George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 28 July 1788

From Robert Townsend Hooe

Alexandria July 28th 1788.

Dr Sir,

I have been for some time past endeavoring to state the claims and Collect the Debts due to Mr Bennetts Estate & as I find among others they claim a Sum due from the Estate of Mr Thomas Colville late of this County, I have applied to Mr Thomas West for an Acct of the disposition of the Monies arising from the Sale of the Maryland Tract, also the Legacy left by Mr Colville to Mr Bennett, and had hopes he could satisfie me upon looking into his Fathers Papers but he refers me to Your Excellency saying that such Papers as he had of his Fathers relating thereto are in your Possession, & that he thinks Bonds of the Purchasers of the Maryland Tract were lodged with you. If this be the case I shall be extremely obliged if Your Excellency will let me know whether they are to be Assign’d or if you intend to order the Money to be Collected & paid.1 I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s most Obt Servt

R. Td Hooe

ALS, DLC:GW.

1For the claims, under the terms of Thomas Colvill’s will of Charles Bennett, fourth earl of Tankerville, and of his brother Henry Astley Bennett, see GW to Tankerville, 20 Jan. 1784, and notes. GW replied to Hooe from Mount Vernon later in the day: “Dear Sir, Having had but very little agency in the management of Colo. Thomas Colvills Affairs, but (after my return from public life and the death of Mr John West) being very desirous of getting them settled; I applied to Mr Thomas West for such Papers as were in his possession which (unfortunately are very diffident and unsatisfactory) & more than a year ago placed them with such as, I had myself in the hands of Mr Kieth to make a final Statement for the Court—The incompetency of the Papers had from Mr West is I presume the cause why it has not been done ere this—From him you may, possibly, get some information—from me till the Papers are returned it is impracticable for want of documents to refer to. I am Dear Sir Yrs &ca Go. Washington” (LB, DLC:GW). See GW to James Keith, 24 Jan. 1788, Keith to GW, 25 Jan. 1788, Thomas West to GW, 27 June 1786, and GW to West, 6 Nov. 1786. Hooe received from the Colvill estate £600 sterling in April 1789, £100 sterling in July 1789, and £1,697.0.1½ and £541.8.7½ sterling in May 1793 for the earl of Tankerville’s brother “Henry Astley Bennett to whom the residue of the money arising from the sale of the Maryland Tract of Land, is due after paying John Colvills Debt” (Ledger C description begins General Ledger C, 1790–1799. Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, N.J. description ends , 16–17).

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