To Alexander Hamilton from William North, 4 June 1797
From William North1
Duanesburg [New York] June 4, 1797. “The necessary papers respecting our Contest with Voght,2 will I hope be forwarded to you.… Our situation with respect to this business is not pleasant, As it is Our firm belief that the farms in dispute are our property, it is disagreeable to see them in a situation from which we can neither derive benefit, nor prevent Waste & Spoil.… We rely on your friendship to finish the Vexatious business as soon as possible, it is not on the friendship of an Atty or Councillor, but on that of Colonel Hammilton we rely.”
ALS, New-York Historical Society, New York City.
1. North, a veteran of the American Revolution who had served as Baron von Steuben’s aide-de-camp, was a member of the New York Assembly in 1792 and again from 1794 to 1796. He was speaker of the Assembly in 1795 and 1796. In 1798 he was appointed United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Sloss Hobart, and he served in that capacity from May 5 to August 17, 1798.
This letter concerns lands owned by James Duane, whose daughter North had married in 1787. Duane had died in February, 1797.