George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-22-02-0618

To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 17 October 1779

From Samuel Huntington

Philadelphia Octor 17th 1779

Sir

You will herewith receive enclosd a Memorial from two Officers Stediford & Bicker which Congress have referd to the Commander in Chief.1 I am Sir with the greatest Respect your Exys humble Servant

Saml Huntington President

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 14.

1The enclosed memorial has not been identified. For Congress’s referral of the memorials to GW, see JCC, description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends 15:1181. In his reply of 6 Nov., GW told Huntington that he would give the officers’ memorial “due consideration” (DNA:PCC, item 152). In December, GW referred the claims of Lt. Henry Bicker, Jr., and Ensign Garret Stediford to Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair, suggesting that they be placed in the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment (see GW to St. Clair, 21 Dec. [first letter], DLC:GW; see also Pa. Col. Records, description begins Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. 16 vols. Harrisburg, 1840–53. description ends 12:215).

Garret (Gerard) Stediford (1752–1820) joined Col. John Shee’s Third Pennsylvania Regiment as an ensign in March 1776 and served as regimental quartermaster. He was captured at the fall of Fort Washington, N.Y., on 16 Nov. 1776. Exchanged in April 1778, he was appointed in December 1779 to the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment with a commission as a lieutenant ranking from October 1777. He left the army in May 1781. He was living in New York City in 1817.

Henry Bicker (Beker), Jr., became a second lieutenant in Shee’s Third Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1776 and was also captured at Fort Washington. Exchanged in May 1778, he was appointed to the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment in December 1779 with a commission as a captain to rank from May 1778. He left the army in January 1783.

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