[13] Cate's marsh and Long marsh—these are names of small streams which flow from the foot hill of North mountain to the Shenandoah river and have along their course considerable meadow or marshy land. Long marsh is of sufficient importance to be named upon the maps of Virginia.
Tuesday 15th We set out early with Intent to Run round ye sd Land but being taken in a Rain & it Increasing very fast obliged us to return, it clearing about one oClock & our time being too Precious to Loose we a second time ventured out & Worked hard till Night & then return'd to Penningtons we got our Suppers & was Lighted into a Room & I not being so good a Woodsman as ye rest of my Company striped myself very orderly & went in to ye Bed as they called it when to my Surprize I found it to be nothing but a Little Straw—Matted together without Sheets or any thing else but only one thread Bear blanket with double its Weight of Vermin such as Lice Fleas &c[14] I was glad to get up (as soon as y Light was carried from us) I put on my Cloths & Lays as my Companions. Had we not have been very tired I am sure we should not have slep'd much that night I made a Promise not to Sleep so from that time forward chusing rather to sleep in y. open Air before a fire as will appear hereafter.
[14] For comments on fleas and other vermin see [note 4.] Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour," p. 14, Washington's association with frontiersmen in their primitive cabins, which the position of a surveyor in the then almost unbroken forest necessitated, was to him a new and peculiar experience. His observations and reflections of the first few days are recorded with a naivete which is truly charming.
March y. 15th 1747-8 Survey'd for George Fairfax Esqr. a Tract of Land lying on Cates Marsh and Long Marsh Begining at three Red Oaks Fx on a Ridge the No Side a Spring Branch being corner to ye 623 Acre Tract & Extending thence No 30° Et 436 poles to a Large Hickory and Red Oak Fx near John Cozines house thence No 60° Wt 90 Poles to a Large White Oak Fx thence No 7° Et 365 poles to Long Marsh 420 poles to 2 Red Oaks and W: Oak in a Poyson'd field[15] by a Road thence No 65° Wt 134 Poles to a W: Oak by ye sd Marsh thence crossing ye Marsh So 20° Wt 126 poles to another Branch: of Long Marsh 218 poles to a Red Oak Fx thence No 80° Wt 558 po: to a Large Red Oak & White Oak Fx in a Valley thence S 25° Wt 144 poles to a Black Walnut in a Poysond Field by a Lime stone Rock thence So 33½° Et 96 to a White Oak thence So 20 Et 316 po. to three Red Oaks in a Bottom in Wm Johnstones line thence with Johnstones So 80° Et 30 po to a Double Hickory Collo Blackburns corner 114 po to 3 Hickorys Johnstones corner & corner to ye aforesd 623 Acre Tract thence along ye lines thereof East 280 poles to 3 Red Oaks finally along another of the lines thereof S 15° Et 262 po. to ye beginning
| Henry Ashby | } | Chainmen. |
| Richard Taylor | } | |
| Robert Ashby Marker. | ||
| Wm Lindsy Pilot. | ||
[15] This probably has reference to some pernicious weeds unfavorable to tillage and injurious to grazing animals, as St. John's wort. Farmers believe that this, and certain other noxious weeds which occasionally invade pasture fields, cause sore mouths and legs in horses and horned cattle and affect the milk of cows grazing where it grows.
Wednesday 16th We set out early & finish'd about one oClock & then Travell'd up to Frederick Town where our Baggage came to us we cleaned ourselves (to get Rid of y. Game[16] we had catched y. Night before) & took a Review of y. Town & thence return'd to our Lodgings where we had a good Dinner prepar'd for us Wine & Rum Punch[17] in Plenty & a good Feather Bed[18] with clean Sheets which was a very agreeable regale.
[16] This facetious term "game," referring to his misfortune the first night he lodged in the valley, has a touch of humor in it; and while it is true that Washington was not given to punning or indulging in witticisms, he was not deficient in imagination or unappreciative of the exercise of this talent on suitable occasions by others. He knew that good humor minimized most of the petty annoyances of life.
[17] The office and art of the surveyor were held in high esteem by the early settlers. It is, therefore, not surprising that the people for whom surveys were executed, made special efforts to give the surveying parties good dinners, even going so far as to set before them "wine and rum punch." I may add here that there is neither tradition nor record that Washington was ever known to have been indiscreet from youth to age in the use of wine or strong drinks.
[18] Feather beds, a great luxury in former times, have nearly gone out of use among well-to-do people. By the wealthy, as well as by the laborers, they were once a greatly prized comfort and often devised by will as valuable inheritances. Hair, cotton and spring mattresses have displaced them from popular favor, but "clean sheets" belong to the category of comforts in even early times and must be a delight and joy forever.