Chapter II: Part 2

Wednesday 23^d Rain'd till about two oClock & Clear'd when we were agreeably surpris'd at y. sight of thirty odd Indians coming from War with only one Scalp[23] We had some Liquor with us of which we gave them Part it elevating there Spirits put them in y. Humour of Dauncing of whom we had a War Daunce[24] there manner of Dauncing is as follows Viz They clear a Large Circle & make a Great Fire in y. middle then seats themselves around it y. Speaker makes a grand Speech telling them in what Manner they are to Daunce after he has finish'd y. best Dauncer Jumps up as one awaked out of a Sleep & Runs & Jumps about y. Ring in a most comicle Manner he is followed by y. Rest then begins there Musicians to Play y^e Musick is a Pot half of Water with a Deerskin Streched over it as tight as it can & a goard with with some Shott in it to Rattle & a Piece of an horses Tail tied to it to make it look fine y. one keeps Rattling and y. other Drumming all y. while y. others is Dauncing

[Footnote 23: Scalp--a term applied to the tissues covering the human head, and embracing all the hairy integuments and flattened muscles from the back of the skull to the brow above the eyes. Taking the scalp of an enemy, living or dead, has been held from remote times as a special sign of victory and token of triumph. The North American Indians, particularly during the early colonial wars, took the scalps of their enemies, preserving and exhibiting them with savage pride and occasionally wearing them as decorations and trophies. The assembly of Virginia, in 1755, established a reward of £10 for every scalp of a male Indian above the age of twelve (Hening's Statutes, vol. VI, p. 551). In 1757 this sum was raised to £15, and £30 more for every scalp taken within the next two years (Hening, VII, p. 122). Maryland and Pennsylvania also offered rewards for Indian scalps.]

[Footnote 24: The war dance of the Indians probably had a significance to their minds not understood by civilized man, and was not to them the meaningless custom it seems to us. It has frequently been described and painted by eye-witnesses. In 1857 Virtue, Emmins & Co. copyrighted a very effective engraving of a war dance in the forest, arranged from Washington's description of it in this journal.]

Fryday 25^{th} 1748 Nothing Remarkable on thursday but only being with y. Indians all day so shall slip it this day left Cresaps & went up to y. mouth of Patersons Creek[25] & there swam our Horses over got over ourselves in a Canoe & traveld up y. following Part of y. Day to Abram Johnstones 15 Miles from y^e Mouth where we camped.

[Footnote 25: Paterson Creek rises in Hampshire county, West Virginia, and empties into the Potomac about twelve miles below Cumberland, Md. On the old maps of Evans, Hutchins and Lewis, the name is given as _Pattison_. There are large tracts of good, arable land along the valley and bottoms adjacent to this stream. They began to attract settlements a little before the time Fort Cumberland was built. Fort Ashby was also erected to protect settlers along this stream.]

Saterday 26 Travelld up y^e Creek to Solomon Hedges Esqr one of his Majestys Justices of y^e Peace for y^e County of Frederick where we camped when we came to Supper there was neither a Cloth upon y^e Table nor a Knife to eat with but as good luck would have it we had Knives of own.[26]

[Footnote 26: Knife and fork at table.--Polished nations have usages which, at first view, appear natural or common to all mankind. This, however, is not the fact. That there was a period in the history of our race when the knife and fork were unknown to the furnishings of the table, cannot well be doubted; and there was even a time when the table itself was not deemed an essential. At the present day the idea of eating a meal at table without the accompaniment of a knife and fork would excite disgust; their absence, however, in a remote Virginia mountain cabin in 1747-8 as here recorded, simply shows that they had not been provided nor deemed essential to the life of a hunter, not an ignorance of their use, as the two-pronged, iron, table fork was in common use at that period throughout the settlements in all the American colonies. It is nevertheless true that the knife and fork now deemed so necessary at table, are a much more modern convenience than is generally supposed. The king of Hungary, Coevinus, toward the close of the fifteenth century, as related by Galeotus Martius, ate his meat with his fingers as did all the guests at table. In Italy, the fork was, to a limited extent, in use at this time among the nobility. In France, at the end of the sixteenth century, forks were comparatively new at court. The use of the table fork is referred to in "_Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour_," and in Hawkins' Youths' Companion, the source of these rules printed about 1650. The knife is perhaps one of the most ancient of instruments, it was made of different metals and in a great variety of forms. The table knife was, however, contemporary with the fork. According to Chamberlin it was first made in England, in 1563. The use of the fork at table spread to Europe from Venice, in Italy. In 1608 it was brought to England by Thomas Coryate who, while traveling, observed its use in Italy and continued it himself on his return to England. (See his work entitled "Crudities.") It is rather disappointing that neither the Greeks nor Romans have even a name for the table fork. The flesh fork, called _creagra_, with a long handle, for cooks to take meat out of a boiling pot, was known and used by the Hebrews and the Greeks. But had the table fork been used by the latter or by the Romans, some specimens would have been found among those extensive ruins which have been so carefully explored by modern investigators. It is known that some articles have been found, the use of which conjecture assigns to the table, but they are not forks and the surmise is not generally credited. The Chinese, who claim to have led the rest of the world in most of the economic inventions, seem to have overlooked the table fork and do not even now use it in cutting or conveying food to the mouth but employ in its stead the "chop sticks" which, it must be said in their praise, they use with skill and dexterity. It should be stated that large bronze forks were used by the Egyptians in presenting offerings to the gods. It is unpleasant to represent the tables of our ancestors of a few centuries back as without forks, yet this certainly was the fact. The silver table fork, which also had its evolution from two to four prongs, was first manufactured in 1662 by Heylin.

