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To George Washington from John Daves, 29 December 1789

From John Daves

New Bern [N.C.] 29th December 1789.

Sir:

North Carolina having adopted the new Constitution I presume that Officers are soon to be appointed in the several Ports of this State; In the Year 1784 I was favored by the General Assembly with the appointment of Collector for Port Beaufort to which New Bern belongs—the inclosed Certificates will shew in what manner I have acquitted myself in the discharge of that Office, and if Sir you will have the Goodness to appoint me to the same Office under the new Government, I hope that my future Conduct will not give you any reason to complain.

Having a Wife and some small children, neither the Remains of the pay that I was able to save when the Army was disbanded, nor the profits of the Office I now hold, make it convenient for me to give personal attendance at New York, this circumstance, however, I am persuaded, will have no effect on your deliberations. I have the Honor to be Sir Your most obedient and respectful Servant

John Daves

ALS, DLC:GW.

John Daves (1748–1804), a native of Mecklenburg County, Va., moved to North Carolina before the Revolution and served as an ensign, lieutenant, and captain with North Carolina forces during the war, receiving nearly forty thousand acres of land in Tennessee for his services. He was reappointed collector at New Bern in 1790 (DHFC description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends , 2:57, 60, 527).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from John Daves, 29 December 1789
    Author
    Daves, John
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    29 December 1789

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from John Daves, 29 December 1789,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-04-02-0326. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 4, 8 September 1789 – 15 January 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, pp. 456–457.]