To Alexander Hamilton from John G. Coffin, 11 October 1800
From John G. Coffin1
Boston, October 11, 1800. “If you have not found it convenient to have placed my claim against the United States for Compensation for doing the duty of Quarter Master at Fort Niagara in a train for settlement, I will thank you to forward it to me, that I may offer it to the accountant of the War Department for payment.…”2
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Coffin, a Massachusetts physician, was surgeon’s mate in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers from 1794 to 1798. He also served as acting quartermaster at Fort Niagara, New York.
For background to this letter, see John J. U. Rivardi to H, April 28, 1799; H to Rivardi, June 25, 1799; H to James McHenry, June 25–July 1, 1799.
2. Coffin’s account for one hundred and seventy dollars was settled in May, 1801. See Peter Hagner, clerk in the War Department accountant’s office, to Coffin, May 25, 1801 (LC, RG 217, Records of the General Accounting Office, Letter Books, Accountant’s Office, Volume G, February 28, 1800–June 11, 1801, National Archives); William Simmons, accountant to the War Department, to McHenry, October 22, 1799; Hagner to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, May 23, 1801 (LC, RG 217, Records of the General Accounting Office, Department of War Accountant’s Office, Report Book C, May, 1799–December, 1801, National Archives).