The small knife, formerly worn by gentlemen at their girdles, was used by them, not only as a weapon of defense, but also as an article of convenience in cutting their meat. However, the ancient custom of serving food at table was to have a servant cut meats and other food into small morsels before distributing it to guests. The wealthy employed a person whose special duty it was to carve the meats into proper and convenient pieces and his was the only knife in the dining hall. When the fork was first introduced into England, its employment was ridiculed as an effeminate practice, as may be seen in the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, and others where the persons using it are referred to as "your fork-carving-traveler."]

Sunday 27^{th} Travell'd over to y. South Branch attended with y. Esqr to Henry Vanmetriss[27] in order to go about Intended Work of Lots[28]

[Footnote 27: Henry Van Metre or Meter.--There was a numerous family of the Van Meters in Virginia and they were among the earliest settlers in the valley of the Shenandoah, on the South Branch and along the upper Potomac. Kercheval, in his History of the Valley of Virginia, says this family came from New York and New Jersey. It is evident that they were people of energy and thrift, judges of good land. At a period antedating the settlements in the valley, it is stated by this historian that a John Van Meter, a sort of wandering Indian trader, of New York, accompanied the Delaware Indians in a war party against the Catawbas; but the Catawbas anticipating the attack, surprised and defeated the Delawares in a battle fought near where the present court-house of Pendleton stands. John Van Meter escaped and returned to New York, but he was so impressed with the beauty and fertility of the lands on the South Branch bottom in Hardy county, that he advised his sons to secure lands and locate there. Of these sons, Isaac became a man of note and frequently represented Hardy county in the House of Delegates of Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia Convention of 1788 which ratified the Federal Constitution. In 1730, it is a matter of history that John and Isaac Van Metre, brothers, obtained from Gov. Gooch, of Virginia, a warrant for 40,000 acres of land to be located west of the mountains. This warrant, or a part of it, they sold to Joist Hite. A number of tracts on the original warrant were surveyed in the vicinity of Shepherdstown. The name of Van Meter is still frequently met with throughout West Virginia and has its monument in a stream forming the north-western boundary line of Jefferson county and emptying into the Potomac, and named on the maps of Virginia Van Meter's Marsh. A controversy as to the validity of the Van Metre patent was raised in 1738 by Lord Fairfax and taken into the courts for adjudication. Lord Fairfax contending that his grants covered the whole of the western end of the northern neck, while the holders claimed that the governor, under authority from the crown, had disposing power. This conflict as to title was a source of much litigation, and was not finally settled until after the Revolution, when all the parties to the original suits were dead.]

[Footnote 28: Lots.--This term, as used by surveyors, indicates portions, tracts, divisions and subdivisions of land. Each survey, lot or division when plotted is usually indicated by some name or device, as a number, a letter, or a symbol. So that each can then be described and referred to in a deed or an advertisement, and its location and boundaries be accurately and systematically defined and described in a book of land records.]

Monday 28^{th}: Travell'd up y Branch about 30 Miles to M^r James Rutlidges[29] Horse Jockey & about 70 Miles from y^e Mouth

[Footnote 29: James Rutledge.--Kercheval, in his History of the Valley of Virginia, says that prominent among the earliest settlers on the South Branch, before the arrival of the Van Meters, were the Howards, Coburns, Walkers and Rutledges.]

