October 5th
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ON THIS DAY IN 1770
JOURNEY TO THE OHIO BEGINS
"This Country abounds in Buffalo and Wild game of all kinds as also in all kinds of wild fowl, there being in the Bottoms a great many small grassy Ponds or Lakes which are full of Swans, Geese, and Ducks of different kinds."
THE DIARIES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
Where & how my time is spent
1785
SEPTEMBER
Washington’s Map During Jounrey to the Ohio
Library of Congress (click here to enlarge)
1st. Returnd from the Arbitration at Colchester. In the Evening my Brothr. Sam and his wife and children came hither from Fredericksburg in their way to Frederick.
2. At home all day with the Company before mentioned. Mr. Adam’s Miller came here and went to see my Mill.
3. Went in the Evening a fishing with my Brothers Saml. and Charles.
4. Rid to my Mill and back to Dinner.
5. At Home all day playing cards.
6. Rid to the Mill with Colo. Lewis, &ca. Returnd to Dinner.
7. Went a fishing into the Mouth of Doegs Creek.
8. A Fishing along towards Sheridine Point. Dined upon the Point.
November
November 1st. A little before eight Oclock we set of[f] with our Canoe up the River, to discover what kind of Lands lay upon the Kanhawa. The Land on both sides this River just at the Mouth is very fine; but on the East side when you get towards the Hills (which I judge to be about 6 or 700 yards from the River) it appears to be wet, and better adapted for Meadow than tillage; this bottom continues up the East side for about 2 Miles, and by going up the Ohio, a good Tract might be got of bottom Land Including the old Shawna Town, which is about 3 Miles up the Ohio just above the Mouth of a Ck. [creek] where the aforementiond bottom ends on the East side the Kanhawa, which extends up it at least 50 Miles by the Indns. acct., and of great width (to be ascertaind, as we come down) in many places very rich; in others somewhat wet and pondy; fit for Meadow, but upon the whole exceeding valuable, as the Land after you get out of the Rich bottom is very good for Grain, tho not rich. We judgd we went up this River about 10 Miles to day. On the East side appear to be some good bottoms but small, neither long nor wide, and the Hills back of them rather steep and poor.*
Buffalo, 1699
Library of Congress
Novr. 2d. We proceeded up the River with the Canoe about 4 Miles more, and then incampd and went a Hunting; killd 5 Buffaloes and wounded some others, three deer, etca. This Country abounds in Buffalo and Wild game of all kinds as also in all kinds of wild fowl, there being in the Bottoms a great many small grassy Ponds or Lakes which are full of Swans, Geese, and Ducks of different kinds.
. . .
Sunday 4. . . . After passing these Hills (which may run on the River near a Mile), there appears to be another pretty good Bottom on the East side. At this place we met a Canoe going to the Illinoies with Sheep, and at this place also, that is, at the end of the Bottom from the Kanhawa, just as we came to the Hills, we met with a Sycamore abt. 60 yards from the River of a most extraordinary size, it measuring (3 feet from the Gd.) 45 feet round, lacking two Inches, and not 50 yards from it was another 31.4 round (3 feet from the Gd. also).**
* This was a nine-week trip to the Ohio River Valley to locate land granted for service during the French and Indian War (during these entries, Washington was in present day West Virginia).
** “Another of many instances of Washington’s interest in trees. The number of different kinds of trees which he knew and recognized is unusual. His early survey records show his extensive knowledge in this respect.” — Fitzpatrick, et al., WGW
This tree eclipses today’s world record American Sycamore of Jeromesville, Ohio; that tree measures approximately 36 feet in circumference at 4.5 feet above ground level; the tree Washington observed was measured at 45 feet at 3 feet above ground level. — TGZ
GEORGE WASHINGTON:
THE INTERVIEW POWERED BY A.I.
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