September 25, 1784
George Washington reaches James Spurgeon’s place near present-day Bruceton Mills
Traveling through what is now Preston County, George Washington crossed Laurel Hill and reached “the ford of Sandy Creek at one James Spurgeons,” which he placed about 15 miles from Ice’s Ferry. The editors of his diary identify the ford as apparently near present-day Bruceton Mills. Washington continued toward the Youghiogheny Glades, where he recorded spending the night outdoors, sheltered only by his cloak during a heavy rain. His diary names Spurgeon’s place as a landmark along his route but does not record an overnight stay at the Spurgeon home.
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Diary excerpt
In Washington’s own words — September 25, 1784
Washington’s diary identifies the Sandy Creek crossing at James Spurgeon’s place as a road junction. Here, McCulloch’s Path branched from the “New road,” which continued across the Youghiogheny River toward Braddock’s Road.
Excerpt from The Diaries of George Washington, Volume IV, edited by Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, Library of Congress PDF page 50. Spelling and capitalization are retained from that transcription. Square brackets mark editorial additions; [Creek] is PCTT’s contextual correction of “Greek” in the LOC PDF. Footnote markers 3–5 have been omitted; the notes remain available in the linked volume.
The Road from Morgan Town, or Monongahela C[our]t House, is said to be good to this ferry— distance abt. 6 Miles. The dissent of the hill to the river is rather steep & bad and the assent from it, on the North side, is steep also tho short, and may be rendered much better. From the ferry the Laurel hill [Chesnut Ridge] is assended by an easy and almost imperceptible slope to its summit, thro' dry white oak Land. Along the top of it, the road continues for some distance, but is not so good, as the Soil is richer, deeper, & more stony, which inconveniences (for good roads) also attends the dissent on the East side, tho it is regular, & in no places steep. After crossing this hill the road is very good to the ford of Sandy Creek at one James Spurgeons, abt. 15 Miles from Ice's ferry.
At the crossing of this [Creek] McCullochs path, which owes it origen to Buffaloes, being no other than their tracks from one lick to another & consequently crooked & not well chosen, strikes off from the New road which passes great Yohiogany 15 Miles further on, and enters Braddock road at the place before mentioned [east of Winding Ridge], at the distance of 22 Miles.
From Spurgeons to one Lemons, which is a little to the right of McCullochs path, is reckoned 9 Miles, and the way not bad; but from Lemons to the entrance of the Yohiogany glades which is estimated 9 Miles more thro a deep rich Soil in some places, and a very rocky one in others, with steep hills & what is called the briery Mountain to cross is intolerable but these [ascents] might be eased, & a much better way found if a little pains was taken to slant them.
At the entrance of the above glades I lodged this night, with no other shelter or cover than my cloak; & was unlucky enough to have a heavy shower of Rain. Our horses were also turned loose to cator for themselves having nothing to give them. From this place my guide (Lemon) informed me that the Dunkers bottom was not more than 8 Miles from us.
It may not be amiss to observe, that Sandy Creek has a fall within a few miles of its mouth of 40 feet, & being rapid besides, affords no navigation at all.
Spurgeon’s land in Morton’s history
Morton’s land-patent list records James Spurgeon with 400 acres on the west side of Big Sandy in 1785, the year after Washington’s journey. This provides additional context for Spurgeon’s connection to the creek, although the precise location of his home and the ford remains unconfirmed.
Read Morton’s land-patent list — printed page 537Geographic context
The country Washington crossed
Library of Congress, The Diaries of George Washington, Volume IV, printed page 34. The map provides geographic context; its roads are not a confirmed tracing of Washington’s exact 1784 route.
Open the full-size map at the Library of CongressHistorical route map · Published 1932
Washington’s journeys through West Virginia and Ohio
This is a later historical reconstruction, not a map drawn by Washington. The source distinguishes known and approximate locations; it does not establish the precise site of Spurgeon’s home or the Sandy Creek ford.
David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford University Libraries. The George Washington Atlas, edited by Lawrence Martin; United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 1932. Map 0465.035.
Sources and further reading
Where this entry comes from
The Diaries of George Washington, Volume IV, September 25, 1784 — Library of Congress PDF, page 50; editors’ note 3 on PDF page 51
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