Washington took possession of the 519–acre tract in Montgomery County, Md. in April 1793. The land was one half of Woodstock Manor which John Mercer’s wife, Sophia Sprigg Mercer, had inherited from her father. It was assigned to GW by John Francis Mercer to complete the payment of the debt of the estate of his father, John Mercer. There were three tenants on the land who continued to pay 1,500 pounds of tobacco for their annual rent.