Farm management

Scope and Contents

This ledger includes a list of slaves at the Mount Vernon Plantations, clothing alloted to them each year, inventory of cattle, Nov. 15, 1785, accounts with the several plantations, accounts with shoemakers, overseers, and bricklayers. With other Accounts (including ones from George Augustine and Lawrence A. Washington, Tobias Lear, John and H. Fairfax, and Anthony Whiting).

Scope and Contents

Newspaper ad by George Washington advertising the rental of 4 Mt. Vernon farms--not including Mansion House Farm. Detailed descriptions, are included. Also lists for sale lands on the Ohio River, on the Miami, and in Kentucky. Deals with decisions Washington was making regarding establishment of a source of income for himself, the management of farms, and to find a solution to the burdens of his slave ownership.

Scope and Contents

The first entry in the diary is a 3 page "List of negros", belonging to John Augustine Washington. The list includes names, birthdates, and sources of acquisition. Other entries in the diary are regarding business, financial matters, and the management of Mount Vernon.

Scope and Contents

Meteorological account of weather at Mount Vernon -- work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers, and coopers -- amount of grain ground at mill -- Also, "clearing the second Vista." -- At end in hand of George Washington is an itemized account of sheep and lambs at each farm. Autograph document, in hand of Anthony Whitting, laminated, 4 pages, docketed by George Washington, watermark.

Scope and Contents

Meteorological account -- work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers, coopers, joiners and carpenters -- amount of grain ground at mill. Includes work on new barn and stables at Mansion House.

Scope and Contents

Meteorological account -- work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers, coopers, joiners and carpenters -- amount of grain ground at mill. Includes work on new barn and stables at Mansion House.

Scope and Contents

Autograph document, in hand of Anthony Whitting, docketed by G.W., laminated, (not examined for watermark).Papers of George Washington - Reel#2. Meteorological account -- work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers and coopers -- amount of grain ground at mill. Also a list of the weights of River plantation hogs and remaining mill hogs. A-283.96 ; A-283.

Scope and Contents

In hand of Anthony Whitting, docketed by George Washington including; Report on recent work done at Mount Vernon's several farms: Work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers and coopers -- amount of grain ground at mill.

Scope and Contents

Report of recent work done at Mount Vernon by 4 men in the gardens: Wheeling gravel and dung into the garden; cutting wood lost by snow; dressing hemp.

Scope and Contents

Report of recent work done in the gardens at the Mount Vernon estate by 4 men "Klening" in the yard, gardens and "winne Yart".

Scope and Contents Pair of plans for crop rotation and the plowings it required in the hand of George Washington. One plan is neatly headed "Rotation by AW with the Plowings necessary to carry it into effect." The initials may refer to John Augustine Washington (1736-1787), for whom this plan may have been devised. The second plan is similarly headed "Rotation by CW...," and was perhaps intended for Corbin Washington's use. Both plans are based on 75 acre plots of farmland. The number of days to plow or harrow...

Scope and Contents

This Farm Report (work done on Mount Vernon farms during the week Aug. 4-10) includes: Meteorological account -- work done on each farm, giving division of labor -- work days lost by sickness -- stock increase and decrease -- work of ditchers and coopers -- amount of grain ground at mill.

Scope and Contents

Report of work done on each farm during the week, including report of amount of grain ground at mill, sickness among negroes, increase and decrease in cattle, work of ditchers. Autograph document, 4 pages, in hand of G. A. Washington, docketed by George Washington, "From Maj. Geo. A. Washington 20th Aug. 1790," docketed in another hand "Report Aug. 1790 Mt. Vernon," laminated, watermark (F. Hayes & crown over encircled heraldic device).

Scope and Contents

"Calculation of the number of Bricks wanting for the Barn at River Farm" --Bricks for barn at River Farm. Sketch is for barn at Dogue Run Farm. -total number of bricks for each section of the new barn--sketch of barn placement and surrounding grounds.

Scope and Contents A.D. 25 pages. Corn account, 1791 for Muddy Hole and the other plantations--corn ground and oats to be planted in 1792, no. of acres per plantation--account of cattle sold, oxen sold, 1791, 1792--seed sown in 1792 in timothy and clover--account of farm and harvesting activities (sides of leather) Oct. 1791--account of seeds and grain in greenhouse loft, Nov. 1791--gardener's account, pork, beef, midlings, quart of rum--amounts of clover and timothy seed needed, bushels per plantation--amount...

Scope and Contents This manuscript is made up of several sections. Approximately the first 100 pages include inventories of the Mount Vernon estate's contents (silver, dishes, beds, linens, and so on). That set of inventories was begun during Bushrod Washington's tenure as owner of Mount Vernon. Much of the text appears to be in his handwriting. The middle 200 pages are made up of the manuscript contain the daily diary of John A. Washington III for the years 1842-1845, while he owned Mount Vernon. The final 50...

