From George Washington to Lord Dunmore, 11 February 1774
To Lord Dunmore
Mount Vernon Feby 11th 1774
My Lord,
Application’s for Certificates, under particular circumstances obliges me to give your Lordship more trouble than I could wish to do in reciting matters specially. This is the case at present in respect to Messrs Valentine Crawford and Hugh Stephenson; the first of whom serv’d as Waggon Master for sevl years, and sometimes had the care of his Majesty’s Stores on the Southern department committed to his charge, in conducting of which he gave general Satisfaction and for his trouble receivd Ten shillings pr Day. The other, Mr Hugh Stephenson, Commanded a Company of Volunteers in the year 1764, wch he rais’d without any expence to the Country and behav’d much to the satisfaction of Colo. Bouquet who thought himself under great obligation to his Services, & his Majesty’s Interest greatly promoted by the activity & good behaviour of that Company. Under these Circumstances My Lord, they respectively address your Lordship for his Majestys Bounty of Lands—I have thought it a piece of justice due them, to offer this testimony of their pretensions; that your Lordship may be enabled to determine the equity of their Claims.1
I take the liberty of congratulating your Lordship upon the safe arrival of Lady Dunmore, & the rest of your Right Honble Family at New York, & to make a tender of my Carriage, Horses, & best Services, in case her Ladiship should travel by Land when the Roads & Weather will permit, being with the greatest respect My Lord Yr Lordship’s Most Obed. H. Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, ViW: Dunmore Papers.
1. William and Valentine Crawford and their half brother Hugh Stephenson visited Mount Vernon, arriving in late January or early February, and the three left there together for Williamsburg on 12 Feb. (, 3:227–32). Hugh Stephenson received a warrant from Governor Dunmore for 3,000 acres of land under the 1763 proclamation, and Valentine Crawford received a warrant for 2,000 acres (Augusta County Surveyors Record no.2, 249, ViStACh). GW wrote a certificate of service for another soldier on the same day: “I do hereby certifie that John Skelton serv’d as a Non-commissioned Officer in the Virginia Regiment and is thereby entitled to Two hundred acres of Land agreeably to the Royal Proclamation of Octr 1763. Go: Washington” (ADS, CSmH).