Articles of Agreement
5 October 1796
Call number: Mss1 C9698a 413

Transcription:

          Articles of Agreement made and entered into this fifth_ day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety six, by & between George Washington, President of the United States, on one part and James Anderson, at present of Stafford County and State of Virginia on the other part, Witness, that for & in consideration of the wages and allowances herein after mentioned, the said James Anderson doth promise and agree to superintend and manage to the best of his skill & judgment the interest of the said George Washington at Mount Vernon and its Dependencies, comprehending the several Farms, Mill, Fishery, Tradesmen of different kinds, Ditchers, Spinners, the person who has charge of the Jacks, Stud horse, Mules and such other matters as the nature of the concern may require, and will enter upon the duties thereof on or before the first day of January next ensuing, and remain therein until the first day of January in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Ninety eight, during which period he will in all things to the utmost of his abilities discharge the trust reposed in him with diligence and integrity, following the plans that are, or shall be adopted, and such directions as he shall receive; and where these are not clear and definite then to pursue the dictates of his own judgment in the premisses; and even in cases where they may happen to be explicit, if repugnant to the ideas of the said James Anderson the said George Washington will always and with pleasure listen to any suggested alterations which may be offered by him with a view to the advancement of the Crops, increase of the Stocks, and for the general improvement of the Estate: the great objects of the said George Washington being to Crop the land in such a manner (by Judicious rotations) as to keep it in an improving instead of a declining State; to make permanent Meadows of Wet or sunken Lands capable of being reclaimed; to introduce Clover and other Grasses as far & as fast as it can be done in tillable fields that are condition to bear it, but avoiding at the same time too great an expense in the purchase of Seed; to substitute live in place of dead fences where it is practicable, and this with as much facility as the Seasons and the nature [of the nature (crossed out)] of the case will admit, as the Inclosures are numerous, Timber becoming scarce, & the common materials for fencing, in most instances, far to remove.

          These with regular weekly reports from each Farm & class of people__ due attention to the Stocks on the Several farms__ to the Tools and implements of husbandry thereon, taking an exact List thereof, and making the Overseers accountable not only for their forthcoming, but for the preservation of them from the Weather; and in a word, to keep as regular Accounts with each Farm, & with every separate branch of business, debiting & crediting the same with every thing that goes to or comes from them, as if they were the property of another person, thereby ascertaining the profit & loss–correcting, by a strict & close inspection into matters, the many abuses which is too much reason to fear has crept into every branch of my business, from the little personal attention I have been able to bestow on it for many years last past; and lastly keeping all the Overseers & subordinate characters who are or may be placed under your management, strictly to their respective duties, will (together with cloathing the people, providing for & disposing of things belonging to the Estate on the best terms and rendering regular Accounts thereof) constitute the great outlines of the trust which I have reposed in you.__ To go more into detail would be as tedious as it is unnecessary to a person competent to the superintendence of such a concern as mine:__ for to tell a Farmer that his fences ought to be in good order, his fields secured against trespassers of every kind, his Grounds well ploughed; his Crop kept clear of Grass & Weeds; his Seeds put in in [sic] good order and in due Season; his grain & hay cut at a proper time & well stacked, & the former got out of the straw as soon after harvest as circumstances will permit, & that without waste of loss of Grain or straw, making Butter and selling all that can be spared__ as also such Stock of different kinds as will, by being culled out, render the remainder healthy & thriving; that his Cattle &c. ought to be regularly penned in Summer & secure from bad Weather in Winter, & the utmost attention paid to the making of Manure for the improvement of his fields at both Seasons; that his Work Horses & Oxen should be well attended to, and kept in good & fit condition, thereby enabling them to perform the labours which they must undergo:__ to remind him of these things would I say, be only observing what every Farmer must be thoroughly sensible his duty enjoins; but it may not be amiss to repeat that one of the most effectual steps to accomplish all these ends, is to see that the Overseers of the Farms and the Superintendents of other business are constantly at their posts: for it may be received as a maxim that if they are away or entertaining Company at home, that the concerns entrusted to them will be slighted & certainly go wrong; and it is not less certain that relaxation on his part, will serve only to beget liberties on theirs__ therefore strictness with justice is the sure means of having the business well conducted. It is further agreed by the said James Anderson that his Wife shall Superintend a Dairy and turn it to the best and most profitable account the means on the Estate will afford.__

          In consideration of these services well and truly performed on the part of the said James Anderson, the said George Washington doth hereby promise to pay him the said Anderson the Sum of One hundred and twenty Pounds certain - and if he conducts the business which has been enumerated with ability: & to the satisfaction of the said George Washington Twenty Pounds more shall be added thereto, and in that proportion for a greater or lesser time than a Year actually employed in the said Washington's service; and will allow him over & above Twelve hundred pounds of Pork, about five hundred pounds of Beef, to be received at different times as it may happen to be killed for the use of the Mansion House or for Market, and some fresh Meat from what may be occasionally killed for like purposes together with such quantities of Flour & Indian Meal as are mentioned at foot for his Family; he is also to be allowed the use of three Cows for the purpose of affording milk & Butter therefor, and to raise Poultry for the same but not for sale. And in order to enable the said James Anderson to perform the several duties herein required of him with dispatch and with ease to himself, and to accommodate his Wife with the means of going to Church, the said George Washington doth agree to furnish the said James Anderson with two serviceable horses (or more if necessary) and feed for the same; and he more over agrees to allow the said James Anderson the use of a Negro Woman to wash and Cook for his Family and a Boy & Girl to aid & attend in the House & Garden – the first not to exceed fourteen or fifteen years of age, & the other twelve.__

          And lastly, in order that the said James Anderson may have the entire controul over the Overseers of the different Farms, & others hired as overlookers of any other business, he is hereby vested with full power and authority to engage when they are wanting such as he may have confidence in & discharge those who do not conduct themselves well.___

          Witness our hands & Seals the day & Year first above written.__

          N.B. The quantity of provisions referred to in the agreement is four Barrels of fine flour & fifty Bushels of Indian Meal.

          Witness                    Go: Washington

          Geo. W. Craik                    Jas. Anderson