Tuesday 29^{th} This Morning went out & Survey'd five Hundred Acres of Land & went down to one Michael Stumps on y^e S^o Fork of y^e Branch on our way Shot two Wild Turkies[30]

[Footnote 30: The wild turkey.--This is the largest and finest of our game birds and, although native to North America, it bears a foreign name from the following circumstances. Specimens of the living bird, as well as its eggs, were sent by the early Jesuit missionaries to the old world on Spanish and Portuguese ships, entering Europe through Portugal. It was as yet unnamed, and was at first referred to by writers of that period merely as the "Jesuit bird." As it became known, the demand for the stranger was supplied chiefly from Turkey where, for some reason, it thrived exceedingly well, and in time it came to be familiarly spoken of as "the turkey." Gradually becoming tame, and proving to be quite prolific, it was recognized as a great addition to the luxuries of the table. Speedily becoming a favorite in every country to which it was taken, the great forests and game preserves throughout Europe were gradually stocked with it and it was also raised as a domestic fowl. To-day the American turkey, derived as stated, is found wild in all the great forests of the old world, while the domesticated bird is abundantly raised everywhere in Europe for the markets. In ancient times, we are told, the choicest game fowls brought to a feast were pheasants and peacocks. Emigrants to America brought over with them the domesticated bird to its native land, but under a borrowed name. Washington, in his journal, April 7, 1748, records the fact that one of his men that day had killed a wild turkey weighing 20 pounds. The domesticated bird, when permitted to attain the age of two or three years, and being well fed during the winter months, often reaches the weight of 30 pounds or more. As marking in a degree the devastation of the late war and the enforced abandonment of plantations in the section of Virginia adjacent to the city of Washington, it is a fact worthy of record, that in 1876 the newspapers chronicled the news that the thickets and pine forests which were grown up since the armies left were tenanted by wild deer and turkeys; foxes, etc. And to this day, December 25, 1890, wild turkeys are brought to the Washington market killed in Fairfax county, Va., within ten miles of Washington city.--_Gentlemen's Magazine._]

March 29^{th}: 1748 Survey'd for M^r James Rutlidge y^e following a piece of Land Beginning at 3 W. O. in y^e Mannor Line[31] by a Path leading to y. Clay Lick[32] & Extending thence N^o 44° W^t 164 po. to a White Oak by a Drain at y^e foot of a Mountain thence N^o 46° E^t 487 po. to 2 White Oaks near a Branch call'd Clay Lick Run thence S^o 44° E^t 164 po. to 2 W: O: & a Hickory in y^e Mannor line Finally along y^e Mannor line Reversed S^o 46° W^t 487 po to y. Beginning

HENRY ASHBY } _Chainmen_
RICHARD TAYLOR }
W^M DUNCAN _Marker_

[Footnote 31: Manor line.--In colonial times there were a number of manors, or great landed estates, granted under the then existing laws of England, to persons of note and quality in Virginia and in some of the other provinces. Holders of such estates enjoyed special rights and privileges. Manors were formerly called baronies and entitled the rightful possessor to lordships, and such lord or baron was empowered to hold domestic courts for redressing misdemeanors, nuisances and settling disputes among tenants. Among the manors of limited privileges in Virginia may be enumerated the "manor of Greenway Court," with a domain of 10,000 acres. The great "manor of Leeds," which has figured so extensively in the courts of Virginia, contained 150,000 acres within the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier and Frederick. The "South Branch manor," in Hardy county, embraced 55,000 acres; "Paterson Creek manor," in Hampshire county, 9,000 acres; and "Goony Run manor," adjoining that of Leeds and lying chiefly in Shenandoah county, 13,000 acres. "Beverley's manor," for the most part in Augusta county, consisted of 118,411 acres, and "Fairfax manor," in Hampshire, of 10,000 acres. There were still other manors in different parts of the state. In New York under the Dutch government the baron or proprietor of the manor lands was called the patroon.]

[Footnote 32: Clay lick.--Names of places or streams with the word _lick_ either prefixed or affixed to them, such as "Salt lick," "Blue lick," "Grass lick," "Licking creek," etc., were usually given in consequence of the presence of some saline matter in the springs, streams or soil which attracted the wild animals and caused them to lick for the salt. Hunters in new settlements often built what they called _blinds_ near these licks in which to conceal themselves, and waited there for the game to come, as they were pretty sure to do, almost daily, and at times in considerable numbers, when they could be readily killed.]

Wednesday 30^{th} This Morning began our Intended Business of Laying of Lots we began at y^e Boundary Line of y^e Northern 10 Miles above Stumps & run of two Lots & returnd to Stumps

The Courses & Distances of y^e Several Lots lay'd of on y^e S^o Fork of Wappacomo[33] Began March 30^{th}. 1748

[Footnote 33: "Wappacomo," also spelled "Wappatomaka," was the Indian name for the South Branch of the Potomac. This stream courses through a fine valley from its head-springs in Pendleton county, and has many considerable branches rising among the spurs of the Alleghany mountains on the one side and the North or Cacapehon (Capon) mountain on the other, the latter separating it from the valley of Virginia on the east. The great or most noted fork of the South Branch is at Morefield in Hardy county. Washington surveyed much of the land in that section. The young farmers seeking good lands had come in taken up considerable tracts and built improvements before surveys were made or any effort to prove rights from either Lord Fairfax or the governor of Virginia.]

