To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 1 October 1796
From the Commissioners for the District of Columbia
Washington 1st October 1796
Sir,
We enclose a copy of a Letter from Messrs Morris & Nicholson respecting the completion of their titles; and supposing that the most eligible mode of accommodating those gentlemen, as well as all others similarly circumstanced, will be, to obtain a conveyance from the Trustees to the Commissioners, agreeably to a clause in the Deeds of Trust, authorising such conveyance;1 we also enclose a form of request, which we think proper to be used by the president on the occasion, should he approve of the measure2—we are, with sentiments &c.
G. Scott
W. Thornton
A. White
LB, DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Sent.
1. The commissioners enclosed a letter to them of 30 Sept. from Robert Morris and John Nicholson: “On a mature consideration of the deeds of trust of the original proprietors … and of the laws of the state of Maryland relative to the titles thereto—we are of the opinion that to vest in us a complete title it will be well to have deeds from the trustees named in those deeds of trust executed According to the terms of their trust … we have applied to them And they have signified their readiness so to do on receiving orders from the Commissioners.” The partners sought the deeds for their property “in the City whether [owned] Jointly or separately to which we are intitled to conveyance” (DNA: RG 42, Records of the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, Letters Received). For the deeds of trust and the related 19 Dec. 1791 Maryland law, see Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 1 Oct. (first letter); and , chap. XLV. For the lot selection involving Morris and Nicholson, see Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 31 Oct. 1796 and 31 Jan. 1797.
2. The “form” has not been found, but it became the basis of GW’s executive order to Thomas Beall and John Mackall Gantt of 3 Oct. (see GW to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 5 Oct., and n.2).