To George Washington from John Jay, 19 November 1778
From John Jay
New Windsor [N.Y.] 19 Novr 1778
Sir
Capt. Bedlow of this Place (whom I have long known to be an exceeding good Man) tells me, that Coll Freer near Poughkeepsie lately assured him that Morris Hazard, of that Place had purchased of him, for public use expresly, a Quantity of Flour, which in a few Days afterwards he sold at an advance of between four and five hundred Pounds.1
Capt. Bedlow further tells me that Coll Palmer of Newborough2 informed him lately, that one of the Commissary’s agents purchased a pair of Cattle in this Way—The Seller offered them for forty Pounds, the agent thereupon told him that he would give him forty two pounds if the Seller would sign a Rect for fifty pounds—the seller agreed—Coll Palmer told Capt. Bedlow that this Fact could be fully proved. I have the Honor to be with the greatest Esteem & Respect Your Excellencys most obt Servt
John Jay
ALS, DLC:GW; copy, CtHi: Jeremiah Wadsworth Papers.
1. John Freer (1730–1809) served as a lieutenant colonel in the 4th Regiment of Dutchess County, N.Y., militia, and he was later granted a commission as colonel dating from March 1780. Morris Hazard of Newtown, N.Y., had served early in the war as a deputy quartermaster in Maj. Gen. William Heath’s division, and in 1781 he was suspected of treasonable correspondence with the enemy. For Gov. George Clinton’s comments on this affair, see Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, 4:473.
2. Thomas Palmer (c.1738–1787) of Newburgh, N.Y., served in 1775 as colonel of a regiment of Ulster County, N.Y., minutemen, and he subsequently served in the New York general assembly and senate.