George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Samuel Patterson, 30 May 1779

From Samuel Patterson

Delaware State Christeen May 30th 1779

Sir

A Gentleman waited on me to day to Inform me that our President, had Given a pass, or recommendation to your Excellency to go into New York to a Certain Jacob Moore Esqr. Atterney at Lewis Town in this state.1 I thought it my duty to inform you as well as to my Country he is said to be a dangerous man in our grand Struggle And by no means should he [be] suffered to go in under any pretence.

I am also glad to inform you the Virtuous if I may say mob, of Philad. has Brighted our cause once more2 it is going on here, whigs look again Bold. Tories as Bull Rushes. I wish your Excellency Health and Sucess. and am your most obeident Humble Servt

Saml Patterson

ALS, DLC:GW; copy (extract), NjR: United States Letters.

1Jacob Moore (d. 1784), a lawyer based in Sussex County, Delaware, served as state attorney general in 1774 and as a member of the state general assembly, 1775–77. He also was appointed, in September 1775, colonel in command of a battalion of Sussex County militia. A political conservative, Moore associated at various points in his career with known Loyalists, and he was briefly detained as one by a party of mounted militia in March 1776. Moore nevertheless took the oath of allegiance in 1778 and was never formally accused of Loyalism.

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