1To George Washington from Michael Payne, 2 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having ever since the year 1777 been Naval officer of Port Roanoke and being the oldest officer by many years standing in the Custom House department, in which I trust I have executed my duty in a manner irreproachable, but being by the late arrangement (in which it has been Judged expedient to abolish the Naval office) thrown out of an employment in which I in a great measure depended for the...