Lot y^e 1^{st} Peter Reeds Begins at a Box Oak & Hickory F in y. Boundary line about 20 po. above a Large Spring on y^e West side y^e Fork in a Hollow of y^e Mountains and extending thence N^o 65° E^t 320 Po. to a White O: and Hickory on y^e Mountain side thence S^o 60° E^t 300 Po: Crossing y^e Fork at 106 P: to 2 Spanish Oaks and W: O on y^e Top of a Hill thence S^o 65 W^t 96 to a White Oak on y^e Top of a Hill thence S^o 45 W^t 114 po. to a W: O on a Run thence S^o 13 W^t 148 to a Pine thence S 45° W^t 28 po. to 2 R == O: bushes in y^e Boundary line thence along y. same to y^e Beginning

Lot the 2^d Begins at a W: O & Hickory on a Mountain side Corner to Lot y^e 1^{st} extending y^e Line S^o 60° E^t 300 po. to 2 Spanish Oaks and W: O on a Hill thence N^o 30′ E^t 214 po to 2 W: O near a Branch thence N^o 60° W^t 244 po to y. S^o Fork 300 po. to a Ledge of Rocks on a Mountain side thence S^o 30 W^t 214 to y^e Beginning.

Thursday 31^{st} Early this Morning one of our Men went out with y^e Gun & soon Returnd with two Wild Turkies we then went to our Business run of three Lots & returnd to our Camping place at Stumps

March 31^{st}

Lot the 3^d Begins at Ledge of Rocks corner to Lot 2^d extendth thence along y^e s^d line S^o 60 E^t 300 po to 2 W: O near a Branch thence N^o 30 E^t 214 po to a Pine on a Hillside near a Run thence N^o 60° W^t 78 to y. Bottom Ground 202 po. to y^e River and 244 po. to a Pine by a Rock on y. Mountain side thence to y^e Beginning S. 30 W^t 224 P.

Lot 4^{th} this Lot survey'd myself Beginning at a Pine by a Rock on a mountain side Corner to Lot 3^d & Running the s^d line S^o 60° 244 Poles to a Pine on a Hill side near a Run thence N^o 30° E^t 262 P^o to 2 Chesnut Oaks and a Pine thence N^o 60° W^t 98 Pole to y^e Low Grounds 164 to y^e Fork and 244 P. to a R: O on a Rock thence S^o 30 W^t 262 Po to y. Beginning

Lot 5^{th} Begins at a Red O on a Rock Corner to Lot 4^{th} & extendeth thence S^o 60 E^t 244 Poles to 2 Chesnut Oaks & a Pine thence N^o 30 E^t 262 Po. to a W: O by a Run thence N^o 60 W^t 154 po to an ash 108 po to y^e Fork thence N^o 86 W^t 38 xing y^e Fork 78 xing it again and 100 Po: to a R: O on y^e mountain Side thence S 30 W^t 262 Po to y^e Beg^g

[April 1^{st}]

Lot y^e 6^{th} Anthony Regar Begins at a Red Oak on a Mountain side Corner to Lot y^e 5^{th} and extending thence along y^e s^d Line S^o 86 E^t 100 po. to an Ash thence with another of y^e s^d lines S^o 60 E^t 154 po: to a white Oak by a Run thence N^o 30 E^t 256 po to 3 pines on a Hill side thence N^o 60 W^t 200 po: to y^e Low Grounds 320 po to a Poplar standing in y^e Fork thence to y^e Beg^g

Lot y^e 7^{th} Harmon Shoker & Elias Cellars Begins at a Poplar standing on y^e S^o Fork Corner to Lot y^e 6^{th} & Running along y^e Line S^o 60 E^t 244 po to a Pine on a Hill side thence N 30 E^t 262 po by 2 Marked Pines thence N^o 60 W^t 46 po to y^e Low G: 140 to y^e Fork and 244 po to a Stone on y^e side of a Mountain thence to y^e Begin^g S 30 W^t

Lot y^e 8^{th} Vacant[34] Beginning at a Rock corner to lot 7 & Running along y^e Line thereof S^o 60 E^t 244 po by 2 Pines thence N^o 35 E^t 266 po. to 3 Chesnut Oaks on a Steep Hill side thence N^o 55 E^t 54 po. to y^e Low Grounds 80 po. to y^e Fork 190 po to y^e farr Edge of y^e Low G: 244 po. to a Chesnut Oak on y^e Mountain side thence to y^e Begining

[Footnote 34: Vacant--this term, as used by surveyors, indicates that the tract of land so designated is neither claimed by an actual occupant or occupied by virtue of any official record. Many of the settlers on the lands of Lord Fairfax selected their farms and made improvements without any legal survey, warrant or title, other than a "tomahawk blaze" for a boundary mark, trusting that the actual owner of the land would recognize the improvement and occupant's claim and deal justly by them. These "tomahawk claims" were respected by the actual settlers, had a market value among land speculators and were admitted, to a certain extent, as evidence of rights in the courts.]

