Washington, George (1732-1799) to John Polson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00967 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 September 1788 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 23.1 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Replies to a letter from Polson delivered by Captain Samuel Milford, stating that he did not receive a letter Polson claimed to have sent. Reports that all information regarding Polson's land on the Great Kanawha River is communicated through Milford, whose ship remains near Williamsburg, Virginia. Suggests that Polson acquire an agent closer to Richmond, Virginia, to handle the matter of the Kanawha land. Expresses ignorance concerning "the Lands which were granted to the Virginia Regiment raised in 1754, after Patents were obtained for them, except those of my own."
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Mount Vernon Septr. 28th. 1788
Sir,
Your letter of the 25th. of July by Captn. Milford, came duly to hand; but I do not recollect to have received one dated Septr. 2d. 1783, spoken of therein - At that period I was with the Army in the State of New York and did not return to Virginia until the beginning of the succeeding year - all foreign letters to me, therefore, must either have passed the British Lines or take their chances in Merchantmen - Both, were hazardous conveyances -
Every information (and small indeed it is) that I can give respecting your land on the Great Kanhawa, is communicated to Captn. Milford; with a request that he would transmit a copy of it, with this letter to you - His ship lays near Williamsburgh where your late attorney Mr. Craig, lived, at the time of his decease - and where I presume his Executors (from whom the information I conceive to be had) must now live - Besides, in this situation Captn.Milford is not far distant from Richmond, the seat of the government and information, on account of the general resort to it for the purposes of attending the Courts - the Assemblies - Public Offices - &ca - &ca. - From me, this place is far removed, and one to which I seldom or never go - Indeed I rarely stir from home, and having made no inquiry into the mater, am entirely ignorant as to the disposition of any of the Land, which were granted to the Virginia Regiment raised in 1754, after Patents were obtained for them except [2] those of my own; - and those were within an ace of being sold for the payment of taxes due on them, before I received information thereof
If it was in my power to point you to a proper character (who lived convenient, and would accept it) for an agent, I would do it with pleasure - but for the reasons above, it really is not. - From Richmond there is continual intercourse with the Western Country - from hence w[e] scarcely have any - Captn. Milford will have it much more in his power than I, to serve you in this respect. -
I am Sir
Your Most Obedt. Hble Sert
Go: Washington
[docket]
Mount Vernon <loss> 1788
Genl Washington
to Major Polson
Recd. 21 Jany 1789
[address]
Major Jno Polson
Recimd. To the care of Captn. Milford
Exmouth
Devonshire
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