GWYF Journal

November 1, 1775

What a busy time we have had! Mother invited a goodly number of people to the Farm for a barbeque. Of course, the weather was damp. What else would it be! We wanted the weather to be cool enough for Col. Lewis to wish to dance and not be prostrate on the floor. One always runs the risk of rain in the Spring and Fall. Thank goodness the Pavilion was constructed earlier in the year. It stood us in good stead as shelter. Mr. Mueller and Mrs. White contrived to keep the fires going this time. We dined on chickens, sweet potatoes with apples, cornbread and a delicious onion pudding. Mr. Reynolds and his family travelled all the way from Louisa to dine and dance with us. The children learned several new dances and a cotillion or two.

We journeyed from Mother's to Chotank. Lawrence and his family are well. Molly is quite a young lady - he shall be on the look for a suitable husband. We spent Saturday with the Fitzhughs at Eagles' Nest. Mrs. Trehos and her staff concocted a lovely dinner of chickens and a turkey with corn pone, an Indian pudding, green beans, a carrot pudding which was the delight of most of the party, and pears stewed with Sherry and served with a whipped cream. Due to mold in the courthouse, the Court convened at Eagles' Nest. Not much business - two orphans turned over to Hanover parish and the Grymes trial.

Building on the New House progresses slowly.

October 20, 1775

What a week! First, there was the dinner party that the Col. and I held at the New House. Why we should decide to undertake that, I shall never understand. Our dear dependable Rachel fell ill with the fever and that Hessian indenture - Peter Mueller, he calls himself - was in charge of the kitchen. As I was complete my toilette, Billy scratches at the door and insists - for I can only call it insisting when one's old trusted domestic says that he hears that there is a situation in the kitchen - that I go to the kitchen. I know him well enough to interpret that to mean that it require the Mistress's hand. Apparently, the Colonel had heard of the distress as well, for I met him on the way. Raised voices greeted us as we approached. Raw food was everywhere, but nowhere to be seen was anything cooked. Mueller was gesturing wildly and shouting some Germanic nonsense. At least, twas nonsensical to me, for I cannot understand anything he says other than "ya" as he nods his head. Praise the Lord for Mrs. White - an isle of calm in a sea of storm. The Col. exclaimed that he could not understand a thing Mueller was saying and Mrs. White stepped forward and quietly said that what Mueller was trying to say was that the rain had poured down the chimney and put the fire out. She continued to say that the 7 days of rain had left them with wet wood which could not be lit. To make matter worse - the tweenie, being alone at the door, directed my guests to me IN THE KITCHEN. Much to my embarrassment they beheld the chaos there. As we were explaining the situation to them, an strong odor assailed me - onions! My eyes began to tear, as did those of my guests, for the wench Katheryne had continued to chop onions for soup the entire time. I am certain that, if one had been a detached bystander, twould have been quite diverting. Matthias was found and sent to the forge for dry wood. Dinner did arrive but twas an altered menu.

Mrs. Curtis has arrived and has been staying with us. She is the aunt of my friend, Mrs. Bailey. I am afraid that we have spent too many hours of late playing dominoes. Tis a most diverting game! I do believe twill be prodigious popular - though not so much as backgammon was.

Progress on the New House has slowed. There must be some problem with the chimneys as the Colonel says the delay concerns the heating. We have turned much of our attention to outfitting the kitchen and the necessaries.
Mother is to have guests at the Farm this Saturday. Brother George has written that he intends to come do not the river at Occoquan get too high. Mr. Lester, the farmer to the west and his lady intend to come as well. We expect Mr. Reynolds, the dancemaster to lead us in some new dances. I hope Mother's wood is dry. Twould be chaos indeed to have guests at HER farm and not have food prepared to feed them.

