1To Alexander Hamilton from William Barton, 9 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, August 9, 1790. “The experience I have had of your very polite attention to me, and the disposition to oblige me, which you were pleased to express in Your letter of the 13th. of May, induce me to hope for a continuance of Your kind Offices in my behalf. Permit me, therefore, to acquaint You, that I have written to Mr. Jefferson, offering my services in the station lately...
2To Alexander Hamilton from William Barton, [31 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The sheets which compose the pamphlet, herewith inclosed, will be comprized in the third Volume of the Philosophical Society’s Transactions, now in the press. Being favored by the printer with a few Copies of this part, (with the addition of a Title page), I beg, Sir, Your Acceptance of One. If some additional Observations on the same subject, resulting from the Census, which have been read in...
3Receipt from William Barton, [September 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
1800 Genl. Alexander Hammelton To William Barton Sept. 2d. To an arch Bar & Crain eye for a fire place Wt 40 lb. .. £ 2. 00 10 To a Crain for Ditto Wt 36½ lb .. 1. 16.0 £ 3. 16.0 DS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Barton was a blacksmith in New York City. For background to this document, see the introductory note to Philip Schuyler to H, July 17, 1800 .
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Barton, 31 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Altho’ I am, personally, an entire Stranger to your Excellency, you may perhaps recollect the late Revd. Mr. Barton, a Clergyman of Lancaster in this State, whose Son I am. Permit me, Sir, to introduce to your Notice as an American, the Bearer of this, my Brother Matthias Barton; who has resided some Time at L’Orient, as a Merchant, in Copartnership with a...
5To George Washington from William Barton, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency may probably recollect that I had the honor of waiting on You, at the Winter-quarters of the Army, early in the year 1779, with letters from Mr Laurens and the late Genl Reed. Altho’ barely known, however, to You, I take the liberty of inclosing, for your own perusal, a short treatise on a subject little understood, or attended to, in this Country—namely, Heraldry or Blazon....
6To George Washington from William Barton, 18 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I cannot forbear intruding upon your Excelly again, to return You my most sincere and thankful acknowledgments for the Candor and Politeness, with which You have been pleased to communicate to me Your sentiments on the subject of my Essay: And I should be wanting in that respect which is due to Your Character, as well as committing a Violation of my own feelings, were I now to publish it, had...
7To George Washington from William Barton, 3 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself under peculiar difficulties in attempting to address you on a subject upon which perhaps I ought to have been silent & waited an introduction in some other way, but as an opportunity offers, & Reflecting that the wounds I received in the service of my country are such as injure me in pursuing my business on the Profits of which a very large family depend for support I am induced...
8To George Washington from William Barton, 29 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr Wm Barton presents his most dutiful and respectful Compliments to the President of the United States, with the inclosed Letter from Professor Barton. Mr W.B. will do himself the Honor of waiting on the President, To-morrow at 10 o’clock to receive his Commands, which Mr B. will be proud to convey to his Brother. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. William Barton (1754–1817), eldest son...
9To George Washington from William Barton, 10 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
You did me the honor, some time since, of accepting a printed copy of a paper of mine, which had been read before the American Philosophical Society. I now, Sir, take the liberty of offering for your acceptance the inclosed Supplement to that paper. With sentiments of the highest respect, & most perfect attachment I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedt hble Servant ALS , DLC:GW ....
10To George Washington from William Barton, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The near approach of the period of your leaving this city, suggests the propriety of my making a request, previous to Your departure, which I hope You will find no difficulty in granting—It is, Sir, that You will do me the favor of directing Your Secret[ar]y to return to me sundry Testimonials in my behalf, which I deposited in Your hands, soon after the Commencement of the Government. With a...
11To James Madison from William Barton, 26 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
Before I left New York, I had an Opportunity of explaining to Mr. Page the nature of the Circumstances, which obliged me to decline an Acceptance of the office, with which I was lately honored by the President and Senate. It is, therefore, unnecessary to trouble You, with a recapitulation of my inducements to that act of self-denial; having requested Mr. Page to communicate them to You. I...
12To James Madison from William Barton, 26 April 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 April 1811, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “Having the honour of being known to You, and being altogether unacquainted with the Secretary of War (to whom, in ordinary cases, applications of this kind ought regularly to be made),” seeks a discharge for Jacob Hoff, who enlisted “about fifteen months since” in Captain Johnson’s company of the Fifth U.S. Light Infantry Regiment. Hoff, who is a...
13To James Madison from William Barton, 6 June 1814 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Barton. 6 June 1814, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “I take the liberty of enclosing, herewith, the Prospectus of a pretty arduous Work, in which I am engaged. I shall be much gratified, if it should meet Your approbation; and it shall be my endeavour to render it worthy of the patronage of the American Public.” RC ( DLC ) and enclosure ( DLC : Madison Collection, Rare Book and...
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 1 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ], 1 Sep. 1791 . The suit of Currie v. Griffin, an action of attachment, was begun at the July term of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the sheriff has now attached the goods of Isaac Hazlehurst, Matthew McConnell, William Shannon, Richard and James Potter, and Robert Morris as garnishees. Currie will be entitled to judgment at the January term of court and interrogatories may...
