James Madison Papers

To James Madison from William Allan, 21 March 1813

From William Allan

On Board H.M.P. Ship Nassau Chatham
21st. March 1813

Honour’d Sir

This comes to inform your excellencey of my being a prissner of Warr, on Board H. B. M. Ship Nassau. I sailed from N. York 3 June 1812 in the Ship Alleganey Capt. E. Everlet loaded with tribute stores for the Dee of Algeirs, on our arrival thare they did not think proper to receive them. Colonel Lair had to ransom the Ship by paying Forty two thousand Dollars1 and only allow’d tree and a half ours to clear his coast, We maid the best of our way for Gibirralter whare we arrived on the 4th augt. On the 8th of augst 1812 We ware maid prisnors of warr by his B.M. Ship St. Juan Where we remained untill the 16th Jany. 1813 When We was sent to this prison.

Being sent out by order of your Excellencey I humbly beg your goodness will consider my situation and be pleased to order my exchange as soon as your Excellencey may please the Ship Alleganey is held by Messr. Buy Carts & Mcgruder2 of G Town. My reason for addressing you personaley is owing to my having a large familey and no person except my self to look for Succer, by granting the above you will ever be considered by yr mo. obt. and Hum Sert.

William Allan

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1. For Tobias Lear’s ransom of the Allegany, see PJM-PS description begins Robert A. Rutland et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Presidential Series (6 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1984–). description ends , 5:233 n. 3.

2. Allan referred to the Georgetown firm of Bowie & Kurtz, and to George Magruder (ASP description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States … (38 vols.; Washington, 1832–61). description ends , Claims, 615).

Index Entries

    You Are Looking At

    Source Project
    Madison Papers
    Title
    To James Madison from William Allan, 21 March 1813
    Author
    Allan, William
    Recipient
    Madison, James
    Date
    21 March 1813

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To James Madison from William Allan, 21 March 1813,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/03-06-02-0131. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series, vol. 6, 8 February–24 October 1813, ed. Angela Kreider, J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, Anne Mandeville Colony, Mary Parke Johnson, and Wendy Ellen Perry. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 141–142.]