August 24, 1775

What a wonderful thing the network of express post riders is! The Colonel and I have been sending out inquiries of late about old friends. Some response is enlightening, some happy, some sad. I discoverd that a very dear friend of my youth succumbed some 5 years ago to an ailment of the heart. One inquiry led to information about a young Navy lieutenant (30 years ago) who has just retired as a Rear Admiral. The Colonel has had conversation with him and discovered that he and the wife that we knew are now living separately and have been for some 12 years. Would you believe that the intrepid Col. has contacted said wife? She is well and delighted to hear from us. This woman is on the FAR western frontier! Mother suggested that the Col. seek a dear friend of my Papa. He received word of the death of the gentleman's wife, but could find nothing else. I sent out inquiries in a slightly different direction and found notices where the gentleman is practicing the law. He has contacted us and asked after my friend, Mistress Solis. He plans to contact her for his (step)daughter, reportedly, has extensive skill in medicine and is in the Western Territory where Mistress Solis intends to seek treatment for her ailment.

I experienced a rare treat last evening. Mistress Raudenbush and I were to meet the Col. at the lending library for a gathering of the local businessmen. We were early so she suggested that we stop for some refreshment. We went to the coffeehouse! We were not in there long for they attended to our requests quickly and, as the day was fine, we took our coffee out of doors. Twas much as I have imagined a coffeehouse would be. The air was filled with the aroma of the coffees. Men, for I cannot call them all gentlemen, clustered about small tables, taking their turns pontificating on various topics. All turned and stared as we entered - as well they should, for a lady to enter the coffeehouse is QUITE out of the ordinary.

The meeting of the businessmen was lovely. There were refreshments laid out for us - various cheeses and fruits, with figs prominently featured. As the business ensued, the speaker before the Col. was talking of blocking the streets for a street festival of some sort. A few of the businessmen were upset about carriages and wagons not being able to get to their establishments. The speaker stated that it was hoped that the foot traffic anticipated from the festival would more than make up for the inconvenience. The assembly was perfectly cordial and seemed delighted by our proposed walkabouts. Twill be most interesting to see exactly what our reception is!

August 17, 1775

The paint in the New House is much better than I imagined twould be. The entry and passage are painted in a blue-green which we have been told is quite the thing in England. The upper wall is yellow ochre - it looks rather like the mustard dressing that Mueller prepares for sallets. The drawing room is entirely painted in the blue-green. The mop boards and doors have yet to be painted but they are to be Spanish brown. I suppose that painter will do all of those together. I am quite anxious to see the upper walls in the dining room painted. The Col. plans for them to be a sky blue.

June 29, 1775

We shall be well and truly out of the old house by midnight tomorrow. This evening, the remaining lumber shall be removed and the servants will set about a final cleaning. The floors are to be cleaned in the morning. Of course, now the sun shines. The whole of four days moving was done in rain. Tis a wonder that more was not ruint than we have discovered. My bedstead and Mother's were broken by carelessness. Fortunately, they can still hold the bed, but tis disconcerting to have one's possessions mangled. Now that the move is over, we can begin the arduous process of sorting, shifting and tossing out. I wish the painter could have painted BEFORE the furnishings were put in the rooms, but I suppose we can cover them or remove one room at a time.
I have had to summon the physician for this reoccuring stomack malady. The silly quack wanted to give me a purge and bleed me. My body is doing that of its own accord. Why would he think to continue the process! Methinks he wants to kill me!

June 14, 1775

The New House is almost complete - at least enough for us to close with the factor! There have been enumerable concessions between our desires and the dictates of the Colonel's pocketbook. Yesterday, the tradesmen were laying the fitted carpets in the bedchambers. I know not when the ones for the drawing and dining rooms, the passages and the stairs shall be ready. The stew stove and the bake oven in the kitchen are nearing a trial. The rooms we have set aside for Mother will be truly magnificient! One of the joiners said that was the Queen's chambers!
I will be greatly relieved to be settled there at last! It will be especially good now that I have been indisposed yet again by that disease with which I suffer. I do wish Dr. Mercer could find a complete cure!

May 15, 1775

I did not realize how long I have neglected my journal. I suppose that so much has transpired that occupied my time or sapped by energies. Much has happened to prevent our Friends from meeting with us on a regular basis. I find that I quite miss their company. Many had promised to write regularly, but I can only assume that the rains have quite flooded the post roads - else the Col. refuses to pay for the postage. I have not heard that Capt. Weedon has read any aloud at the Tavern. I would think that Kitty would bring me the news of that!
The prolonged construction on the New House and several other matters has me feeling very low. I sense an impending ordeal.

