ce, and she will
not consent to trust the business entirely to the Staymaker, nor,
it seems, to any other Lady in Annapolis but Mrs. Davidson, so that
you see what a deal of trouble I have brought her into, by having
often observed in my daughter's hearing how that Mrs. Davidson
seemed to me to be in all things about her Family, in short the Girl
has taken it into her head that she is old enough to become a wife,
and does not only beg of Mrs. Davidson to direct as to her Stays,
but wishes she would take the trouble of procuring some Paterns of
silks fit and suitable for what they call a Wedding Gown, with the
prices paid or annexed to the Patterns, and when the choice is made
I suppose the next favor will be of Mrs. Davidson to direct as to
the making of it. Mrs. Davidson must take the cause of all this
trouble to herself, for if she did not merit the charge she would
not have had the trouble. I am just now interrupted by receiving a
further commission, to wit for a crepe cushion made by the best and
most fashionable Barber in Annapolis, and a lock of the color wanted
is enclosed. I want everything good and fashionable, but you know we
old Fellows like everything as cheap as they can be got to have them
good. I leave everything to yours and Mrs. Davidson's good
management, but, at the same time, it would appear as if there was
some expedition. The samples and prices of the silk I will be
obliged by your sending by post, the Stays and Cushion perhaps you
may be able to forward by Miss Patty Lingan who will be coming down
in nine or ten days, as I am informed. I am just now tortured with
black guard consignment business and therefore I conclude by
remaining Your Very Humble Servant,

ROBERT PETER.

They were married in October and had eight children, all but one of whom
lived to maturity.

In 1792, five years after their marriage, James Dunlop bought an estate
of 700 acres known as "Hayes," seven miles out in Montgomery County;
this later became their permanent residence. It had been built in 1762
by the Reverend Alexander Williamson, rector of Rock Creek Church (now
St. Paul's), until he resigned in 1776, being a Tory. In history, he is
called the "Sporting Parson" because of his love for fox-hunting and
cock-fighting.

The back lawn of this house was the bowling green and the old balls are
still in the attic