Fryday April y^e 1^{st} 1748 This Morning Shot twice at Wild Turkies but killd none run of three Lots & returned to Camp

Saterday April 2^d Last Night was a blowing & Rainy night Our Straw catch'd a Fire y^t we were laying upon & was luckily Preserv'd by one of our Mens awaking when it was in a @@whitespace@@ we run of four Lots this Day which Reached below Stumps

April 2^d

Lot y^e 9^{th}

Begining at Chesnut Oak on y^e Mountain side corner to Lot 8^{th} & Running along y^e Line thereof S^o 55 E^t 244 po to 3 Chesnut Oaks on a Steep Side thence N^o 35 E^t 262 po to 2 Chesnut Oaks & a White Oak thence N^o 65 E^t 80 to y^e Low G: 126 po to y^e Fork 244 po to a Hickory at y^e Foot of the Mountain thence to y^e Beginning S^o 35 W^t 262 po this Lot is very Good

Lot 10^{th} Michael Calb Liveron Begining at a Hickory Corner to Lot y^e 9^{th} & Runing along y^e Line S^o 55 E^t 244 Pole to 2 Chesnut Oaks thence N^o 35 E^t 262 po to 2 pines & a spanish Oak on y^e Top of a Hill thence N^o 55 W^t 84 po to y^e Low G: 230, po to y^e Fork 270 po to a Red O: on y^e Mountain Side thence to y^e Beginning

Lot y^e 11^{th} Leonard Nave Beginning at a Red O: on y^e Mountain side Corner to Lot y^e 10^{th} & Running along y^e Line S 55 E^t 270 Po to 2 Pines on y^e Top of a Hill thence N^o 35 E^t 262 po. to a Pine on a Hill side thence N^o 55 E 180 po to y^e Bottom 248 po to y^e Fork 274 to an Ash at y^e Foot of y^e Mountain thence to y^e Beg.

Lot 12^{th} Michael Stumps Begins at an Ash at y^e Foot of y^e Mountain Corner to Lot 11 & Running along y^e Line S^o 55 E^t 274 Po: to a Pine thence N^o 25 E^t 320 po to 2 Pines thence N^o 65 W^t 188 po to y^e Low G: 280 po to 2 Sycamores & a White Wood tree Standing on y^e Fork thence up and Crossing y^e Fork to y^e Begg

Sunday 3^d Last Night was a much more blostering night than y^e former we had our Tent Carried Quite of with y^e Wind and was obliged to Lie y^e Latter part of y^e night without covering there came several Persons to see us this day one of our Men Shot a Wild Turkie

Monday 4^{th} this morning M^r Fairfax left us with Intent to go down to y^e Mouth of y^e Branch we did two Lots & was attended by a great Company of People Men Women & Children that attended us through y^e Woods as we went showing there Antick tricks I really think they seem to be as Ignorant a Set of People as the Indians they would never speak English but when spoken to they speak all Dutch[35] this day our Tent was blown down by y^e Violentness of y^e Wind

[Footnote 35: Dutch.--As early as 1730 there was a considerable settlement in the Shenandoah valley, of German immigrants and their descendants, who had first settled in Pennsylvania and then removed to, and taken up lands in, the valley of Virginia. They selected, chiefly, the good limestone lands with their centers of population near the head-waters of the Opequon creek, in Shenandoah, and the south-western part of Frederick county. They were all Protestants in religion. The town of Woodstock was originally and exclusively settled by Germans. The bill for its incorporation was reported to the House of Burgesses of Va., by Col. George Washington in 1761. For many years the German language was exclusively spoken in their settlement, and German customs and religious observances were retained with tenacity, their remoteness and seclusion securing to them almost perfect freedom from innovations. The Revolution found them patriotic supporters of the colony as against the pretensions of Great Britain. It was in the town of Woodstock, Shenandoah county, that Maj.-Gen. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, minister of the Lutheran church, dressed in his uniform and with his sword buckled on, preached a farewell sermon in 1776, to a sympathizing and patriotic congregation, and the next day marched as colonel at the head of his German regiment, known subsequently as the 8th Virginia, to join the Continental army. Such names of places as Strasburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg, the latter now known as Shepherdstown, etc., perpetuate the fact that many of the earliest settlers in that section were German.--See Kercheval, p. 158.]

