Chapter 11: February 1774
11.1 Wednesday 2
The weather vastly fine. At twelve o-Clock the Colonel & Miss Prissy rode out for an airing—Prissy This day began Multiplication. We had also a large elegant Writing Table brought to us, so high that the Writers must stand.
11.2 Thursday 3
Prissy, & Nancy practising music—We had last night Thunder, Lightning, & a very great shower.
11.3 Fryday 4
I put Ben this day into virgil—We had our Room mended & came into it—at twelve I rode out to Mr Taylors about two Miles, in again by Dinner-Time—Dined with us one Mrs Hut—This Evening, in the School-Room, which is below my Chamber, several Negroes & Ben, & Harry are playing on a Banjo & dancing!—
11.4 Saturday 5:
I spent the morning in my Room, Ben, & Bob are gone out. About twelve came on a visit Mr Goodlett, & Saml Fantleroy;1 I spent the remainder of the day with them.—At Dinner when call'd upon for a Toast I gave Miss Sally Hollinshead. Mr Goodlett told me he has had an Invitation, to accept a School in Leeds,2 a town on the River Rapahannock, about 25 Miles from this up & across the Country.
11.5 Sunday 6
I rode to Church; Mrs Carter & Miss Prissy & Nancy were out—Mr Smith gave us a Sermon 14 Minutes long on Charite—But poor Fellow he seem'd Cold as his Subject! Mr Fantleroy; & Mr Goodlett dined with us and set off for Home as soon as we rose from Dinner—This day two Negro Fellows the Gardiner & cooper, wrangled; & at last fought; It happened hard however for the Cooper, who is likely to lose one of his Eyes by that Diabolical Custom of gouging which is in common practise among those who fight here—Evening Ben returned; he has been into Northumland to see one Mr Jones. Mr Goodlett, to Day, shewed me a piece of his own performance, a paraphrase on part of the Book of Job, done in Lattin-Verse.
11.6 Monday 7
The Day pleasant, & seems to have some appearance of Spring—Mr Blain call'd this Affternoon, & told us that by a Letter he hears Lady Dunmore is arrived from New-York3—and that many good & wealthy Families arrived in the same Ship—It is indeed amazing, & it will soon astonish the whole World, to consider the Rapidity of the growth of these Colonies—
At Supper, Mr Carter informed me it is his purpose to manifacture 30.000 Bushels of wheat in his New-Mill which is yet scarcely finished.
11.7 Teusday 8
Before Breakfast Nancy & Fanny had a Fight about a Shoe Brush which they both wanted—Fanny pull'd off her Shoe & threw at Nancy, which missed her and broke a pane of glass of our School Room. they then enter'd upon close scratching &c. which methods seem instinctive in Women. Harry happen'd to be present & affraid lest he should be brought in, ran and informed me—I made peace, but with many threats—
Mrs Carter has ordered the Gardener to sew Lettice, & plant Peas this Day in the Garden.—
11.8 Wednesday 9
This day very blustry & cold—I gave Prissy a Coppy of Secretary-Hand, at her particular Request—
11.9 Thursday 10
We had the Virginia Gazette4 to day in which the accounts concerning the destroying the Tea at Boston are confirm'd—& also an account of the Burning of the House of Governor Tryon. Dined with us Colonel Frank Lee; his Wife & Captain John Lee. Toasts after Dinner, the King. Queen. Absent Friends, Governor of Virginia, & his Lady just arrived, & Success to American Trade & Commerce
11.10 Fryday 11
The Company staid all Night—at Breakfast the conversation was on a terrible Distemper which is in this County at present; & which in Maryland last year about this time carried off hundreds, and is call'd the "putrid Quinsy." Mr Carter has a Man lying now dangerously ill of it!
What they do in the Disorder is, when the Inflamation is first observ'd, bleeding; then give the Bark & Salt-petre, or Nitre, and Gargles to cleanse the mouth—
Our company left us before dinner—Last night I took Bob to my Room, after having in the course of the Day corrected him thrice, & reasoned with him concerning the impropriety of his Behaviour; at the same time I acquainted him with my final resolution to send him over for correction every Day to his Papa's Study, which had so strong an Effect on him (as all the Children are in remarkable Subjection to their Parents) that he firmly pomised to attend to my advice, & thro' this Day has been punctual to his word.
