1From John Adams to Francis Coffyn, 19 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday received, your Favour of the 2d Of this Month by Beers who with his Wife and two Children came to me, in deplorable Distress, his Children having been Sick and detained him on the Road, untill he had Spent his last shilling.
2From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 22 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
recommending the Case of Thomas Beer and Samuel Steevens, Ropemakers, who have been obliged to flee from England on Account of their having assisted our Prisoners to escape, and who desire to go to America. It is very expensive and difficult to transport Families...Although we find no record of any payment to a Samuel Steevens (or Stevens), on Sept. 24 Coffyn supplied Thomas Beer with 240