I have recd. your Letter of the 4 Inst,1 informing me that you are a Grandson of the late Coll. Charles DeWitt, and contemplate preparing a Memoir of his Life; and requesting me to communicate to you such Documents & anecdotes illustrative of his public Services during the Revolution, as I may possess. This mark of Attention to the memory of your worthy Ancestor, is commendable; and I wish it was in my Power to to facilitate the work you have in View.

As the Revolution proceeded, my acquaintance with the Coll. became more & more intimate— [illegible] But it frequently happened that he was serving his Country in this State, while I was serving it in another, and consequently not under each others observation— I allude to my being in Congress in 1774–1775 and part of 1776— The Journals and Papers of the state Conventions exhibit various Acts and Proceedings in which the Col. co-operated—but as I have not seen them since 1777, those and other particulars relative to his public Services, cannot now, after a Lapse of between forty & fifty years be distinctly recollected. After the Establishmt. of our state Constitution in April 1777 and my appointmt. to a judicial Office, we met less frequently; and our Intercourse was the next year further interrupted by my being sent to Congress, and remaining with them at Philada. until the Autumn of 1779, when I was sent to Europe; from whence I did not return until after the Revolution was concluded by the Peace of 1783—

I well remember, when the Convention was at Kingston,2 that I received frequent Invitations from the Coll., who then lived at Greenkill—that I always met with a cordial Reception, and that under his hospitable Roof we passed many agreable Hours together. I also well remember an Occurrence which, as it does Honor to his heart, I will mention.— Reports came to Kingston that the Enemy were making Incursions into Jersey, and were marching in a Direction which led towards the place where Mrs. Jay then was with her Fathers Family. I thereupon concluded to fetch her from thence without Delay— Having occasion for an additional Horse, and not being able to hire one in the Village, I requested the Col. to assist me in procuring one in the Neighbourhood— He immediately supplied me with a good one that was working in his Plough— On my Return I was desirous to make him ample Compensation— He declined it—saying, that the pleasure of serving me on such an Occasion, was a sufficient Compensation—3 This made an Impression upon me which Time has not impaired—

My opinion of the Coll. has undergone no Variations— I have uniformly believed him to be a worthy Gentn.—of good understanding—of a good Disposition and of determined Patriotism.— I was a sincere Friend to him, and am persuaded that he was a sincere Friend to me— With the best wishes for your Welfare I am Sir Your obt Servt