like a Parcel of Dogs or Catts & happy's he that gets the Birth nearest the fire there's nothing would make it pass of tolerably but a good Reward a Dubbleloon is my constant gain every Day that the Weather will permit my going out and some time Six Pistoles[55] the coldness of the Weather will not allow my making a long stay as the Lodging is rather too cold for the time of Year I have never had my Cloths of but lay and sleep in them like a Negro except the few Nights I have lay'n in Frederick Town.

[Footnote 55: A Pistole.--This coin was worth, at the time Washington wrote this journal, about $3.60. A doubloon was worth twice that amount.]

Mem To Survey the Lands at the Mouth of Little Cacapehon[56] & the Mouth of Fifteen Mile Creek[57] for the Gentlemen of the Ohio Com:[58]

[Footnote 56: Cacapehon, now generally written Capon.--There are two streams in the same vicinity known by this name, and to distinguish them, one is called "Great Capon" and the other "Little Capon." Both are tributaries to the Potomac.]

[Footnote 57: Fifteen Mile creek rises in Maryland and flows in a south-easterly direction, emptying into the Potomac river between Sideling Hill creek and Town creek, about 15 miles above Hancock, Md.]

[Footnote 58: "The Ohio Company" grew into existence out of efforts by Virginians, dated as early as 1746 or 1747, to secure a share in the lucrative Indian trade, and with the prospect of opening to settlement the lands on the upper waters of the Ohio. An early move in this direction had been made by Colonel Thomas Cresap, a man of courage, judgment and enterprise--qualities required for trading successfully with the Indians. He had erected his cabin at Oldtown, Md. About 1746 Lawrence and Augustine Washington, after making some cautious business ventures in the Indian trade, with others assisted to organize "this Ohio Company." Thomas Lee, whose second son, Richard Henry Lee, was to become so conspicuous a patriot of the Revolution, and John Hanbury, a wealthy London merchant, were original members of this company, into which still other men of substance and standing were admitted, and to which, in 1749, the British government gave a charter, as "The Ohio Company," with a grant of half a million acres of land, to be located between the Monongahela and Kanawha rivers, on the south side of the Ohio. With but twenty shares of stock at first issue, the company's prosperity seemed assured, and both Governor Dinwiddie and George Mason, at a later date purchased an interest in it. Among the early Washington manuscripts appears the above memorandum of a survey for this company. Although this entry is without date it must have been earlier, judging from its position in the note-book, than the charter. This document imposed, as conditions of the land grant, that the company should at once survey two hundred thousand acres, and within seven years secure the settlement of not less than one hundred families, erect forts, and maintain a garrison against the Indians,--conditions on the fulfilment of which they were to be for ten years exempt from the payment of quit-rents. Mr. Christopher Gist was employed as the company's agent, and on October 19, 1749, entered upon his duties of inspecting the country, contiguous to the Ohio river, reporting upon the character of the lands, making surveys, keeping a journal of his observations, drawing plans of the territory, etc. In 1750 the company built a small store-house at Will's creek and stocked it with goods from London to the value of £4,000. In 1752 Mr. Gist held a council with the Indians on the Ohio in behalf of the company, and secured their permission to lay out a town and erect a fort at McKee's Rocks at the mouth of Chartier's creek, upon the east side of the Ohio, a few miles below Pittsburg. Washington, in his diary, alludes to this, and says of the position: "I think it greatly inferior, either for defense or advantage, especially the latter: For a fort at the forks would be equally well situated on the Ohio, and have the entire command of the Monongahela." In 1751 the company began making a road to the mouth of the Monongahela, but for lack of adequate resources, made only slow progress. The company looked upon the lands around Will's creek as being within their grant. They also erected a store-house at the mouth of Redstone on the Monongahela and began some improvements at the forks of the Ohio, immediately after completing those at Will's creek. At the latter place they had the adjacent lands surveyed on both sides the stream, above and below the forks, and laid out a town to which they gave the name of Charlottesburg in honor of the Princess Charlotte, afterward wife of King George. The French and Indian war, with other stirring political events, compelled the company to be cautious and to contract its operations, but, its embarrassments increasing from the course pursued toward it by the English government, prompted by envious rival interests, the consent of its agent, George Mercer, Esq., was finally gained to merge the Ohio Company into a Grand Company, under what was known as the Walpole Grant or Company. Their proposal was as follows: "We, the Committee of the Purchasers of a Tract of Country for a new Province on the Ohio in America, do hereby admit the Ohio Company as a Co-Purchaser with us for two shares of the said Purchase,[A] in Consideration of the Engagement of their Agent, Col. Mercer, to withdraw the application of the said Company for a separate Grant within the Limits of the said Purchase.