April 4^d

Lot y^e 13 Vacant Begins at 2 Sycamores and a White Wood Tree standing on y^e fork Corner to Lot 12^{th} & Running along y^e Line S^o 65 E^t 280 po. to 2 pines thence N^o 25 E^t 228 Po. to a Spanish Oak thence N^o 65 W^t 206 to y^e Low G: 248 po to y^e Fork 280 to a Rock Stone on y^e Mountain Side thence to the Beginning S 25 W^t 228 poles

Lot 14^{th} James Simson's Begins at a Rock Stone on y^e Mountain Side Corner to Lot y^e 13^{th} & Runs thence S^o 65 E^t 280 pole to a Spanish Oak thence N^o 25 E^t 228 pole to a Large Hickory in a Vally thence N^o 65 W^t 108 to y^e Low G: 180 pole to y^e Fork 280 pole to 3 Red Oaks on y^e Mountain side near a Spring Branch thence to y^e Beginning S 25 W^t 228 pole this Lot I survay'd.

The Courses of y^e Fork from Lot 14^{th} Down to y^e Mannor Line Beginning at 2 Red Bud Trees[36] & a Black Walnut on y^e West side y^e Fork & Running Down y^e Several Courses of y^e Fork N^o 9 E^t 19 po N^o 34 W^t 12 po N^o 15 E^t 22 po N^o 39 E^t 24 po N^o 12 E^t 23 po N^o 17 W^t 66 po N 6 E^t 42 po opposite to Henry Harris's house N^o 26 W^t 20 po West 32 op Phillip Moors house bears N^o 86 W^t N^o 23 W^t 48 po to a Blazed Tree[37] from here Phillip Moors house bears S^o 54 W^t N^o 6 W^t 33 po N^o 28 E^t 26 po N^o 73 E^t 28 po N^o 7 W^t 85 po to a blazed tree N^o 45 W^t 24 po. y^e Widow Wolfs[38] house bears S^o 52 W^t about 60 po. N^o 65 W^t 27 po S^o 84 W^t 18 po. S 50 W^t 14 po S. 19 W 20 po N^o 67 W^t 22 po. N^o 28 W^t 23 po. S^o 78 W^t 29 po N^o 71 W^t 25 po. N^o 39 W^t 19 po N^o 3 W^t 24 po. xx N^o 60 W^t 20 po N^o 39 W^t 20 po N^o 8 E^t 46 po to an Ash black Walnut & White Walnut in y^e Mannor Line on y^e s^d fork thence S^o 36 W^t along y^e Mannor Line 320 poles to 2 W: O & a R: O.

[Footnote 36: The Red Bud or Judas tree.--A common tree that grows wild in the United States. In botany it is known as the "_Cercis Canadensis_," and often grows to the height of 30 feet or more. It flowers in April, clothing its limbs in a reddish-purple bloom for a week or ten days before its leaves appear, and from this circumstance it is popularly called red bud.]

[Footnote 37: Blazed trees.--These are surveyors' marks made on trees to proclaim and identify certain routes or lines. The "blaze" is made by removing with an axe a strip of the outer bark of a tree or sapling, for about a foot in length and well into the inner bark. In the future growth of the tree a lighter color marks the cicatrix which rarely ever wholly disappears. Surveyors, to distinguish corner trees in a survey, not only blaze the sides of the tree in the direction their lines run but cut three small notches through the bark which will remain distinct during the life of the tree.]

[Footnote 38: Widow Wolf.--There was a Fort Wolf on Stony creek a few miles south-west of Woodstock, erected by the Germans at an early period in the settlement of the valley; there is also a marsh or creek named Wolf's marsh, which empties into the Shenandoah about twelve miles above Ashby's Ferry. Possibly these were so called from the name of this widow's husband.]

Tuesday 5^{th} We went out & did 4 Lots we were attended by y^e same Company of People y^t we had y^e day before

April y^e 5^{th} 1748

Lot y^e 15^{th} Phillip Moore Beginning at Lot y^e 14^{th} on y^e Fork & Running down y^e Meanders to y^e first Blazed Tree a Black Oak on y^e Fork thence S^o 69 W^t 80 to y^e Edge of y^e Low G: 226 po to a Spanish Oak thence S^o 41 E^t 296 po. to a White Oak on a Mountain side thence N^o 40 E^t 38 po to 3 Red Oaks on a Mountain side near a Spring Branch this Lot very good

Lot y^e 16^{th} and 17^{th} Widow Wolfs and Henry Sheplars a Black Smith by trade Begins at a Black Walnut on y^e Fork & Runs S^o 17 W 76 po to a Red Oak & Hickory 90 po Crossing y^e Road about 20 po: above y^e house 226 po to 2 W: O thence N^o 41 W^t 96 po to 2 White Oaks in y^e Mannor line to y^e River the line of y^e 16^{th} Lot from y^e 2 W: O S 41 E^t

Lot 18^{th} Jeremiah Osborne's Begins at a Sycamore on y^e Fork & extending N^o 80 E^t 215 po. to a Chesnut Oak thence South 280 po to a W: O near a Hickory Corner to Lot y^e 14^{th} thence along the line thereof to y^e Fork thence down y^e Several Meanders of y^e Fork to y^e Beginning

