To George Washington from David Jenkins, 27 June 1792
From David Jenkins
Philada, June 27th 1792
Sir,
The subscriber who now takes the liberty to address you was in the year 1755 a Lieutenant in the 44th Regmt in the British service under the command of Gen. James Abercrombie, and in Colonel Gage’s regiment;1 but was under the necessity of selling his commission on account of bodily infirmities; and being afterwards reduced to indigent circumstances has been employed for some time past in teaching a school, Of this last source of subsistence he has lately been deprived by a severe stroke of the Palsy; he is therefore under the necessity of returning to his native country where he has a competence depending sufficient to support him and his family comfortably[.] Being therefore under the necessity of applying to the genorisity of my present countrymen I was advised, by several Gentn both in Virginia and Pennsylvania, to make my case known to your Excellency in hope of sharing that liberality which has often been exerted in relieving the unfortunate and distressed2—Your friendship in this respect will much oblige Sir, your Excellencies most obedient humble servant
David Jenkins
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
1. Maj. Gen. James Abercromby (1706–1781), who had been appointed commander of the 44th Regiment on 13 Mar. 1756, arrived in Albany, N.Y., as second in command of the British forces in North America in June of that year. He was recalled in the fall of 1758, however, following a disastrously unsuccessful attack on Fort Ticonderoga. Thomas Gage (1721–1787) was lieutenant colonel of the 44th Regiment during the campaign leading to Gen. Edward Braddock’s defeat on 9 July 1755. Having been promoted to major general in 1761, Gage served as commander in chief of all British forces in the American colonies between 1763 and 1775.
2. On this day GW gave $5 “to a man by the name of Jenkins who says he was a Lieut. in Genl Braddock’s troops” ( 275).