To Thomas Jefferson from William Lambert, 17 April 1792
From William Lambert
Philadelphia, 17 Apr. 1792. John Roney, a former lieutenant in the Virginia line of the Continental Army, and Michael Ford, who was trained in a merchant’s counting house and writes a very good hand, both clerks to the Commissioner of Loans for Virginia who were formerly in the office of the Commissioner of Accounts for that state, regard their employment as precarious and wish to obtain posts in the executive departments of the United States. Since the Treasury and War Departments have no vacancies, he asks that they be recommended to David Rittenhouse for clerkships at the Mint when it begins operations.
RC (DLC: Washington Papers, Applications for Office); 2 p.; at foot of text: “The Honorable Thomas Jefferson, esq”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 Apr. 1792 and so recorded in SJL.
The following letters also pertain to employment at the Mint: (1) William Barton to TJ Philadelphia, 18 Apr. 1792, requesting his support for his unsuccessful application to become Treasurer of the Mint and stating that Rittenhouse approved of his application for the post (RC in DLC: Washington Papers, Applications for Office; at foot of text: “Hon. T. Jefferson, Esq Secry. of State”; endorsed by TJ as received 18 Apr. 1792 and so recorded in SJL). (2) Rittenhouse to TJ, 26 Jan. 1793, enclosing “such certificates in favour of Henry Voight as have come to my hands” for use as he thought proper (RC in same; addressed: “Mr. Jefferson Secretary of State”; filed with certificates attesting to Voigt’s good conduct and character from John Nancarrow of 16 Jan. 1793, Henry Deberger, Sr., of 21 Jan. 1793, William Will and ten others of 22 Jan. 1793, and Benjamin Rittenhouse of no date). Later in the month Voigt was promoted from interim to permanent chief coiner of the Mint (see TJ to George Washington, 9 June 1792, and note).