To James Madison from William House, 11 November 1813
From William House
Philadelphia, Novr. 11th. 1813
Sir
Honoured with your attention And presuming that our family is not entirely erased from your breast, I humbly Solicit for a removal from my present Station to one more congenial to my wishes, and where I can more effectually Serve my Country. Pardon my intrusion, and Should my request be granted the obligation will be Ever remembered with gratitude by your humble Servant &c
William House, etc.1
RC (DLC).
1. House was probably a relative of Mary House, in whose Philadelphia boardinghouse JM had lived with other legislators while serving in the Continental Congress; the denizens of the establishment referred to their circle as “our family” ( 2:16). House’s “present Station” may have been as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army (DNA: RG 94, Registers of Enlistments, 1798–1815, 7:297). By 1817 he was established as a carpenter at 193 Cherry and 37 N. Eighth Street in Philadelphia (James Robinson, Robinson’s Original Annual Directory for 1817 … of Philadelphia and Suburbs [Philadelphia, 1817?; 42001], 226).