From George Washington to Alida Livingston Hansen Hoffman, 25 May 1780
To Alida Livingston Hansen Hoffman
Morris-Town May 25th 1780.
Madam,
It gives me sincere pain to inform you that I cannot comply with the request contained in your letter of this date.1 In consenting to Mrs Ogdens coming out in the first instance, the feelings of humanity, & not my powers were consulted—the latter were exceeded—I was prompted to the measure from the peculiar situation in which you were represented to be, at the time.2
This I thought might justify a permission which I had refused to hundreds, but the occasion having happily ceased in your recovery I have nothing to authorize the Indulgence. It must come from the authority of the State. and if it is there pleasure to grant it at this, or any other time, I shall be happy in facilitating an interview, which you so earnestly desire, so far as it may depend on me. I have the honor to be—with the greatest respect. Madam Yr Most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
ALS (retained copy), DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW addressed the letter to “Mrs Hoffman. Baskenridge [N.J.].”
Alida Livingston Hansen Hoffman (1728–1790), the sister of New Jersey governor William Livingston, married Henry Hansen in 1750 and then Martin Hoffman in September 1766.
1. This letter has not been found.
2. The pass that GW previously issued for “Mrs Ogden” to travel from British-held New York into New Jersey has not been identified. The almost certain recipient was Sarah Ogden (1754–1838) of Livingston Manor, N.Y., who was Alida Hoffman’s daughter from her first marriage. Sarah had married a Loyalist named Isaac Ogden.
William Burnet, Sr., a prominent physician, wrote Governor Livingston on 1 June that in late May a group that included Isaac Ogden and his wife Sarah had received permission to travel from New York to Elizabeth, N.J. (see , 3:403–5). Livingston replied to Burnet on 5 June that his “Sister & Mrs. Ogden’s Mother” often requested “a pass to let her daughter come into” New Jersey “to pay her a Visit.” Livingston advised Burnet that he had denied his sister’s requests but had granted permission for “Isaac Ogden & his party” to go to Elizabeth. Livingston speculated that Sarah Ogden previously had traveled “with General Washington’s leave” under the authority of state law (, 3:415–16). The New Jersey legislature passed an act on 10 June 1779 that prohibited persons living in enemy-held areas of other states from traveling to New Jersey unless they had “a Pass from the Commander in Chief,” the governor, or another legally designated official (N.J. Acts 1778, second Sitting, 88–90).
Livingston refused a pass for “Mrs. Ogden to come from New York,” even when her mother became ill (Livingston to Philip Hoffman, 15 Sept. 1781, in , 4:295; see also Livingston to Alida Hoffman, 29 Oct. 1782, in , 4:484–85).