Waiting with a great deal of impatience for a passage to Alexandria. I am informed that the Land is much better the higher you go up the River. If it is not, I will not settle in this part of the Country.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19
Spent the afternoon at Colonel Harrison's. Find him a very intelligent man and seems to take a pleasure in communicating the customs and manners of his countrymen. Captn. Knox returned to Nanjemoy this evening and gave me an invitation to go with him to Annapolis, which I intend to accept.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 19
Port Tobacco, Maryland. Hired a horse and crossed Nanjemoy
Creek. Got to Port Tobacco in the evening. This is a small town situated at the
head of a Creek of the same name. The County Courts are held here and a
Warehouse for the inspection of Tobacco. Several Scotch Factors are settled
here.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, pp. 19-20
Marlbro, Maryland. Left Port Tobacco in company with Mr.
John Creig, a Scotch Merchant, Doctor Gustavus Richard Brown, and Captn. Knox.
Dined at Piscataway, a small town 16 miles from Port Tobacco. Our victuals
badly drest, and sour. Madeira Wine at 7/6 per Bottle. From Piscataway to
Marlbro 16 miles. Saw the quarter of a Negro man chained to a Tree for
murdering his overseer. Land in general appears barren and thinly inhabited,
some places sandy and others a sort of stiff clay, but plenty of fine Orchards,
and I observe they generally plant a Peach Orchard on the worst land. They had
a frost on the 9th. of May, which has killed a great number of Trees, the woods
for a mile together seem dead and withered.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20
Annapolis, Maryland. Left Marlbro early this morning. Crossed Potuxen River at Mount Pleasant Ferry. Some good Land after this River. Breakfasted at Rollin's, a Public House, but in this Country called Ordinaries, and indeed they have not their name for nothing, for they are ordinary enough. Have had either Bacon or Chickens every meal since I came into the Country. If I still continue in this way shall be grown over with Bristles or Feathers. From Rollin's to London town on South River. This is a small, pleasant place at the head of the Bay, but no great trade. Crossed the South River and on to Annapolis to Dinner, 22 Miles from Marlbro. Land very indifferent from London town to Annapolis.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20
This is the Capital town or rather City in the Province and
the seat of the Governor, situated at the Head of Chesapeake Bay. It is not
very large or populous, but regularly built and some of them good buildings.
They are now building an elegant State House of Brick, which is to be covered
with Copper. A place of very little trade, chiefly supported by the meeting of
the Provincial Assembly. There is a great number of people collected together
to get Bills of Credit out to the Provincial Loan Office. A considerable sum in
Four, Three, Two, One, Two-thirds, One-third and One-Ninth of a Dollar Bills,
is struck in these Bills of Credit by an Act of the Provincial Assembly. An
office is opened and the money divided into Lots of 1000 Dollars each. Any
person a resident in the Province may take up a Thousand Dollars, if he has an
Estate in the Province of twice the Value and clear of Entail or Mortgage,
which Estate he Mortgages into the Office as security for the money, which he
has at 4 per cent for Ten years, and then the Bills are called into the office
again. It is Death to Sell or Mortgage an Estate that is Mortgaged to this
Office till the expiration of the time, and in default of paying the interest
the Treasurer of the Loan Office has a right to sell the whole estate and
appropriate the whole of the money to the Province's use. These Bills are a
lawful tender and the greatest part of the business is done with this sort of
money. Not only this Province, but every Province, and Colony on the Continent
has large sums of this kind of money issued by their different Houses of
Assembly. I suppose the Credit of these Bills must be indisputable, if one may
be allowed to judge from the number of people that apply for them. It appears
to me that there is a scarcity of Cash amongst the people of all ranks here.
They Game high, Spend freely, and Dress exceedingly gay, but I observe they
seldom show any money, it is all Tobacco Notes. Great number of Scotch
tradesmen here, but very few English. Provisions are as dear here as in
England. Mutton and Beef at 6d. per lb. A Violent pain in my Head this evening.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 20-2
Piscataway, Maryland. This morning Captn. Knox and I left Annapolis. Dined at Marlbro, Lodged at Piscataway. A most violent pain in my Head attended with a high Fever, obliged to stop and rest myself at several houses on the road. Captn. Knox behaves exceedingly kind to me.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 22
Got to Port Tobacco with great difficulty. Captn. Knox insists on me applying to Doctor Brown. I have taken his advice and he told me it is a Fever with some cussed physical name. He has given me some slops and I am now going to bed very ill.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 22
Doctor has given me more physic. Got to Nanjemoy. Almost dead with pain and fatigue, added to the excessive heat, which caused me to faint twice.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 22
Very ill, confined to my room. This is the first day I have been able to stir out of it. I am much reduced and very weak, but my spirits are good and I hope in God I shall get better. Captn. Knox, Mr. Bayley, and the whole neighbourhood behaves with the greatest kindness to me, some of them has attended me constantly all the time.
