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Farm management

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings

Found in 87 Collections and/or Records:

Book, Overseer's Account book, 1785-1798

 Item
Identifier: AA-6; W-1171
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).

Dates: 1785-1798

Columbian Centinel, Boston, MA, 1796 March 26

 Item — Box 2
Identifier: RM-1072; NEWS-5714 and RM-171; NEWS-2503
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.

Dates: 1796 March 26

Diary of John Augustine Washington, 1856-1857

 Item — Box 107, Shelf: Closed Stacks
Identifier: MS-5184
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.

Dates: 1856-1857

Document, Farm Report, 1793 February 10-16

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.02.10, Folder: OUT
Identifier: A-301.12
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.

Dates: 1793 February 10-16

Document, Farm Report, 1790 September 12-18

 Item — Box 24, Folder: 1790.09.12
Identifier: A-283.79
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.

Dates: 1790 September 12-18

Document, Farm Report, 1790 September 5-11

 Item — Box 24, Folder: 1790.09.05
Identifier: A.283.76
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.

Dates: 1790 September 5-11

Document, Farm Report, 1793 January 6-12

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.01.12
Identifier: A-283.96
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.

Dates: 1793 January 6-12

Document, Farm Report, 1793 March 17-23

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.03.23
Identifier: A-283.97
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.

Dates: 1793 March 17-23

Document, Gardener's Report, 1793 February 16

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.02.16, Folder: OUT
Identifier: A-283.94
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.

Dates: 1793 February 16

Document, Gardener's Report, 1793 August 10

 Item — Box 26, Folder: 1793.08.10
Identifier: A-283.104
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".

Dates: 1793 August 10

Document, rotation with annual plow schedule, undated

 Item — Box 35, Folder: ND1
Identifier: RM-1156; MS-5875
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...
Dates: undated

Document, Weekly Report, 1793 August 4-10

 Item — Box 26, Folder: 1793.08.04
Identifier: A-283.101
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.

Dates: 1793 August 4-10

Document, Weekly Report, from George Augustine Washington, 1790 August 14

 Item — Box 24, Folder: 1790.08.14, Folder: OUT
Identifier: A-301.133
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).

Dates: 1790 August 14

Enclosure, to William Pearce, 1795 May

 Item — Box 10, Folder: 1795.05.00
Identifier: RM-490-F; MS-4063
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.

Dates: 1795 May

Farm account book, Anthony Whitting, 1791-1792

 Item — Box 20, Folder: 1791.00.00
Identifier: W-776
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...
Dates: 1791-1792

John Augustine Washington Farm Book, 1814-1846

 Item — Box 106, Shelf: Closed Stacks
Identifier: MS-5181
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...
Dates: 1814-1846

Journal at Mount Vernon, 1830 April 8

 Item — Box 107, Shelf: Closed Stacks
Identifier: MS-5180
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1830 April 8

Leaf from George Washington's notes on Compendium of Husbandry, circa 1785

 Item — Box 37, Folder: 1785.00.00
Identifier: MS-5716
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...
Dates: circa 1785

Leaves, Record of Work Done on Mount Vernon Farms, 1786-1787

 Item
Identifier: W-1174
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....
Dates: 1786-1787

Letter, from Anthony Whitting, 1793 February 20

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.02.20
Identifier: A-301.188
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...
Dates: 1793 February 20

Letter, from Anthony Whitting, 1793 January 16

 Item — Box 25, Folder: 1793.01.16
Identifier: A-301.147
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...
Dates: 1793 January 16

Letter, from Francis Willis, 1773 September 17

 Item — Box 17, Folder: 1773.09.17
Identifier: A-366.22
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.

Dates: 1773 September 17

Letter, from George Augustine Washington, 1790 August 20

 Item — Box 24, Folder: 1790.08.20
Identifier: A-301.134
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...
Dates: 1790 August 20

Letter, from George Augustine Washington, 1790 March 26

 Item — Box 23, Folder: 1790.03.26
Identifier: A-301.131
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...
Dates: 1790 March 26

Letter, from John Parke Custis, 1779 December 12

 Item — Box 19, Folder: 1779.12.12
Identifier: W-1164
Scope and Contents

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."

Dates: 1779 December 12

Letter, from John Parke Custis, 1779 January 9

 Item — Box 19, Folder: 1779.01.09
Identifier: 2020-SC-011
Scope and Contents

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

Dates: 1779 January 9

Letter, from Lund Washington, 1776 January 25

 Item — Box 18, Folder: 1776.01.25
Identifier: A-283.25
Scope and Contents

River frozen--hasn't yet seen Mr. Marshall or Mr. Triplett about land exchange--thinks it bad scheme to raise hogs to take care of surplus corn--pork prices low--well keeps caving in, perhaps will have to ask instructions as to where to dig a new one--good negro shoemaker available from Adams--conduct of negroes--better sell bay or stop using him for breeding--hurts him to see miller and mill idle.

Dates: 1776 January 25

Letter, from Lund Washington, 1777 December 24

 Item — Box 18, Folder: 1777.12.24
Identifier: A-283.13
Scope and Contents

Hopes Washington will come to Mt. Vernon while troops in winter quarters--no crop for sale this year--wheat destroyed, mill idle, short crop of corn--gives corn crop yields from each farm--many visiters and horses cause great use of crops--also 24 of own horses--wants to try making rum, sugar, and molasses from Indian corn stalk for money crop.

Dates: 1777 December 24

Letter, from Lund Washington, 1778 January 28

 Item — Box 19, Folder: 1778.01.28
Identifier: A-283.22
Scope and Contents

Trees to be planted--Triplett delays signing bond for land exchange with Washington--mentions Mr. McCarty, Massey and Chichester in relation to agreement--boundary disputes--inquire into purchase of Col. Stone's land--Beck's land sold--new covering horse--Col. Triplett accompanies Mrs. Washington across River today on way to camp--will question tenants.

Dates: 1778 January 28

Letter, from Lund Washington, 1778 March 18

 Item — Box 19, Folder: 1778.03.18
Identifier: A-283.17
Scope and Contents Persuaded Lanphier to work by promising him a portion of corn crop and wool in place of money--much plank wasted by his delay--difficulties of getting their privateer into action--difficulties with draft law in county [Fairfax]--volunteer scheme hasn't worked--reassures Washington he will not leave his employ or hold him for higher wages while he is away leading army--Custis returned from Williamsburg--feeling against R[ichard] H[enry] L[ee] for his supposed scheming against Washington--will...
Dates: 1778 March 18