To George Washington from John Moriarty, 2 October 1789
From John Moriarty
Salem [Mass.]
May it please your Excellency—2d October 1789
I came here from Ireland in the begining of the late war & Cheerfully Contributed to the Cause of freedom & to maintain our rights, and amply bore my share of the burthen.
In the year 1782. my losses in trade by Capture and other Casualties were great; & to Compleat my ruin £32000. of the old Emmission died in my hands, which the Records of the state Treasurer will Verify—Since which, I have been Strugling to Support my family—and Hope has kept me from Despair, & Chear’d me with the thought that under the new Government I might have Some appointment of which I was Capable that would make some amends for my losses and afford a Support—I flatter myself that in the appointment officers under the Revenue Law I might have been so happy as to obtain one, I applyed to Some of the members of the Honorable house, who I had earnestly Intreated to Solicit in my behalf, but in this, was disapointed as prior Engagemts & motives of Consanguinity Superceded my Claims to their Intercessions—Some friends Inform me that there Will be many other Offices to fill that my abilities & Services may Intitle me to a place in, & advise me to apply directly to your Excellency.
With these Encouragements I venture to address your Excellency with all due Difference to your Exalted Station—Humbly to Implore your Condescention to notice me thus far as to appoint me to Some Office that may afford me a support.
The Honorable Robert Morris Esquire will give you my Character, & Shew your Excellency in ample manner how Strongly I have been recommended to him by Some respectable Characters in Europe, that may Claim your favourable notice. May God long prosper your Excellency a Savior to this Country in as Eminent and Illustrious a manner as you have been its Defender—is the prayer of your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant
John Moriarty
ALS, DLC:GW.
During the Revolution John Moriarty (d. 1797) had owned at least four Salem-based privateers ( 132, 201). For more information on his early career, see his letter to GW, 8 Mar. 1784, requesting help in establishing himself in business. At one time he was apparently moderately successful since he owned an impressive house in Salem. William Bentley, pastor of the East Church in Salem, in an entry in his diary for 22 Aug. 1797, describes Moriarty’s end: “Last night one John Moriarty, an Irishman, well known for his revels, was upon his late return homewards, & being ill able to find his way, both from the darkness of the night & of his own faculties, tumbled into a well in Ash Street, which was deep but entirely dry, & perished. He was not found until towards night, having been about twelve hours in this condition. Said John has been a remarkable settler of accounts, & very busy in litigious suits at Law, a writer in the Clerk’s office & at last a Bookseller. He came from Ireland to the Bay of Fundy, & at the Commencement of the Am. war, to Salem. Purchased an estate . . . & lost it & went through many revolutions in his affairs. . . . The woman who prepared his grave Cloathes, found his pinch of snuff fast between his thumb & finger” (, 2:234).