Wednesday 6^{th} Last Night was so Intolerably smoky that we were obliged all hands to leave y^e Tent to y^e Mercy of y^e Wind and Fire this day was attended by our afore^d Company untill about 12 oClock when we finish'd we travell'd down y^e Branch to Henry Vanmetris's on our Journey was catch'd in a very heavy Rain we got under a Straw House untill y^e Worst of it was over & then continued our Journey

April 6^{th}

Lot 19 Begg: at a Spanish Oak corner to Lot 18^{th} & Runing thence N^o 23 W^t 350 po to 3 W: O thence S^o 36 W^t 164 po 94 to y^e Low G: to 2 Locust Trees on y^e Fork

Lot y^e 20^{th} Begg at 2 Locusts on y^e Fork Corner to Lot 19^{th} & Runing along y^e Line N^o 36 E^t 164 po to 3 W: O thence N^o 23 W^t 250 po 3 Red Oaks in y^e Manner line thence Down y^e Manner line

Thursday 7^{th} Rain'd Successively all Last night this Morning one of our men Killed a Wild Turkie that weight 20 Pounds we went & Survey'd 15 Hundred Acres of Land & Return'd to Vanmetris's about 1 o'Clock about two I heard that M^r Fairfax was come up & at 1 Peter Casseys about 2 Miles of in y^e same Old Field[39] I then took my Horse & went up to see him we eat our Dinners & walked down to Vanmetris's we stayed about two Hours & Walked back again and slept in Casseys House which was y^e first Night I had slept in a House since I came to y^e Branch

[Footnote 39: Old Fields and Wild Meadow.--There were many small, timberless tracts of land on the mountains and in the great valleys of Virginia and Pennsylvania, in regions which were generally, prior to the occupation and the clearing up of the country by the white man, densely covered with trees. Large tracts of such timberless land existed in the region now embraced within the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson and Frederick. Strange as it may appear some of this kind of land within the history of the settlement of the valley became covered with young forest timber. In some respects these openings resembled the treeless prairies of the west. No satisfactory explanation of this frequently observed condition has ever been given. Many of these meadows were the favorite pasturing grounds of the large game and were, therefore, of special interest to the hunter. Clearfield county, Pa., it is believed, got its name from the fact that there were within its territory extensive natural clear fields and meadows.]

Fryday 8^{th} we breakfasted at Casseys & Rode down to Vanmetris's to get all our Company together which when we had accomplished we Rode down below y^e Trough in order to Lay of Lots there we laid of one this day The Trough is couple of Ledges of Mountain Impassable running side & side together for above 7 or 8 Miles & y^e River down between them you must Ride Round y^e back of y^e Mountain for to get below them we Camped this Night in y^e Woods near a Wild Meadow where was a Large Stack of Hay after we had Pitched our Tent & made a very Large Fire we pull'd out our Knapsack in order to Recruit ourselves every was his own Cook our Spits was Forked Sticks our Plates was a Large Chip as for Dishes we had none

Saterday 9^{th} Set ye Surveyor[40] to work whilst M^r Fairfax & myself stayed at y^e Tent our Provision being all exhausted & y^e Person that was to bring us a Recruit disappointing us we were oblige to go without untill we could get some from y^e Neighbours which was not till about 4 or 5 oClock in y^e Evening we then took our Leaves of y^e Rest of our Company Road Down to John Colins in order to set off next Day homewards

[Footnote 40: From the expression, "set the surveyor to work," as well as the language used in the record on the 12th of March, that "Mr. James Genn the surveyor came to us and traveled over the Blue Ridge, etc.," with other expressions at a later date of similar import in the journal and in other documents, it is rendered almost certain that George Washington was, from the first, employed by Lord Fairfax, not as a surveyor, merely, but rather in the capacity of a skilled director of other surveyors, and as the confidential adviser in the division and sale of his lordship's lands.]

Sunday 10^{th} We took our farewell of y^e Branch & travell'd over Hills and Mountains to 1 Coddys on Great Cacapehon about 40 Miles

Monday 11^{th} We travell'd from Coddys down to Frederick Town where we Reached about 12 oClock we dined in Town and then went to Cap^t Hites & Lodged

Tuesday 12^{th} We set of from Capt. Hites in order to go over W^{ms} Gap[41] about 20 Miles and after Riding about 20 Miles we had 20 to go for we had lost ourselves & got up as High as Ashbys Bent[42] we did get over W^{ms} Gap that Night and as low as W^m Wests in Fairfax[43] County 18 Miles from y^e Top of y^e Ridge This day see a Rattled Snake y^e first we had seen in all our Journey

[Footnote 41: Williams' Gap, in the Blue Ridge, is on a line nearly due east from Winchester. It derived its name from a Mr. Williams, who kept a ferry over the Shenandoah river on one of the roads from Winchester into Loudoun and Fairfax counties. This name still attaches to the gap and appears on the early maps of Virginia. It is a notable fact that all or most of the important gaps through mountain passes in the United States were well worn buffalo paths and Indian trails when first visited by white men.]

