George Washington Papers

To George Washington from James Piercy, 23 May 1798

From James Piercy

New Jersey Avenue [Washington, D.C.] May 23. 1798

Mr Piercy presents his Compliments to General Washington, requests he will do him the Honor to accept Two Loaves of Double refined Sugar, the produce of the Manufactory at Washington City.1

AL, DLC:GW.

James Piercy, an Englishman, operated the sugar refinery, known as the “Sugar House,” at the foot of New Jersey Avenue in Washington. The refinery, built and backed by Thomas Law, was just getting into production.

1The Washingtons must have found Piercy’s sugar satisfactory, for Mrs. William (Anna Marie Brodeau) Thornton reported in her diary on 13 Jan. 1800: “Went to visit Mrs. Piercy—took a letter from Mr Lear to Mr Piercy—respecting a supply of sugar for Mrs Washington” (Columbia Hist. Soc. Recs. description begins Records of the Columbia Historical Society. Washington, D.C., 1895–. description ends , 10:94).

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