George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-09-02-0030

To George Washington from James Balfour, 10 May 1772

From James Balfour

Wmsburg May 10th 1772

Sir,

A power of Attorny has just come to hand from the heir of Magdalin Stott, who claims under the Will of Thos Colvill deced by virtue of the enclos’d paragrapth of his will.1

I shall be extremely Oblig’d to you to drop me a line of information as I am perfectly unaquainted in this affair—what steps I ought to take in behalf of the claimant, and whether any money on Account of the Residuary Legatees have ever been remmitted to London—or what this claimant has a prospect to expect—or rather I mean what will be the sum that the Residuary Legatees may expect, or any other information you think necessary to enable me to fullfil the trust reposed in me.2

Pardon me for this trouble and permit me to remain with respect Your Ob. Sert

James Balfour

N.B. please to mention what Claimants have offerd as Stotts heir desires to Know.

ALS, DLC:GW.

James Balfour (d. 1775) was a merchant in Norfolk.

1The enclosure begins: “Paragraph of the Will of Thos Colvill decd ‘And whereas my Mother Catharine Colvill had several near relations in Durham of the Names of Stott, Wills, Richardson and a woman called Catherine Smith—it is my will & desire that the overplus or residue of my estate when sold as aforsaid (if any overplus there be) be divided into four equal parts and that each of the before mentiond . . . have one fourth part of the overplus of my Estate.’”

2For GW’s executorship of the Thomas Colvill estate, see GW to John West, Jr., December 1767, and notes. GW’s response to this letter has not been found.

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