To George Washington from Edward Anderson, 13 August 1773
From Edward Anderson
Annapolis 13th August 1773.
Sir
Col: Thomas Colvill having bequeathed “unto the Youngest Daughter of Mr William Anderson Merchant in London the Sum of Eighty Pounds Sterling”—I beg leave to inform you that Harriot Rebecca Anderson is the youngest Daughter of Mr William Anderson, & that her Guardian Mrs Rebecca Anderson has sent me a Power of Attorney to receive that Legacy.1
As it would be inconvenient for me to wait upon you at present, & my residence on the Eastern Shore will prevent my seeing you, when you may be in this Province, I shall be obliged to you to pay that Money into the Hands of Mr Anthony Steuart of this Place; & you will please to write to him by return of Post whether you can make immediate Payment, or whether you judge it necessary for me to take any further Steps previous to your paying the Money. I am Sir Your obedt humb: Servant
Edward Anderson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The London merchant William Anderson (c.1709–1771) spent time in Maryland, and his wife was Rebecca Covington Lloyd Anderson (1713–1774) of Somerset Co., a daughter of former governor Edward Lloyd. GW wrote Edward Anderson on 10 Sept. that Anderson would have to secure a power of attorney from Harriot Rebecca Anderson’s guardian, their mother, Rebecca Anderson, and have it recorded in the Fairfax County court before he could pay him Miss Anderson’s legacy. After the war on 30 April 1785, Henry Hollyday, Harriot Anderson’s uncle, wrote to GW from Baltimore, referring to the exchange of letters in 1773 between GW and Miss Anderson’s brother Edward Anderson, who died in the spring of 1774. Hollyday asked GW to pay the “Sixty or Eighty Pounds Sterling” that Thomas Colvill had left to Miss Anderson, who was destitute and had come from London to Maryland to live with her uncle and his family. For the correspondence that ensued regarding Harriot Anderson’s legacy from Colvill, see Henry Hollyday to GW, 30 April 1785, n.2.