The land had cost him far more than he had received from it.  Simpson had not proved a man of much energy and even had he been otherwise conditions in the region would have prevented him from accomplishing much in a financial way, for there was little or no market for farm produce near at hand and the cost of transportation over the mountains was prohibitive.  During the Revolution, however, Simpson had in some way or other got hold of some paper currency and a few months before had turned over the worthless bills to Washington.  A century later the package was sold at auction, and the band, which was still unbroken, bore upon it in Washington’s hand:  “Given by Gilbt.  Simpson, 19 June, 1784.”

At Simpson’s Washington was met by a delegation from the squatters on his holdings on Miller’s Run or Chartiers Creek, “and after much conversation & attempts in them to discover all the flaws they could in my Deed &c.” they announced that they would give a definite answer as to what they would do when Washington reached the land in dispute.

He drew near the neighborhood on the following Saturday, but the next day “Being Sunday, and the People living on my Land, apparently very religious, it was thought best to postpone going among them till to-morrow.”  On Monday, in company with several persons including the high sheriff, Captain Van Swearingen, or “Indian Van,” captain of one of the companies in Morgan’s famous rifle corps, he proceeded to the land and found that, of two thousand eight hundred thirteen acres, three hundred sixty-three were under cultivation and forty more were in meadow.  On the land stood twelve cabins and nine barns claimed by fourteen different persons, most or all of whom were doughty Scotch-Irishmen.

Washington was humane enough to see that they had something to urge in their behalf and offered to sell them the whole tract at twenty-five shillings an acre, or to take them as tenants, but they stubbornly refused his offers and after much wrangling announced their intention to stand suit.  Ejectment proceedings were accordingly brought by Washington’s attorney, Thomas Smith of Carlisle.  The case was tried in 1786 before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and resulted in Washington’s favor.

In 1796 Washington sold the tract to a certain Matthew Richey for twelve thousand dollars, of which three thousand one hundred eighty dollars was to be paid in cash and the rest in three annual instalments.  Richey died in 1798, and Washington’s heirs had difficulties in their attempts to collect the remainder.

Leaving these legal matters to be disposed of by lawyers, Washington turned back without visiting his Kanawha or Ohio lands, and on October fourth reached Mount Vernon, having traveled on horseback about six hundred eighty miles.  One result of his trip was the formation of the Potomac Company, but this is a subject that lies without the scope of this book.

[Illustration:  The Seed House, Beyond Lay the Vegetable Garden]