Frederick County West Virginia Voters, 1758

The next list of importance that we have, is the list of voters in Frederick County. Washington was in this county after the defeat of Braddock in 1755, constructing Fort London, in Winchester, and remained there for some time. He was a candidate for the House of Burgesses, in this county three times, in the years 1757, 1758 and 1761. In the year 1757 the vote stood:

For West, 271.
For Swearengin. 270.
For Washington, 40. In the year 1758, the vote was.

For Washington. 310.
For Martin, 240.
For West, 149.
For Swearingin, 45.

In the year 1761 the vote was as follows:
For Washington. 505.
For Mercer, 399.
Tor Stephens, 294.

We have a list of the voters for the year 1758. Each voter had a right to vote for two men, and those two that received the largest vote, were elected. It is said that in 1757, when Washington was defeated that he took no trouble or expense to obtain votes, but stood on his dignity, relying on his merit, and that he was not elected, but in the subsequent years, he added to his merit. He accustomed habit of "treating" and that his receipt for a full barrel of whiskey is extant. The list of voters, contained 443 names, and of course, at that time, they were all freeholders. Some voted for two of the candidates, but many were satisfied with voting but for one. The first 310 names are those that voted for Washington. The vote of Frederick County Virginia, taken July 24, 1758.

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