George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 15 September 1793

From Alexander Spotswood

Virga Nottingham Septr 15th 1793

Dear Sir

I did myself the honr to write you sometime past; that my Eldest Daughter had married a Mr Francis Brooke a gentleman in the profession of the law—and requested that if ever the naval officers place was Vacant at Hobs Hole where he lives, that you would be so good as to give him the appointment.1

I now have Some reason to Suppose it will be soon Vacant; (this post to my Son in law, in addition to his practice, would enable him better to provide for a riseing family; and I will Venture to assure you Sir, that the Bussiness will be conducted by him, with the greatest rigidness & punctuality—and I would not on any Acct recommend him to you, if I had not have had, many years proof, of his Strickt honour & Integrity—yr freindship in this Instance will lay me under Additional Obligations. with the Sincerest regard & Esteem an Attachment I remn yr obedt st

A. Spotswood

ALS, DLC:GW. A note on the cover reads: “To be returned to the President.”

1Spotswood’s previous letter on this subject has not been found. His daughter Mary Randolph Spotswood (d. 1803) married Francis Taliaferro Brooke (1763–1851), a Revolutionary War veteran, in October 1791. Brooke represented Essex County in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1794–95, and served in the Virginia Senate, 1800–1804, acting for thirteen months as speaker. In January 1804 Brooke was appointed a judge of the General Court, and in 1811 he was appointed a judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals, where he served until his death. Hobs Hole is Tappahannock, Virginia. As no naval officer had been appointed to that port, presumably Spotswood was referring to the post of collector and inspector of the revenue, held by Hudson Muse, who was replaced in March 1794 by Laurence Muse.

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