Search

Will try to buy Barry's and Marshall's land for G.W.--which negroes to sell?--sorry G.W. must forgo buying lands because of losses from farms under his (Lund's) management--wheat crop almost total loss--(the fly)--prepares to plant tobacco--ditching mill swamp--drowning in mill race of valuable slave Cooper James--Carpenter James injured with axe--received £200 from Capt. Lewis for Phaeton--sold flour to Boston for good price (scarsity there)--suggests G.W. speculate in wheat, sell flour at high prices--Wm. Roberts the miller, his merits & weaknesses for drink, & advises not to hire him again--mill race, tumbling dam at Piny & Dogue Run gate & dam which Roberts repaired or built--discusses building houses for prospective tobacco crop--campaign in Rhode Island & departure of Fr. admiral, Lord Howe & Johnstone--cleared money in pork--can't get workmen to assist Lanphier--" ... if so the coverd ways will not get done ... "--sickness among people--good pastures--took paper from G.W.'s trunk, can't get any in Alexa.--letter from Wm. Roberts enclosed.

Contains accounts for the running of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, its constituent farms and businesses. Entries document expenses for the fisheries, tailor work, voyage of the brig (or brigantine) Farmer to Jamaica in 1774, tools, clothing for slaves, expenses for various craftsmen, food, weaving, tobacco, and much more. Earliest entries are said to be in the hand of John Kirkpatrick, while the last two thirds of the volume are in the hand of Lund Washington. About a half dozen notations in George Washington's hand also appear. Quite a few later manuscript additions appear throughout, giving explanations or 'editorial commentary' on the text. Pages numbered 89-107 were removed prior to the original coming to Mount Vernon.