To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 26 December 1794
From Tench Coxe
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 26, 1794. “The Superintendent of the Virginia Lt. House (col William Lyndsay) has reported the Death of the late keeper Captain Goffigan.1 He has placed in that Station Mr. Henry James a native of the place, an old Seafaring Man, whom he thinks every way calculated for a keeper. No other person offers for the service.…”2
LC, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters, Vol. I, National Archives.
1. Laban Geoffigan. See H to George Washington, May 2, 1793; Tobias Lear to H, May 3, 1793.
2. On December 15, 1794, Coxe informed Lindsay that “the appointment of a keeper will in the course of business be brought forward. In the mean time it will be agreeable that Mr. Henry James perform the business under your direction …” (LC, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters, Vol. I, National Archives). On January 3, 1795, Coxe wrote to Lindsay: “I have this day received from the Secretary of the Treasury a note of the confirmation by the President of the Appointment of Mr. Henry James as keeper of the Light House on Cape Henry …” (LC, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters, Vol. I, National Archives).
H’s “note” of Washington’s confirmation has not been found.