Witness our Hands this 7^{th} Day of May 1770

THOMAS WALPOLE S. POWNALL B. FRANKLIN SAMUEL WHARTON

See American Historical Review, vol. iii, p. 205.

This action, however, was not approved by the American members of the company, and the final collapse of the whole enterprise was one of the results of the Revolution.]

[Footnote A: The whole being divided into seventy-two equal Shares by the words "two shares" above is understood two Seventy-second parts of the Tract so as above Purchased.

THOMAS WALPOLE S. POWNALL B. FRANKLIN SAMUEL WHARTON]

I heartily congratulate you[59] on the happy News of my Brothers safe arrival _in health_ in England and am joy'd to hear that his stay is likely to be so short I hope you'll make Use of your Natural Resolution and contendness as they are the only Remedys to spend the time with ease & pleasure to yourself I am deprived of the pleasure of waiting on you (as I expected) by Ague and Feaver which I have had to Extremety since I left which has occasioned my Return D

[Footnote 59: Memorandum or draft of a letter to his sister-in-law Anne, wife of Lawrence Washington, of Mount Vernon, made, very possibly, while in the field surveying in the fall of 1748 or spring of 1749. This visit to Europe, of Lawrence Washington, was partly in the interest of the Ohio Company and partly on account of his failing health which, unfortunately, was not benefited by the voyage as had been hoped.]

Memorandom to charge M^{rs} Aus. Washington[60] with 4 /9 and 18^d the 30 of July to a Maryland Hen-wife as also Major Law: Washington with 1 /3 lent the 15 of August 5 /9 the 17 D^o 2 /6 D^o: I read to the Reign of K: John

[Footnote 60: Mrs. Aus. Washington evidently refers to Mrs. Augustine Washington, of Westmoreland, the wife of George's half-brother, Augustine, with whom he had made his home while attending Mr. William's Academy. Austin is, or has been, in Virginia a contraction for Augustine. Augustine Moore, a notable character, is recorded interchangeably, in land and other records, as Augustine and as Austin Moore. It is presumed that "The Maryland Housewife" was intended to have been written, that being the name of a popular book on cookery and the art of housekeeping at that period. The date of this memorandum is presumed to be 1748. A charge in his book of accounts kept at this time, and which was among the relics of Lawrence Washington sold in Philadelphia in the spring of 1891, would fix the date as July 28th, 1748. It was not an unusual thing for Washington in his youth to use contractions in writing the first names of his brothers, the following are examples: Aus., Austin for Augustine; Sam for Samuel; Jack and John, simply for John Augustine.]

In the Spectators Read to N^o 143[61]

Mem:

When I see my Brother Austin to Enquire of him whether He is the Acting Attorney for my Brother and as my Brother Lawrence left Directions with the H. on W Fx[62] to remit his Pay as Agetant whether it would not be more proper to keep it to Pay the Notes of Hand thats Daily coming against him and to Write Word to Williamsburg to Acquaint his Hon: my B: A: to write him word.

[Footnote 61: This is about the only record Washington has left of his course of reading. It is inferred that the books were either at "Greenway Court" or at "Belvoir." The character of the works he selected for his perusal is what might have been expected. This memorandum also exhibits a trait in his character prominent throughout his life, that of giving attention to minute details of business. It may truly be said of him that "the boy was father to the man."]