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.”
1. Thompson probably wrote this letter on or before 17 May 1777, the date that he left the army (see , 5th ser., 3:316).
2. Thompson enclosed his commission, which shows that he became a second lieutenant in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment on 9 Aug. 1776.
3. No 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.”