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...
11To George Washington from James Keith, 8 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
When Mr Dandridge mentioned the propositions of Mr Wilson to me on Saturday, I understood that the proposition was to cancel absolutely the Interest during the War. This I was clearly of the Opinion that your Excellency coud not by any means accede to. The proposition as really made by Mr Wilson only tends to keep the Business in a State of Suspence. When the Judgments were obtained in May...
12From George Washington to James Keith, 13 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th has been duly received. You, better than I, can acct for the smaller judgment being for two hundred and odd pounds more than is due. Justice to all parties, & a speedy settlement of the whole, is all I am at. the latter, as I have often repeated, I am extremely desirous to have accomplished. Was I to see Colo. Hooe, which is not likely now to happen, as I am in the very...
13To George Washington from James Keith, 3 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of your Excellency’s Favor of the 13th Ult. by Mr Dandridge, respecting the Judgments of Colvill’s Es[tate] against Semple’s Trustees, and have now the Satisfaction to inform you, that Mr William Wilson called upon me, the monday following, and gave me his assurance that he would settle the Judgment upon the Bond and the whole of the Interest without contraverting any part of...
14From George Washington to James Keith, 8 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is Colo. Hooes letter to me on the subject of Mr Bennett’s claim on Colvils Estate. I can only again express my wish that you would do in this case what, in your own judgment, is perfectly legal & just; or in points which appear doubtful, that which able Council shall advice you to as proper. I want most exceedingly to close this business. and am perfectly willing that Mr Bennetts...
15Tobias Lear to James Keith, 14 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President directs me to transmit to you the enclosed papers & receipts respecting the Legacy paid to Miss Anderson, agreeably to the will of Colo. Thos Colville. I likewise enclose a receipt given by yourself, for seventy five pounds 7/6 which was paid you by the President’s order on Acct of Colo. Colville’s estate, for the use of William Anslay, Administrator of Mary Monk-house. These are...
16James Keith to Tobias Lear, 15 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Line you did me the favor to drop me from George Town was not delivered untill Fryday Noon, I would have answered it immediately, but The Commissioners had not then taken the Accounts under Consideration, the next day was appointed for the purpose, untill this was done the exact Ballance could not be ascertained, as the Quantum of some Charges still to be made was to be determined by them....
17From George Washington to James Keith, 29 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed came to my hands a few days ago —the means are also enclosed to discharge Colo. Simms account, and to receive his acquittal. I would thank you to get from, and forward to me, Mr Lees charge also; that my Administration of the Estate of Colo. Colvill may be finally closed, and the balance deposited some where for the benefit of the residuary legatees. That I may be better able to...
18From George Washington to James Keith, 26 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
The continual pressure of public business has allowed me so little time to look into matters of more private concern that the enclosed accts have not yet been enter’d in my book of accts—& the complicated nature of them resulting from the blended adminn of the two Estates of John & Thoms Colvill, to a person not accustomed to such intricate statements has induced me to re[quest] that you would...
19From George Washington to James Keith, 17 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letter from Mr Bushrod Washington to me, what is enjoined by the High Court of Chancery of this Commonwealth. By Mr George W. Craik, I send in Bank Notes of the United States—the Sum required to be deposited in the Bank of Alexandria, by the decree. Had I known of this decree before I left Philadelphia I could, & would have drawn the Specie for this purpose;...
20To George Washington from James Keith, 18 November 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Letter referred to by Mr Washington came directly to myself, inclosing my appointment as a Commissioner in Chancery, and informing me that your Accounts respecting your administration of Colvills Estate were referred by the Court to be examined by me —he mentioned that he had transmitted to you the order for the Settlement and woud in due Season transmit whatever papers he had respecting...
21From George Washington to James Keith, 10 December 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have just concluded a bargain with Mr James Welch of Greenbrier County, for four tracts of land of which I am possessed on the River Kanhawa, & in the County of Kanhawa (as you will see by the Patents, & Conveyance herewith enclosed) on the following terms; that is to say, I agree to lease the said lands, to the saidjames [Welch], for the term of 30 years; to commence on the 1st day of...
22From George Washington to James Keith, 13 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 13th Mar. 1798 A few days ago I received the enclosed letter and Papers from Mr Lear, but before I execute the Deed to the President of the Potomack Company alone, I wish to be informed from you (as one of the Directors) whether this would be agreeable to the letter of the Resolutions, on which the measure is founded —and if not strictly so, whether the Act of...
23To George Washington from James Keith, 14 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
At the meeting of the Stockholders at George Town no particular mode was pointed out for the Transferr of the Shares to be borrowed, the Company appeared to aim only at procuring Funds and securing the persons furnishing them—Mr Mason the Attorney of George Town was consulted by the Gentlemen of that place about the most proper mode of proceeding in the several transactions, from the...