Administrative Information

Access

There are no restrictions.

Publication Rights/ Restrictions on Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred Citation

George Washington Survey, 1759 March 13, Manuscript MS 1931.11, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 1931.

Alternative Form

Also available as a photocopy, and on microfilm (M-1561)

Biographical/Historical Information

George Washington's career as a surveyor began at the age of seventeen when he accompanied George William Fairfax and James Genn, surveyor of Prince William County on a month long trip west of the Blue Ridge Mountains to survey land for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Although the surveys were done by Fairfax and Genn, the trip established a relationship between Washington and the Fairfax family which resulted in Washington's appointment as surveyor for the newly created county of Culpeper. He served as county surveyor from July, 1749 to November, 1750. He continued surveying after that and is known to have produced at least 199 professional surveys.

Scope and Content Information

Survey with plat of 157 acres on the south fork of Bullskin Creek, Frederick County, Va. The land is currently located in Clarke County, W.Va. Endorsed by Thomas Dent, clerk in the Proprietor's Office. The grant is recorded in Northern Neck Grants Book K, p. 176. The name on the grant is given as McCarmick though generally given as McCormick.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Dent, Thomas.
• McCormick, John, 1698-1768.
• Washington, George, 1732-1799.

Geographical Names:

• Jefferson County (W.Va.)--Surveys.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Land surveys--West Virginia--Jefferson County--1759.