From George Washington to Mary Dagworthy, 9 January 1781
To Mary Dagworthy
Head Quarters New Windsor Janry 9th 1781
Madam
I have had the pleasure to receive Your favor of the 29th of Decr1 and have given directions to Colonel Nelson to deliver the three hundred and eighty pr of Stockings for the use of the Troops of the State of New Jersey.2
This Gratuity of the Ladies, I am persuaded, will be very acceptable at this season: and will produce every expression of gratitude to the generous Donors, from those who are the immediate sharers in their liberality. I am Madam Your Most Obedt Humble Servt.
Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
For the society formed by women in Trenton to promote a subscription for the relief of Continental army soldiers, see GW to Dagworthy, 6 Aug. 1780, source note.
1. In her letter to GW of 29 Dec., Dagworthy advised GW that the society’s committee had delivered 380 stockings to John Neilson, deputy quartermaster general of New Jersey, and directed him to forward them to GW for the benefit of the soldiers.
2. GW wrote Neilson from headquarters at New Windsor on 10 Jan. 1781: “I am informed by Miss Dagworthy that the Ladies of the Committee have delivered three hundred and eighty pr of Stockings to Your care, to be disposed of by My Order.
“You will be pleased to have them forwarded to the Troops of the State of New Jersey, to be issued to them as a Donation from the Ladies of that State under the direction of the Commanding Officer of the Line” (Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).
Neilson replied to GW from Trenton on 21 Jan.: “I had the Honor to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the tenth Instant, and agreably to the directions contained in it, have forwarded to the Commanding Officer of the Troops of the State of New Jersey, the three hundred and Eighty pairs of Stockings committed to my Care by the Ladies of the Committee for receiving donations for the Soldiers of the American Army” (ALS, DLC:GW).