Why Was George Washington refused Lodgings at the Ammidon Tavern in Mendon, Ma. :) Pres George WASHINGTON was inaugurated , as the 1st President , in New York City in 1789. Congress adjourned and Washington began his a tour of the states along the Eastern seaboard on Thursday, Oct. 15. 1789 . As far as can be found he was accompanied by Major Jackson, Mr. Bear, and 6 servants.. The President traveled in a very impressive carriage flanked by impressive uniformed Officers. (from Acc. of Sara Taft, written 1908) They spent the first night in a tavern in Rye, NY. proceeding to Fairfield CT. where they spent their first overnight in a New England state. From their they traveled to Stratford, CT. ferried across the Housatonic River and spent the night in Milford, CT. From there they proceeded to Brookfield, Ma. along the old POST Lane Road. to Boston, Ma. This is where the much talked about "Hancock Incident" took place. Gov. John Hancock was not on hand to greet the President , as he should have been. Many took this as a deliberate slight by the Gov. to the President of the US. The next day, Gov. Hancock called on the Pres. and pleaded ill health for this slight From Boston Washington's party went to NH. by way of Marblehead , Salem, Ipswich, Newburyport, and Andover , Ma. they also toured Haverill, Andover, Lexington,Watertown, Needham, Sherbon. Holliston. Milford, Mendon and Uxbridge in Ma. The tour lasted one month.. The new President planned to stay in Mendon, Ma. on Nov. 6th 1789 at the Inn owned by his old ARMY friend Philip Ammidon. However when the President and his entourage arrived, on a cold rainy Nov. day, Mr. Ammidon and his daughter were not at home .as they were out buying meat for the anticipated visit of Phillip's old friend, and Pres. of the Us. George Washington. From here the story varies according to who tells it. Some say a maid opened the door, as Mrs Ammidon was resting from so much preparation for the President's visit, and the maid when asked if they had the accommodations. . She replied "They were expecting someone very important and all the rooms were reserved". So the gentle person from Virginia turned and left and proceeded to Uxbridge, Ma. to the Taft Tavern where the President and his party were gladly welcomed. Another versions is that the wife answered the door and not the maid and misunderstood and thought the "Title " Pres. meant an Educator and she was to ill to accommodate them? Washington's own version is " that the owner of it being from home , and the wife sick, we could not gain admittance" Well, whoever answered the door, they refused George Washington lodging for the night, at the Ammidon Tavern in Mendon, Ma. . Upon Mr. Ammidons return home and he heard of this error , he and his daughter quickly jumped back io their horses and rode to the Taft Tavern to fetch his old friend and bring him back to Mendon.. However the Pres. was in bed and did arise to greet his old friend. However he was very comfortable and he would not return to Mendon. Col Ammidon naturally was mortified about this big misunderstanding , but the Pres. was even joking with Ammidon's daughter . There are a few excerpts in George Washington's diary about his stay in Uxbridge. Also there is a letter written by Pres. Washington to the Taft Tavern's Inn keeper Samuel Taft and his family..and writings of Sara Taft.. They all tell more about the Pres. visit. Sources: 1. News Articles, by John Ledger, 1994. in the Telegram & Gazette. 2. Milford Daily News Article. by Denise M. Mize (no date) 3. Unknown author article, in the Mendon Historical Museum. Just titled George Washington; 4. Milford Daily New Article, Dec. 1985. by Gary Starta. All above articles in the Mendon Historical Museum =========== Above compiled from these sources by Alice Pickering Palladini [email protected] - Message From Massachusetts