Benjamin Williams to Alexander Hamilton, 8 May 1794
From Benjamin Williams1
[Philadelphia] May 8, 1794. “The Act for the erection of a Light House and Lighted Beacon on Hatteras & Shell Castle Island having passed in Congress,2 representing as I do the District in which these Lights are to be erected, I take the liberty to name to you Mr. Adam Gasgin a suitable Person for the keeping the Light House, this Gentleman lives near the place, is a Representative of Carteret County in the Legislature of N Carolina & a Man of unquestionable integrity.”3
LS, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives.
1. Williams was a member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina from 1793 to 1795.
2. “An Act to erect a lighthouse on the headland of Cape Hatteras; and a lighted Beacon on Shell Castle Island in the harbor of Occacock in the state of North Carolina” ( 368 [May 13 1794]). See also “Report on the Petition of Richard Wade and Others,” March 17, 1794.
3. H endorsed this letter: “To be sent to Mr Coxe.” Under H’s note Tench Coxe wrote: “Mr. Allibone will note this Application—T C.” William Allibone was superintendent of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers for Philadelphia, Cape Henlopen, and Delaware Bay.