George Washington Papers

Lieutenant William Thompson to George Washington, 17 May 1777

From Lieutenant William Thompson

[c. 17 May 1777]1

The Petition of William Thompson

Sheweth That Your Excellencys Petitioner was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment;2 But finding it inconvenient to me through Sickness to supply the place into which I was appointed I therefore beg Your Excellency’s permission to Resign; Should I therefore be so happy as to obtain that Favour, Your Petitioner as in Duty Bound will be ever Thankful.3

William Thompson

ALS, DNA: RG 93, vol. 169, Commissions, 1775-78. The docket indicates that Thompson’s resignation request was “Accepted.”

1Thompson probably wrote this letter on or before 17 May 1777, the date that he left the army (see Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 5th ser., 3:316).

2Thompson enclosed his commission, which shows that he became a second lieutenant in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment on 9 Aug. 1776.

3No reply to Thompson from GW has been found. However, beneath Thompson’s signature, Col. Daniel Brodhead signed the following statement, which he addressed to GW: “I do hereby certify (to the best of my knowledge) that the bearer Lieutt William Thompson is not indebted to the Regt and am sorry he conceives himself to be under the necessity of Resigning, having offered him every indulgence in my Power.”

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