Today in Johnson City History, Wednesday, September 17, 2025
George Washington writes a letter, news from Johnson City and Greeneville
Saturday, September 17, 1775: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington wrote the following letter to Thomas Everard; as usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been recreated below.
“Camp at Cambridge Septr 17th 1775.
“Dear Sir,
“As I believe it will be three Years next December, since some of my Ohio Lands (under the proclamation of 1754) were patented; and as they are not yet improved agreeable to the express Letter of the Law, it behoves me to have recourse, in time, to the common expedient of saving them by means of a friendly Petition. My distance from Williamsburg, and my ignorance of the mode of doing this, lays me under the necessity of calling upon some friend for assistance. Will you then, my good Sir, aid me in this Work? I shall acknowledge it as a singular favour if you will, and unless you discourage me, I shall rely on it.