15To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 31 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The sheets which compose the Pamphlet, herewith inclosed, will be comprized in the third Volume of the Philosophical Society’s Transactions, now in the press. Being favored by the Printer with a few copies of this part (with the addition of a Title-page) I beg, Sir, your Acceptance of one. If some additional Observations on the same subject, resulting from the Census, which have been read in...
16To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 24 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ], 24 Feb. 1792 . Enclosing a transcript in Currie v. Griffin. For the April term of court, a writ of scire facias must now be issued against the garnishees, which, if TJ will direct Remsen to pay him 1 3/6;, he will obtain from the prothonotary and see that it is served in time. Immediately after the court convenes, interrogatories may be filed, and at the September term the...
17To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 15 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Observations on the Hessian Fly, in answer to the Queries published by the Committee of the Philosophical Society, and addressed, to You, were transmitted (under Cover) to me, since the last stated Meeting of the Society. In the Letter, to me, which covered these Observations, the ingenious Writer—Dr. De Normandie of Burlington—makes mention, that the Magnifier he used on the...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 25 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Fifth Street, No. 36 North, 25 Mch. 1793. Today he received a letter from Rodolph Vall-Travers of Hamburg which had been mistakenly delivered to his brother, Dr. Barton. A small box marked R.V. described as accompanying the letter has not come to hand. He asks through which channel the letter reached TJ, in hopes that this will help him find the box. RC ( DLC ); 2 p.; at foot of text: “Thomas...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 26 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Jacob Mayer , Esquire, late Consul of the United States at St. Domingo, will have the honor to present to you this Letter. With Mr. Mayer’s name, in his Official capacity, you cannot be unacquainted: But, being personally unknown to you, he is desirous of an introduction.—This desire, being prompted as well by his high veneration for your character, as by motives which concern the dignity of...
20To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 26 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I can duly appreciate the great political events, which have recently taken place in this country; though little else falls to my part, than tranquilly to participate, with the mass of my countrymen, in the satisfaction resulting from those occurrences—They manifestly tend to the advancement of the public weal; and, hence, they promote confidence in the breast of every sincere American. Yet,...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 24 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed News-paper (published in a Country-Town) contains some “ Facts and Observations ”—the production of my humble pen,—”respecting the late decision of the Circuit Court at Philad. in the case of William Duane, on the question of Citizenship.” Conceiving the subject to be of high importance, as connected with our National Policy—and presuming that the view of it, here taken, may not...
22To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 22 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
When I did myself the honor of addressing a letter to You, in May last —in which I took the liberty of offering myself a candidate from some appointment under the United States,—I deemed it proper, from motives of delicacy, not to designate any particular station, as the object of my wishes.—A vacancy is now announced in the public prints, to have recently taken place in an office, to which my...
23To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 10 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter, sent herewith, to my friend Mr. Saml. H. Smith, editor of the National Intelligencer, I have stated the cause of my taking the liberty of addressing to You the foregoing Duplicate of my late letter.— I have requested Mr. Smith to explain to You my motives:—they are of a very delicate nature,—important, in a public point of view,—and such as I trust, Sir, will be a satisfactory...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 30 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been confined to my house with the gout, a considerable part of the past summer, I employed myself, during that time, in preparing for the press a work which is now compleated.—I have taken the liberty of sending a copy of the title and preface to You, by a Mr. Getz of this town, who set out to-day for Washington. The subject—as You, Sir, will perceive,—is one of extensive concern;...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 20 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Amos Slaymaker , Esqr. (a respectable inhabitant of this neighbourhood) will have the honor of delivering this to You; together with a copy of my book , which I request You will do me the favor to accept, as a small token of my high respect for Your character.—I have accompanied this copy with a small engraved portrait of myself,—executed in a peculiar style, by Mons. St. Memin of...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 15 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Wishing to send two copies of my book to France, I conceived it would be proper to transmit them through the hands of Mr. Pichon, the French Resident here: Yet, not having the honor of any acquaintance with that Gentleman—and it being very uncertain whether the bearer of this (Mr. Peter Shindel, my next-door Neighbour,) will have an opportunity of calling on him,—I pray, Sir, that you will do...
27To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 22 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Peter Kuhn, junr. having informed me of the object of his present journey to Washington, I pray that I may be permitted to add my testimony to that of some of my most esteemed friends, in his behalf.— The father of Mr. Kuhn, and myself have been friends from our youth. He has been many years established at Philadelphia, as a prosperous and respectable Merchant; principally engaged in the...
28To Thomas Jefferson from William Barton, 3 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Observing by the public prints, that Mr. Steele has signified his intention of soon resigning the Comptrollership of the Treasury, I pray that I may be honoured with your attention to my name, when the appointment of a sucessor to that office is contemplated.— The motives which actuate me on this occasion, are such as I took the liberty of stating to You, in some of my former letters : But not...
29William Barton to Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of your polite and liberal attention to my “Memoirs” of the Life of the late D r Rittenhouse , I take the liberty of inclosing, herewith, the Prospectus of a pretty arduous Work in which I am now engaged. I shall be much gratified, if it should meet Your approbation; and it shall be my endeavour to render it worthy of the Patronage of the American Public.—The publication of a...
30William Barton to Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I was duly favoured with yours of the 30 th of June , and acknowledge myself much indebted to You for your polite attention to my proposed biographical work. I am aware of the difficulties to be encountered in conducting an undertaking of that Kind: they are such, however, as must be experienced by any man who shall engage in such a work; and although some of the obstacles, which stand in the...