To George Washington from Joseph Vickers, 11 May 1789
From Joseph Vickers
New Brunswick [N.J.] May 11, 1789.
The Memorial of Joseph Vickers Humbly Sheweth,
That your Memorialist has been honored by the Legislature of the State of New-Jersey with the appointment of Naval-Officer for the Eastern District of said State, and that he still holds the Office of Naval-Officer And therefore prays that your Excellency will be pleased in the arrangement of officers to continue him in the Office aforesaid. And as in duty bound will ever pray.
Joseph Vickers
ALS, DLC:GW.
Joseph Vickers’s application for continuation in office was supported by a certificate, 11 May 1789, signed by some thirty citizens of Middlesex County, N.J., testifying that Vickers “is a worthy citizen, good neighbour, and true friend to his country; and that he has transacted the business appertaining to the Naval Office of the Eastern District of the State of New-Jersey for several years past, and that he now holds the Commission as Naval-Officer for the same” (DLC:GW). Vickers did not receive the post he requested since under the new government’s customs arrangements in August 1789 New Brunswick was not a port to which a collector was appointed.