[Footnote 42: Ashby's Bent is supposed to have reference to the great bend and extensive bottom lands of the Shenandoah, just above which was located Captain Ashby's ferry across that river. Washington uses this term in 1770 to describe a large tract of bottom land on the Ohio which he acquired.]

[Footnote 43: Fairfax county, in which Mount Vernon is located, was created out of Prince William county by the Assembly of Virginia in 1742.]

Wednesday y^e 13^{th} of April 1748

M^r Fairfax got safe home and I myself safe to my Brothers[44] which concludes my Journal[45]

[Footnote 44: Major Lawrence Washington, proprietor of Mount Vernon, was the second child and oldest surviving son of Augustine and his first wife Jane (Butler) Washington, born at Pope's Creek, Westmoreland county, Va., in 1718, and died at his residence, Mount Vernon, 26th July, 1752. He was the half-brother of the illustrious George Washington and great-grandson of the emigrant, Col. John Washington, who came to Virginia about 1657. It is a matter of tradition that Lawrence was at about the age of 15 sent to England to be educated, and leaving college he received a captain's commission to serve in a regiment raised in Virginia to take part in the expedition against Carthegenia, 1740-42, under the command of Admiral Vernon.

The expedition failed of its purpose, and Major Lawrence Washington returned to Virginia in the fall of 1742. He shortly after became engaged to Anne Fairfax, which induced him to resign from the army. His father died April 12, 1743, leaving a considerable estate and named him, his oldest son, one of his executors. He inherited from his father "the Hunting creek" plantation, consisting of 2,500 acres, on the Potomac but a few miles from and in sight of "Belvoir." On the 19th of July Lawrence Washington was united in marriage to Anne, eldest daughter of the Hon. William Fairfax of "Belvoir." He made many improvements on his plantation and gave it the name of "Mount Vernon," in compliment to his old commander, Admiral Vernon. Lawrence Washington had received a good education, had mixed with prominent personages, had seen much of the world, and was a man of good habits and business qualifications.

His father at the time of his death, was largely engaged in business which Lawrence was obliged to look after and close up. This gradually led him into various business enterprises; such as the manufacturing of iron, buying and selling land, etc. He and his brother Augustin were among the organizers of "The Ohio Company," to explore the western country, encourage settlements, and conduct a trade with the Indians. He was elected to the House of Burgesses of Virginia from Fairfax county in 1748. It was largely through his influence that a charter was granted to the towns of Alexandria and Colchester, both in Fairfax county. He together with Lord Fairfax, George Mason, Hon. William Fairfax, William Ramsay, John Carlyle and others was named as trustee to lay out and govern the town. He was a popular legislator, but declined to serve longer in the Assembly, as it interfered with his present business. He was greatly attached to his brother George, and made it a point to have him with him at Mount Vernon whenever it was practicable without interrupting his studies. Lawrence was always of a delicate constitution, but by his prudent habits and systematic attention to business he accomplished a great deal and enhanced the value of his possessions. He was tall in stature and a man of fine personal appearance, as is shown by an oil painting of him which still hangs upon the wall of the Virginia room in Mount Vernon mansion. He was rapidly becoming one of the leading business men of Virginia, when his health broke down. As a last resort his physicians recommended that he should spend a winter in the West Indies. In the fall of 1751, he resigned his commission as one of the adjutant-generals of Virginia, and taking his brother George with him, he went to the Island of Barbadoes. His pulmonary trouble had progressed too far to be arrested, and after spending some five months on the Island, and finding himself declining he returned home and died in July, 1752. His marriage had been blessed by four children, three of whom had died, his surviving child, Sarah, was still an infant at the time of her father's death. After providing in his will for his wife he left Mount Vernon to his daughter, but in the event of her death without heirs it was to go to his "beloved brother George," who was also named as one of his executors. This daughter Sarah died within a year, and George inherited Mount Vernon before he was 21 years of age. A few years after Lawrence Washington's death, his widow married George Lee, brother to the father of Arthur and Richard Henry Lee, patriots in the Revolution.]

[Footnote 45: The note book which contains this journal of Washington's includes also other memoranda, such as notes of surveys, drafts of juvenile letters, verses, etc., all of which are of interest for the glimpses they give of the character and early life of their author, and are copied with literal exactness and given with the journal and surveys.]

The Mannor how to Draw up a Return when Survey'd for His Lordship or any of y^e Family

March y^e 15^{th} 1747-8

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