Scope and Contents

The journal includes topics of medicinal notes, farrier techniques, recipes, and law.

Abstract These two pages contain George Washington's handwritten notes on Charles Varlo's A New System of Husbandry, published in 1785. Revealing Washington's pioneering approach to agriculture, they record fascinating experiments including the soaking of seeds in a complex "pickle" of liquor and oil to enlarge the size of the seeds and prevent insects, rodents, and birds from preying upon them. This leaf was originally part of his notebook titled "Compend of Husbandry" in which he collected advice...

Scope and Contents This is a record of the work done at the various farms making up George Washington's Mount Vernon, reporting the number of hours worked by which workers, just what was being done on each farm during a particular week. Farms include Dogue Run, Ferry Plantation, Muddy Hole, River Plantation, and Frenchs Plantation (or Frenchs Quarter). Work by tailors, carpenters, shoemakers, coopers, ditchers, and millers are recorded separately. Includes "Fairfaxs Report on House People" for several weeks....

Scope and Contents Washington's farm manager reports the bad conduct of Thos. Green, carpenter -- will not use delegated authority concerning Green, because realizes he is necessary -- good men are hard to come by -- suggests an addition of carpenters, or estate will be a long time in improving -- mentions all the buildings that need to be built or repaired -- wishes farms to look neat -- will put up fences and gates -- suggests moving post and rail fence at Dogue Run to make meadow correspond to fields -- new...

Scope and Contents Drenching rains, fields flooded, mill race broke again, roads almost impassable--Tayler little to be confided in, has kept horse since the Major is away--mill has plenty of wheat--will try to straighten fence from Manley Bridge to the Mill--snows gone, wheat not damaged, but freezing would cause covering of ice--fences and gates can't go in such wet ground--too wet to paint buildings--mixing paints--will let Green have corn--asks whether to continue work on Major Washington’s...

Scope and Contents

Possibly may object to his paying £7 to overseers, but this worked out with Col. Fairfax since four overseers to settle in woods and raise only corn--land nearly worn out, explains his system of crop rotation.

Scope and Contents Paid account to Porter & Ingraham, after satisfying himself they were valid--will no more let mares or jennets be taken away from Mt. Vernon before being paid for breeding with Jacks--rest of mares from Mr. Zantzinger have come--encloses his letters [see letters of March 9 & 14, P. Zantzinger to G.A.W.]--is making inquiries for person to take Fairfax's place as overseer--son of James DeNeil is no good in job at Dr. Stuart's--Mr. Gevins is good, but wants his own plantation when...

Scope and Contents Safe arrival of Will--expected him home at Mt. Vernon sooner--his great anxiety to do right in Washington's affairs--considering moving Anthony Whiting to place occupied by Fairfax when he goes--estimate of Whiting's capabilities and character--Garner [Wm. Gardener, overseer of the River Plantation?] is leaving too, wants higher wages--Mr. Gwin in Alexandria has recommended a young boy of respectable family to take Garner's place--he has had no experience--no family--George A. Washington...

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John writes how the new plantation needs constant attention, but would be "very advantageous to your Estate in the Neck, and will add much to the Prospect from the House."

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Relays problems with recruiting for the army, currency depreciation and counterfeiting, land purchases in northern Virginia, and the management of Mount Vernon.

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Report on farming, etc. wheat very poor, gave a very small amount of flour--ground has been either very wet or frozen since Washington's departure, thus holding up the plowing--mention of a good slave whom Mr. Adam will not sell for £50.

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Lund writes about crops and planting. Washington in Williamsburg at Burgess meeting, then onto Dismal Swamp. Martha includes a postscript at the end of the letter. One of only two extant examples of correspondence from Martha Washington to George Washington, Martha penned this six line postscript with news and greetings on the second page of a letter from Lund Washington to George on March 30, 1767.

Scope and Contents

Deals with mill and farm affairs--"Our mill is once more in a bad way"--wall of water pit falling down."--" ... give yourself no uneasiness or anxiety about the mill, you may depend I will use every precaution to prevent further damages."--sale of flour--wheat fields look promising--all are well.

Scope and Contents Will transplant cherry trees, but thinks they will die--also plant vinyards and clean Hell Hole--much farm work to be done--shortage of help--illness--plasterer still here and Mrs. Washington has decided to have stucco in her room plain--wash house shingled and weather boarded but chimneys not up--report on timothy and other crops--has written every week--payment for sale of Col. Mercer's estate and letter in re. sale to Col. Tayloe--negro quarters need mending--difficulty of getting silver...