I spent the evening with the Family to hear the music. For every evening Prissy & Nancy play the whole Evening for practice & besides every Week half of Teusday, Thursday, & Saturday. We were informed that the Carter who goes with the Team is ill of the sore Throat!—
11.11 Saturday 12
After having dismised the School I went over to Mr Carters Study—We conversed on many things, & at length on the College of William & Mary at Williamsburg. He informed me that it is in such confusion at present, & so badly directed, that he cannot send his Children with propriety there for Improvement & useful Education—That he has known the Professors to play all Night at Cards in publick Houses in the City, and has often seen them drunken in the Street!—That the Charter of the College is vastly Extensive, & the yearly income sufficient to support a University being about 4.000£. Sterling.—That the Necessary Expence for each Scholar yearly is only 15£ Currency.
Two of the officers of the Institution, Mr Bracker, & Mr Henly5 Clergymen are at present engaged in a paper War published weekly in the Williamsburg Gazette's.
Miss Fanny quite unwell of a Cold with a pain in her Breast. Evening Mrs Carter complain'd of a sore throat; and Ben also, complains that his Throat is quite troublesome—Mr Randolph too is confin'd in his Room all day! We seem to be all sickning!—
11.12 Sunday 13
Things look better this morning Mrs Carter, & Ben seem relieved, Mr Randolph, & Fanny are better. The morning very blustry with wind & Snow—None go to Church from here to day—In my Room I read Pictete.
11.13 Monday 14
Mr Randolph this Morning happens to be Miss Nancy's Valentine; & Miss Prissy mine,—The morning sharp & very cold—
11.14 Teusday 15
I have a call this morning from Bob & Harry for a Holiday, for Shrove Teusday; I shall dismiss them at twelve o-Clock. I gave Miss Carter my Verses for her Valentine, Dined with us Mrs Ford. I finished reading the first, & began the Second Volume of Pictete.
11.15 Wednesday 16
I happened last monday to offend Prissy, She retains her anger & seems peculiarly resentful!—Ben agreed for half a Bit a Week to play the Flute every Night, or read, for me, twenty Minutes after I am in Bed.
11.16 Thursday 17
Prissy seems much affronted; The Cause was as follows Monday afternoon, by Chance I tapp'd her on the Head, & wholly in Jest; She seem'd vex'd, but Teusday morning which is her day for practice on the Forte-Piano, after Breakfast, I desir'd her to walk over to the School, she refused, & gave for an Excuse that She must begin to play—Both these things laid together were the cause of her resentment.
11.17 Fryday 18
The Weather pleasant and moderate—Bob, Nancy, & Prissy, are setting off this morning to the Dance, which is at Mr Washingtons6—
11.18 Saturday 19
at Dinner we were conversing on Reading, among many remarks the Colonel observed that, He would bet a Guinea that Mrs Carter reads more than the Parson of the parish! No panegyrick on the Gentleman? Mr Christian the Dancing Master, Came home with the young Ladies.
11.19 Sunday 20
Last Evening the virginia News-papers came; but nothing from the Northward.
Rode to Nomini Church; Parson Smith read Prayers, but it was too Cold a Day to give us a Sermon; After Service Mr & Mrs Carter, the Parson, his wife & Sister; Mr Camel the Comptroler; Ben, Bob, Miss Pierce, Miss Sanford, and My self were invited to Colonel Washingtons to Dinner. His House has the most agreeable Situation, of any I have yet seen in Maryland or Virginia; the broad Potowmack, which they account between 7 and 8 Miles over, washes his Garden on the North. the River Nomini is within a stones throw on the West, a levil open Country on the East; a Lane of a mile & three quarters accurately measur'd. lies from the House South-East it has from the House the whole distance a uniform Descent, & at the Gate at the End of this Lane the Situation is just six feet lower than at the House—There are no Marshes near, which altogether make the place exceeding Description. The Roads are now miry & disagreeable.
11.20 Monday 21
Prissy seems again reconciled—Miss Stanhope the Housekeeper is ill of a Rheumatism—They are begining to work in the Garden with vigor. Dined with us Docter Franks.
11.21 Teusday 22
Mr Carter rode to the County-Court. I read to day several chapters in the Greek testament. Mr Carter has given orders to his Hands to rigg, & fit his Schooner a Vessel of about 40 Tons for Business. Docter Franks with us yet. Mrs Carter was taken ill last Evening & has not been out of her chamber to Day. Miss Stanhope the Housekeeper is also confin'd to her Room with Rheumatic Pains.
