To George Washington from Colonel Josiah Starr, 27 August 1780
From Colonel Josiah Starr
Teneck [N.J.]1 27th Augt 1780
Whereas Ensn William Taracy, has Represented to me the Extradanary circomstances of his family, is Such that on his continuing in the Service, they must Suffer; which induses him to Solisit, leave to Retire, from the Service; which representation I am inclined to believe is true; I do therefore at his request Recommend him to your Exellency for a Discharge.2 I have the honour to be your Exellencys most Obedient humble Servt
Josiah Starr Colo.
ALS, DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 725.
1. Teaneck, Bergen County, N.J., had been serving as GW’s headquarters since 23 Aug. (see the general orders for that date).
2. The letter’s docket indicates that Ens. William Tracy’s request for a discharge was granted on 9 Sept. 1780.
William Tracy (c.1750-1792) of Norwich, Conn., became a sergeant major in the 1st Connecticut Regiment in March 1777. In November 1778, he received a promotion to ensign in that regiment with a commission backdated to 30 July 1777. Service record summaries show that Tracy was furloughed for several days in the winter and summer of 1779 and between February through April of 1780 (DNA: RG 93, Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783). At some point after the war, Tracy traveled to Aux Cayes, Saint Domingue (now Les Cayes, Haiti), where he died. A death notice printed in the Norwich Packet for 22 March 1792 reads that Tracy, “formerly of this Town, . . . served as an officer in the American army during the late war, with distinguished reputation.”