To George Washington from J. W. Böeleker, 3 January 1794
From J. W. Böeleker
Altona1 Jany 3d 1794.
Once more I make bold to impl⟨o⟩re Your Excellency’s Concern for graciously seconding the Petition of the Widow, Mrs Hinrichsen of this place concerning an Estate of her brother’s, the late Lieutenant Wrisberg, who departed this Life in the Year 1774 at Morrishoop, in the State of New Jersey, which Estate she claims lawfully.2
It would afford much Satisfaction, if Your Excellency might please to condescend to have Information given to us by one of Your Secretaries, whether certain Documents relative to the Succession aforementioned, which were transmitted one year and a half ago purporting the Legitimation of the Claimant have been duly received and whether any Prospect to recover that Estate appear at all or not.
We shall be satisfied with the Interests leaving the Capital to the Disposition of the constituted Administrators of the State.
A short Answer might dissipate so painful an Uncertainty, so on our part, persuaded of Your Excellency’s gracious Disposition, we cannot but expect, the favour will be granted we must humbly pray for. The Supplicant being a Widow of indigent Circumstances, Your Excellency will largely contribute towards Charity by Supporting that cause.3 I beg Leave to remain with the highest Respect and Veneration Your Excellency’s most humble & devoted srvt
J.W. Böeleker
Grand Bailiff to His Majy the King of Denmark.4
L (translation), DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; ALS (in German), DNA: RG 59 Miscellaneous Letters.
1. Altona, now incorporated within the westernmost district of Hamburg, Germany, was at this time in the Duchy of Holstein, which was ruled by the Danish monarch.
2. For earlier correspondence from Böeleker and his client, Johanna Lucia Henrietta Hinrichsen, concerning property owned in New Jersey and New York State by the late Conrad Daniel Wrisberg, see Thomas Jefferson to GW, 16 Nov. 1792, and notes, and Boëleker to GW, 31 Jan. 1793. Hinrichsen’s petition of 21 Aug. 1792 and other statements regarding this estate are in DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
3. No reply to either Böeleker or Hinrichsen has been identified.
4. Christian VII (1749–1808) was the king of Denmark, but from 1784 until his death, Frederick VI (1768–1839) ruled as regent in his father’s name.