11.22 Wednesday. 23
Mr Carter has an invitation to dine at Lee-Hall to Day, which he accepts—before Dinner came in Miss Corbin, & Miss Booth; two young Ladies pretty well gone in what we call the Bloom of Life; Mr Carter was out, Mrs Carter is ill, & Ben was not Drest; Bob & I therefore at Dinner must be Directors of the ceremonies at Table! But happily for me I have them at last all by heart—At five Bob & I had the Pleasure to walk home with them, (for they were on foot) to Assist them in Crossing the River Nomini which lies between us & Mr Turburville's. Evening Mrs Carter seems no better—Miss Sally came out of her Room—
11.23 Thursday 24
Frogs croaked last Evening. This morning the Birds of several kinds are singing; and some presages of Spring seem visible. Mrs Carter continues no better, A messenger is sent for Docter Jones, with orders, that if he is from Home to pursue him.—
Mr Gregory,7 the Colonels Gardiner came this morning & began with Mr Carters two Fellows who have been in the Garden all winter—They planted this day the common garden Peas.
The Colonel at Dinner gave Ben & I a Piece of Music to prepare on our Flutes, in which he is to perform the thorough Bass—Evening Mrs Carter Some Better.
11.24 Fryday 25
Mrs Carter better—The Day pleasant—There is a report that the Jail-Fever, or Yellow or putrid Fever, is at one Mr Atwel's on potowmack, in this County; that it was brought in a Ship which came lately with convict Servants; that two have already died, one this morning: & that many of Mr Atwells Slaves are infected!—
Docter Jones spent the Evening with us; He complimented Ben Bob, & myself with an invitation to dine with him next Sunday.
11.25 Saturday 26
Mr Carter's Merchant Mill begins to run to-day—She is calculated to manufacture 25.000 Bushels of Wheat a Year—I walked at twelve with the Colonel to view her; it is amazing to consider the work and Ingenuity—He told me his Bill for the materials and work was 1450£.!—
Ben to day Rode to Mr Fantleroys. Evening the Colonel & I performed the Sonata. I had the Pleasure to hear the Colonel say that I have my part perfect.
11.26 Sunday 27
I rode to day to Richmond Church, Parson Gibbern preached about 20 Minutes on the Text "he that walketh uprightly walketh wisely"—this seems to be a polite part of the parish.—After Sermon Ben & I rode to Docter Jones's; he was from home. Mrs Jones a young, Handsome, polite Lady, received & entertained us exceeding civilly.—On our return home, we called to see Mr Hamilton, who by a accident was thrown from a Horse, & received a sad cut in his Face! he lies at Mr Lanes.
11.27 Monday 28
Mrs Carter confined yet to her Room, but much better—Prissy & I on good terms once more—Breakfasted with us Mr Taylor.8 Ben determines to ask his Papa to-morrow for Liberty to go home with me in April. Evening we performed the Sonata I the first; Ben the second; & Mr Carter the thorough Bass on the Forte Piano.
11.28 Teusday March 1st 1774
By one of Mr Carters Sailors we heard this morning that the Fever mentioned some Days ago continues. Afternoon Mr Lane9 a young Gentleman, formerly my acquaintance at Princeton came to see me; with one Mr Harison—He stays all night.
Samuel Griffin Fauntleroy (1759-1826) was the son of Moore Fauntleroy of "The Cliffs" in Richmond County.↩︎
Leedstown was a thriving center of trade and shipping. It had been incorporated in 1742.↩︎
John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, served as Governor of the colony from 1771 to 1775. Lady Dunmore did not arrive in Virginia to join him until the latter part of February of 1774.↩︎
The Virginia Gazette was founded by William Parks at Williamsburg in 1736. This journal continued to issue until 1778. In 1766 a rival sheet bearing the same name was established and was published in Williamsburg until 1776. In 1775 a third Virginia Gazette had been established which continued to issue until 1780.↩︎
John Bracken served as minister of Bruton Parish Church at Williamsburg from 1773 to 1818. He also served for a period as master of the grammar school at the College of William and Mary, and for two years as president of the college. At this time Bracken had just incurred the bitter enmity of Samuel Henley, professor of divinity and moral philosophy at the college, who had hoped to secure the appointment given his rival. The two men aired their grievances in a long and acrimonious controversy carried on in the columns of the Virginia Gazette. Henley, a Tory, left the colony for England in 1775 and never returned. He later became principal of the East India College at Hertford.↩︎
At "Bushfield" on the Potomac River.↩︎
James Gregory was employed at various seasons to assist and instruct the colored gardeners at "Nomini Hall."↩︎
Probably Colonel John Tayloe of "Mount Airy."↩︎
Joseph F. Lane of Loudoun County, Virginia.↩︎