1To George Washington from James Keith, 10 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will remember in Octr 1782 I was tried upon the following charges (Viz.) 1st for presuming “to detach a party of armed Men from the Garrison of West Point, without the consent or knowledge of the Commandant, and putting them under the direction of a person who was not an Officer; to the prejudice of good Order and Military discipline. 2d For a palpable contempt and disobedience...
2From George Washington to James Keith, 1 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
However much I may wish to see every slur wiped from the character of an officer who early embarked in the service of his Country; & however desireous I may be to alleviate his misfortunes—it is nevertheless incumbent on me to have regard to consistency of conduct in myself. With what propriety then could I, a private citizen, attempt to undo things which received my approbation as a public...
3From George Washington to James Keith, 24 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
The friends of Miss Anderson; and the residuary legatees named, or described in the will of the deceased Colo. Thomas Colvill are frequently applying to me; the first for the legacy which is bequeathed to that Lady—the others (but more particularly one who claims under the name of Shott) to know what the residue of that Estate is. No man can be more anxious to have all these matters finally...
4To George Washington from James Keith, 25 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your man has just delivered me your Favor, desiring to be informed, in what State the papers respecting Colo. Colvills Estate, delivered me to arrange, now stand. I have delayed closing that Buseness to this distant period, hoping to discover some Traces of a Claim, which by Mr Riddles accts Mr West appears to have satisfyed, but for which no account is lodged, among the papers, and to procure...
5To George Washington from James Keith, 25 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosed a Sketch of a notification for Mr West acquainting him with the Reason of his being called upon, and the forwardness in which the Business now is. Shoud the weather prove favorable next week, I intend up the Country so that it woud not be in my power to attend, in the course of the week, upon the Business, but at any other time I shall be ready. Mr Montgomerie has wrote Mr...
6To George Washington from James Keith, 6 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
I enclose your Excellency a Copy of that Clause, in Colo. Colvills Will, respecting Miss Anderson’s Legacy. As the Lady, to whom that Legacy was given, was not personally known to any of the Executors, it became a necessary precaution, for their Security, that the person, claiming under that Bequest, shou’d satisfy them, by the Affidavits or Certificates of some persons of respectable...
7From George Washington to James Keith, 7 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter from Colo. Hooe, with a statement of Mr Bennett’s claim against Colo. Colville’s estate, will shew you how anxious he is to have that matter settled —and you well know how extremely anxious I am to have all the business relative to that estate closed as soon as it can possibly be done. I must therefore beg, Sir, that no time m[a]y be lost in settling the matter with the...
8To George Washington from James Keith, 7 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago Colo. Hooe delivered me your Excellencys letter, which had been sent under Cover to him. Since the Receipt of it, I have made Enquiry, whether the Defendants have taken any Steps to procure an Injunction: I cannot learn that any thing has been done in that way as yet. When the Actions were tried at the May District Court, the Defendants again brought forward the plea formerly...
9From George Washington to James Keith, 17 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 7th inst. respecting the issuing Executions against the Trustees of Semple, provided they should not procure an Injunction for staying them before the first of April. In reply to which I have only to observe, that I am so extremely anxious to have the affairs relative to Colo. Colvill’s estate settled, and so pressing are the claims against it, that it...
10From George Washington to James Keith, 7 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my way to this place, at George town on tuesday the 2. inst:, Messrs Wilson and Dunlap applied to me respecting the Judgments which had been obtained against the assignees of John Semple, in favr of Colvile’s Estate. The one for £748.17. currt money & costs, with the deduction of £65.2.2 by consent, they are willing they say to pay immediately; and offered to discharge the balance on the...