SOURCE: Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 22
Ship
"Molly" Chesapeake Bay. At 10 o'clock this morning made the Land from
the Masthead. At 2 afternoon abreast of Cape Henry, from which we see Cape
Charles E.N.E. about 18 Miles distant. Got a Pilot on Board. The Land appears
low and sandy, covered in Pines. Wrote to my Father by a Ship bound to London.
At 7 this evening came on a gust of Thunder, Lightning, and rain from the N.W.
Obliged to let go our Anchor in 6 Fathom water at the tail of the Horse
Shoe. It is a custom with all passengers to pay a bottle of rum to the Sailors
as soon as they make the Land. We, agreeable to that custom, have paid ours and
I believe every man aboard (the Captn., Passengers, and first Mate excepted)
are drunk, swearing and fighting like madmen. Blowing very hard. Thundering
very loud and Lightning so strong and quick that I can see to write without
Candle.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 14
At 5 this morning
weighed Anchor with a fresh breeze and cloudy weather. At Noon Clear and
pleasant. The land appears from the Masthead to be level and covered with lofty
Pines. A great number of Rivers empty themselves into the Bay. Can count Nineteen
Sail of Vessels and see the Land on every side. This is one of the finest
prospects I have ever seen. What makes it more agreeable, not seeing land
before these 27 days. At 7 in the evening, calm. Let go our Anchor off Windmill
point.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, pp. 14-5
A Head wind and, as
we have got an indifferent Pilot, the Captn. does not think it prudent to move.
Still at Anchor. Captn. Received a Letter from Liverpool that informs him the
two Baldwins are in debt at home and obliged to go abroad.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 16
Urbanna,
Rappahannock River, Virginia. Contrary wind. Our Ship at Anchor. Captn. Parry,
Captn. Knox, Messrs. Baldwin, and I went ashore in the Pilot Boat. Landed at
this place after a passage of thirty-eight days from Liverpool. This is a small
Village pleasantly situated on a Creek of the same name; the
Custom House for the Rappahannock River, and Tobacco warehouses for the County
are kept here. Messrs. Baldwin went to the house of a Merchant whom they had
Letters of introduction to, Knox and I stayed at the Inn.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 16
At Urbanna, waiting
for the Ship; took a walk into the Country. Find the Land sandy and barren to
all appearance, but it produces excellent Garden stuff. Green Peas are in
plenty. Intend to keep a Diary for the future.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 16
This day the Ship
came up. Captn. Knox and I hired a Boat to carry us to Nanjemoy on Potowmeck
River, about 60 Miles from Alexandria, which place I intend to go to as soon as
possible. Went up to Deep Creek and got our Baggage on Board the Boat. Parted
with Messrs. Baldwin, who are bound to Norfolk in Virginia. Got down to
Urbanna, but so late at Night obliged to sleep in the Boat all night.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 16
Left Urbanna about 8
in the morning. Our Boat manned with three Negroes. At 2 in the afternoon got
into the mouth of Potowmeck River, which is about 12 Miles wide. A great number
of pleasant seats on the Banks of the River. At 10 in the evening came to an
Anchor in Majotack Creek.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, pp. 16-7
Nanjemoy, Maryland.
Early this morning weighed and stood over to Ladlor's Ferry in Maryland, where
we got breakfast at the Ferry house. After Breakfast got under way again, but
run the Boat aground on a sand bank in the River where we stuck two hours, but
by lashing the Canoe to the Masthead and filling her with stones, Heeld the
Vessel on one side and got her off. Arrived at Nanjemoy in the afternoon. Captn.
Knox's Brother has a House here, but he is not at home. He introduced me to his
Brother's partner, Mr. Bayley, who behaves very civilly to me and insists that
I shall stay a week with him. Don't intend staying any longer than I can get a
passage to Alexandria.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 17
Alexandria. This is
a small Village of about five houses. All Planters except Knox and Bayley, who
keep a store. (What they call stores in this country are Shops in England.) In
the afternoon drank Tea with Captn. Knox and Mr. Wallace (Knox and Bayley's
Clerk) at Colonel Harrison's. Captn. Knox introduced me to every house in the
Village. The people are remarkably civil and obliging, appear to live very
well, and exceedingly happy.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 17
Captn. Knox and I
went to Mrs. Marsden, a widow lady in the neighbourhood. Got some very indifferent
Strawberries and Cherries.
SOURCE: Nicholas
Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas
Cresswell 1774—1777, p. 17