April 30, 1775

Elijah has come into port, and seems to be in trouble again, but not with Captain nor Midshipman! When last he came into port, he was involved in a minor skirmish, and barely escaped with his life! His clothing was in tatters, so he went to the Milliner's above Julian's coffeehouse.

January 12, 1775

I have been out of spirits lately. Perhaps tis the end of the holiday season and its glitter, brilliance, and promise. With all of our friends returned home, there is not the bustle of activity. It may be the evaluation of my situation and the planning that has made me blue-devilled.
Nothing substantial has been done on the New House since the beginning of December between the weather and the break in work for the holidays. We are not near enough to completion to begin planning the move - including WHEN it shall take place.
The children have not been attending to their studies and I feel that all of my encouragement falls on deaf ears.
Perhaps tis simply the affliction which befell me this week. My eye became inflammed and watery. The Col. had me visit the apothecary who prescribed drops to be put in each eye 4 times a day. They do seem to have cleared the inflamation but I must close my eyes for a few minutes after administering them and I am afraid that I doze off when I do so - quite as Mother does!

December 23, 1771

Called on Mr. Hunter's wife this day. Her son summoned me for she suffers from milk fever. I attended her with a remedy and staid with her 'til the fever broke. Her infant feeds well and she should be much relieved by the 'morrow.

December 14, 1771

Attended Mrs. Hunter thro' the long night with her pains. At sunrise, praise be to God, she delivered her seventh son. He is called Clark for his great grandfather. The boy has a hearty cry and I left him in good hands with his papa and many brothers to tend to Mrs. Hunter's needs. She is a hearty woman herself and will no doubt be on her feet shortly, my instructions to the contrary notwithstanding.

December 8, 1771

Oh my I am in the depths of despair and humiliation today was one of the most horrible days I can remember in quite some time! Pinhead escaped this morning and Mrs. Anderson payed me a visit. She has recovered and was ready to take her chicken that she had previously paid me for and I had none to give her not only that I had spent the money that she had paid me and now owe her. She was not very happy at all and complained of "needing the money" and I could say nothing but apologize now I must sell something!! just to return the money I now owe, For only God knows when I shall have the chance of catching him again.

November 21, 1771

Today Misses Anderson brought over her milking goat to stay for a fortnight and be bred. Because I am borrowing a buck for a fortnight and we will split the cost for keeping him her goat is very lovely with buitiful markings I have allready grown attached to her when I first put her in the pen with the others they were not very kindly to her and wouldn't let her eat out of the trof but they have all been in there for a while and have become friends quite quickly.

I Also still have Pinhead in a crate untill Misses Anderson can take him to introduce to the other chickens at her farm I can not wait to be rid of him it is rather troublesome to have to feed him in the crate and he almost escaped this morning when I was putting his feed with him.

Anne

October 8, 1771

'Tis been a muckle vexing day. The master hatter went away and left meh in charge o' the entire shop. The worst part was keeping books. Och all those numbers. 'Twas very vexing. Later There were several daft limmers what came into the shop. Their speech was not short of vulgar and unladylike and their clothing was better suiting urchins and vagrants than the midling families they came from. Ah endured their presence for well nigh an hour and ah'll be the first tae admit ah was muckle thankful tae providence when they left. Not a day has gang by though that ah donnae wish ah were hame in coldstream. Ah am thankful to our almighty Laird that ah was blessed wi' a kind master. Ah cannae say the same fer the poor servants of the fizzles. Ah've herd tell they beat young Mathias McCormic nigh thrice a day. Ah feel muckle sorry fer the lad but ah cannae help bein' glad ah'm nae in his position.

September 30, 1771

Rec'd sorrowful news this day in a post from Mistress Garrett in Fairfax. Her small son, near two years of age, succumbed to a heart ailment which kept him ill all of his short life. She is grieved at his passing and poured out her anguished heart in her letter to me. She is not unacquainted with death nor loss, yet this little one suffered so and her long hours, days and months of caring for him met an abrupt end so that she is quite beside herself with despair. Praise be to God that His dear servant shall meet her infant once again in eternity and no more be vexed by the tribulations of this earth.