To George Washington from the Maryland Council, 29 April 1779
From the Maryland Council
In Council Annapolis [Md.] 29 April 1779.
Sir,
Mrs Chamiers Friends are very desirous of obtaining Leave for her sending her Household Furniture and Cloathing round from New York by Water we are not satisfied of the propriety of any particular State giving a permission of the Kind though we wish, because of Mr Chamiers generous Conduct to many of our prisoners his Widow should obtain the desired Indulgence this has laid us under the Necessity of submitting this Matter to you and to request if your Sentiment is not against it that you will give a permission on which only ours, which we inclose, is intended to be of any efficacy.1 We are with great Truth and Respect Your Excellencys Most obedt & most humble Servants
Th. Johnson
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, MdAA: Council Letter Book, 1777–1779.
1. Achsah Ridgely Chamier (1729–1785), widow of the Loyalist Daniel Chamier (c.1720–1778), had moved with her husband to New York City during the war, and after his death she sought to return with her furniture and other belongings to her estate “New Hibernia,” in Baltimore County, Maryland. The Maryland Council granted permission for the removal of Mrs. Chamier’s furniture on 29 April: “Leave is hereby given, if His Excellency General Washington shall approve the same and accordingly grant Permission, & not otherwise, to Mrs Achsah Chamier, Widow of Daniel Chamier Esqr. deceased, to Ship in New York on board an unarmed Vessel and therein to transport to Hampton Road in Virginia her Household Furniture and Wearing Apparel, where the same may be received on board Bay Craft & carried to Baltimore, Mrs Chamier sending with the goods a particular Invoice of the Household Furniture & of the Marks and Number of the Packages of her wearing Aparel & making an Affidavit, indorsed on the Invoice that the Goods therein mentioned are her own property for her own Use” (DLC:GW). GW gave his own endorsement on 26 May: “Mrs Chamier has my Permission to transport her Household Furniture and Wearing Apparel under the above prescribed Limitations” (copy, DLC:GW; see also GW to Israel Shreve, 21 May). Mrs. Chamier was unable to move her furniture until 1780, however, after the Maryland Council and GW had again granted their permission; see GW to Israel Shreve, 21 May 1779; Achsah Chamier to GW, 31 May–11 June 1779; Thomas Sim Lee to GW, 3 Feb. 1780; and GW to Thomas Sim Lee, 10 March 1780.