Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian Part 6

_Sat.u.r.day. Octob: 16._

Rose at seven; feel bewildered, & unesy--Finished some necessary Writings, & begin before noon to grow better.

_Sunday Octob: 17._

Rose early--Not well--Attended Sermon; Mr Smith preached--Before the last Sermon was done I was obliged to come Home with my second fit of the Fever & Ague. It kept on me violently while about seven in the Evening; then went off in a gentle Sweat!--

_Monday Octob: 18._

My Fit is well gone off, & I feel bravely--Finished & executed some Writings to Joel Fithian[42] for the Securing the Several Porttions to the Children--Took my Leave of Mr _Wallings_, & Mr Ewings Families. Mr Paterson in to see me in the Evening--In the Night we had a fine Shower--I have through this Day taken the Peruvian Bark, to try if by any Means I can break my Fits.

[42] Joel Fithian was the cousin of Philip Fithian, who married Elizabeth Beatty Fithian after the latter's death. Cf. Williams, ed., _Fithian_, p. xv.

_Teusday Octob: 19_

Early went to Mr Hunters; took my Leave & left them by eleven--Rode & took Leave of all my Relations--How hard is it at last? My Heart misgives, is reluctant, in spite of me; But I must away!

Protect me, merciful Heaven, & keep me under the Wing of thy over-ruling Providence--Make me know myself, & my constant, & necessary Dependance on thee!

The Continuation of my Journal, &c.

_Wednesday October 20th 1773._

Left Greenwich by six in the Morning. Rode to Michael Hoshels 8 Miles.

Thence Mr Hoshel, & John Peck along, rode to Quintons-Bridge 8 Miles.

Expence there is 1s/: Rode thence to Penn's-Neck Ferry by two oClock 10 Miles. Expence at Toll-Bridge /2. Ferriage over Delaware 4s/6d.

Oats & Cordial in New-Castle 1s/2d. Rode thence to Mr Achans Tavern 12 Miles. Whole Distance 38 Miles. Whole Expence 6/10.

_Octob: 21._

Expence at Mr Achans 3s/4d. Rode thence to North-East 12 Miles.

Breakfast 1s/6d. Thence to Sesquehannah 10 Miles. Ferriage 1s/: Oats /9d. At Bush-Town by 4 o Clock 12 Miles. Whole Distance 34 Miles.

Whole Expence 6s/7d.

_Fryday 22d_

Expence at Bush-Town _4/2_. Rode thence to a small, mean Tavern to Breakfast, 13 Miles--Expence _1/6_. Thence to Baltimore by one O-Clock 13 Miles. Whole distance 26 Miles--Whole Expence _5/8_.

_Sat.u.r.day 23d_

Expence at Baltimore _15/3_. Rode and forded Petapsko[43] to a small Tavern 15 Miles. Expence _1/11_. Rode thence to Blandensburg 23 Miles.

Whole distance 38 Miles. Whole Expence _17/2_.

[43] Patapsco River.

_Sunday 24._

Expence at Blandensburg _5/7_.[44] Rode thence to Georgetown[45] 8 _Miles_. Expence _1/6_. Ferriage _/6_.--From thence we rode by _Alexandria_,[46] 9 Miles--Thence to Colchester[47] 18 Miles-- Dined--Expence _3/9_. Ferriage _/6_. Rode thence to Dumfries 10 Miles.[48] Whole distance 45 Miles. Whole Expence _11/4_.

[44] Bladensburg, Maryland.

[45] Georgetown, then a small town in Maryland, was later incorporated in the District of Columbia.

[46] Alexandria, Virginia.

[47] Colchester was a thriving shipping center on the Occoquan River, now called Occoquan Creek, in Fairfax County, Virginia, near where this creek empties into the Potomac. The town had been incorporated by an act of the a.s.sembly in 1753 to promote "trade and navigation."

[48] Dumfries, a town on Quantico Creek, had been settled by a group of Scotch merchants, who traded in the colony. Quantico Creek empties into the Potomac. Dumfries had been incorporated by Act of a.s.sembly in 1749. The town had prospered owing to its advantageous position as a center of trade in the western section of the Northern Neck.

_Monday 25._

Expence at Dumfries _4/5_. Rode thence to Aquia 10 Miles.[49] Expence _2/4_--Rode thence to Stafford-Court-House 12 Miles.[50] Whole Distance 22 Miles. Whole Expence _6/6_.

[49] Aquia had originated as a Catholic settlement on Aquia Creek about the middle of the eighteenth century. A short distance from the town were located the celebrated Aquia stone quarries which had been opened as early as 1683.

[50] Stafford Court House, the seat of government of Stafford County.

_Teusday 26._

Expence at Stafford _5/._ Stopped at Colonel Thomas Lees,[51] only a few Rods from Stafford Tavern. Continued there all day, and the following Night. Expence to Day _5/_.

[51] Thomas Ludwell Lee (1730-1778) of "Bellevue" in Stafford County was the fourth son of Thomas Lee of "Stratford" in Westmoreland County, who had served as president of the Council of Virginia.

_Wednesday 27._

Expence to boy _1/_. Rode from Mr Lees to a small poor Ordinary 13 Miles--Expence _/8_ for Oats--Rode thence, without feeding to Captain Cheltons.[52] on the Potowmack 32 Miles--Whole Distance 45 Miles.

Whole Expence _1/9_.

[52] The Chilton family owned plantations in Westmoreland and Fauquier Counties. Cf. _William and Mary College Quarterly_, second series, Vol. 10 (January 1930), pp. 56-63.

_Thursday 28._

Rode after Breakfast to the Honorable Rob: Carters the End of my Journey; 12 Miles, by two o-Clock in the Afternoon. Both Myself, and my Horse seem neither tired nor Dispirited--Occasional Expences on the Road. In Baltimore for some _Buff-Ball, 1/6_. In Blandensburg for having straps put to my Saddle-Bags _3/_. In Colchester for Shaving and Dressing _1/3_. The whole _5/9_. So that my whole Distance appears to be _260 Miles_, perform'd in seven Days. And my whole Expence appears to be 3 6s 6d.

_Fryday 29._